Law & Court
Baltimore to pay $275k in legal fees after trying to block far-right Catholic group’s 2021 rally
By Peter Smith — March 11, 2024
(AP) — Church Militant has been known for publishing stories against LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church and strongly criticizing its advocates, among other controversial topics.
9 Jehovah’s Witnesses convicted of extremism for practicing faith in Russia
By Kathryn Post — March 7, 2024
(RNS) — The men received sentences of up to seven years in a penal colony for practicing their faith.
Swiss teenager arrested on suspicion of stabbing an Orthodox Jewish man on a Zurich street
By Associated Press — March 5, 2024
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Swiss Organization of Jewish Communities said it was “deeply shocked that a community member fell victim to such an attack.”
Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500k in defamation case and is expected to close
By Peter Smith — March 5, 2024
(AP) — Church Militant and its sleek newscasts drew a loyal following for years with a mix of fiercely right-wing politics and radically conservative Catholicism in which many of America’s bishops were viewed with suspicion and disgust.
Alito argues that religious bias is better than any other kind
By Mark Silk — February 29, 2024
(RNS) — The Supreme Court justice said a Missouri case proves he was right about same-sex marriage.
Man to plead guilty in ‘killing spree’ of eagles and other birds for feathers prized by tribes
By Matthew Brown — February 28, 2024
(AP) — Federal officials have not said how many eagles were killed or what other kinds of birds were involved in the scheme, which they say began in 2015 and continued until 2021.
Alabama IVF decision is bad law with religious filigree
By Mark Silk — February 26, 2024
(RNS) — Being a religious conservative doesn't necessarily make you a theocrat.
Chief justice’s Christian reasoning in IVF opinion sparks alarm over church-state separation
By Tiffany Stanley and Peter Smith — February 23, 2024
(AP) — By citing verses from the Bible and Christian theologians in his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker alarmed advocates for church-state separation, while delighting religious conservatives who oppose abortion.
Retired Catholic bishop charged with sexual offenses in northwest Australia
By Rod Mcguirk — February 22, 2024
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A Vatican investigation into child sexual abuse allegations against Saunders began in 2022.
Woman who says she was abused spiritually and sexually by a once-famous Jesuit demands transparency
By Nicole Winfield — February 22, 2024
ROME (AP) — The Jesuits kicked Marko Rupnik out of the order last year after he refused to respond to allegations of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuses by about 20 women.
The suspects in a Kenyan doomsday cult are ordered to be hospitalized after a hunger strike
By Tom Odula — February 21, 2024
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The visibly emaciated suspects pleaded not guilty on all counts, which were read out over four and half hours.
Documentary about the murders of 3 Muslims explores religious hatred
By Yonat Shimron — February 19, 2024
DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — '36 Seconds' examines the agonizing overnight pivot of the bereaved families as they move from shock over their loved ones' murders to advocacy for a hate crime conviction that never materialized.
Here’s the latest on the investigation into the shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch
By Juan A. Lozano and Jim Vertuno — February 15, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — The shooting is one of many that have involved shooters who legally obtained guns despite criminal history and mental health problems.
Greek lawmakers are debating a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Here’s what it means
By Derek Gatopoulos — February 14, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The journey toward legalizing same-sex civil marriage in Greece has been long and contentious, with governments in the past shying away from a confrontation with the Orthodox Church.
Indian town sets a curfew and orders police to shoot violators after deadly clashes over a mosque
By Biswajeet Banerjee — February 9, 2024
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — On Thursday, thousands of protesters tried to block government officials and police who arrived to demolish the seminary and mosque following a court order that the structures were being built on government land without local authorization, Anshuman said.
