Monday's News & Ideas - 4/21/2025

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88
The Associated Press: Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88.

Americans haven’t found a satisfying alternative to religion*
The New York Times: Is it any wonder the country is revisiting faith?

There’s only one Easter Sunday this year: Why that’s not always the case*
The Washington Post: The alignment of Easter in Western and Eastern branches of Christianity, along with a 1,700-year anniversary, have renewed calls for a single common date.

How storybooks on gender and sexuality sparked a major religious freedom battle
Deseret News: A Supreme Court case called Mahmoud v. Taylor, which will be heard on Tuesday, puts religious freedom and parental rights in the spotlight.

Is he Christ? Is he Moses? Superman’s religious and ethical undertones add to his mystique
The Associated Press: Superman was born Kryptonian, raised Methodist and sketched into existence by two Jewish teens in 1930s Cleveland. Faith and morality are his DNA.

The Spark

The price of eggs
Christopher Solomon writes about the death of Muffy, his chicken, for Orion Magazine.

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