Four Augustinian friars have swapped their life of prayer for a sit-in protest that could see them jailed in a battle over the conversion of their historic monastery into a luxury retirement home. They are threatening to barricade themselves inside the Santo Spirito monastery in Florence. (Kington, The Times)
Read MoreThe U.S. is making progress against one of its most devastating public health threats: drug overdoses. Over the 12 months ending in October 2024, the country saw a 25% decline in overdose deaths compared with the same period the year prior, according to the latest preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 82,000 overdose deaths were reported. (Wernau and Abbott, The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreIn general, the large are growing larger and the small keep getting smaller. Congregations with more than 250 in attendance (62 percent) and those with 100 to 250 (59 percent) are more likely than churches with 50 to 99 in attendance (45 percent) and those with fewer than 50 (23 percent) to be growing by 4 percent or more. (Earls, Baptist Press)
Read MoreA federal judge in Washington D.C. has issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration over its attempt to ban transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military. Tuesday's decision by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes temporarily blocks the Department of Defense from carrying through with a policy directive designed to remove transgender service members from the military. (Moore, NPR)
Read MoreAI translation for religious services is a new phenomenon, and Christian experts in AI ethics and multicultural ministry are just beginning to parse through their guidance for churches. Some had not heard of live AI translation in worship services before being contacted by RNS. (Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Read MoreI believe that whether you think A.G.I. will be great or terrible for humanity — and honestly, it may be too early to say — its arrival raises important economic, political and technological questions to which we currently have no answers. I believe that the right time to start preparing for A.G.I. is now. (Roose, The New York Times)
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