Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: the Israeli government clashes with liberal Jewish streams, Greece's Catholic Church struggles through the country's economic turmoil, and the White House honors leaders in climate change.
AROUND THE WORLD
Israeli Government Clashes With Liberal Jewish Streams
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/22/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-jewish-feud.html
Israel's narrow coalition government is butting heads with liberal streams of Judaism that dominate Jewish life in the United States--widening a rift that risks further alienating American Jews and forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a very difficult position.
World Mayors at Vatican Urge ‘Bold Climate Agreement’
by Nicole Winfield
Washington Post/AP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/world-mayors-at-vatican-urge-bold-climate-agreement/2015/07/2...
60 mayors gathered at the Vatican on Tuesday, discussing the ills of climate change and announcing new measures to fight it. Before the conference ended, the mayors lined up to sign a final declaration acknowledging the scientific reality of global warming, along with their moral imperative to fight it.
British University Says Quran Parchment Among Oldest
by Danica Kirka
Washington Post/AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/university-of-birmingham-says-quran-parchment-among-olde...
The University of Birmingham announced today that scientific tests prove a Quran manuscript in its collection is one of the oldest known--and may have been written close to the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
Greece's Hard-pressed Catholics Keep Up Hopes for Better Times
by Jonathon Luxmoore
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/global/greeces-hard-pressed-catholics-keep-hopes-better-times
The Catholic Church, whose congregation makes up only three percent of Greece's population of 11 million, is struggling to stay afloat in the midst of the country's economic turmoil.
Cubs of the Caliphate
by Mia Bloom
Foreign Affairs
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-07-21/cubs-caliphate
For the Islamic State, children are more than just propaganda, but full-fledged militants who can kill. Unlike the many child soldiers around the world who were recruited as orphans, those in IS are often encouraged by their parents and enrolled in religious schools as they are transformed into militants.
Copying America, Cautiously
by Erasmus Blog
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2015/07/europe-and-gay-marriage
The European Court of Human Rights, which has historically given states a wide measure of discretion when if comes to freedom of thought and religion, has rebuked Italy for failing to recognize gay marriage--setting a precedent that may, or may not, soon spread to other European countries.
DOMESTIC
Pope Francis’ Approval Ratings Slump Sharply in U.S.
by David Gibson
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/22/pope-francis-approval-ratings-slump-sharply-in-u-s/
A new Gallup poll reveals that Pope Francis' favorability rating among Americans dropped to 59 percent from a 76 percent peak early last year--perhaps a result of the pontiff's passionate focus on income equality and attribution of global warming to human activity.
White House Honors 12 Faith Leaders as Climate-change ‘Champions'
by Adelle M. Banks
Washington Post/RNS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/white-house-honors-12-faith-leaders-as-climate-chang...
In a ceremony this week, the Obama administration highlighted initiatives by a dozen leaders of various faiths as “Champions of Change”--praising them for their exemplary work and leadership on climate change.
Muslim Funny Fest: Using Comedy to Combat Hate
by Julie Poucher Harbin
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/21/muslim-funny-fest-using-comedy-combat-hate/
The first-ever American Muslim comedy festival, billed as "Muslim Funny Fest," kicked off last night in New York City. The fest features 15 Muslim comedians and aims to challenge misperceptions about Muslims and combat hate.
Israeli Government Clashes With Liberal Jewish Streams
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/22/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-jewish-feud.html
Israel's narrow coalition government is butting heads with liberal streams of Judaism that dominate Jewish life in the United States--widening a rift that risks further alienating American Jews and forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a very difficult position.
World Mayors at Vatican Urge ‘Bold Climate Agreement’
by Nicole Winfield
Washington Post/AP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/world-mayors-at-vatican-urge-bold-climate-agreement/2015/07/2...
60 mayors gathered at the Vatican on Tuesday, discussing the ills of climate change and announcing new measures to fight it. Before the conference ended, the mayors lined up to sign a final declaration acknowledging the scientific reality of global warming, along with their moral imperative to fight it.
British University Says Quran Parchment Among Oldest
by Danica Kirka
Washington Post/AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/university-of-birmingham-says-quran-parchment-among-olde...
The University of Birmingham announced today that scientific tests prove a Quran manuscript in its collection is one of the oldest known--and may have been written close to the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
Greece's Hard-pressed Catholics Keep Up Hopes for Better Times
by Jonathon Luxmoore
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/global/greeces-hard-pressed-catholics-keep-hopes-better-times
The Catholic Church, whose congregation makes up only three percent of Greece's population of 11 million, is struggling to stay afloat in the midst of the country's economic turmoil.
Cubs of the Caliphate
by Mia Bloom
Foreign Affairs
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-07-21/cubs-caliphate
For the Islamic State, children are more than just propaganda, but full-fledged militants who can kill. Unlike the many child soldiers around the world who were recruited as orphans, those in IS are often encouraged by their parents and enrolled in religious schools as they are transformed into militants.
Copying America, Cautiously
by Erasmus Blog
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2015/07/europe-and-gay-marriage
The European Court of Human Rights, which has historically given states a wide measure of discretion when if comes to freedom of thought and religion, has rebuked Italy for failing to recognize gay marriage--setting a precedent that may, or may not, soon spread to other European countries.
DOMESTIC
Pope Francis’ Approval Ratings Slump Sharply in U.S.
by David Gibson
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/22/pope-francis-approval-ratings-slump-sharply-in-u-s/
A new Gallup poll reveals that Pope Francis' favorability rating among Americans dropped to 59 percent from a 76 percent peak early last year--perhaps a result of the pontiff's passionate focus on income equality and attribution of global warming to human activity.
White House Honors 12 Faith Leaders as Climate-change ‘Champions'
by Adelle M. Banks
Washington Post/RNS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/white-house-honors-12-faith-leaders-as-climate-chang...
In a ceremony this week, the Obama administration highlighted initiatives by a dozen leaders of various faiths as “Champions of Change”--praising them for their exemplary work and leadership on climate change.
Muslim Funny Fest: Using Comedy to Combat Hate
by Julie Poucher Harbin
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/21/muslim-funny-fest-using-comedy-combat-hate/
The first-ever American Muslim comedy festival, billed as "Muslim Funny Fest," kicked off last night in New York City. The fest features 15 Muslim comedians and aims to challenge misperceptions about Muslims and combat hate.
Opens in a new window