Today's Headlines ~ June 15, 2015

Environmental manifesto may confirm Pope Francis as ‘Benedict 2.0’
Crux: Mythology and media narratives to the contrary, Pope Francis has far more in common with Pope Benedict XVI than whatever separates them.

The rapid rise of non-denominational Christianity
Christianity Today: Membership, baptism, and weekly attendance numbers are down in the largest evangelical denomination, but evangelicalism is a different story, Ed Stetzer says.

Archbishop Nienstedt resigns, week after diocese charged with failing children
National Catholic Reporter: U.S. Archbishop John Nienstedt resigns just ten days after prosecutors in his archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis brought criminal charges against the archdiocese “for its failure to protect children.”

Paying it forward: Maywood Church sells spiritual home, donates $140K to homeless
Bergen (N.J.) Record: Donation was made possible by the closing of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Maywood, whose membership had dwindled from a peak of 130 to fewer than two dozen, and the sale of its property.

Chaplain violated Army rule in promoting Christian book
Religion News Service: An active-duty Army chaplain has published a book titled “Jesus Was an Airborne Ranger” and appeared in a promotional video in uniform to promote it, raising questions about the service endorsing Christianity as the Pentagon wages wars in Muslim countries.