Lead story
Editor's note:
Soccer is famous for its uninterrupted game play, pausing only for injuries, substitutions and a little celebration after goals. This year, however, the U.S. Major League, along with the National Women’s Soccer League and leagues in Canada and Europe, are offering game pauses during Ramadan for Muslim players to break their fast. The leaguewide “Drinks Break” policy is a shift from years past when, as former Ghanaian international Lloyd Sam recently put it, “certain guys just had to play through it.” Jeff Agoos, MLS’ senior vice president of competition, told Jack Jenkins at Religion News Service that the new 60-second breaks came after the league received numerous requests from players in the leadup to Ramadan, which runs from March 22 to April 21 this year. “There’s been broad range support for this,” Agoos said, adding the policy is an attempt to “be respective of people’s backgrounds” as well as address player health and safety.
Religion News
Pastors: Palm Sunday a balm after Nashville school shooting
Across the greater Nashville region, many Christians headed to worship services on Palm Sunday grief-stricken and hurting for the lives stolen too soon in The Covenant School shooting. By Holly Meyer/The Associated Press
This North Carolina church used to be multiracial. Then came Jan. 6.
Chapel Hill Bible Church seemed perfectly positioned to attract a diverse membership. And for many years it did — boasting that 20% of people attending were nonwhite. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service
Concerned with preventing growing numbers of suicides, the US Navy is planning to make chaplains regular members of the crew on ships with more than 300 sailors, instead of only the largest carriers as in the past. The goal is for chaplains to connect with sailors, believers and non-believers alike, as life coaches. By Giovanna Dell’Orto/The Associated Press
Grassroots faith leaders navigate a Northern Ireland in flux
Twenty-five years ago, the Good Friday Agreement halted much of the violence of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Today, grassroots faith leaders are trying to build on that opportunity. They're working toward reconciliation in a land where religion was often part of the problem. By Peter Smith/The Associated Press
From Senate subcommittee to Easter sermon: Raphael Warnock on life as a pastor-politician
‘My life is a sermon, that I get to preach on Sunday and embody and make come alive in my work in the Senate,’ said the Georgia senator. By Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service
Commentary and Analysis
Beijing is eager for more control over the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders like the Dalai Lama. By Brooke Schedneck for The Conversation
To end the now annual attacks on Muslims during Ramadan, we must end the Israeli occupation. By Omar Suleiman/Religion News Service
Donkeys and palm leaves are both associated with Christianity's Palm Sunday – but their symbolism couldn't be more different. By Joanne M. Pierce for The Conversation
Like Halloween and Christmas, today's Easter traditions are a blend of Christian and non-Christian influences. By Molly Jackson/The Conversation
Fitzgerald Moore leads a group in prayer at a memorial at the entrance to The Covenant School on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
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- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
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