Eric J. Lyman

Eric J. Lyman is an author at Religion News Service.

All Stories by Eric J. Lyman

Young people make their mark at Religions for Peace conference

By Eric J. Lyman — October 7, 2021

(RNS) — Nearly a quarter of those who came to this year’s conference, held in Lindau, Germany, were age 35 or younger.

Haiti’s diverse faiths bolster it against waves of tragedy

By Eric J. Lyman — October 6, 2021

(RNS) — ‘The most important thing in a disaster can be human contact,’ said the Rev. Clement Joseph, head of the state-founded Social Mission of the Haitian Churches and secretary-general for Religions for Peace-Haiti.

Religions for Peace made history with its new leader. Then came historic challenges.

By Eric J. Lyman — October 5, 2021

(RNS) — Azza Karam is the first woman and first Muslim to head the international interfaith peace organization. Within months of her taking over, the world was in the grips of the coronavirus and a global recession.

Hybrid Religions for Peace conference puts focus on climate, conflict, coronavirus

By Eric J. Lyman — October 4, 2021

(RNS) — Religions for Peace, the annual international interfaith conference, began Monday in a new hybrid format after virtual meetings in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Low-cost DNA kits could reduce rate of unreported, unprosecuted rapes in Kenya, beyond

By Eric J. Lyman — September 17, 2019

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — Two women, one an activist and a survivor of sexual assault and the other a criminologist and university professor, are working on an initiative they hope could change the way rape is treated in the developing world.

Interfaith group pledges to use religion’s influence to address climate change, poverty

By Eric J. Lyman — August 26, 2019

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — Azza Karam, the newly elected leader of the interfaith group Religions for Peace, urged delegates to the group's recent World Assembly to harness the power of religion to address climate, nuclear arms and income inequality.

Outgoing Religions for Peace leader reflects on decades of interfaith cooperation

By Eric J. Lyman — August 23, 2019

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — Retiring interfaith leader William Vendley says faith leaders must focus on the common good — as well as the interests of their own communities — in order to help address issues like climate change, peace and terrorism.

International interfaith gathering: ‘We must work together or we will all fail’

By Eric J. Lyman — August 21, 2019

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — Interfaith leaders meeting in Germany this week will discuss how they can help address issues like climate change, terrorism, women’s rights, warfare, poverty, sexual violence and migration.

Young activists push interfaith gathering to act on climate change, justice

By Eric J. Lyman — August 20, 2019

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — Young activists are among the 1,000 attendees, including representatives from religious groups, governments, multilateral organizations and nongovernmental groups, hailing from more than 100 countries, gathered for an international, interfaith event this week.

Italy and Vatican on guard after threat from Islamic State

By Eric J. Lyman — February 22, 2015

(ROME) The video threat, released with images of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt who were beheaded this month, warned that Islamic State forces were "south of Rome," in Libya. At its closest point, Libya is little more than 100 miles from the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

Pope Francis summons ‘Bishop Bling’ to the Vatican for private talks

By Eric J. Lyman — March 28, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Vatican sources confirmed Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst met with the pontiff at the Apostolic Palace but released no information about what the two men discussed.

Pope Francis hosts President Obama for talks on poverty, health care and immigration

By Eric J. Lyman — March 27, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) According to an official statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis and President Obama discussed immigration reform and "the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection."

Cocaine-filled condoms intercepted en route to the Vatican

By Eric J. Lyman — March 24, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Police said the cocaine in the shipment would have a street value of about 40,000 euros ($55,000).

Irish abuse victim, Boston cardinal named to Vatican sex abuse panel

By Eric J. Lyman — March 24, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The high-profile names on the sexual abuse commission give some indication of the importance Pope Francis has given to the panel.

Russell Crowe meets Pope Francis but leaves without a ‘Noah’ endorsement

By Eric J. Lyman — March 19, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Some backers of the film tried to cast Wednesday’s encounter as a kind of tacit papal endorsement for the movie, but Vatican officials made it clear that was not the case.

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