Cardinal George Pell, who cast an imposing shadow over the Roman Catholic Church from the gold-mining town he grew up in, across Australia and to Rome before a fall from grace in his 70s, has died. He was 81. (Stewart & Condie, The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreThe first difficulty with studying the c-word is that there is no consensus around what it actually refers to. Such is the case with many vague concepts, like freedom, meaning, love and existence, but that domain is often supposed to be reserved for philosophers, not engineers. (Whang, The New York Times)
Read MoreDespite the short-term upheaval COVID-19 caused among American churches, the pandemic’s long-term effect on worship attendance patterns was minimal, according to a study released Thursday by researchers at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the University of Chicago. The biggest exception to that trend occurred among young adults, whose church attendance took a major hit. (Roach, Christianity Today)
Read MoreBeginning Monday (Jan. 9), Mt. Horeb begins a 30-day discernment period after which it will vote on whether to break away from the denomination. Two-thirds of the congregation must vote to leave to trigger the exit. The vote will take place in February. (Shimron, Religion News Service)
Read MoreThat last one might have seemed unintentionally on the nose, and not just because the spread of legislation restricting teaching on race, gender and other “divisive concepts” has left many educators feeling like they have a target on their backs. In recent months, the association has also been roiled by its own divisive concepts — including what constitutes “good history” to begin with. (Schuessler, The New York Times)
Read More"This is not only about simple biology, but fairness for women's sports, plain and simple," the attorney general said. "Opportunities for girls and women on the field are precious and we must safeguard that future." (AP/NPR)
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