Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Jewish groups surpass a fundraising goal to reconstruct a historic church, Catholic theologians gather to discuss their mission in Asia, and the Pope's environmental push highlights discrepancies in US churches.
AROUND THE WORLD
Jewish Groups Raise More than $17,000 To Repair Torched 'Miracle' Church In Israel
by Carol Kuruvilla
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tabgha-church-fundraiser_55ca54e7e4b0f1cbf1e69199?utm_hp_ref=religion&kvcommref=mostpopular
The "Restoring Friendship" drive, which aimed to raise funds to repair the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha--where Christians believe Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish--has surpassed its goal of $13,000, raising $17,000 with the generous help of donors around the world.
Pakistani Religious Party Leaders Urged to Help Revive Taliban Peace Talks
by Jon Boone
Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/pakistani-religious-party-leaders-help-revive-taliban-talks-afghanistan
Afghan officials are urging heads of religious political parties in Pakistan to use their influence over the Taliban to attempt persuading the insurgent movement to embrace mainstream politics instead of violence.
Catholic Moral Theologians Scan Asian Reality
by Jose Kavi
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/global/catholic-moral-theologians-scan-asian-reality
The first pan-Asian conference of Catholic moral theologians convened in Bangalore, India this summer--seeking ethical responses to the region's fundamental issues and exploring how the church can exist as a minority group in a multicultural and multireligious environment. Leaders stressed the need to confront complex problems in the region, such as sexual violence, forced migration, religious fundamentalism, threats to democracy, and fertility tourism.
Singing Monks in Italian City of Norcia Top the Charts
by Judith Valente
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/08/11/singing-monks-norcia-italy-top-charts/31207723/
A group of singing monks at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Norcia, Italy topped the Billboard charts this summer in classical, traditional music. The popularity of the monks' ensemble highlights the renaissance seen by monastic music across the United States in recent years.
DOMESTIC
Pope's Climate Push at Odds With U.S. Catholic Oil Investments
by Richard Valdmanis
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/12/us-usa-catholic-fossilfuels-insight-idUSKCN0QH0E620150812
Discrepancies between church leadership and financial activities in the United States have come under increasing criticism since the release of Pope Francis' environmental encyclical--with some of the largest American Catholic organizations having millions of dollars invested in energy companies, from hydraulic fracturing firms to oil sands producers.
Interfaith Leaders Find Common Ground Promoting Internet Freedom
by Brian Pellott
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/08/12/net-neutrality-interfaith-leaders-internet-freedom/
Interfaith leaders have long rallied for racial and economic justice and railed against police brutality. Now, with her "Faithful Internet" campaign, Sikh lawyer and filmmaker Valerie Kaur is calling on America’s religious communities to fight just as hard for net neutrality.
Jewish Groups Raise More than $17,000 To Repair Torched 'Miracle' Church In Israel
by Carol Kuruvilla
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tabgha-church-fundraiser_55ca54e7e4b0f1cbf1e69199?utm_hp_ref=religion&kvcommref=mostpopular
The "Restoring Friendship" drive, which aimed to raise funds to repair the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha--where Christians believe Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish--has surpassed its goal of $13,000, raising $17,000 with the generous help of donors around the world.
Pakistani Religious Party Leaders Urged to Help Revive Taliban Peace Talks
by Jon Boone
Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/pakistani-religious-party-leaders-help-revive-taliban-talks-afghanistan
Afghan officials are urging heads of religious political parties in Pakistan to use their influence over the Taliban to attempt persuading the insurgent movement to embrace mainstream politics instead of violence.
Catholic Moral Theologians Scan Asian Reality
by Jose Kavi
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/news/global/catholic-moral-theologians-scan-asian-reality
The first pan-Asian conference of Catholic moral theologians convened in Bangalore, India this summer--seeking ethical responses to the region's fundamental issues and exploring how the church can exist as a minority group in a multicultural and multireligious environment. Leaders stressed the need to confront complex problems in the region, such as sexual violence, forced migration, religious fundamentalism, threats to democracy, and fertility tourism.
Singing Monks in Italian City of Norcia Top the Charts
by Judith Valente
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/08/11/singing-monks-norcia-italy-top-charts/31207723/
A group of singing monks at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Norcia, Italy topped the Billboard charts this summer in classical, traditional music. The popularity of the monks' ensemble highlights the renaissance seen by monastic music across the United States in recent years.
DOMESTIC
Pope's Climate Push at Odds With U.S. Catholic Oil Investments
by Richard Valdmanis
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/12/us-usa-catholic-fossilfuels-insight-idUSKCN0QH0E620150812
Discrepancies between church leadership and financial activities in the United States have come under increasing criticism since the release of Pope Francis' environmental encyclical--with some of the largest American Catholic organizations having millions of dollars invested in energy companies, from hydraulic fracturing firms to oil sands producers.
Interfaith Leaders Find Common Ground Promoting Internet Freedom
by Brian Pellott
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/08/12/net-neutrality-interfaith-leaders-internet-freedom/
Interfaith leaders have long rallied for racial and economic justice and railed against police brutality. Now, with her "Faithful Internet" campaign, Sikh lawyer and filmmaker Valerie Kaur is calling on America’s religious communities to fight just as hard for net neutrality.
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