A Virus of Religious Intolerance
This edition of A Public Witness unpacks troubling examples of when a person’s religious identity became grounds for others to question their fitness for public office.
Russia Added to State Department List of Worst Religious Liberty Violators
The U.S. State Department has added Russia to its list of nations it considers among the world’s most egregious violators of religious freedom. Russia joins Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the list of “countries of particular concern.”
Religious Party Seeks Gains in Peru’s Legislative Elections
Amid widespread disgust with traditional politicians and an extremely fragmented electorate, Frepap, the political arm of a messianic religious group called the Israelites of the New Universal Pact, has emerged as a potential favorite in legislative elections Sunday.
Sen. Raphael Warnock’s Deleted Easter Tweet Reflects Religious & Political Chasms About Christianity
U.S. Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, as pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, gave a sermon Sunday for Easter. But it was a tweet from the Georgia Democrat’s account that day that has triggered far more discussion about theology and politics and what it means to
Advancing Religious Freedom Abroad Starts at Home
Our ability to champion religious freedom abroad starts at home. But over the past four years, our federal government’s violations of its own citizens’ religious freedom rights threatens our commitment to making a difference around the world.
Supreme Court Frees Religious Schools from Discrimination Suits
The Supreme Court is siding with two Catholic schools in a ruling that underscores that certain employees of religious schools, hospitals and social service centers can’t sue for employment discrimination. The high court's ruling on Wednesday was 7-2.
Brownback Wants ‘Like-Mindeds’ at Religious Freedom Summit
WASHINGTON (RNS) — China, Iran and other countries that the U.S. considers the most egregious religious liberty violators aren’t invited to the State Department’s second summit on religious freedom this week, said Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.
Leader of SBCs religious liberty group defends town’s ‘legislative prayers’
The Southern Baptist Convention’s top expert on religious liberty concerns says the U.S. Supreme Court should uphold a New York town’s practice of opening its city council meetings with sectarian prayer.
Lincolns religious influence in forging Emancipation Proclamation still evident after 150 years
A “profound spiritual odyssey” prompted Abraham Lincoln’s forging of the Emancipation Proclamation, one of “the most revolutionary documents ever signed by an American president,” a prominent religious historian told a conference on racial reconciliation.
Religious Herald, Associated Baptist Press announce plans for merger
The Religious Herald and Associated Baptist Press have agreed in principle to a merger of their operations, creating a new Baptist media platform which leaders of the two news organizations said will enhance the mission and heritage of both.