Unlike his trip to the Asia Pacific region two weeks ago, when adoring crowds and lively Catholic communities welcomed Francis, the pope’s three-day visit to Belgium has stirred anger and criticism over the church’s response to sexual abuse by priests. (Gross & Bubola, The New York Times)
Read MoreMany younger African Americans are increasingly turning away from traditional organized religion and towards a more personalized approach to faith. This shift reflects broader patterns identified in a 2021 Pew Research survey, which surveyed over 8,600 Black adults nationwide and found that young Black adults are not only less religious but also less engaged with predominantly Black churches compared to their older counterparts. (Henderson, Detroit PBS)
Read MoreBlasphemy, a legal offense that can carry the death penalty, has long been a sensitive issue in a country that is more than 96 percent Muslim. Even a mere accusation can be deadly; mobs sometimes lynch people before their cases can go to trial. (ur-Rehman, The New York Times)
Read MoreThe show’s cast of characters agreed to screen-record their private phone activity and share intimate, vulnerable reflections with each other and Greenfield. The result is an unfiltered, firsthand view of the issues they grapple with daily: slut-shaming and cyberbullying; struggles with mental health and self image; racism; sexual assault and online predators; the turbulence of teen relationships; social missteps unfolding before vast online audiences. (Gibson, The Washington Post)
Read MoreDr Allan Josephson, formerly division chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Louisville claims he was harassed, demoted and eventually fired in 2017 after making the comments at an outside event. (Henderson, The Telegraph)
Read MoreEngland has begun to turn the tide on rising obesity for the first time in two decades, NHS figures reveal. The number of children who are overweight has fallen to the lowest level since 2000, while obesity rates in adults have remained stable for the past five years. (Hayward, The Times UK)
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