Friday's News & Ideas - 9/27/2024

Confessions of a (former) Christian nationalist*
Mother Jones: When religion is placed at the service of a political party, it corrupts both.

Gen Z women are dropping out of religion, but ramping up in politics
Religion News Service: Young women are less likely to be religious, and young men are less likely to be politically active.

Tone deaf and color blind? Catholic Church struggles to keep accused abusers out of religious art
The Associated Press: A few days before the highlight of Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium — a Mass at the biggest stadium in Brussels — the specially selected choir of 120 was rehearsing a brand-new closing hymn when it became known that the composer was a priest accused of molesting young women.

US Catholic diocese agrees to pay $323m to child sexual abuse survivors
The Guardian: Rockville Centre diocese in New York settles with more than 530 victims after proposed deal comes close to failure.

Proposed deal with Vanderbilt could keep a struggling Episcopal seminary in NYC afloat
Religion News Service: An earlier plan to partner with a music school with ties to a conservative Catholic donor fell through. The new lease, if approved, could help GTS through a fiscal crisis.

The Spark

News outlets brace for chaos on election night (and perhaps beyond)
Here’s how they’re preparing to make calls* in a very tight race — and ensure that viewers and readers believe them, The New York Times says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers