Friday's Catch: 'Immigrants, pets and the sin of slander in an age of social media' And More

Immigrants, pets and the sin of slander in an age of social media
No one is going to eat Rover.

After Bomb Threats and Political Vitriol, Ohio Mayor Says Enough
The mayor of the Ohio city at the center of a firestorm over immigration says that his town needs help — not the hate that has been stirred by politicians and extremists. “We are hurting,” the mayor of Springfield, Rob Rue, said in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday.

Elected officials who spread immigration lies pose a threat to public safety, rights groups say
Members of Congress who actively spread anti-immigrant conspiracy theories pose a significant threat to public safety and democracy, according to a report released by eight human, civil and immigrant rights groups. The “Bigoted Conspiracy Caucus Report” examines the power and legitimacy elected officials bring to white supremacist movements by promoting the “great replacement” and other invasion theories in legislation, official hearings, public speeches, press releases, social media posts and op-ed pieces.

Haitian-descent lawmakers have a word for Trump and Vance and their claims about pets in Springfield 

Donald Trump and JD Vance are smearing Haitian immigrants in their anti-immigrant presidential campaign, according to Florida elected officials of Haitian descent. And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is joining them, eight Floridians declared in a news release Sept. 12. Those “dangerous falsehoods” include Trump’s untrue statement in Tuesday night’s presidential debate that Haitian immigrants are stealing and eating family pets in Springfield, Ohio. Law enforcement officials there have said no such thing is happening.

Sister Norma sees God in the crying eyes of migrant children — and wants you to as well
Sister Norma Pimentel wants Americans to see children held in detention centers along the U.S.-Mexico border as human beings.A lthough she has been persecuted by other conservative Christians and even her fellow Catholics — like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott — for showing compassion for immigrants, the South Texas nun has no plans to stop sharing the love of God, she told a group of journalists and religious leaders.

Methodist council sets membership rules
At the prompting of United Methodist bishops, the World Methodist Council formalized its application process for new members. The formalization comes as disagreements within The United Methodist Church are giving rise to new denominations. The World Methodist Council also addressed international conflicts including calling for a permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestinian Territories.

Church faces shake-up in ecumenical relations
The United Methodist Church is grappling with questions that affect its relationships with other denominations. Ongoing disaffiliations and the launch of a conservative, breakaway denomination pose challenges for United Methodist relations with other Methodists. Meanwhile, The Episcopal Church is waiting to see what The United Methodist Church’s General Conference decides before moving forward with full communion. At the same time, the United Methodist Council of Bishops heard about why ecumenism is crucial to ministry.

Evangelical giving to churches is 'way down,' new research suggests
The share of Evangelical Protestant Christians giving financially to churches fell significantly in the last three years, a new survey finds.