News
On Jan. 6, vigils recall the insurrection with competing narratives
By Jack Jenkins — January 7, 2022
WASHINGTON (RNS) — From calls to pass voting rights legislation to assertions that those charged in connection with the insurrection are being mistreated, vigils remembered the attack on the U.S. Capitol differently.
Since Jan. 6 attacks, spiritual leaders unify to combat Christian nationalism
By Alejandra Molina — January 7, 2022
(RNS) — The Jan. 6 insurrection of the U.S. Capitol drew recent attention to the phenomenon of Christian nationalism, but religious and spiritual leaders acknowledge its existence long before that.
Ransom freed some missionary hostages in Haiti, workers say
By Peter Smith — January 6, 2022
An unidentified person paid a ransom that freed three missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti under an agreement that was supposed to have led to the release of all 15 remaining captives early last month, workers for their Ohio-based organization have confirmed. The person who made the payment was not affiliated with Ohio-based Christian […]
Interfaith vigil in DC gathers for second year, part of citywide Jan. 6 observances
By Jack Jenkins — January 6, 2022
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Rev. Karen Brau, pastor of Luther Place, told the small crowd gathered in the melting snow that despite the harassment they experienced a year prior, the faith leaders never stopped their prayerful witness.
On Epiphany, Pope Francis urges Catholic clergy to ‘take new paths’
By Claire Giangravé — January 6, 2022
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis warned Catholic clergy that a lack of zeal and desire leads to 'sad priests or bishops' during his homily on the feast of the Epiphany.
Jan. 6: A timeline in prayers
By Jack Jenkins — January 6, 2022
WASHINGTON (RNS) — These are some of the prayers said in and around the Capitol that day, collected by Religion News Service from videos, public documents, interviews and news reports.
For dying congregations, a ‘replant’ can offer new life
By Bob Smietana — January 5, 2022
(RNS) — As congregations become smaller and smaller, some are being ‘replanted’ by applying the lessons from start-up congregations to older, dying churches.
With child tax credit stance, Manchin runs afoul of former faith allies
By Jack Jenkins — January 5, 2022
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The senator’s support for work requirements puts him at odds with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals, among other faith groups.
The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life takes on vaccine skeptics on social media
By Claire Giangravé — January 5, 2022
(RNS) — The Pontifical Academy for Life has become the most attacked Vatican department online.
BSA bankruptcy plan misses mark in vote by abuse claimants
By Randall Chase — January 5, 2022
DOVER, Del. (AP) — A preliminary voting report in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy indicates the group’s reorganization plan has failed to win the desired support from tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children. The report, filed late Tuesday night, shows 73% of 53,888 valid ballots were cast […]
Rabbi wounded in synagogue shooting sentenced for fraud
By Associated Press — January 5, 2022
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A rabbi who was badly wounded in a deadly antisemitic attack at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Southern California was sentenced Tuesday to 14 months in federal prison for running a multimillion-dollar donation fraud, authorities said. Yisroel Goldstein, 60, also was ordered to pay about $2.8 million in restitution. He […]
Indonesian prosecutors seek life for Bali bombing suspect
By Niniek Karmini — January 5, 2022
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Police and prosecutors say Zulkarnaen is the former military commander of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian militant group with ties to al-Qaida.
Vatican novelty to start New Year as pope urges adoption
By Nicole Winfield — January 5, 2022
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis called Wednesday for simplified adoption procedures and urged couples to have more children as he presided over his first general audience of the New Year with a novel supporting cast that emphasized his call for a less-clericalized Catholic Church. For the first time, a layman and a nun provided the […]
Preemptive Love board cuts ties with founders Jeremy and Jessica Courtney
By Bob Smietana — January 4, 2022
(RNS) — Former employees had accused the former missionaries of creating a toxic culture and misleading donors.
What happened to the nonbelief channel at Patheos?
By Yonat Shimron — January 4, 2022
(RNS) — Bloggers were advised they could stay at Patheos so long as they stop writing negative or critical posts on religion or politics and instead focus on how to live a good life within their own worldview. They left.
