New survey finds pockets of support for Christian nationalism across US
United States RNS A new report released on Wednesday found that roughly three in 10 Americans express some sympathy for Christian nationalism, with its greatest popularity concentrated in the south-east and upper mid-west. The findings appear in a study from the Public Religion Research Institute, which probed public support for Christian nationalism as part of […]
Church-state separation: Alabama Chief Justice’s Christian reasoning in IVF opinion sparks alarm for some, rejoicing for others
PETER SMITH and TIFFANY STANLEY, of Associated Press, look at responses to the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are considered children…
Alabama gasses prisoner with nitrogen in first new execution method in decades
Updated: 5pm (AEDT) Atmore, Alabama Reuters Alabama on Thursday executed convicted murderer Kenneth Smith, who held his breath in vain as officials asphyxiated him with nitrogen gas, the first use of a new method of capital punishment since lethal injections began in the US four decades ago. Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, was a […]
Alabama prepares to carry out first execution by nitrogen asphyxiation
Atmore, Alabama Reuters Alabama was preparing on Thursday to carry out the first execution of a condemned prisoner using asphyxiation by nitrogen gas, a new method the state hopes to advance as a simpler alternative to lethal injections. Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, is a rare prisoner who has already survived one execution […]
First US nitrogen-gas execution may constitute torture – UN rights office
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The UN human rights office on Tuesday called on the US state of Alabama to halt its first planned execution of a prisoner by nitrogen gas asphyxiation this month, saying it could amount to torture and violate US commitments under international law. Kenneth Smith, convicted for a murder-for-hire committed in 1988, is […]
“No congregation is an island”: In tough times, churches can’t afford to go it alone, new book advises
Samford University sociologist Jennifer McClure Haraway looks at the way congregations in Alabama work together — and what congregations around the country can learn from them. BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, reports…
The Interview: From ‘Nights on Broadway’ to ‘1963’ – Candi Staton recalls 16th St. Baptist bombing
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks with the Grammy-nominated singer about her memories of 1963 bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama, church, what it was like being a child singer in a Gospel trio, and why she returned to Gospel music later in life…
Faith leaders urge independent review of Alabama executions
Montgomery, Alabama, US AP More than 170 pastors and other faith leaders on Tuesday urged Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to authorise an independent review of execution procedures, as Oklahoma and Tennessee did after a series of failed lethal injections in those states. The group applauded Ivey for taking the “bold and necessary step” of ordering a review of Alabama […]
Lifestory: Alabama sidesteps compensation for survivor of ’63 KKK blast
JAY REEVES, of Associated Press, speaks with Sarah Collins Rudolph, a survivor of a 1963 church bombing which killed her sister and three other Black girls, about her ongoing fight for compensation for her injuries…
Church shooting survivor: Gunman “disengaged”, sat alone
United StatesAP The 70-year-old suspected gunman in a shooting that killed three people at an Alabama church sat by himself drinking liquor, rejecting offers to join the others gathered at the potluck dinner, before gunfire shattered the peace of the evening, a survivor recalled. “It felt like he was disengaged,” Susan Sallin, 73, said. Sallin […]