Yearly Archives: 2016

Pope pays tribute to Iraqi Christians persecuted by Islamic State

By guest — December 26, 2016

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) Francis paid tribute to Middle East Christians who have clung to their faith during persecution by Islamist militants, saying there are more Christians martyrs now than in the Church's early days.

Fearful Christmas in Baghdad after attacks on Christians

By Reuters — December 25, 2016

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Christians have been in a heightened state of fear after deadly attacks on Christian-owned shops that sell alcohol.

Pope’s Christmas message urges end to war, terrorism and ‘idolatry of money’

By Josephine McKenna — December 25, 2016

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff delivered his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (To the City and to the World) blessing before an estimated 40,000 worshippers who gathered at the Vatican.

Cameroon’s outlawed sexual and gender minorities face a ‘cemetery peace’

By Mbom Sixtus — December 25, 2016

“Some people may think LGBTI+ people live in peace in Cameroon. Their lives can only be compared to the peace and serenity of a graveyard. They are silent but live in distress.”

Protest grows against Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing at Trump’s inauguration

By Jana Riess — December 24, 2016

As backlash gains momentum against the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing at Donald Trump's inauguration, guest blogger Carol Lynn Pearson asks, "What would Jesus do?"

‘Underground’ Catholics complicate pope’s hope of better relations with China

By Reuters — December 24, 2016

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) Some Chinese Catholics are not ready to accept reconciliation with a government that has persecuted them for years.

Looking for hope after a year of heartbreak

By guest — December 23, 2016

(RNS) Anger and the lack of answers to troubling global trends of conservative nativism, social injustice, and widening economic disparity are more than enough to make me want to holler and throw up both my hands.

For some churches, opportunity knocks at Christmas

By Kirkland An — December 23, 2016

(RNS) Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois hosted almost 60,000 people at its main campus for Christmas services last year, seeing a healthy bump in numbers among people also known as "Chreasters."

J.J. Wright’s ‘O Emmanuel’ mixes it up

By Josephine McKenna — December 23, 2016

ROME (RNS) J.J. Wright’s album of sacred music 'O Emmanuel,' produced with the University of Notre Dame’s Children’s Choir, has been high on Billboard’s classical music chart for weeks.

Be honest about what you’re celebrating Dec. 25

By Jacob Lupfer — December 23, 2016

(RNS) It’s one thing to take no note of Jesus’ coming, but it seems to me an egregious dishonor to pretend that we have.

ISIS issues hit list of U.S. churches for holiday attacks

By Jerome Socolovsky — December 23, 2016

(USA Today) The Islamic State is urging its followers to attack U.S. churches and has published names and addresses of thousands of prospective targets, according to a report in the news website Vocativ.

Churches connect Christmas story to refugee crisis

By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 22, 2016

(RNS) Refugees. Genocide. Oppressive regimes. These aren't the warm, fuzzy parts of the Christmas story most churches like to focus on, but some are connecting the Holy Family's flight to Egypt at the end of that story to the modern-day refugee crisis.

It ain’t Copacabana, but Brazilians bring Christmas to the shores of Lake Tahoe

By Kimberly Winston — December 22, 2016

(RNS) Brazilians in the U.S. bring a little of their summertime Christmas to Northern California.

Trump continues inaugural prayer service tradition

By Adelle M. Banks — December 22, 2016

WASHINGTON (RNS) The National Prayer Service, which will be held on Jan. 21, the day after the swearing-in, is the last of the official inaugural events announced by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Juggling faith and family when Christmas is on Sunday