By Bobby Ross Jr.
Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!
The next generation is leaving the Christian faith faster than parents realize, Lifeway Researchâs Aaron Earls writes.
Religion cases are notably absent from the U.S. Supreme Courtâs fall schedule, the Deseret Newsâ Kelsey Dallas notes. The question: Is that a good thing?
And surprisingly, state-level pandemic restrictions had no measurable, lasting impact on American churches, according to data cited by Christianity Todayâs Daniel Silliman.
This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start with major news we previewed last week: the Catholic Churchâs Synod of Bishops on Synodality.
What to know: The big story
Blessing same-sex unions: Even before the synod opened Wednesday, a major earthquake shook the Catholic world, as ReligionUnplugged.comâs own Clemente Lisi explains:
In a move that would signal a seismic shift for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said heâs open to blessing same-sex unions and to studying the possibility of ordaining women to the priesthood.
The comments came in an eight-page letter Francis penned this past July â and released by the Vatican on Monday â in response to five cardinals who had written to the pope expressing concern about a number of issues that will be discussed at a meeting of bishops set to start Wednesday at the Vatican.
âPastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or several people, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage,â Francis wrote.
A welcome for âeveryoneâ: Lisi, a veteran journalist who has reported on the Vatican for years, offers additional insight in his coverage of the synodâs opening day:
Pope Francis opened a meeting of bishops at the Vatican on Wednesday by warning that the Catholic church needs to put aside âpolitical calculations or ideological battlesâ and welcome âeveryoneâ to dialogue about the faith.
During the Mass at St. Peterâs Square, the pontiff said the church is a place of welcome for âeveryone, everyone, everyoneâ ahead of a three-week series of meetings â part of a years-long process known as the Synod on Synodality â that has sparked hope of change among progressives and alarm by conservatives.
âWeâre not here to create a parliament, but to walk together with the gaze of Jesus,â the pope added.
Everything you need to know: For those curious about the synod and the significance, check out this primer by Lisi.
Related coverage that caught my attention (Iâve provided gift links to the paywalled sites):
⢠âTwo trains charging at each otherâ: A Texas bishop takes on the pope (Ruth Graham, New York Times)
⢠Pope Francis opens debate on LGBTQ inclusion, womenâs ordination and celibacy (Francis X. Rocca, Wall Street Journal)
⢠In sequel to âgreenâ encyclical, pope urges rich to do their part to combat climate change (Claire GiangravĂŠ, Religion News Service)
⢠Conservative U.S. Catholics watch with dread as pope opens major meeting (Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post)
⢠German Cardinal Muller defies pope's request for confidentiality at synod with EWTN interview (Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter)
Power Up: The Weekâs Best Reads
1. The Nones: âIn many countries around the world, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people who are nonbelievers or unaffiliated with any organized religion. These so-called ânonesâ â atheists, agnostics, or nothing in particular â comprise 30% or more of the adult population in the United States and Canada, as well as numerous European countries. Japan, Israel and Uruguay are among other nations where large numbers of people are secular.â
Thatâs how The Associated Press boils down what it describes as âa sweeping package of stories, photos and videoâ on âhow this phenomenon is playing out in several of these countries.â
AP journalists â including award-winning Godbeat pros such as Deepa Bharath, Giovanna DellâOrto, Luis Andres Henao, Mariam Fam, Peter Smith and Jessie Wardarski â traveled around the world to report these stories.
2. Mark Driskollâs safe space: In an in-depth story for ReligionUnplugged.com, veteran journalist Chris Moody details how the embattled pastor built a new ministry in Arizona after the fall of Seattleâs Mars Hills Church in 2014.
This is a deeply reported and nuanced piece by a journalist highly adept at his craft.
3. Fight over Tibetan Buddhism: An 8-year-old boy âmay have to defend the faith in Mongolia against pressure from Chinaâs ruling Communist Party.â
New York Times China correspondent David Pierson reports on the conflict.
More top reads
A green card processing change means the U.S. could lose thousands of faith leaders from abroad, The Associated Pressâ Giovanna DellâOrto reports. ⌠The cases of two pastors highlight accountability issues within the Presbyterian Church in America, The Tennesseanâs Liam Adams writes. ⌠Liberty University created âfear of reprisalâ for sexual violence survivors, according to a federal investigation cited by USA Todayâs Chris Quintana and the Washington Postâs Susan Svrluga. ⌠The story of a killerâs â and Sister Helen Prejeanâs â redemption has come to New York, as Meagan Saliashvili explains for Religion News Service. ⌠Young Zoroastrians are reconnecting with their faith, Tori Luecking reports for RNS. ⌠And the National Faith & Blue Weekend seeks to build bridges between cops and congregations, according to the Washington Timesâ Mark A. Kellner.
Inside the Godbeat
I enjoyed seeing Frank Lockwood, religion editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, during a recent speaking engagement at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
I appreciated Lockwood covering the presentation that my colleague Jeremie Beller did on The Christian Chronicleâs âSacred Callingâ series on the minister shortage in Churches of Christ.
Charging station: ICYMI
Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.
What are African churches doing to better communicate with the deaf?
Zimbabwe-based journalist Cyril Zenda explores that question for ReligionUnplugged.com.
The final plug
My beloved Texas Rangers are playing in October for the first time in years. Iâm excited!
Speaking of baseball (and check out this piece if you missed it), I enjoyed Marvin Olaskyâs reflection on the âprivately influential faithâ of the late Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield.
Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.
Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for ReligionUnplugged.com and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.