Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: the reaction to the US State Department's Religious Freedom Report, the aftermath of the Catholic synod on the family, Israeli security, and religion in the US presidential race.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
Religion Not at the Heart of Many World Conflicts, Scholars Say
by Mark Pattison
Catholic Courier
http://www.catholiccourier.com/news/world-nation/religion-not-at-the-heart-of-many-world-conflicts-scholars-say/
Religion, which has been blamed for being behind much of the violence in today's world, might be a scapegoat, according to one Georgetown University scholar. "The role of religion needs to clearly be determined," said Jesuit Father Drew Christiansen, a scholar at Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, where the Oct. 21 symposium was held. Based on his eight years serving as the director of international justice and peace office for the U.S. bishops, plus 14 years of Vatican work in international affairs, Father Christiansen said things are not always what they seem to be.
Lean in With Grace: Catholic Women Lead
by Katherine Marshall
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/lean-in-with-grace-cathol_b_8367372.html
Sunday Night, Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted three remarkable leaders: Sister Donna Markham, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Carolyn Woo, CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and Sister Carol Keehan, CEO Catholic Health Association. Each is a pioneer and something of a force of nature in her own right. Together their experience and inspirational comportment convey a challenging example of what women are achieving and what it takes to do so.
With Release of Religious Freedom Report, Global Watchdog Gets Funding Renewal
by Matt Hadro
Catholic News Agency
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/with-release-of-religious-freedom-report-global-watchdog-gets-funding-renewal-35873/
(...) The State Department’s 2014 International Religious Freedom report, published last Wednesday, did highlight the rise of religious persecution by non-state rebel and terror groups in Asia and Africa. “The fact that this report gives more attention to violent Islamist extremism is to be welcomed,” added Dr. Tom Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
by Mark Pattison
Catholic Courier
http://www.catholiccourier.com/news/world-nation/religion-not-at-the-heart-of-many-world-conflicts-scholars-say/
Religion, which has been blamed for being behind much of the violence in today's world, might be a scapegoat, according to one Georgetown University scholar. "The role of religion needs to clearly be determined," said Jesuit Father Drew Christiansen, a scholar at Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, where the Oct. 21 symposium was held. Based on his eight years serving as the director of international justice and peace office for the U.S. bishops, plus 14 years of Vatican work in international affairs, Father Christiansen said things are not always what they seem to be.
Lean in With Grace: Catholic Women Lead
by Katherine Marshall
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/lean-in-with-grace-cathol_b_8367372.html
Sunday Night, Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted three remarkable leaders: Sister Donna Markham, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Carolyn Woo, CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and Sister Carol Keehan, CEO Catholic Health Association. Each is a pioneer and something of a force of nature in her own right. Together their experience and inspirational comportment convey a challenging example of what women are achieving and what it takes to do so.
With Release of Religious Freedom Report, Global Watchdog Gets Funding Renewal
by Matt Hadro
Catholic News Agency
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/with-release-of-religious-freedom-report-global-watchdog-gets-funding-renewal-35873/
(...) The State Department’s 2014 International Religious Freedom report, published last Wednesday, did highlight the rise of religious persecution by non-state rebel and terror groups in Asia and Africa. “The fact that this report gives more attention to violent Islamist extremism is to be welcomed,” added Dr. Tom Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
AROUND THE WORLD
An Unlikely Coalition Warns of Threats to Free Expression in Britain
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2015/10/faith-and-free-speech-britain
An unlikely coalition of leaders from all faiths, agnostics, as well as atheist artists, and writers has formed to challenge the British government's new "counter-extremism" strategy. On Monday a new lobby group called "Defend Free Speech" will hold a meeting at the House of Lords, urging the upper chamber to rewrite the pending legislation.
Catholic Paper on Family Is Hailed by All Sides, Raising Fears of Disputes
by Elisabetta Povoledo
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/world/europe/vatican-catholic-church-family-synod.html?ref=world
Any good compromise allows everyone to claim victory. And that is exactly what the document on family matters approved late Saturday by 270 bishops from around the world did. Both conservative and liberal commentators and news outlets, deliberately or not, seemed to interpret the passages in a way that reinforced their views.
After Synod on Family, Francis Faces a Though Choice
By Anthony Faiola and Stefano Pitrelli
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/after-synod-on-family-francis-faces-a-tough-choice/2015/10/25/10623df2-7b23-11e5-837b-2c3f2478487e_story.html
After three weeks, the gathering — called a synod — had exposed a rift within the church hierarchy. Some bishops and cardinals were pressing for more inclusion for the divorced and remarried and for gay men and lesbians. But many others had pushed back, insisting that the church’s rules and moral compass could not be so easily altered.
African Bishops Profiles Raised in Vatican Synod
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/26/451858193/african-bishops-profiles-raised-in-vatican-synod
At Pope Francis' synod on the family, African bishops played a crucial role in the debate for the first time. Steve Inskeep speaks with Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Ghana.
Women of the Deerskin
by Marjorie Ingall
Tablet
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/194086/women-of-the-deerskin
Female Torah scribes are breaching one of the last barriers in Jewish ritual practice. Not everyone is thrilled.
Kerry: Israel Agrees to Surveillance at Disputed Jerusalem Holy Site
by Greg Botelho
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/24/middleeast/kerry-israel-palestinians/index.html
Israel's Prime Minister has agreed to 24-hour video surveillance at a disputed Jerusalem holy site -- a move that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said could be "a game-changer" to reduce regional bloodshed. The round-the-clock observation "will provide comprehensive visibility and transparency" and discourage "anybody from disturbing the sanctity of this holy site," Kerry said.
Inside Singapore’s City Harvest Megachurch Scandal
by Tessa Wong
BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34589932
The City Harvest megachurch scandal is the biggest corruption case squeaky-clean Singapore has seen in years. From racy music videos to a convoluted money trail, the case has riveted Singaporeans.
NATIONAL
Donald Trump: No Apology for Questioning Ben Carson’s Seventh-day Adventist Faith
by Vanessa Williams
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/25/donald-trump-no-apology-for-questioning-ben-carsons-seventh-day-adventist-faith/
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Sunday that he saw no reason to apologize for raising the issue of rival Ben Carson's Seventh-day Adventist faith during a recent campaign rally.
Mormon Essay Address History of Women in the Priesthood
by Brady McCombs
AP
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9d6b5fb4c22240d0963c9f33e0e809fb/mormon-essay-address-history-women-priesthood
The Mormon Church issued a new essay Friday addressing the sensitive topic of women in the priesthood, clarifying that although women gave healing blessings in the early days they were never allowed to be priesthood holders.
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