Rod Snyder and Alex Orton were in a celebratory mood on the South Lawn of the White House in mid-December when President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act.
US bankruptcy court approves $121M clergy abuse settlement
A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved a $121 million reorganization plan for one of the oldest Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. as it tries to stem financial losses from clergy abuse claims that date back decades.
In Arizona, all 4 Republicans whose candidacies unsettled Jews have lost
A recount in Arizona finalized defeat for attorney general candidate Abraham Hamadeh, one of a quartet of Republicans who lost in statewide races and whose campaigns raised concerns for the state’s Jewish community.
Broken courts, big lies and genocide rehearsal: a review of 2022—and what we can expect from 2023
As 2022 draws to a close, amongst the last-minute hustle before the New Year, there’s a moment for reflection. In my line of work this isn’t necessarily a joyful task, but it is an essential one—especially for what it can…
Vermont lawmaker to seek to close clergy reporting exemption
The head of the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee says he’s going to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session to close an exemption to the state’s child abuse and neglect reporting laws for members of the clergy.
Hundreds of US rabbis pledge to block extremists in Israeli government from speaking in their communities
More than 330 American rabbis, including some who occupy prominent roles in major cities, are pledging to block members of the Religious Zionist bloc in Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government from speaking at their synagogues and will lobby to keep them…
Frank Pavone, Leonard Feeney and the long story of Catholic fundamentalism
Not that there wasn’t a lot of other news last week, but I have found myself thinking about Frank Pavone, the crusading anti-abortion priest who was defrocked by the Vatican for disobedience and blasphemy.
Republican Jewish Group: George Santos ‘Deceived Us’
The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) slammed Rep.-elect George Santos (R-N.Y.) for lying about his heritage, claiming he “deceived” the group.
State lawsuits defend abortion access with religious freedom
Cara Berg Raunick watched with bafflement as Indiana’s Republican legislators took less than two weeks to debate and pass an abortion ban that the governor signed quickly into law.
A Bay Area Church Attempts Housing Reparations
In January 1963, the city council in Berkeley, California, passed a pioneering anti-segregation law that included criminal penalties for housing discrimination. But residents so fiercely opposed it that it was repealed via referendum only a few months later. One referendum supporter reportedly…
Shapiro’s big win is a high note amid antisemitism surge
Josh Shapiro will be taking office as Pennsylvania’s next governor in January after running a campaign in which he spoke early and often about his Jewish religious heritage.
How the battle over Christian nationalism often starts with homeschooling
The Rev. Jessie Johnson, teaching pastor at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, rejects the idea of a Christian nation. “The government doesn’t establish churches nor should it,” he said.