Thursday, August 1, 2024

This Week in Religion - Cat ladies or not, childless Catholic women play key roles

Lead story

A bearded man dressed in a blue suit and yellow tie speaks at a lectern.

Editor's note:

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s comments on “cat ladies” received a lot of backlash last week. In a 2021 Fox News interview, Vance criticized Vice President Kamala Harris as “one of a bunch of childless cat ladies” who lived “miserable lives” and were forcing their misery on the rest of the country. He also said that without offspring, they had no “direct stake” in their country’s future.

For the record, Harris is the mother of two children from her husband’s previous marriage, and as College of the Holy Cross Catholicism scholar Joanne M. Pierce points out, the choice to remain childless has nothing to do with women’s contributions to American society. Catholic history is full of examples of childless women, many of whom were members of religious orders and whose work led to lasting social and cultural changes.

As Pierce notes, while marriage and children have been important, "childless women in the Catholic Church were valued for their contributions," and Vance’s views are at odds with the “attitude of his current Catholic faith.”

 

Religion News

Ten years on, many Yazidis uprooted by Islamic State onslaught struggle to find safe, stable homes 

Ten years ago, Islamic State militants launched an onslaught on villages and towns of the Yazidi religious community in northern Iraq. As the anniversary of the onslaught arrives, tens of thousands of Yazidis face a tough choice: Remain in displacement camps that — for all their harshness — they’ve called home for many years. By Abby Sewell and Qassim Abdul-Zahra/The Associated Press 

As nations face off in Olympics, interfaith chaplain corps unites to serve athletes

'We have a synagogue, a church, a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and more together,' said Rabbi Moshe Lewin, one of the chaplains in the Olympic village. Some of those ministering to the competitors are former Olympians themselves. By David I. Klein/Religion News Service

An image of Jesus Christ portrayed as an Apache man hanging in a church.

The congregation at St. Joseph's Apache Mission, in the Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico, is struggling with the hurt caused by their priest removing a cherished painting called the Apache Christ, which portrays Jesus as an Apache man. By Deepa Bharath/The Associated Press 

Surviving Rwanda: God, remembrance and reconciliation on the genocide’s 30th anniversary 

Thirty years after Hutu extremists in Rwanda slaughtered close to 800,000 Tutsi in massacres that lasted 100 days, survivors still face a long healing process. For many of them, though, faith has been key. By María Teresa Hernández/The Associated Press 

Interfaith protest confronts Christians United for Israel summit

For nearly three days in and around Washington, D.C., an interfaith coalition challenged the pro-Israel messaging of pastor John Hagee and CUFI. By Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service

 

Commentary and Analysis

The Israel-Hamas war has fueled tensions around military exemptions, but the issue has long roiled Israeli politics. By Michael Brenner for The Conversation

Religiously affiliated organizations can clash with politicians on humanitarian aid to migrants, raising issues around religious freedom and hospitality to newcomers. By Laura E. Alexander for The Conversation

The first Jewish summer camps were founded at the turn of the 20th century and have become cherished traditions. But many face tough questions about how to discuss Israel and antisemitism. By Jonathan Krasner for The Conversation

In the 100 days before Election Day, Harris has an opportunity to re-engage Hindu voters. By Murali Balaji/Religion News Service

 
An overhead photo of demonstrators protesting in the rotunda of the Capitol. They are wearing red shirts and there are banners with slogans such as "Ceasefire now" and "Let Gaza live."

Hundreds of demonstrators protest in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (RNS photo/Jack Jenkins)

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