(  )  Support for capital punishment remains fairly strong in the U.S., even though nearly half of the states have outlawed it.  According to data from the Public Religion Research Institute, about two-thirds of adults believe that it is acceptable for the state to execute a person who has been convicted of murdering someone.  Amongst religious people, almost 80 percent of White Evangelicals support capital punishment, as do 71 percent of White Mainline Protestants and 66 percent of White Catholics.  Roughly 60 percent of Black Protestants also support the death penalty.  There were 47 executions last year.

(  )  The head of the Jewish Federations of North America has issued a warning.  Speaking in Washington D.C. this month, Eric Fingerhut said “The state of the Jewish union in America is strong, but it is being tested.  We are worried about the real threats of violence and the growing acceptance of anti-Semitic rhetoric.”  Fingerhut is calling on Congress to take action.  He says lawmakers need to expand the capabilities of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies so they can counter domestic terrorism more effectively.  The JFNA also wants social media companies to be held accountable for platforming anti-Semites.

(  )  Pope Leo is facing his first crisis within the Catholic Church.  A breakaway conservative group has rejected the Vatican’s offer of talks.  The position of the Society of Pius the Tenth suggests a collision course with the pontiff over its planned consecrations of new bishops without his consent.  The SSPX counts over 700 priests and 264 seminarians — which poses a real threat to the Vatican because it represents a parallel church.  Pope Leo offered dialogue with the conservatives, but only if they agreed to call off the July 1st consecration of the bishops.  There is growing unrest in the Catholic Church over liberal leadership by the popes.