News
Egypt’s leading activist gets 5 years; 2 others get 4 years
By Associated Press — December 20, 2021
CAIRO (AP) — Alaa Abdel-Fattah's arrest and trial have drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups.
Pope tells abused mother domestic violence ‘nearly satanic’
By Associated Press — December 20, 2021
ROME (AP) — Francis made the comments in a televised encounter with an abused woman who recently fled her home with her four children
Church agency: Captive missionaries made daring escape
By Peter Smith — December 20, 2021
Berlin, OH (AP) — Captive missionaries in Haiti found freedom last week by making a daring overnight escape, eluding their kidnappers and walking for miles over difficult, moonlit terrain with an infant and other children in tow, according to the agency they work for, officials said Monday. The group of 12 navigated by stars to […]
Indian man beaten to death inside historic Sikh temple
By Associated Press — December 20, 2021
NEW DELHI (AP) — The man allegedly attempted to commit a sacrilegious act inside the historic Golden Temple, one of Sikhs' most revered shrines.
Ex-hostages doing well, have left Haiti, mission agency says
By Peter Smith and Christopher Sherman — December 20, 2021
(AP) — 'Everyone including the 10-month-old baby, the 3-year-old boy and the 6-year-old boy seem to be doing reasonably well.'
Across US, houses of worship struggle to rebuild attendance
By David Crary — December 20, 2021
(AP) — 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.
Troops find religious exemption for vaccines unattainable
By Lolita C. Baldor — December 20, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 12,000 military service members refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are seeking religious exemptions, and so far they are having zero success. That total lack of approvals is creating new tensions within the military, even as the vast majority of the armed forces have gotten vaccinated. The services, urgently trying to keep […]
Answering questions on Latin Mass, Vatican decries ‘sterile polemics’
By Claire Giangravé — December 18, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The Catholic Church's department for worship laid out the rationale for a July decree reversing Pope Benedict XVI's rules for the pre-Vatican II rite.
Photos of the Week: Pope Francis turns 85; Hindu promenade in Varanasi
By Kit Doyle — December 17, 2021
(RNS) - This week’s photo gallery includes Pope Francis turning 85, a new promenade for Hindus in Varanasi, India, and more.
Preemptive Love charity accused of abusive leadership, misleading donors
By Kathryn Post — December 17, 2021
(RNS) — 'I cannot sit by and watch you preach peace while you bully, gaslight, and abuse the peacemakers on your team until they give up and quit,' one former employee wrote.
‘Mary Did You Know’ writer Mark Lowry good-natured over song’s controversy
By Bob Smietana — December 17, 2021
(RNS) — For songwriter and storyteller Mark Lowry, the song's success is a miracle, three decades later.
Faith-based pic ‘American Underdog’ tells story of Super Bowl champion Kurt Warner
By Alejandra Molina — December 17, 2021
(RNS) — 'American Underdog,' a biopic of Warner's life directed by the Erwin brothers, opens in theaters on Christmas Day.
Pope Francis celebrates 85th birthday with migrants and refugees from Cyprus
By Claire Giangravé — December 17, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The pope met with a group of a dozen migrants he invited to Rome from a refugee camp in Cyprus on his recent papal visit there.
Rashad Hussain confirmed as first Muslim US religious freedom ambassador
By Adelle M. Banks — December 17, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Ambassador Hussain is well placed to advance the US government’s promotion of international religious freedom,’ said the chair of a religious freedom watchdog.
All from US missionary group freed in Haiti, police say
By Peter Smith and Evens Sanon — December 17, 2021
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — 'We glorify God for answered prayer — the remaining 12 hostages are FREE!” Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. “All 17 of our loved ones are now safe.'
