Denying Religious Freedom During an Execution
This issue of A Public Witness explores how Leonard “Raheem” Taylor was killed without a spiritual advisor at his side, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent record of requiring states to allow clergy in the death chamber, and the advocates who were pushing Missouri’s leaders to do better on Tuesday.
Poll: A Third of Americans Are Christian Nationalists and Most Are White Evangelicals
A new Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution survey finds that 10% of Americans are avowed Christian nationalists and an additional 19% are sympathetic to its ideals. Among both groups combined, nearly two-thirds are white evangelicals.
Democrats Pass Resolution Condemning ‘White Religious Nationalism’
The Democratic National Committee has passed a resolution condemning “white religious nationalism,” declaring that “theocracy is incompatible with democracy and religious freedom.”
Black Writers Talk White Christian Nationalism
Sabrina E. Dent and Obery Hendricks, two of the foremost experts on race, religion, and American politics, gathered on Tuesday for a virtual “kitchen table-style conversation” about the state of White Christian Nationalism.
Spying Our Character
This issue of A Public Witness looks back into history to consider a balloon disaster in 1945 and how survivors reacted to bring healing to the world — a far cry from what many public figures offered when a balloon floated over the U.S. last week.
Review: The Scandal of the Gospel
Robert D. Cornwall reviews "The Scandal of the Gospel: Preaching and the Grotesque" by Charles L. Campbell. This book challenges us to look beyond the safe path and embrace the less orderly and more chaotic realities of the grotesque, which Jesus took on in the incarnation.
Pope, Anglican, Presbyterian Leaders Denounce Anti-Gay Laws
Pope Francis was backed by the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion and top Presbyterian minister in calling for gays to be welcomed by their churches as he again decried laws that criminalize homosexuality as unjust.
Crawford Resigns as Maryland-Delaware Exec After ‘Marital Indiscretions’
In a letter sent Friday to the churches of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, president Glenn Swanson announced that state executive director Michael Crawford had resigned from the position effective immediately.
Spiritual Advisers Offering Final Comfort in Execution Rooms
For decades, Missouri executions played out in similar fashion. But that is changing now as spiritual advisors are present in the room, like Rev. Darryl Gray in November and Rev. Lauren Bennett in January.
Biden Tells Dueling Prayer Breakfasts That ‘Diversity Is One of Our Greatest Strengths’
Biden’s remarks occurred on the day when there were two prayer breakfast events for the first time since Dwight Eisenhower became the first president to make an appearance. Besides the gathering at the Capitol, one hosted by “The Family” met where the breakfast has been held since the 1980s.