As The Associated Press reports, the U.S. Senate voted 51-49 today to move forward with consideration of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
That means a final vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation could occur over the weekend, the AP notes.
Once again this week, the battle over the court’s future — riveted by Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegation against the judge — had plenty of religion angles.
Look for much more on that as we dive into the Friday Five:
1. Religion story of the week: Speaking of Kavanaugh, Washington Post religion writer Michelle Boorstein has an interesting piece out today on how the fight over the judge is dividing his Catholic Church in D.C.
Another compelling angle from a Godbeat pro: The Atlantic’s Emma Green explores why some conservative women are angry about the treatment of Kavanaugh.
Other coverage that we’ve mentioned at GetReligion include Religion News Service’s focus on the Religious Left response to Kavanaugh and how an Oklahoma pastor’s sermon of Kavanaugh gained him not-so-positive notoriety.
2. Most popular GetReligion post: No surprise here, but a Kavanaugh-related post was our most-clicked item of the week.
Terry Mattingly’s commentary titled “Deacon Greg 'CBS' Kandra vents: USA Today sports said WHAT about Brett Kavanaugh?!?” occupies the No. 1 spot.
3. Guilt folder fodder (and more): Here’s a nice Washington Post piece about a historic black church closing its doors in a changing D.C.
What happened? The Post boils it down this way:
The death of the renowned church in Shaw — an anchor during decades of segregation, a staging ground for the 1963 March on Washington and a haven during the 1968 riots — is the latest sign of the capital’s changing face as black residents get priced out of this neighborhood and so many others. Black businesses have closed up shop, and black houses of worship have sold their real estate and headed to the suburbs, where most of their congregants live.
4. Shameless plug: Christianity Today’s Kate Shellnutt is back on the job after maternity leave, and that is good news for those who follow religion news. Welcome back, Kate!
Shellnutt’s first report this week concerned Indonesian Christians reeling from the earthquake's destruction and casualties into the thousands — including more than 200 teens who died in a Bible camp mudslide.
5. Final thought: It’s the best time of year for baseball fans whose teams made the playoffs (sadly, as tmatt noted earlier this week, that doesn’t include my Texas Rangers or his Baltimore Orioles).
But I think we can all enjoy a chuckle at Chris Sale’s response to a sportwriter’s non-question question.
Your turn, readers: Talk about which team you’re cheering in the 2018 postseason. I’m going with the Milwaukee Brewers, who never have won a World Series.
Happy Friday, everybody!
Enjoy the weekend!