In the News, June 22, 2015

June 22, 2015

Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Africa's chance to revamp its energy infrastructure, the fight to protect Syria's Druze population, and Philadelphia shrines prepare for the Pope's visit.
ENCYCLICAL
Why Pope Francis’s Climate Message is So Hard For Some Americans to Swallow
by Chris Mooney
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/06/18/why-pope-franciss-climate-message-may-be-hard-for-some-americans-to-swallow/
Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment came as a challenge to several strains of thought particularly prominent in the US. Individualists who tend to support limited government and fewer environmental restrictions and those who perceive a strong conflict between science and religion compose two of the groups whose ideologies came in conflict with the Pope's message.

For Faithful, Social Justice Goals Demand Action on Environment
by Justin Gillis
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/science/earth/for-faithful-social-justice-goals-demand-action-on-environment.html
Despite the vast attention it drew, the release of the encyclical emphasizes a much broader shift in thinking that has been underway for decades and extends far beyond the Roman Catholic Church. Many faith traditions are beginning to recognize the issues of morality and social justice at the heart of the environmental crisis--and are increasingly taking action to counter the problems created by global warming.

How Climate-Change Doubters Lost a Papal Fight
by Anthony Faiola and Chris Mooney
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/how-climate-change-doubters-lost-a-papal-fight/2015/06/20/86af3182-15ce-11e5-8457-4b431bf7ed4c_story.html
Philippe de Larminat was of many climate-change doubters who tried and ultimately failed to change Pope Francis' mind before the release of the encyclical. Though the efforts of these individuals might have simply come too late, their failures suggest how difficult it might be for critics to stop or alter the momentum of Francis' reform-centered papacy.

Africa’s Moment to Lead on Climate
by Kofi Annan and Robert E. Rubin
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/africas-moment-to-lead-on-climate/2015/06/19/8d54091e-15eb-11e5-9ddc-e3353542100c_story.html
For too long, Africa’s leaders have been content to oversee highly centralized energy systems that benefit the rich and bypass many of the poor. Power utilities have been centers of corruption. The time has come to revamp Africa’s creaking energy infrastructure, while riding the wave of low-carbon innovation that is transforming energy systems around the world.

AROUND THE WORLD
Will Israel Protect Druze in the Golan from Syrian Rebels?
by William Booth
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/will-israel-protect-druze-in-the-golan-from-syrian-rebels/2015/06/20/a73f24e0-14ff-11e5-8457-4b431bf7ed4c_story.html
The Israeli Druze are an ancient people, whose esoteric faith combines elements of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as well teachings from the Hindus and Buddha. Frightened for the lives of their Syrian cousins, who are currently surrounded by jihadist rebels, they have appealed to Israel and the international coalition fighting the Islamic State for help--and even organized their own militia.

Honoring the Roots, Celebrating The Blossoms On International Day Of Yoga
by Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/20/international-day-of-yoga-controversy-_n_7628436.html
Despite the wild popularity of yoga around the world, few know or understand its religious and cultural context. The founders of International Yoga Day want to address the lack of knowledge surrounding yoga's origins, but their goal has been marred by underlying underlying tensions among Muslims and religious minorities in India.

Francis in Turin: Do Not Blame Migrants For Work Troubles
by Joshua McElwee
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-turin-do-not-blame-migrants-work-troubles
After traveling some 450 miles north from Rome for a two-day visit to Turin, Pope Francis urged workers in the midst of their current economic downturn not to blame immigrants for the struggles they are facing.

Exiles Angered as China Holds Beer Festival in Muslim County
Washington Post/Reuters
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/06/22/world/asia/22reuters-ramadan-china.html
After publishing several notices this year demanding that certain citizens abstain from fasting during Ramadan, a county in the heavily Muslim southern part of China's region of Xinjiang held a beer festival in the run-up to the Islamic holy month. An exiled group of Uyghur Muslims has since called the event an open provocation to the Islamic faith.

DOMESTIC
Catholic Shrines Team Up to Draw Pilgrims During Pope Visit
by Natalie Pompilio/AP
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/catholic-shrines-team-up-to-draw-pilgrims-during-pope-visit/2015/06/21/c43ec3ba-182f-11e5-bed8-1093ee58dad0_story.html
In preparation for Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia in September, four local Roman Catholic shrines have joined forces to market themselves to the million-plus visitors expected to arrive in the city. Though citing their main goal as evangelization, the churches certainly would not mind expanding their mailing lists, creating buzz to keep visitors returning in upcoming years, and perhaps boosting their gift shop sales as well.

LGBT Muslims And Jews Break Bread To Find Common Ground At Iftar Shabbat Dinner
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/20/iftar-shabbat-muslims-jews_n_7617480.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
At sunset on Friday evening, Muslims around the world broke their Ramadan fast with a ritual meal, called an iftar. At the same time, Jews around the world sat down for Shabbat dinner, the beginning of the weekly period of rest. In one Los Angeles community, Muslims and Jews came together to celebrate both rituals and to find common ground as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith and their allies.

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