Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Pope Francis in America, Russia combats Islamic extremism, and the seventieth meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
What Does the Pope Think About Technology? #It’sComplicated
by Issie Lapowsky
Wired
http://www.wired.com/2015/09/pope-francis-technology/
“He’s looking to the future, and he’s not going to be around in that future. Neither is his generation,” says Paul Elie, a senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University and author of a recent Vanity Fair article on Pope Francis. “Anyone who looks forward has to count on the next generation. He instinctively recognized that.”
Deep Dive: Pope Francis’ Impact on Catholicism
Huffington Post Live
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/pope-francis-impact-catholicism/55c1141a02a760897f00087c
Paul Elie, senior fellow at the Berkley Center, and others discuss the impact of the Pope’s visit, the effect of his various messages and how he's influenced the world's view of Catholicism.
POPE FRANCIS IN AMERICA
Pope Francis, on Flight Home, Strongly Condemns Child Sexual Abuse
by Jim Yardley
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/europe/pope-francis-sexual-abuse.html?ref=world
The Pope has concluded his visit to the Americas. On Sunday night, aboard the Papal aircraft, Pope Francis again strongly condemned priests who molested children as “sacrilegious” and publicly acknowledged that bishops had covered up abuse cases.
Pope Departs, After Showing a Deft Touch
by Jim Yardley and Laurie Goodstien
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/pope-departs-after-showing-a-deft-touch.html?ref=us
During his visit to the United States, Pope Francis demonstrated a nuanced political dexterity, effectively sidestepping the familiar framework of American debate while charting his own broader path. He advocated “life” but emphasized opposition to the death penalty, not abortion. He made strong stands for religious freedom — a major issue for American bishops — but refocused the concept on interfaith tolerance and harmony.
Pope Francis Ends Visit With Mass After Meeting Bishops and Inmates
by Laurie Goodstien and Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/pope-francis-philadelphia-visit.html?ribbon-ad-idx=3&rref=national&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article
Pope Francis turned penitent and pastor Sunday on the final day of his visit to the United States, declaring himself “overwhelmed by shame” at the sexual violation of children by his clergy, embracing inmates at a local jail, urging young people to leave the loneliness of social media and bidding farewell with a huge downtown Mass.
AROUND THE WORLD
The Latest: U.N. General Body Meeting
Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/09/28/world/middleeast/ap-un-united-nations-summit-the-latest.html?ref=world
At the 70th meeting of the United Nations General body, President Vladimir Putin has urged the creation of a broad anti-terror coalition that would include the Syrian government troops. Monday’s meeting has been focused upon issues of security in the Middle East. This link provides the most up to date information on the progress of the meeting.
Russia Surprises U.S. with Accord on Battling ISIS
by Michael R. Gordon
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/world/middleeast/iraq-agrees-to-share-intelligence-on-isis-with-russia-syria-and-iran.html?ref=world
For the second time this month, Russia moved to expand its political and military influence in the Syria conflict and left the United States scrambling, this time by reaching an understanding, announced on Sunday, with Iraq, Syria and Iran to share intelligence about the Islamic State.
Taliban Surges into Northern Afghan City in Major Test for Security Forces
by Tim Craig and Sayed Salahuddin
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/taliban-overruns-half-of-northern-afghan-city/2015/09/28/53798568-65df-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html
Taliban insurgents launched a four-pronged attack on a major city in northern Afghanistan on Monday, overrunning parts of Kunduz and sending Afghan officials and U.N. personnel fleeing ahead of the stunning advance. The fall of Kunduz — already the target of Taliban attacks twice this year — would be a huge blow to the Western-backed government in Kabul and give Taliban insurgents a critical outpost beyond their traditional strongholds in Afghanistan’s south.
The Kremlin’s Favorite Muslim, Kadyrov, Goes too Far
by Anna Jemstova
Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/28/the-kremlin-s-favorite-muslim-kadyrov-goes-too-far.html
Putin’s most ambitious and ruthless supporter in Chechnya appears to be spinning out of control, with deadly consequences. Ramzan Kadyrov portrays himself as “Putin’s Imam” but as his rhetoric becomes increasingly fanatical, the Kremlin has chosen to distance itself from Kadyrov and begun to prepare to combat his extremism, despite Kadyrov’s verbal support for the Putin’s government.
As Insults Fly, Iran-Saudi Row over Haj Deaths Aggravates Regional Rifts
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/09/28/as-insults-fly-iran-saudi-row-over-haj-deaths-aggravates-regional-rifts/
For regional adversaries at loggerheads over the crises in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the disaster at the haj is unlikely to be a game changer in the contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia, merely adding venom to their mutual acrimony. But a deepening of already profound mistrust between the conservative Sunni kingdom and the revolutionary Shi’ite theocracy will make the task of stabilizing the Middle East’s many trouble spots even harder to achieve than it already is.
U.K. Will Deploy Hundreds of Troops to Aid Peacekeepers in Somalia, South Sudan
by Sioban O’Grady
Foreign Policy
https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/09/28/u-k-will-deploy-hundreds-of-troops-to-aid-peacekeepers-in-somalia-south-sudan/
Amid pressure from Washington to contribute more to international peacekeeping efforts, the United Kingdom will send hundreds of troops to Somalia and South Sudan in an effort to quell regional instability that has resulted from terrorism and civil war.
What Does the Pope Think About Technology? #It’sComplicated
by Issie Lapowsky
Wired
http://www.wired.com/2015/09/pope-francis-technology/
“He’s looking to the future, and he’s not going to be around in that future. Neither is his generation,” says Paul Elie, a senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University and author of a recent Vanity Fair article on Pope Francis. “Anyone who looks forward has to count on the next generation. He instinctively recognized that.”
Deep Dive: Pope Francis’ Impact on Catholicism
Huffington Post Live
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/pope-francis-impact-catholicism/55c1141a02a760897f00087c
Paul Elie, senior fellow at the Berkley Center, and others discuss the impact of the Pope’s visit, the effect of his various messages and how he's influenced the world's view of Catholicism.
POPE FRANCIS IN AMERICA
Pope Francis, on Flight Home, Strongly Condemns Child Sexual Abuse
by Jim Yardley
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/europe/pope-francis-sexual-abuse.html?ref=world
The Pope has concluded his visit to the Americas. On Sunday night, aboard the Papal aircraft, Pope Francis again strongly condemned priests who molested children as “sacrilegious” and publicly acknowledged that bishops had covered up abuse cases.
Pope Departs, After Showing a Deft Touch
by Jim Yardley and Laurie Goodstien
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/pope-departs-after-showing-a-deft-touch.html?ref=us
During his visit to the United States, Pope Francis demonstrated a nuanced political dexterity, effectively sidestepping the familiar framework of American debate while charting his own broader path. He advocated “life” but emphasized opposition to the death penalty, not abortion. He made strong stands for religious freedom — a major issue for American bishops — but refocused the concept on interfaith tolerance and harmony.
Pope Francis Ends Visit With Mass After Meeting Bishops and Inmates
by Laurie Goodstien and Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/pope-francis-philadelphia-visit.html?ribbon-ad-idx=3&rref=national&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article
Pope Francis turned penitent and pastor Sunday on the final day of his visit to the United States, declaring himself “overwhelmed by shame” at the sexual violation of children by his clergy, embracing inmates at a local jail, urging young people to leave the loneliness of social media and bidding farewell with a huge downtown Mass.
AROUND THE WORLD
The Latest: U.N. General Body Meeting
Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/09/28/world/middleeast/ap-un-united-nations-summit-the-latest.html?ref=world
At the 70th meeting of the United Nations General body, President Vladimir Putin has urged the creation of a broad anti-terror coalition that would include the Syrian government troops. Monday’s meeting has been focused upon issues of security in the Middle East. This link provides the most up to date information on the progress of the meeting.
Russia Surprises U.S. with Accord on Battling ISIS
by Michael R. Gordon
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/world/middleeast/iraq-agrees-to-share-intelligence-on-isis-with-russia-syria-and-iran.html?ref=world
For the second time this month, Russia moved to expand its political and military influence in the Syria conflict and left the United States scrambling, this time by reaching an understanding, announced on Sunday, with Iraq, Syria and Iran to share intelligence about the Islamic State.
Taliban Surges into Northern Afghan City in Major Test for Security Forces
by Tim Craig and Sayed Salahuddin
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/taliban-overruns-half-of-northern-afghan-city/2015/09/28/53798568-65df-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html
Taliban insurgents launched a four-pronged attack on a major city in northern Afghanistan on Monday, overrunning parts of Kunduz and sending Afghan officials and U.N. personnel fleeing ahead of the stunning advance. The fall of Kunduz — already the target of Taliban attacks twice this year — would be a huge blow to the Western-backed government in Kabul and give Taliban insurgents a critical outpost beyond their traditional strongholds in Afghanistan’s south.
The Kremlin’s Favorite Muslim, Kadyrov, Goes too Far
by Anna Jemstova
Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/28/the-kremlin-s-favorite-muslim-kadyrov-goes-too-far.html
Putin’s most ambitious and ruthless supporter in Chechnya appears to be spinning out of control, with deadly consequences. Ramzan Kadyrov portrays himself as “Putin’s Imam” but as his rhetoric becomes increasingly fanatical, the Kremlin has chosen to distance itself from Kadyrov and begun to prepare to combat his extremism, despite Kadyrov’s verbal support for the Putin’s government.
As Insults Fly, Iran-Saudi Row over Haj Deaths Aggravates Regional Rifts
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/09/28/as-insults-fly-iran-saudi-row-over-haj-deaths-aggravates-regional-rifts/
For regional adversaries at loggerheads over the crises in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the disaster at the haj is unlikely to be a game changer in the contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia, merely adding venom to their mutual acrimony. But a deepening of already profound mistrust between the conservative Sunni kingdom and the revolutionary Shi’ite theocracy will make the task of stabilizing the Middle East’s many trouble spots even harder to achieve than it already is.
U.K. Will Deploy Hundreds of Troops to Aid Peacekeepers in Somalia, South Sudan
by Sioban O’Grady
Foreign Policy
https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/09/28/u-k-will-deploy-hundreds-of-troops-to-aid-peacekeepers-in-somalia-south-sudan/
Amid pressure from Washington to contribute more to international peacekeeping efforts, the United Kingdom will send hundreds of troops to Somalia and South Sudan in an effort to quell regional instability that has resulted from terrorism and civil war.
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