Monday's News & Ideas - 10/12/2020

Court allows Capitol Hill Baptist Church to hold outdoor services, for now
DCist: The church argued that the District was violating its First and Fifth Amendment rights by refusing to allow the church’s entire congregation, which numbers roughly 850 people, to gather for worship.

The church’s Black exodus
The Atlantic: Pastors’ silence on racism and COVID-19 is driving Black parishioners away from their congregations.

More allegations of financial wrongdoing against ousted cardinal
Crux: After Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu was asked to step into an early retirement by Pope Francis over allegations of embezzlement at the end of last month, the prelate has hit back against several other accusations of financial wrongdoing that have been made since, most of which involve his brothers.

Venture funders flock to religious apps as churches go online*
Bloomberg: Covid-19 has upended the traditional Sunday service, taking sermons from the pulpit to the screen. It’s sparking a long overdue digital awakening for churches across the country and investors are taking notice.

Mexico asks Pope Francis for apology for church’s role in Spanish conquest
The Guardian: Mexico’s president says the Vatican should apologise for ‘reprehensible atrocities’ in colonization 500 years ago

The Spark

South Dakota town lashes back at George Floyd, his uncle after Confederate flag fight
After Selwyn Jones led the charge to remove Confederate flag-adorned patches from the uniforms of Gettysburg, S.D., police, the backlash* from the town was immediate, the Star Tribune says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers

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