Lauren Nelson is an advocate and aspiring ally focused on intersectional justice. When she's not gabbing on social media or chasing after her precocious seven year old, you'll find her researching and writing extensively on the subjects of politics, policy, culture, neurodiversity, and faith for The Friendly Atheist and Rethink the Rant.
Pope Francis made quite a stir on Thursday with comments about Donald Trump and his wall fetish. When asked about the controversial political figure, he stated, “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” Backlash over the Pope’s statement was fast and furious. Trump fired back, sneering, “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.” Read more
The Syrian refugee crisis prompted many European nations to open their doors to those displaced by the raging civil war. Though most regarded the influx of refugees with compassion, there were others who responded with intense anti-Muslim bigotry and xenophobia. There has been pronounced opposition to the resettlement of refugees across Europe, with protests in Germany, Denmark, Greece, and beyond. Riding this wave of vitriol, ultra-conservative Polish magazine wSIECI, or The Network in English, released a deeply disturbing cover for its latest edition, featuring a distraught young white woman draped in the flag of the European Union being groped by three men with brown skin. The headline reads, “Islamic Rape of Europe.” Read more
On Thursday, Marco Rubio spent part of his day at a crisis pregnancy center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Carolina Pregnancy Center describes itself as a “non-profit, non-denominational organization that is committed to providing compassion, information, and support to anyone facing the challenge of an unplanned pregnancy.” If you were to stop there, you might find yourself a little shocked by pro-life candidate Rubio’s visit to a location that seems to support choice. But if you know what a crisis pregnancy center is, you know better. Read more
On Thursday, former Tea Party darling and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley proudly endorsed Marco Rubio for president. Joined on stage by Representative Trey Gowdy and Senator Tim Scott, she used the multi-colored moment to extol the diversity of the GOP, telling the crowd, “Take of picture of this, because this new group of conservatives taking over America looks like a Benetton commercial.” In a time when minorities are simultaneously a rising force in the electorate and alienated by GOP policies and rhetoric, it was an important moment. Haley, an Indian American, joined by Scott, a black American, was endorsing Rubio, a Cuban American. Somewhere out there, Reince Priebus was crying tears of joy. This is the image the party wants — no, needs — to portray. There’s one tiny problem with the optics, though. This diverse collective that Haley says is the future of the Republican Party? The values Rubio wants us to return to would never have allowed it in the first place. Read more
The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the rapid spread of the Zika virus. Though our understanding of the virus is still in the early stages, it is becoming increasingly clear that it is linked to a high rate of birth defects. As a result, global health organizations have advised women in affected areas to avoid pregnancy. The recommended solution? Condoms. But in Latin America, the heart of the outbreak, this is easier said than done, and you can thank the Catholic Church for that. Since the colonization of Latin America by Spain, the region has been heavily Catholic. With more than 425 million practitioners, the area is home to over 40% of the world’s Catholic population. Though more and more Catholics are leaving the Church for Protestant denominations, it still has significant sway when it comes to social norms and public policy — two arenas that serve as roadblocks as the region looks to combat the spread of the Zika virus. One of the ways health workers are encouraging people to fight the spread of the virus is by using condoms. This packs a double whammy: no pregnancy means no potential birth defects and decreased likelihood of infection. Unfortunately, the Church’s hardline stance against contraception renders such a suggestion socially unacceptable. Leaders in the Church throughout Latin America have reinforced the idea, much to the chagrin of those seeking to combat the virus. But then, on Thursday, Pope Francis made comments that seemed to soften the Church’s position. Read more
