News & Ideas

Thursday's News & Ideas - 9/29/2022

  • Clergy loophole in abuse reporting
  • Religion & Confederate memorials
  • UMC bishops speak out
  • Suspects charged in mid-sermon robbery
  • Hasidic pilgrims in Ukraine
  • Lizzo plays James Madison’s glass flute

Churches defend clergy loophole in child sex abuse reporting
Associated Press: In 33 states, clergy are exempt from any laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report information about alleged child sexual abuse to police or child welfare officials if the church deems the information privileged.

Survey: Confederate memorials still divide Americans and religion is a big predictor
Religion News Service: Majorities of Protestants, Catholics and Mormons support efforts to preserve Confederate monuments and memorials, a PRRI survey finds.
The Washington Post: Just how racist is the MAGA movement? This survey measures it.*

Bishops push back against recruitment tactics
United Methodist News: United Methodist bishops are pushing back against recruitment tactics being used by some supporters of a new traditionalist breakaway denomination.

Two charged in mid-sermon robbery of bejeweled Brooklyn bishop*
The New York Times: Lamor Whitehead of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries lost chains, rings, watches and jewelry when gunmen invaded a service.

War didn't stop Hasidic pilgrims from gathering in Ukraine for the Jewish new year
NPR: Every fall, thousands of Hasidic Jews from around the world transform a central neighborhood in Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashana. And this year, despite warnings from their home governments and Ukraine that the country is under invasion and could be dangerous, the festival went on.

The Spark

Lizzo played a 200-year-old glass flute given to James Madison
The Twitterverse works in mysterious ways — and earlier this week, it brought together superstar Lizzo and the Library of Congress to showcase a 200-year-old flute, says Smithsonian Magazine.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



Sign up to receive religion news every weekday in the free News & Ideas newsletter

Signup options

Most recent News & Ideas

Monday’s News & Ideas - 7/7/2025

  • TX floods & Christian camp
  • AI Jesus vlogs
  • ICE arrests Iranian Christians
  • Christian documentarians in Ukraine
  • Pope Leo’s childhood home
  • Death of the English essay

Thursday’s News & Ideas - 7/3/2025

  • Religion in higher ed
  • Fast for Gaza crisis
  • Divided opinion on evolution
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jews
  • Dalai Lama succession plan
  • Black Pheonix

Wednesday’s News & Ideas - 7/2/2025

  • Clergy struggle to visit detainees
  • Jimmy Swaggart dies
  • Ethics of brain-dead pregnancy
  • Gun laws after Charleston
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jews & politics
  • What makes someone cool?
In Trust Center logo

Market insights for institutions facing critical transitions

The “Strategic Shorts” series offers theological leaders 20-minute videos of experts addressing issues of governance, innovation, and institutional change.

Learn More