Civil War
Campus friendships can end a civil war before it starts
By Paul Brandeis Raushenbush — October 1, 2019
(RNS) — We are at historic, civil war levels of animosity and distrust between Americans, but the divide is not because of the impeachment, or even President Donald Trump.
Will the Catholic Church self-destruct or bridge the partisan divide?
By Thomas Reese — July 31, 2019
(RNS) — American Catholics are almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, which means the church can either self-destruct or bridge the partisan divide.
South Sudanese churches call for acceptance of wartime sexual violence survivors
By Fredrick Nzwili — June 28, 2019
(RNS) — Thousands of women and girls in Africa’s newest nation who have suffered brutal sexual violence have been rejected by their families on their return to their communities.
In African refugee camps, app replaces Bibles left behind
By Doreen Ajiambo — May 6, 2019
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — The digital library has done much to replace the reference books many Sudanese churches lost to their country's decade of civil war.
As one historically black Episcopal church closes, others face strong headwinds
By Yonat Shimron — December 11, 2018
WARRENTON, N.C. (RNS) — As North Carolina wrestles with the aftermath of Jim Crow, some of the churches bound up in the racial history of the region are slowly fading from view.
At world’s largest refugee camp, trauma victims seek healing in God
By Tonny Onyulo — August 8, 2018
BIDI BIDI REFUGEE CAMP, Uganda (RNS) – 'The church gives them new hope, which is important to refugees and any person who has experienced trauma,' says a counselor.
Cardinal Dolan makes good points but ignores politics of abortion
By Thomas Reese — June 14, 2018
(RNS) — While Cardinal Dolan and I agree that the bishops are consistently pro-life, other groups, including many Republican politicians, are only pro-life when it comes to restricting abortion, not when it comes to government programs to help women.
For Baha’is, Yemen man’s death sentence is grimly familiar
By Winston Nagan — March 1, 2018
(RNS) — While this new wave of persecution against the Baha’is may seem arbitrary, it strongly echoes the state-sponsored program of persecution against the Baha’is in Iran.
First beatification Mass for US-born priest and martyr draws thousands
By Bobby Ross Jr. — September 23, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) — An estimated 20,000 Catholics attended the special Mass celebrating the Rev. Stanley Francis Rother, who was shot to death during Guatemala’s civil war.
Instant messages from hell
By Julia Lieblich — August 28, 2017
CHICAGO (RNS) — Twelve years have passed since Ambrose Ndoinje drove me in his taxi during my trip to Sierra Leone. But he still sends instant messages telling me that Jesus loves me and news of the latest disaster to befall his Godforsaken place.
Is Pope Francis really facing a coup? Or just ‘fake news’?
By David Gibson — March 10, 2017
(RNS) As the pontiff marks the fourth anniversary of his election, reports of plotting in the Vatican and a 'civil war' in the Catholic Church are rampant. But a reality check suggests a different story.
General Butt Naked’s humanitarian rebirth tests Liberia’s forgiveness
By RNS staff — October 26, 2016
MONROVIA (Reuters) Everyone likes a good redemption story, and there are few more remarkable than that of notorious Liberian warlord 'General Butt Naked.'
Pope Francis invites Syrian refugees to lunch in Vatican
By Josephine McKenna — August 11, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff's gesture was another pointed challenge to sentiment in the West against welcoming refugees from the war-torn region.
Catholic nuns under siege in Syria appeal for help
By Josephine McKenna — August 5, 2016
ROME (RNS) The bombing and the food shortages in Aleppo have reached a critical point, but several Carmelite nuns are refusing to leave.
Conversations about hard truths
By Martin E. Marty — July 11, 2016
Sightings responds to David Gushee's July 4th column on “Seven hard truths.”
