Friday's News & Ideas - 3/14/2025
- Protestants cutting staff
- Remembering Martin Marty
- Robert Morris indicted
- Abuse survivor killed in LA
- Religious freedom & DEI
- Turtleboy
Protestant denominations cutting staff, trying new ideas amid declines in members and money
The Associated Press: When the Episcopal Church recently announced cuts to its national staff, it was the latest in a long-running cycle among historic U.S. Protestant denominations — declines in members leading to declines in funding and thus in staff.
The dean of American church historians*
Christianity Today: In 1986, an essay in Time magazine called Martin E. Marty “the most influential living interpreter of American religion.” And with good reason, Grant Wacker writes.
Robert Morris, former Texas megachurch pastor and Trump adviser, indicted for child sex crimes
The Texas Tribune: Morris is a former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump, and Gateway — one of the nation’s largest megachurches — has been particularly active in Dallas-area GOP politics.
Survivor who ignited US Catholic church’s reckoning with abuse killed in Louisiana
The Guardian: Scott Anthony Gastal, who at age 11 had testified in court in the 1980s that his priest had raped him, was beaten to death.
Religious freedom as a defense for DEI?*
Inside Higher Ed: Georgetown University cited its Jesuit mission in responding to Trump administration critiques of DEI. Could religious freedom protect against attacks on diversity practices?
The Spark
Turtleboy will not be stopped
A profane blogger* believes an innocent woman is being framed for murder. He’ll do anything to prove he’s right — and terrorize anyone who says he’s wrong, The Atlantic says.
*access is limited for nonsubscribers
