By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. Religion reporter Bob Smietana’s “aha!” moment came a few years ago while covering a hurricane. When a tornado, flood or other disaster occurs, so-called faith-based FEMA … Continue reading Why faith matters to America: We talk to the author of an insightful new book

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. First, fear. Then, shock. Now, questions. Lots of questions. The Muslim community in Albuquerque, New Mexico — and even nationwide — has dealt with a gamut of … Continue reading Fear, shock, questions follow the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. Catholic churches and dioceses in Kansas spent millions of dollars in support of a referendum to remove the right to abortion from the state’s constitution. But … Continue reading Sunflower State surprise: 5 takeaways as Kansas keeps right to abortion in Constitution

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. Pope Francis made a “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada this week to apologize to Indigenous peoples for abuses at church-run residential schools. Rome-based journalists traveling with Francis … Continue reading The most compelling headlines from Pope Francis’ ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. Pope Francis is traveling to Canada this weekend. The purpose of the Catholic leader’s seven-day trip: to apologize to Indigenous peoples for abuses at church-run residential … Continue reading 5 key facts as Pope Francis travels to Canada to apologize to Indigenous peoples

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. 1979 was a highly consequential year for the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention. So was 1985. And 2021, come to think of it. No doubt … Continue reading 5 key takeaways: Sex abuse reforms top Southern Baptists’ actions at annual meeting

People of faith debate solutions to America’s string of mass shootings. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. TULSA, Okla. — God and guns. After a string of mass shootings nationwide, conversations with people of faith … Continue reading God and guns