News
Tensions over race, religion in France’s presidential race
By Arno Pedram — April 21, 2022
PARIS (AP) — Experts have seen this election as unusually dominated by discriminatory discourse and proposals targeting immigration and Islam.
Hungary’s Orban meets pope with Ukraine war as backdrop
By Justin Spike and Nicole Winfield — April 21, 2022
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The meeting was the second between Francis and Orban in less than a year.
Photos of the Week: Holy Week around the world
By Kit Doyle — April 21, 2022
(RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes Christian Holy Week events, Passover beginning and more.
The scientific meltdown over a controversial discovery of ‘biblical Sodom’
By Jerry Pattengale — April 20, 2022
(RNS) — The remains of a city’s fiery demise near the Dead Sea have archaeologists at odds.
Archbishop resigns from Anglican Church of Canada over sexual misconduct
By Kathryn Post — April 20, 2022
(RNS) — Mark MacDonald was national Indigenous Anglican archbishop of the ACC and is known for his climate justice advocacy.
Religion is central in film depicting last abortion clinic along Texas’ southern border
By Alejandra Molina — April 20, 2022
(RNS) — ‘Religion does really play a big role in this and we can’t just overlook it,’ said one of the film’s directors.
Atheists, spurred by growing ranks, gather for first time since start of pandemic
By Heather Greene — April 20, 2022
ATLANTA (RNS) — Despite frustrations with the current political climate, there was an overall sense of hope buoyed by the growing number of young people identifying as nonbelievers.
NJ diocese agrees to $87.5M deal to settle sex abuse suits
By Mike Catalini — April 20, 2022
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Catholic diocese has agreed to pay $87.5 million to settle claims involving clergy sex abuse with some 300 alleged victims in one of the largest cash settlements involving the Catholic church in the United States. The agreement between the Diocese of Camden, which encompasses six counties in southern […]
Dede Robertson, wife of religious broadcaster, dies at 94
By Ben Finley — April 20, 2022
(AP) — She represented the U.S. on the Inter-American Commission of Women, which worked to ensure recognition of women’s human rights, and served on the board of Regent University, which her husband founded.
Muslim properties razed in New Delhi after communal violence
By Sheikh Saaliq — April 20, 2022
(AP) — Officials say they are targeting illegal buildings and not any religious group. But critics argue this is the latest attempt to harass Muslims, who make up 14% of India’s 1.4 billion people.
At Coachella, Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz hosts mini-‘Seders’ for Passover
By Kathryn Post — April 19, 2022
(RNS) — At ‘matzahchella,’ the rapper offered boiled eggs and horseradish to concertgoers as part of a 10-minute Passover Seder.
Why Vance Pitman, megachurch pastor, resigned as top leader at his Las Vegas church
By Bob Smietana — April 19, 2022
(RNS) — The former megachurch pastor hopes to focus on helping church planters, especially in the American West.
World Council of Churches urges Patriarch Kirill to lobby for Easter cease-fire
By Jack Jenkins — April 19, 2022
(RNS) — The letter to the Russian patriarch comes amid calls to expel him and the Russian Orthodox Church from the WCC.
As COVID-19 shutdown lifts, Mecca’s pilgrims bring Islam’s holiest city back to life
By Rabiya Jaffery — April 19, 2022
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (RNS) — Pandemic closures played havoc with the livelihoods of traders who depended on the pilgrims.
Renovations complete, Washington’s LDS temple provides rare public glimpse inside
By Adelle M. Banks — April 18, 2022
KENSINGTON, Maryland (RNS) — ‘It’s a conduit for heaven for a lot of us,' said a church member, 'where we believe that’s where we can commune with God here on earth.'
