In the News, October 14, 2015

October 14, 2015

Today's religion and world affair news from the United States and around the globe: the Taliban targets women, the role of women in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Catholic Church synod on the family.
AROUND THE WORLD
Taliban Wages a Calculated Campaign Against Women in Kunduz
by Alissa J. Rubin
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/world/asia/taliban-targeted-women-kunduz-afghanistan.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
The Taliban occupation of Kunduz may have been temporary, but what they did to Afghan women’s rights could prove to be lasting. The Taliban relentlessly hounded women with any sort of public profile, looted a high school and destroyed the offices of many of the organizations that protected and supported women in Kunduz. 

Al-Qaeda in Syria Calls for Revenge Attacks on Russia
by Loveday Morris and Natasha Abbakumova
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/al-qaeda-in-syria-calls-for-revenge-attacks-on-russia/2015/10/13/b7f7dfdf-a0a4-451d-bd2e-180f2f4882f5_story.html
The head of al-Qaeda’s offshoot in Syria has called on followers to carry out retaliatory attacks in Russia, raising the specter of blowback on Russian soil over Moscow’s military intervention to aid Syria’s embattled government.

Indonesian President Calls for Calm After Church Attack in Aceh
by Joe Cochrane
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/world/asia/indonesia-church-attack-aceh-province.html?ref=worldPresident Joko Widodo of Indonesia appealed for calm on Wednesday in the fractious province of Aceh after a man was shot to death during a brawl set off by the razing of a Christian church. 

Behind Palestinian-Israeli Attacks, Angry Youth and Women…and al-Aqsa
by Luke Baker
Reuters Faithworld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/13/behind-palestinian-israeli-attacks-angry-youth-and-women-and-al-aqsa/
What marks the current wave of turmoil out from earlier eras is the fact that the knifings and attacks on police are mostly being carried out by teenagers, female as well as male, without political ties or apparent coordination from above. 

The Fault Lines at the Synod
by Michael Sean Winters
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/fault-lines-synod
As reports emerge from the Synod of Bishops on the family, we are able to discern some of the key fault lines in the discussion. The largest fault line is between the those who believe that Church has not done enough to apply the teachings of mercy towards family and marriage and those who disagree.

Vatican Denounces Letter Criticizing Pope Francis on Family
by Sylvia Poggiolo
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/13/448378993/vatican-denounces-letter-criticizing-pope-francis-on-family
A letter leaked by a veteran Vatican analyst known to be critical of the Francis papacy, has thrown the synod on the family into turmoil and confusion. 

Driven Underground Years Ago, Japan’s ‘Hidden Christians’ Maintain Faith
by Anthony Kuhn
NPR
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/10/11/446865818/driven-underground-years-ago-japans-hidden-christians-maintain-faith
Throughout history, many Christian groups have been forced to conceal their faith the survive government prosecution. Some of Japan's kakure kirishitan,or "hidden Christians," have remained closeted for nearly four and a half centuries. Their religion has morphed into what is arguable a separate faith. 

How Pope Francis Brought Me Back to the Catholic Church
by Chimamanda Adichie
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/catholic-pope-francis-chimamanda-adichie/409237/
Raised in the staunch, no questions asked, Nigeria Catholic tradition, Adichie found herself alienated from the Church and consciously drifted away. Pope Francis’ message of inclusion and love drew her back. “I never though of compassion as a tenet of Catholicism. Until now.” 

DOMESTIC
Ruth Messinger Stepping Down as Head of American Jewish World Service
by Josh Nathan-Kazis
Forward
http://forward.com/news/322523/ruth-messinger-stepping-down-as-head-of-american-jewish-world-service/
Ruth Messinger, a renowned advocate for social justice and international development within the Jewish community, will step down as president of the American Jewish World Service. Messinger, who has led the organization since 1998, will be succeeded in July 2016 by Robert Bank, the group’s current executive vice president.
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