Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Kenyan authorities confront the nation's growing number of radicalized youth, Pope Francis condemns the weapons industry, and China opens a new land crossing into Tibet.
AROUND THE WORLD
Pope Francis Asks Pardon from Waldensian Protestants for Past Persecution
by Phillip Pullella
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/22/pope-francis-asks-pardon-from-waldensian-protestants-for-past-persecution/
Pope Francis asked forgiveness on Monday for the Roman Catholic Church’s “non-Christian and inhumane” treatment of the Waldensians in the past. After declaring the tiny Protestant movement heretical in 1487, Pope Innocent VIII ordered its extermination, and nearly two centuries later, some 1,700 Waldensians were killed by Catholic forces under the command of Duke of Savoy.
Fracking and the Franciscans
by David Brooks
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/opinion/fracking-and-the-franciscans.html?ref=opinion
Pope Francis is one of the world’s most inspiring figures. There are passages in his new encyclical on the environment that beautifully place human beings within the seamless garment of life. And yet over all the encyclical is surprisingly disappointing.
Concerns Grow Over Radicalized Kenyan Youths in Islamic Militia
by Tonny Onyulo
RNS
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/22/concerns-grow-radicalized-kenyan-youths-islamic-militia/
As they grapple with how to best counter increasingly emboldened militants throughout the country, Kenyan authorities also face growing concerns over how to deal with the growing number of radicalized Kenyans--many of whom were kidnapped as children and forced into fighting by militant groups.
Nun Who Took on Mother Teresa's India Charity Mission Dies
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/23/world/asia/ap-as-india-obit-sister-nirmala.html?_r=0
The Indian nun who replaced Mother Teresa as head of the Missionaries of Charity died early Tuesday, the organization said. Sister Nirmala Joshi was 81. (…) She was selected to lead the Roman Catholic charity six months before the death of its founder, Mother Teresa, in 1997. She remained its leader, or Superior General, until stepping down in 2009. That year, she also received India's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in honor of her service to the nation.
Pope Francis Says People Who Manufacture Or Invest In Weapons Can't Call Themselves Christians
by Phillip Pullella
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/pope-francis-weapons_n_7636416.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
At a rally of thousands of young people in the Italian city of Turin, Pope Francis offered his toughest condemnation of the weapons industry to date, declaring that people who manufacture weapons or invest in the industry are hypocrites if they call themselves Christians.
China Opens New Land Route for Indian Pilgrims to Tibet
by Ben Blanchard
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/22/china-opens-new-land-route-for-indian-pilgrims-to-tibet/
On Monday, China inaugurated a new land crossing into Tibet for Indian pilgrims who wish to visit one of the holiest sites in both Hinduism and Buddhism, Mount Kailash. The opening of the passage comes as the two countries seek to improve relations after recent tensions over border issues.
Pope Francis Asks Pardon from Waldensian Protestants for Past Persecution
by Phillip Pullella
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/22/pope-francis-asks-pardon-from-waldensian-protestants-for-past-persecution/
Pope Francis asked forgiveness on Monday for the Roman Catholic Church’s “non-Christian and inhumane” treatment of the Waldensians in the past. After declaring the tiny Protestant movement heretical in 1487, Pope Innocent VIII ordered its extermination, and nearly two centuries later, some 1,700 Waldensians were killed by Catholic forces under the command of Duke of Savoy.
Fracking and the Franciscans
by David Brooks
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/opinion/fracking-and-the-franciscans.html?ref=opinion
Pope Francis is one of the world’s most inspiring figures. There are passages in his new encyclical on the environment that beautifully place human beings within the seamless garment of life. And yet over all the encyclical is surprisingly disappointing.
Concerns Grow Over Radicalized Kenyan Youths in Islamic Militia
by Tonny Onyulo
RNS
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/22/concerns-grow-radicalized-kenyan-youths-islamic-militia/
As they grapple with how to best counter increasingly emboldened militants throughout the country, Kenyan authorities also face growing concerns over how to deal with the growing number of radicalized Kenyans--many of whom were kidnapped as children and forced into fighting by militant groups.
Nun Who Took on Mother Teresa's India Charity Mission Dies
New York Times/AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/23/world/asia/ap-as-india-obit-sister-nirmala.html?_r=0
The Indian nun who replaced Mother Teresa as head of the Missionaries of Charity died early Tuesday, the organization said. Sister Nirmala Joshi was 81. (…) She was selected to lead the Roman Catholic charity six months before the death of its founder, Mother Teresa, in 1997. She remained its leader, or Superior General, until stepping down in 2009. That year, she also received India's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in honor of her service to the nation.
Pope Francis Says People Who Manufacture Or Invest In Weapons Can't Call Themselves Christians
by Phillip Pullella
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/pope-francis-weapons_n_7636416.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
At a rally of thousands of young people in the Italian city of Turin, Pope Francis offered his toughest condemnation of the weapons industry to date, declaring that people who manufacture weapons or invest in the industry are hypocrites if they call themselves Christians.
China Opens New Land Route for Indian Pilgrims to Tibet
by Ben Blanchard
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/22/china-opens-new-land-route-for-indian-pilgrims-to-tibet/
On Monday, China inaugurated a new land crossing into Tibet for Indian pilgrims who wish to visit one of the holiest sites in both Hinduism and Buddhism, Mount Kailash. The opening of the passage comes as the two countries seek to improve relations after recent tensions over border issues.
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