News

Pope shakes up office that handles migration, COVID

By Nicole Winfield — December 23, 2021

ROME (AP) — Francis thanked Cardinal Peter Turkson for his five years of service but decided on new leadership following the results of an internal investigation, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis tells top Vatican cardinals to ‘be humble’ in Christmas address

By Claire Giangravé — December 23, 2021

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Amid unpopular reforms at the Vatican and in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis urges humility among Vatican department heads.

Former London Fashion Week designer pivots to modest fashion market

By Joseph Hammond — December 22, 2021

(RNS) — After being wrongfully imprisoned for two years in the U.K., Elle B. Mambetov has taken her once famed luxury brand and focused it on modest fashion, aimed at Muslim women.

Investigator calls on Reform movement’s rabbinical group to update ethics code

By Yonat Shimron — December 22, 2021

(RNS) — The report for the Central Conference of American Rabbis asks that sections of its code related to violations involving minors be expanded and notifications be made public.

Idaho church window once depicting Robert E. Lee now honors Black female bishop

By Adelle M. Banks — December 22, 2021

(RNS) — ‘We recognize this section of our window is more than a benign historical marker,’ the United Methodist church’s leaders said in 2020.

Pastor asks federal court to sanction immigration officials

By Jack Jenkins — December 22, 2021

(RNS) — The request is part of an ongoing lawsuit in which the pastor accuses federal officials of violating her religious freedom by surveilling her after she officiated at immigrant weddings.

United Methodists join Boy Scouts in settlement proposal to aid sex abuse survivors

By Adelle M. Banks — December 22, 2021

(RNS) — ‘We are sorry for what occurred and are praying for all those who experienced harm through Scouting activities,’ said Bishop John Schol, a leader in the mediation process.

Plans move forward for 2022 pope, Russian patriarch meeting

By Nicole Winfield and Vladimir Isachenkov — December 22, 2021

ROME (AP) — Metropolitan Hilarion, foreign relations chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, met for about an hour with Francis on Wednesday morning at the Vatican.

Catholic bishop criticizes Satanic Temple holiday display at Illinois Statehouse

By Heather Greene — December 21, 2021

(RNS) — A swaddled baby version of the deity Baphomet sits alongside a Christmas tree, the Nativity scene and a menorah.

Exceptions for ‘Jewish tourism’ rankle US Christians blocked from Israel at Christmas

By Yonat Shimron and Michele Chabin — December 21, 2021

(RNS) — Birthright Israel delegations and similar Jewish travel programs were exempted from a travel ban that has canceled Christian trips to Israel at Christmas.

Churches’ ministry to those hurt by the pandemic shows ‘monumental’ growth, study says

By Adelle M. Banks — December 21, 2021

(RNS) — The percentage of churches reporting deaths within their membership increased from 17% in the summer to 28% in November, a new report states.

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.

Cardinal Turkson says offer to resign from top Vatican post is standard procedure

By Claire Giangravé — December 21, 2021

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The highest-ranking African prelate at the Vatican resigned from his post, but it’s up to Pope Francis to decide the next step.

China imposes sanctions on USCIRF officials over Xinjiang

By Associated Press — December 21, 2021

BEIJING (AP) — The tit-for-tat sanctions add to spiraling tension over Xinjiang.

Denzel Washington: ‘I wanted to please God’ in latest directing effort