Friday's News & Ideas - 10/2/2020

Inside the church at the heart of the Louisville protests
Associated Press: “Just breathe,” congregants at the First Unitarian Church of Louisville told each other as their church became the epicenter of one of the tensest moments in their city’s history.

With the 2020 election approaching, how political can clergy get?
Episcopal News Service: While some steer clear, others speak out -- and even run for office themselves.

Faith leaders make a case for Trump to the delight of some and dismay of others
Baptist News Global: For public figures -- and especially religious leaders -- to explicitly or implicitly endorse a presidential candidate often carries more risks than rewards.

In wake of financial scandals, Vatican releases budget for first time in four years
Religion News Service: For the first time since 2016, the Vatican has released its financial budget for the administration of Roman Curia. “The faithful have the right to know how we utilize our resources,” said the prefect for economy at the Vatican, the Rev. Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves.

Trump plans to slash refugee admissions to new low
Reuters: The Trump administration said on Wednesday it intends to allow only 15,000 refugees to resettle in the United States in the 2021 fiscal year, setting another record low in the history of the modern refugee program.

The Spark

At the edge of time, a litter of galactic puppies
The discovery of a black hole surrounded by protogalaxies* provides astronomers with a rare glimpse of the web of matter permeating the cosmos, The New York Times says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers

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