How Ohio’s Indigenous sacred sites became a religious flashpoint
By Diana Kruzman — December 21, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio (RNS) — A battle for access to sacred sites is taking place, from mountains in Arizona to rivers in North Dakota, aimed at fending off developers or government agencies to preserve the physical integrity directly linked to their spiritual value.
Across US, houses of worship struggle to rebuild attendance
By David Crary — December 20, 2021
When Westminster United Methodist Church in Houston resumed in-person services late last year, after a seven-month halt due to COVID-19, there were Sundays when only three worshippers showed up, according to the pastor, Meredith Mills. Since then, attendance has inched back up, but it’s still only about half the pre-pandemic turnout of 160 or 170, […]
Childless at Christmas
By Karen Swallow Prior — December 16, 2021
(RNS) — Some holiday traditions offer particular challenges to those who aren’t part of a nuclear family at Christmas, challenges the rest of us might not even imagine.
Rastafari want more legal marijuana for freedom of worship
By Luis Andres Henao and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu — December 10, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — For Rastafari, the ritualistic smoking of marijuana brings them closer to the divine. But for decades, many have been incarcerated because of their use of cannabis.
Court won’t stop Texas abortion ban, but lets clinics sue
By Mark Sherman — December 10, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday left in place Texas’ ban on most abortions, offering only a glimmer of daylight for clinics in the state to challenge the nation’s most restrictive abortion law. The decision, little more than a week after the court signaled it would roll back abortion rights and possibly overturn […]
