In the US, clergy file suit over Missouri abortion ban, arguing it establishes a religion
United StatesRNS An interfaith group of clergy has filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s strict abortion ban, arguing the statute violates the state’s constitution by imposing one set of religious values on all residents. Advocates announced the lawsuit on Thursday from the sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral, an Episcopal church in St Louis. Traci Blackmon speaks […]
In two years, the United Church of Christ has paid off $US100 million in medical debt in the US
RNS The United Church of Christ has now paid off more than $US100 million in medical debt for people across the United States. The UCC announced on Monday that it used $US200,000 from one of its annual Giving Tuesday campaigns to purchase and pay off $US33 million in medical debt for residents of Ohio, where […]
Lifestory: Working at the “intersection of “faith and social justice”, Rev Cece Jones-Davis on the campaign that helped get Julius Jones off death row
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks with US minister Rev Cece Jones-Davis about her work in advocating for and supporting Julius Jones, a former death-row inmate whose sentenced was commuted to life last November…
In the US, white supremacists found liable for violence at Charlottesville rally
RNS A jury has found that a group that helped organised the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, is liable for injuries suffered by counter-protesters, awarding a total of $US26 million in damages. The jury was deadlocked on two federal conspiracy charges but found the defendants, including white nationalist activists Richard Spencer, Jason Kessler […]
In the US, as United Church of Christ takes on race and LGBTQ issues, consensus reigns
RNS When the United Church of Christ kicks off its General Synod on Sunday, Rev Traci Blackmon isn’t worried about fractious votes, conservative insurgencies or to-do’s over high-level resignations – or calls for the same. The UCC, in short, is no Southern Baptist Convention, which endured all of the above at its annual meeting last […]