CHICAGO, IL (June 17, 2016) — Covenanters routinely share links to social media articles and videos that Covenant News Service believes may be of interest to others. Each Friday we post five of them. Following is a sample of those submissions—their inclusion does not represent an endorsement by the Covenant of any views expressed.

Full Faith and Credit: Christian Groups Unite Against Predatory Lending

Churches across the theological spectrum agree that payday loans are unjust. Now they are joining together to fight what is essentially legalized loansharking.

From the article: “In Missouri, the interest rate cap on payday loans is 1,950 percent annual percentage rate. They are charging an average of 450 percent A.P.R.”

In Small Farming Town, Making a Case for Restorative Justice

And a small town shall lead them. This mediation project is for youth who have committed minor crimes and misdemeanors such as vandalism, fighting, or stealing, and it brings them together with the victims. Staffed by volunteers, it has helped to keep many people out of the criminal justice system and slashed high school suspension and expulsion rates.

Among the converted skeptics is the local school system’s self-described “queen of discipline” and police officers.

From the article: “When (Lt. Marc Ediger) first heard about the program, he was worried it could be soft on crime. ‘But it’s not,’ he says. ‘It’s taking ownership of what you’ve done.’”

Pope Francis Needs to Do More Than Kiss the Disabled

The article is a reminder about the layers of inadvertent meaning that can be present in a simple public gesture.

From the article: “It’s surely not Pope Francis’ intended message, but sometimes he seems, inadvertently, to treat disabled persons as a spectacle with public kisses and blessings. The disabled need more, in terms of both access to the Church and inclusion in it.”

Americans Give More Than $1 Billion to Charity Every Day

Stories like this aren’t reported enough, and the news should be celebrated. They might even inspire us to greater generosity.

From the article: “Individual Americans were the most generous group of givers, donating $264.58 billion in 2015, a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year, and about two-thirds of the total charitable donations for the year.”

Eight Gadgets Devoted Solely to Spreading Butter

Is there no end to humanity’s genius?

From the article: “Are these gadgets any better than heating a traditional knife under hot water and going at it? Is spreading butter so difficult that the average consumer must arm themselves with a drawer full of dedicated devices?”