Monday’s News & Ideas - 8/24/2026

Cardinal Brislin joins African clergy in calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide
Religion News Service: Drawing on Africa’s experience of apartheid, genocide and war, Cardinal Stephen Brislin and nine other Catholic clergy say Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide — and argue silence is no longer an option.

Christian nationalists’ professed support for religious pluralism is often drowned out by perceptions that Christians are under threat
The Conversation: Research shows that people who hold Christian nationalistic beliefs tend to, on average, also show antipathy toward religious minorities and racial and ethnic minorities, as well as have sexist and anti-democratic attitudes.

Notre Dame professor with focus on AI is ‘guardedly optimistic’ about it
National Catholic Reporter: Although AI can be extremely useful and a wonderful tool, professor Meghan Sullivan wonders if it will be used to make cold, calculating, amoral decisions that ignore the value and dignity of human life.

Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools
The Associated Press: A Trump administration task force created to combat antisemitism pushed for settlements with Ivy League universities despite government investigations that were rushed and incomplete or that failed to establish legal violations by the schools, former Justice Department lawyer alleged in a whistleblower disclosure.

A mosque in Ohio was attacked for the third time. Members doubt Trump’s FBI will call it a hate crime
The Guardian: The latest attack happened amid Islamophobic blowback against Arab and Muslim Americans running for office.

The Spark

‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ turns 100
100 years ago, Edward Bear — also known as Winnie-the-Pooh — also known as Pooh — went bump, bump, bump down the stairs for the first time, NPR says.

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