The shallow roots of priestly celibacy

How views on priestly celibacy changed in Christian history [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 5 September 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note The recent Pennsylvania grand jury report revealing widespread sexual abuse by priests has led to considerable turmoil in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis faces calls for his resignation over allegations of a cover-up. One question being asked is whether mandatory priestly celibacy is at the root of the crisis. Kim Haines-Eitzen, a scholar of early Christianity, writes that [priests weren’t always celibate]( – and explains what led to the shift. Have you ever wondered if someone you were interacting with online was authentic – or a Russian troll? Social media scholars Savvas Zannettou and Jeremy Blackburn explain some [clear and objective ways]( that propaganda-spewing trolls behave, so that you can pick them out from the crowd of regular internet users. Sociologist Ted Thornhill wanted to know if black activists were getting a fair shot in the college admissions process. He sent out hundreds of fictitious inquiry emails to see how activists fared compared to black students who expressed other interests. What he found is that black students who talk about racial justice are [treated differently]( by admissions professionals. Kalpana Jain Senior Religion + Ethics Editor Top stories New priests being ordained during a ceremony led by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, when they take vows, including to remain celibate. AP Photo/Andrew Medichini [How views on priestly celibacy changed in Christian history]( Kim Haines-Eitzen, Cornell University Early Christians were open to marriage for priests. It wasn't until the 12th century that celibacy became mandatory in the Catholic Church. They may look similar, but online trolls act differently. Daren Woodward/Shutterstock.com [Propaganda-spewing Russian trolls act differently online from regular people]( Savvas Zannettou, Technological University of Cyprus; Jeremy Blackburn, University of Alabama at Birmingham Some behaviors might help tell propaganda-spewing trolls apart from regular internet users, but the main protection is for people to think more critically about online information. Black students who express an interest in racial justice are less likely to get a response from predominantly white, private liberal arts colleges, new research shows. AshTproductions/www.shutterstock.com [Black student activists face penalty in college admissions]( Ted Thornhill, Florida Gulf Coast University New research by sociologist Ted Thornhill shows that black students who indicate they plan to fight for racial justice are more likely to be ignored by white admissions counselors. Politics + Society - [UN report documents genocide against Rohingya: What now?]( Max Pensky, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Nadia Rubaii, Binghamton University, State University of New York The evidence in the report is compelling, but experts explain there are many barriers to global leaders taking action. - [Campaign season is moving into high gear – your vote may not count as much as you think]( John Rennie Short, University of Maryland, Baltimore County The more undemocratic tendencies of the US electoral system are growing stronger. As the midterm campaign season enters its final stage, it turns out that some votes count more than others. Economy + Business - [How slot machines work – and why you should think twice before playing them]( Anthony Frederick Lucas, University of Nevada, Las Vegas A gaming industry expert explains how casinos' ability to hide the price of a slot spin ensures a reliable stream of revenue from even the savviest of gamblers. - [Asking customers to donate when they buy stuff may be good for business]( Benjamin Lawrence, Georgia State University Checkout charity research suggests that it can boost sales and doesn't ward off customers who don't contribute. Environment + Energy - [Drones to track one of the largest dam removals on the Eastern Seaboard]( Matthew E. Baker, University of Maryland, Baltimore County When a dam comes down this fall, a team of scientists will be there to track the environmental changes. Arts + Culture - [Serena Williams’ catsuit controversy evokes the battle over women wearing shorts]( Deirdre Clemente, University of Nevada, Las Vegas On the front lines were female tennis players who refused to adhere to the club dress codes that banned them. Trending on site - [Why you can smell rain]( Tim Logan, Texas A&M University A weather expert explains where petrichor – that pleasant, earthy scent that accompanies a storm's first raindrops – comes from. - [Google News serves conservatives and liberals similar results, but favors mainstream media]( Seth Lewis, University of Oregon; Efrat Nechushtai, Columbia University Google News does not differentiate search results according to users' politics – but it does favor mainstream news sites, which are seen as leaning left, and doesn't clearly disclose how its algorithms work. - [Time-restricted eating can overcome the bad effects of faulty genes and unhealthy diet]( Satchin Panda, University of California San Diego You've heard the adage, you are what you eat. But a new study suggests that you are 'when' you eat may be more accurate. Restricting eating times can keep chronic diseases at bay and ward off obesity. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Why Trump's wrong about WTO treating US unfairly]( [Jeffrey Kucik] Jeffrey Kucik University of Arizona [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111