Weekly Outlook - Breaking my silence: A pastor’s journey with HIV

Dear readers, It's hard to believe this time next week, we will be in Lent! If you're still looking for a Lenten devotional, you might consider our offering, Grieving Change and Loss. Here's a sample for the first Sunday of Lent written by Outlook Editor Teri McDowell Ott. You can read more samples and learn more on our website.  “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.”—Ecclesiastes 7:2 Denial of death can take many forms. For the person diagnosed with a terminal illness, the stage of denial may include rejection of reality and facts. The person may go searching for a second, third or fourth medical opinion or might turn to alternative modes of healing to bolster their disbelief of the terminal diagnosis. To the grieving, denial can feel like they are living a dream, or as if a big mistake has been made that will soon be corrected. Joan Didion’s 2007 book A Year of Magical Thinking describes the year after her husband’s unexpected death. She writes the details of the day he died, trying to convince herself that it actually happened. Describing the year after his death, she continues to write of waking up in bed wondering why she was alone, wondering why other people thought her husband was dead, wondering – fearing! – that she had allowed her husband to be buried alive. Denial serves an emotional purpose in the grief process. Kübler-Ross writes about denial acting as an emotional “buffer,” giving the grieving person time to collect themselves and, in that time, to build the psychological strength to withstand the pain that comes with deep loss. Denial is a mode of survival: our biological means of allowing only as much pain as we can handle. In this way, denial can be understood as a form of grace. As we reflect on grief’s stage of denial this week, contemplate the way this stage serves as grace. What pain have you experienced that was simply too much to bear? What pain have you needed to deny in order to survive? When have you witnessed others experiencing denial to protect themselves from painful truths? Prayer: Merciful God, we all experience loss. We all grieve life’s limits. We praise you for subtle grace, the gifts that keep us afloat while awash in grief. Amen. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor

Rev. John Buchanan, former pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, dies at 87 by Kade Heather Breaking my silence: A pastor’s journey with HIV by Andries Coetzee Bridging generations for racial justice by Colleen Bell  I’ve been labeled a felon for 54 years. The president won’t be. by Patrice Gaines The power of the pilgrim: A journey of faith and witness by Keatan King and Omar Rouchon Presbyterian Church of Okemos, Michigan reaffirms baptism vows for a boy named Zach, a beloved member and transgender youth by Mike Ferguson In case you missed it... The march of Presbyterians in the Civil Rights Movement As attitudes about race began to shift among White Presbyterians in both the UPCUSA and the PCUS, social justice emerged as a primary, common mission, writes Jimmie Hawkins. South Pittsburgh pastor takes the long view of service to the community Neighborhood connections have fueled ministry and relationships over three decades. — Gregg Brekke Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum make a compelling case that America’s “ungoverning” may lead to a national government so weak that no party or leader can govern. Paul B. Dornan reviews their new book. Love’s Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis Norman Wirzba offers a theology of hope in “a time of crisis.” Amy Pagliarella reviews Wirzba's latest book. Dear Aunt Osibe and Uncle Ernest: A letter to my ancestors Gail Henderson-Belsito remembers two people who embodied all that is civil and right. Performance as prophecy and protest Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show was a prophetic pronouncement — and an invitation for Christians, writes Shea Watts. Fresh Outlook Bible Studies: “Revelation” In four sessions, “Revelation: Professing Christ Today” by Mark D. Hinds seeks to create an inclusive environment for discussing and reflecting on the political ramifications of following Christ.

Order today! How do we hold space for grief while clinging to hope? Grieving Change and Loss, a daily Lenten devotional from Presbyterian Outlook, embraces the complexity of loss in its many forms — from lost health to fractured friendships — and invites you to encounter the resurrection promise anew. Explore grief’s six stages each week with reflections, Scripture, and prayer.

This Week in Religion - Eyes on the Vatican

Lead story

Papal elections aren’t always as dramatic as ‘Conclave’ − but the history behind the process is

Editor's note:

For the past two weeks, it’s felt as though all eyes are on the Vatican, waiting for each day’s updates on Pope Francis’ health. Since Feb. 14 he’s been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, being treated for double pneumonia and other conditions.

Francis’ hospitalization was even mentioned at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Hollywood, where Isabella Rossellini wished for his recovery. Her film, “Conclave,” took home the night’s award for best cast – and is unexpectedly timely.

Based on a novel, “Conclave” delves into what happens when one pope passes away and the next must be chosen. The word derives from the Latin words for “with key,” since cardinals are sequestered inside the Vatican as they vote.

But the process hasn’t always looked that way. Joelle Rollo-Koster, a historian at the University of Rhode Island who researches the medieval papacy, explains how centuries marked by chaos and looting led to the strict secrecy of today’s conclaves.

“Power is tantalizing,” she writes, “and electoral violence and manipulation are not new.”

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Religion News

Faith groups claim legal victories on refugees, ICE raids at houses of worship

"The courts are still working in this country," said Mark Hetfield, head of HIAS, a Jewish organization that works with refugees. "Thank God." By Aleja Hertzler-McCain and Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service

The US Christian population has declined for years. A new survey shows that drop leveling off 

The number of Americans who identify as Christian has declined steadily for years, but that drop shows signs of slowing, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. By Tiffany Stanley/The Associated Press

Ex-Church of England leader faces potential disciplinary action over handling of abuse claims

A former leader of the Church of England is among several members of the clergy facing potential disciplinary action over the way the institution handled sexual abuse allegations. By Sylvia Hui/The Associated Press

Freed Israeli hostage held onto faith to get through months of captivity in Gaza

An Israeli hostage freed in the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas says that faith sustained her in captivity and that she used the few means that were available to observe Judaism. By Tia Goldenberg/The Associated Press

At international Chabad conference, emissaries celebrate Jewish women's leadership

When he took over the Chabad movement, the Rebbe began sending out couples as emissaries, leading women to take on more responsibilities. By Fiona André/Religion News Service

 

Commentary and Analysis

Trump administration's criticism of pope, foreign aid rejects teachings of Jesus

Christian leaders need to be prophetic like Francis, John Paul and Jesus in calling us to see our brothers and sisters who need help. By Thomas Reese/Religion News Service

Francis − a pope who has cared deeply for the poor and opened up the Catholic Church

A scholar of global Catholicism writes how Francis has opened the church to the outside world in ways no pope had done before. By Mathew Schmalz for The Conversation

How Roman society integrated people who altered their bodies and defied gender norms

There may have been fear of gender-diverse people in the ancient world, but they played a crucial role. In Rome, they were viewed as vital to the city’s safety. By Tom Sapsford for The Conversation

Butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers − and prostitutes: The women working behind the scenes in papal Avignon

Women’s work may not have been glamorous, but it was vital to the workings of the pope’s court and surrounding city. By Joelle Rollo-Koster for The Conversation

 

Photos of the Week: Pope Francis' health, war anniversary and more

A young, novice monk holds up traditional instruments played by fellow monks during Gyalpo Losar, the Sherpa community's New Year celebration, at Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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WCC News: WCC general secretary speaks at JC2033 global gathering

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay spoke at a JC2033 Unity Night global gathering on 27 February.  World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay spoke at the Unity Night of the JC2033 global gathering in Geneva on 27 February 2025. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 28 February 2025 JC2033 is a movement of Christians around the world who are celebrating the 2000th anniversary of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter 2033. Every two years, JC2033 organises an international gathering on a different continent, with this year’s occurring in Geneva on 26-28 February under the theme “Light for the Nations.” Pillay reflected on the importance of Christian unity. “As we move towards JC2033, it is imperative that we work for Christian unity on the way,” he said. “Personally, I believe that we must never stop praying and walking and working together for Christian unity.” Pillay also noted that, in 2025, the World Council of Churches will not only commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nieaea but will also celebrate with joy a common date for Easter. Pillay reiterated the need to affirm and deepen the desire for Christian unity. “Our inability to live up to the calling of visible Christian unity should not diminish or blur the ultimate vision,” he said. “Let us continue to pray and work together so that the world may believe!” Pillay defined Christian unity as a witness to the world. “So that the world may believe,” he said. “A broken and suffering world needs the unity of Christians.” Christian unity matters in the quest for justice, reconciliation, and peace in the world, said Pillay. “Christian unity is God`s call to us today to reconcile humanity and all creation,” said Pillay. “The faith we confess must shape the way we live, the way we respond to the brokenness of the world, and the way we embody the love of Christ in tangible, transformative ways.” In addition to the WCC general secretary, speakers at Unity Night included Olivier Fleury, founder of JC2033, and Elias Myrianthous, member of the Cyprus Parliament (Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy). Address of the WCC general secretary at the JC2033 Global Gathering in Geneva Photo gallery: JC2033 Global Gathering in Geneva - Unity Night Learn more about the JC2033 movement See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

RNS Morning Report - In ‘House of David,’ can the Old Testament inspire a TV hit?

Top Stories In ‘House of David,’ can the Old Testament inspire a TV hit? (RNS) — Amid the runaway success of ‘The Chosen,’ biblical dramas are having a moment.   Vatican says Pope Francis continues to improve but his prognosis remains guarded ROME (AP) — For the second day in a row, doctors avoided saying Francis was in critical condition.   Conservative Christian media leaders disagree over Trump’s treatment of AP GRAPEVINE, Texas (RNS) — Normally supportive of the president’s decisions, attendees at the annual conference of religious broadcasters expressed ambivalence about a squabble over what to call the Gulf of Mexico.   Martin E. Marty, religion historian and ‘churchman in the most serious way,’ dies at 97 (RNS) — Marty was a giant in the study of American Christianity and the fundamentalist movement in major faiths around the globe. He was also a warmhearted friend, mentor and pastor to many.     RNS Opinion Jews cannot remain silent about the murders of Christians in Congo (RNS) — The world is silent when they kill Jews. Let Jews not be silent when they kill Christians.   Gender diversity is a question of religious diversity (RNS) — This ideology has no room for religious diversity and no value for people of other faiths and their theologies.   ICYMI Boycotts accompany prayer as faith leaders prepare for a Lent of protest (RNS) — The Rev. Jamal Bryant said he hopes 100,000 ‘conscientious Christians’ will have signed up by March 5 to mark the ‘season of denial’ by fasting from shopping at Target.   Decline in American Christian observance has slowed, Pew study finds (RNS) – ‘The U.S. is a spiritual place, a religious place, where we’ve seen signs of religious stabilization in the midst of longer-term decline,’ said Gregory Smith, a senior associate director of research at Pew Research Center. In Other News ‘Testing ground for Project 2025’: behind Oklahoma’s rightwing push to erode the line between church and state New Jersey governor launches program to bring abortionists to state   Depend on our reporting? Help us out! As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. You can support this work! News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205