In the US, Southern Baptists see 13th year of membership decline
Nashville, TennesseeAP The largest Protestant denomination in the US is almost two per cent smaller than it was in 2018. The Southern Baptist Convention released its 2019 membership numbers on Thursday, showing a membership decline of more than 287,000. That brings their total membership down from 14.8 million in 2018 to 14.5 million last year. […]
Updated: “Get your knee off our necks,” activist Sharpton tells George Floyd memorial
Updated: 12pm AESTMinneapolis, USReuters Prominent civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton told mourners on Thursday that George Floyd’s fatal encounter with police and the nationwide protests his death ignited marked a reckoning for America over race and justice, demanding, “Get your knee off our necks.” Delivering the eulogy at a memorial service inside a […]
India launches jobs plan for migrants in “testing times”
New DelhiThomson Reuters Foundation India on Wednesday unveiled a jobs plan for “testing times” in a bid to get migrants back at work after the world’s biggest coronavirus lockdown stripped millions of their livelihood. With a mammoth repatriation effort underway, tens of thousands of migrant workers are returning to India and the government scheme aims […]
Brazil enlists rappers for national campaign against child labour
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilThomson Reuters Foundation Brazilian labor authorities will use rap to raise awareness on child labour as part of a national campaign launched on Wednesday to address officials’ fears that the coronavirus will push more youngsters into exploitative work. A song written by famous Brazilian rappers Emicida and Drik Barbosa spearheads the campaign, […]
Peaceful church protest in Brooklyn brings disruption, blessing and a call for change
New York City, USRNS “No justice, no peace.” The rhythm of the call and response chant was a simple one. It was only a few minutes, though, before a handful in the crowd of Brooklyn protesters mirrored the cadence, but substituted choice curse words of their own. That didn’t last long. “That’s not our movement!” […]
New report finds anti-Semitism on the rise in Czech Republic
Prague, Czech RepublicAP The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic doubled last year, the Jewish community said Wednesday. In its annual report, the Federation of the Jewish Communities said there were 694 anti-Semitic attacks in 2019 compared with 347 in the previous year. Visitors walk through the cemetery of the former Nazi concentration […]
Thankful to gather: In the US, some Old Order Mennonites feel called to return to church
LUIS ANDRES HENAO and JESSIE WARDARSKI, of Associated Press, report from Pennsylvania…
Survivors of missing, slain Indigenous women in Canada impatient for action
Toronto, CanadaThomson Reuters Foundation A year ago, Canada announced that the disappearance and murder of thousands of Indigenous women amounted to genocide, raising hopes authorities would act to address the historic tragedy. Now the government says a plan of action is delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, a development that survivors and advocates say is […]
Essay: India’s coronavirus pandemic shines a light on the curse of caste
In an article first published on The Conversation, SUMIT GANGULY, of Indiana University, says he’s not surprised that India’s Dalits are among those worst affected by the coronavirus crisis in India given the caste system which still operates in the nation…
Faith leaders: Police used gas that caused tears, coughing when clearing DC park
RNS On Tuesday evening President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign asserted that media outlets had falsely reported that law enforcement used tear gas to disperse protesters and faith leaders outside the White House. The police had broken up a protest on Monday shortly before the President crossed the street and posed with a Bible in front […]