In the News, September 15, 2015

September 15, 2015

Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the United States, Marco Rubio's Mormon ties, and the alignment of the main holy days on the Jewish and Islamic calendars.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
The Optimism of the Cross in the Face of Genocide
by Jonathan Coppage
American Conservative
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/coppage/the-optimism-of-the-cross-in-the-face-of-genocide/
This year's IDC dinner did not culminate with angry denunciations, but with a sobering, powerful presentation. As Georgetown professor Thomas Farr was honored with a lifetime achievement recognition of his career fighting for religious liberty, IDC senior advisor Andrew Doran announced that Dr. Farr would be entrusted with a crucifix.

How Pope Francis Became the People's Pontiff
by Paul Elie
Vanity Fair
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/09/pope-francis-usa-tour
As Pope Francis arrives in the U.S.—to speak before Congress, visit Ground Zero, and address the U.N.—his inner circle talks to Paul Elie about why he is so different, so compelling, and so beloved.

related | Pope Francis and the Mystery of Personality http://everythingthatrises.com/post/129083393375/pope-francis-the-mystery-of-personality

AROUND THE WORLD
Thailand Blames Uighur Militants in Bombing at Bangkok Shrine
by Thomas Fuller and Edward Wong
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/world/asia/thailand-suspects-uighurs-in-bomb-attack-at-bangkok-shr...
Local news outlets have speculated for weeks that the attack was a response to the Thai government’s repatriation in July of more than 100 ethnic Uighurs to China. Human rights groups, foreign governments and activists criticized the move, saying the Uighurs were likely to face persecution on their return.

In Cuba, Pope Francis Will Find That Catholicism And Santeria Are Closely Linked
Huffington Post/AP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/in-cuba-pope-francis-will-find-that-catholicism-and-santeria-are...
Many Cubans are passionate Catholics who regularly attend Mass but are also "santeros," practitioners of the Yoruba faith that slaves brought to Cuba from their native Africa centuries ago.

When Jewish and Islamic Holy Days Coincide
by Stephen Schwartz
The Blog- Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-schwartz/jewish-and-islamic-holy-days_b_8131884.html
This year - 2015 by the Common Era calendar - includes an alignment at mid-September of the main holy days in the Jewish and Islamic calendars.

Trouble is Brewing Again at Jerusalem’s Holiest Site
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21664810-violence-between-police-and-worshipper...
On the morning of September 13th, hours before the Rosh Hashanah holiday began, Israeli police raided the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. A group of Palestinian worshippers emerged from the al-Aqsa mosque to pelt them with stones, and the officers responded with tear gas and sound bombs.

DOMESTIC
'It's All About Church Closings': Catholic Parishes Shrink In Northeast, Midwest
by Hansi Lo Wang
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/14/436938871/-it-s-all-about-church-closings-catholic-parishes-shrink-in-...
Since 1965, the number of Northeast parishes has dropped almost 19 percent, and the Midwest has lost more than 10 percent of its parishes — all while numbers in the South and West are growing.

'The face of our church is changing'
by Catherine E. Shoichet
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/12/us/catholic-church-demographic-changes-bensalem/index.html
Over the decades, a lot has changed: the names of priests in the pulpit, the size of the church and the number of people in the pews. But one thing stayed the same: Nearly all of the churchgoers were white. Now that, too, has started to shift.

Marco Rubio’s Mormon Play
by Elena Schneider
Politico
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/marco-rubio-mormon-play-2016-213240#ixzz3lpeo3z1I
The Florida senator is subtly leveraging his LDS background to build support in Nevada, where the Mormon community is small, but influential in GOP politics.

A Church in the Streets
by Dan Zak
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2015/09/15/these-kids-took-a-detour-off-the-career-path-to-li...
Six 20-somethings in D.C. will give up many comforts of modern life for a year to serve the sick and the poor, a nod to the pope’s teachings.
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