The election of Italy's first female prime minister is likely to create conflict with the Holy See  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	Open in browser What does the Vatican think of Giorgia Meloni? The election of Italy's first female prime minister is likely to create conflict with the Holy See Religion Unplugged Sep 28   ▷  Listen SAVE   Hi ReligionUnplugged readers, Giorgia Meloni has officially won the election for Italy’s next prime minister. She’s now poised to become the first female prime minister in the country’s history. Meloni heads the hard right political party Brothers of Italy and has been criticized for her party’s post-fascist roots, with comparisons to dictator Benito Mussolini. Meloni often combines her political viewpoints with Christian symbolism and ideology, something that has proved popular among Italy’s Catholics. However, it’s likely the election will put her and other politicians at odds with Pope Francis — particularly on issues like immigration and Meloni’s decided support for Ukraine. In today’s top story, Senior Contributor Clemente Lisi analyzes how this election will change the country and where the Vatican’s stance is in relation to Meloni’s. See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends. Share Giorgia Meloni Marches To Victory In Italy: What Does The Vatican Think Of Her Election? (ANALYSIS) The Holy See still exerts a lot of influence in Italy. In a country that is still overwhelmingly Catholic, the results of Sunday’s election will put politicians at odds with this pope on many issues — although immigration will be the biggest one. Once you put aside “culture war” issues, Meloni and the pope agree on another thorny matter: Ukraine. by Clemente Lisi Jewish Law Invites Complex Questions On Abortion by Nomi Kaltmann Every month, Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde receives at least one question from an Orthodox Jewish woman seeking his advice on whether she can, according to Orthodox Jewish law, proceed with an abortion — a question that does not yet have a rabbinic consensus. Uniquely Religious And Uniquely Human: David LaChapelle’s 'Make Believe' by Jillian Cheney (REVIEW) Defining photographer David LaChapelle is known for his celebrity portraits and his use of surreal stages highlighted with bright colors. His work is also deeply religious, often modernizing popular Renaissance art and imagining Jesus in the present day. His exhibit “make Believe” at Fotografiska in New York is a spiritual environment to take in his work and belief. ‘Traditional’ Jewish American Foods Keep Changing, With Cookbooks Playing An Influential Role In How Jews Mark Rosh Hashana by Deborah Dash Moore (ANALYSIS) American Jewish cookbooks show the evolving flavors of what’s considered Jewish food, shared over the high holidays. Sagamore Institute Study Attempts To Quantify The Cost Of Bible Translation by Warren Cole Smith Bible translation organizations in the United States receive more than $500 million in donations per year. So how many Bibles actually get translated? And how much does a Bible translation cost? Remarkably, the answer to that question is — nobody really knows. Pandemic And Politics Exacerbate Challenges Facing An Ohio Church by Bobby Ross Jr. Even before the pandemic, a church in central Ohio struggled to increase its flock, much less match the area’s rapid growth. The past few years only exacerbated the numerical concerns as the congregation — like many churches — grappled with COVID-19 restrictions, George Floyd’s murder and the nation’s political polarization. Barna Report Newly Raises An Old Question: How Should We Tithe? by Jessica Eturralde A recent report by Barna Group has Christians revisiting the meaning of the traditional tithe. “Revisiting the Tithe & Offering,” produced in partnership with Generis and Gloo, is the latest release in “The State of Generosity” series and is the culmination of collected data after surveying 2,016 U.S. adults last November. 5 Christian Football Players Who Also Had Political Careers by Clemente Lisi The worlds of football and politics have intersected many times in the past. Many have gone a step further by entering politics. Some of these football greats — not shy about publicly professing their Christian faith — have also used their religious beliefs to inform their politics and run for office. Serbian Church Endures Knife Attack — And Media Attacks by Erik Tryggestad Three members of a Church of Christ in Belgrade, Serbia, are recovering from stab wounds inflicted by a fellow church member just before Sunday worship. Meanwhile, the congregation has endured unwanted media attention and accusations of manipulation, alcoholism and operating without a license. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Is He A ‘Culture Warrior' Or A Wannabe Theocrat? by Clemente Lisi (ANALYSIS) A Republican politician with presidential aspirations visits a Christian college. What happens next, in terms of the way the event is covered by the mainstream press, is predictable — during this era of niche news, with stories written to appeal to the beliefs of specific political flocks. The politician in question is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the school is Hillsdale College in Michigan. Opinion As Billions Watched Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral, Christian Themes Were Evident In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights the Christian themes seen in the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith. Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe! Subscribe to Weekend Plug-In Remembering Rodney Stark (1934-2022) by Byron R. Johnson An Old Question That’s Back In The News: Why Can’t Non-Muslims Visit Mecca And Medina? by Richard Ostling C.S. Lewis’ ‘Post-Christian Age’ As It Relates To Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ by Michael Metzger The Last Rites For Elizabeth II by Terry Mattingly Don’t miss our latest podcast On The Ground: An Interview With Jehu Kitoli In this podcast, Jehu Kitoli, a Kenyan member of the Nairobi Hebrew Congregation, describes his long journey to Judaism. Jehu grew up Anglican. As a teenageer, Jehu began to read the Bible and found contradictions between the Hebrew scriptures and the teachings of Paul. “I discovered that the Bible was a document given to Jews and addressed to the children of Israel, who were to be in a covenant relationship with God,” Jehu said. He wanted to pray the same prayers that King David and King Solomon prayed. He wished to be a holy person, but that meant following Judaism’s onerous set of 613 commandments. He became observant, adopted kosher laws and learned Hebrew on his own. It took Jehu two years to get permission to enter the synagogue in Nairobi, but during his first visit, he felt he had found his spiritual home. Thus began his 15-year process of converting to Judaism. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.  In case you missed it Editorial picks from our archives Giorgia Meloni’s Politics And Faith: Meet The Woman Who Could Be Italy's Next Leader by Clemente Lisi Italians will vote in national elections on Sunday. If polls are correct, then history could be made once the votes are counted. Giorgia Meloni, who heads the Brothers of Italy party, could become the country’s first female prime minister since the nation became a republic in 1946. Here’s everything you need to know about her faith and politics. Wish For The ‘Orthodox Kontakion Of The Departed’ — A Hint At Prince Philip’s Complex Faith History by Terry Mattingly (OPINION) The complicated history of the royals, past and present, loomed over the short, dignified funeral for Prince Philip in St. George's Chapel, Windsor — with only 30 mourners due to COVID restrictions. The prince’s liturgical choices shaped an Anglican rite that stressed images of service, eternal hope and the beauties of God's creation. Thanks again for reading! ReligionUnplugged is a non-profit news organization that benefits greatly from your contributions. Your monetary donations allow us to continue our reporting and expand our coverage. You can always donate on our website by clicking the button below. Donate Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. For $5 a month, subscribe to our Weekend Plug-In Substack. Any news tips for us? Is there a story you think we should be covering? We want to know! Email our managing editor Meagan at meagan@themediaproject.org. Like Comment Share Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. For $5 a month, subscribe to receive our Weekend Plug-In in your inbox.  Any news tips for us? Is there a story you think we should be covering? We want to know! 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