Today's
religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: the Islamic State claims the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque, the Vatican signs its first treaty with "State of Palestine," and California votes to limit religious exemptions for vaccines.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
Pope Francis Sparks Climate Change Debate in Catholic Church
ABC Radio National
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/pope-francis-sparks-climate-change-debate-in-catholic-church/6570846
Since the release of Pope Francis' encyclical, Catholics have been debating its impact--not just on global warming but on its overall impact on the church as well. Professor Jose Casanova from the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University in Washington DC, discusses the differing reactions across the worldwide church.
AROUND THE WORLD
IS Claims Deadly Blast at Shiite Mosque in Kuwait's Capital
Washington Times/AP
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/26/islamic-state-claims-deadly-blast-shiite-mosque-ku/
A Shiite mosque in the Kuwaiti capital was bombed earlier today, killing a number of worshippers after their midday Friday prayers. The attack was claimed by an IS affiliate, which claimed a pair of bombing attacks on Shiite mosques in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Vatican Signs First Treaty with 'State of Palestine', Israel Angered
by Phillip Pullella
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/26/us-vatican-palestinians-idUSKBN0P618120150626
The Vatican made official its de facto recognition of Palestine on Friday by signing its first treaty with the "State of Palestine"--calling for "courageous decisions" to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backing a two-state solution.
Chaput: Gay Families are Welcome at World Meeting of Families, But 'Lobbying' Isn't
by Joshua J. McElwee
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/chaput-gay-families-are-welcome-world-meeting-families-lobbying-isnt
Archbishop Charles Chaput declared at a Vatican press conference that, while gay families will be welcome at Philadelphia's global meeting on family life, they will not have an opportunity to speak about positions contrary to church teaching. The World Meeting of Families will be attended by Pope Francis at the end of his visit to the United States in September and will be the eighth triennial gathering of its kind.
A Showdown Looms At South Korea's Gay Pride Parade
by Elise Hu
NPR Religion
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/06/26/417310709/a-showdown-looms-at-south-koreas-gay-pride-parade
In Seoul, a gay pride parade 15 years in the running is at the center of heated controversy between LGBT groups and Christian activists, who threaten to do what it takes to stop the marchers. The growing visibility of South Korea's gays and lesbians has led to louder opposition from church groups in recent years, and this weekend's event has organizers preparing for confrontation.
The Sikhs Who Saved Parmesan
by Dany Mitzman
BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33149580
The large number of immigrant Sikhs who began settling on the flat plains of Italy's Po Valley in the 1980's were initially attracted to the area because the flat land and hot climate reminded them of their home in India. Yet these immigrants soon found that they had settled in the nation's Parmesan capital, and they became the backbone of the its famous cheese-making industry.
DOMESTIC
California Moves to Limit Religious Exemptions to Vaccination for School Children
by Reuters Staff
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/26/california-moves-to-limit-religious-exemptions-to-vaccination-for-school-children/
A vote by California lawmakers to substantially limit vaccine exemptions for school children sparked outrage from parents who fear side effects from vaccinations, as well as from some religious conservatives. The initiative, prompted by the measles outbreak last year at Disneyland that sickened more than 100 people, would make California the third state to eliminate religious and other personal vaccine exemptions.
Jewish Groups Unite For 'Shabbat Of Solidarity' With The African-American Community
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/25/jewish-shabbat-of-solidary-african-americans_n_7657198.html?cps=gravity_2677_-2716515464693812775
In the wake of the church shooting in Charleston, one rabbi has united Jewish denominations and congregations with a call to action he sent out on Monday. To show support for the African-American community, rabbis and Jewish community members across the country will participate in a "Shabbat of Solidarity" this weekend with the AME Church.
Churches Are Burning Again in America
by Emma Green
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/06/arson-churches-north-carolina-georgia/396881/
Though acts of arson at religious institutions have decreased significantly over the past few decades, two such instances that occurred in the wake of the Charleston shooting prove a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of our sacred spaces.
Pope Francis Sparks Climate Change Debate in Catholic Church
ABC Radio National
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/pope-francis-sparks-climate-change-debate-in-catholic-church/6570846
Since the release of Pope Francis' encyclical, Catholics have been debating its impact--not just on global warming but on its overall impact on the church as well. Professor Jose Casanova from the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University in Washington DC, discusses the differing reactions across the worldwide church.
AROUND THE WORLD
IS Claims Deadly Blast at Shiite Mosque in Kuwait's Capital
Washington Times/AP
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/26/islamic-state-claims-deadly-blast-shiite-mosque-ku/
A Shiite mosque in the Kuwaiti capital was bombed earlier today, killing a number of worshippers after their midday Friday prayers. The attack was claimed by an IS affiliate, which claimed a pair of bombing attacks on Shiite mosques in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Vatican Signs First Treaty with 'State of Palestine', Israel Angered
by Phillip Pullella
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/26/us-vatican-palestinians-idUSKBN0P618120150626
The Vatican made official its de facto recognition of Palestine on Friday by signing its first treaty with the "State of Palestine"--calling for "courageous decisions" to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backing a two-state solution.
Chaput: Gay Families are Welcome at World Meeting of Families, But 'Lobbying' Isn't
by Joshua J. McElwee
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/chaput-gay-families-are-welcome-world-meeting-families-lobbying-isnt
Archbishop Charles Chaput declared at a Vatican press conference that, while gay families will be welcome at Philadelphia's global meeting on family life, they will not have an opportunity to speak about positions contrary to church teaching. The World Meeting of Families will be attended by Pope Francis at the end of his visit to the United States in September and will be the eighth triennial gathering of its kind.
A Showdown Looms At South Korea's Gay Pride Parade
by Elise Hu
NPR Religion
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/06/26/417310709/a-showdown-looms-at-south-koreas-gay-pride-parade
In Seoul, a gay pride parade 15 years in the running is at the center of heated controversy between LGBT groups and Christian activists, who threaten to do what it takes to stop the marchers. The growing visibility of South Korea's gays and lesbians has led to louder opposition from church groups in recent years, and this weekend's event has organizers preparing for confrontation.
The Sikhs Who Saved Parmesan
by Dany Mitzman
BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33149580
The large number of immigrant Sikhs who began settling on the flat plains of Italy's Po Valley in the 1980's were initially attracted to the area because the flat land and hot climate reminded them of their home in India. Yet these immigrants soon found that they had settled in the nation's Parmesan capital, and they became the backbone of the its famous cheese-making industry.
DOMESTIC
California Moves to Limit Religious Exemptions to Vaccination for School Children
by Reuters Staff
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/26/california-moves-to-limit-religious-exemptions-to-vaccination-for-school-children/
A vote by California lawmakers to substantially limit vaccine exemptions for school children sparked outrage from parents who fear side effects from vaccinations, as well as from some religious conservatives. The initiative, prompted by the measles outbreak last year at Disneyland that sickened more than 100 people, would make California the third state to eliminate religious and other personal vaccine exemptions.
Jewish Groups Unite For 'Shabbat Of Solidarity' With The African-American Community
by Antonia Blumberg
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/25/jewish-shabbat-of-solidary-african-americans_n_7657198.html?cps=gravity_2677_-2716515464693812775
In the wake of the church shooting in Charleston, one rabbi has united Jewish denominations and congregations with a call to action he sent out on Monday. To show support for the African-American community, rabbis and Jewish community members across the country will participate in a "Shabbat of Solidarity" this weekend with the AME Church.
Churches Are Burning Again in America
by Emma Green
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/06/arson-churches-north-carolina-georgia/396881/
Though acts of arson at religious institutions have decreased significantly over the past few decades, two such instances that occurred in the wake of the Charleston shooting prove a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of our sacred spaces.
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