(RNS) — Texas officials have written to President Trump urging him to follow up on his tweeted endorsement of federal disaster relief for churches after Hurricane Harvey. “Regrettably, due to a FEMA policy whose terms predate your administration, the same churches that are playing an instrumental role in the recovery effort cannot receive disaster relief funding to rebuild their own buildings,” wrote Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a Wednesday (Sept. 20) letter to the president. In a Sept. 8 tweet, Trump said, “Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others).” Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others). — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2017 Citing that statement, the Texas officials told him: “We couldn’t agree more, and we write to propose that your … [Read more...]

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) — Eleven nuns take the stage wearing traditional black-and-white habits but are anything but old school as they belt out songs to the ringing of electric guitar and a rock ‘n’ roll beat. Known as Siervas, the band was born in a Peruvian convent three years ago and now travels far and wide to perform. Of all the extraordinary things about Siervas, the most remarkable may be that the band is not just a novelty. It has a genuine international following. The band’s songs of love and faith have earned over a million YouTube views and led to the release of two CDs, and now the nuns are waiting to see if they are among the honorees when Latin Grammy nominations are announced Wednesday (Sept. 20). Siervas recently traveled to Southern California and drew 4,000 people when the band headlined a Spanish-language Catholic music festival. “Everyone was calling our office, saying, ‘We want to see these nuns, when are they singing?'” said Ryan Lilyengren, … [Read more...]

(RNS) — Now here’s something you don’t see every day: A Carmelite nun, in full habit, cutting trees with a chainsaw. Sister Margaret Ann, principal of Miami’s Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School, caught the attention of an off-duty police officer, who posted photos and video of her at work on the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Facebook page on Tuesday (Sept. 12). The post said acts of kindness like hers “remind us all that we are #OneCommunity in #MiamiDadeCounty” and included the praying hands emoji for good measure. The nun told CNN the chainsaws were sitting in a school closet, and, after Hurricane Irma left a path of destruction through the city, “they didn’t belong there. They needed to be used. “We teach our students, ‘Do what you can to help,’ and so this was an opportunity where I could do something to help, and — thanks be to God — I was able to do it.” The road was blocked, the principal said, and she had seen a car spin in the mud and almost crash into … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The vast majority of U.S. Protestant pastors’ spouses say ministry has had a positive effect on their families but many report being isolated and under financial stress. A new LifeWay Research survey, released Tuesday (Sept. 12), finds that most spouses are directly involved in the work of their churches, with 1 in 5 holding a paid position and two-thirds serving in unpaid capacities. “Spouses have an important role in the church, even if it’s not an official role,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of the Nashville-based evangelical research firm. “The variety of experiences kind of reminds us just not to tuck them into a single mold.” The findings, discussed at the annual meeting of the Religion News Association days before their official release, present a picture of the varied life of the spouses behind the person in the pulpit. Some help with the church’s music or children’s ministries; some serve as secretaries or co-pastors; and others … [Read more...]

(USA Today) If you donate bottles of water, diapers, clothing or any other materials to hurricane victims in Texas or Florida, your donation will likely pass through the hands of the Seventh Day Adventists before it gets to a storm victim.That’s because the Adventists, over several decades, have established a unique expertise in disaster “warehousing” collecting, logging, organizing and distributing relief supplies, in cooperation with government disaster response agencies. Likewise, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is known for its expertise in “case management.” After the initial cleanup — where the Methodists have work crews helping pull mud out of houses — the church sends trained volunteers into the wreckage to help families navigate the maze of FEMA assistance, state aid programs and private insurance to help them rebuild their lives. UMCOR also trains other non-profits to send their own case managers into the disaster zone. In a disaster, churches don’t just hold … [Read more...]

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Pope Francis urged young Colombians to take the lead in promoting forgiveness to help their country heal from a half-century of conflict, saying they should “look to the future without the burden of hatred” that their elders often carry. From the halls of the presidential palace to the green hills of Bogota’s Simon Bolivar park, Francis on Thursday (Sept 7) brought his message of reconciliation to a country still bitterly divided over the peace deal with leftist rebels that is seeking to end Latin America’s longest-running armed rebellion. And he demanded that its leaders now address the gross inequalities that sparked the conflict to begin with. “Let us not forget that inequality is the root of social ills,” he told a crowd at Bogota’s presidential palace that included disabled children and soldiers with amputated limbs. While his appeal for forgiveness may be hard for some to swallow, Francis was nevertheless given a rock star’s welcome on his first … [Read more...]