News

‘George Floyd’ pieta stolen after artist receives death threats

By Jack Jenkins — November 26, 2021

(RNS) — Officials at Catholic University of America promptly replaced the image with a smaller copy.

Photos of the Week: Christmas and Hanukkah preparations; large trial verdicts

By Kit Doyle — November 26, 2021

(RNS) - This week’s photo gallery includes preparations for Christmas and Hanukkah, major trial verdicts in the United States and more.

Pope Francis and Macron meet at the Vatican amid clergy abuse scandals in France

By Claire Giangravé — November 26, 2021

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As French Catholics come to terms with a staggering clergy abuse report, President Emmanuel Macron met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Bangladesh sends hundreds more Rohingya refugees to island

By Julhas Alam — November 26, 2021

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh on Thursday began relocating hundreds of Rohingya refugees to an island in the Bay of Bengal, despite ongoing concerns from rights groups over the conditions on the vulnerable low-lying island and that no refugees should be sent forcibly. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group, over 700,000 of whom fled […]

Stanford’s Latter-day Saints players share life experiences

By Janie Mccauley — November 26, 2021

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — The homesickness and depression began to overwhelm Houston Heimuli about four months into his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Away from his family for the first time, the gesture of a stranger in his congregation made all the difference in keeping him going. A man in […]

‘Praying to the West’ offers look at America’s diverse Muslim communities

By Joseph Hammond — November 25, 2021

(RNS) — Omar Mouallem's new book looks at 13 mosques across North and South America and how Muslims developed their identity on the continents.

Hope ‘renewed in a just God’: Faith leaders react to guilty verdicts in Ahmaud Arbery murder

By Alejandra Molina — November 24, 2021

(RNS) — Greg McMichael, son Travis McMichael and neighbor William ‘Roddie’ Bryan were all convicted of murder after jurors deliberated for about 10 hours.

In time for Hanukkah, archaeologists reveal battle-scarred stronghold against Maccabees

By Michele Chabin — November 24, 2021

(RNS) — ‘The stories of the Maccabees are coming to life before our eyes,’ said one member of the group that excavated the site.

Native America has lessons for surviving an apocalypse, says Choctaw elder and Episcopal priest

By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 24, 2021

(RNS) — The Rev. Steven Charleston talked to Religion News Service about his new book, 'Ladder to the Light,' and what Native America has to teach others about climbing out of darkness.

Pastor who approved of marital rape removed from Seventh-day Adventist Church

By Yonat Shimron — November 24, 2021

(RNS) — Burnett Robinson will no longer be allowed to serve as pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Portland’s season of unrest rekindled after Kyle Rittenhouse verdict

By Grant Stringer — November 24, 2021

(RNS) — This time, national and local faith leaders have organized largely peaceful protests.

Iraqi baby buried as death toll in EU-Belarus crisis grows

By Vanessa Gera — November 24, 2021

Poland has ordered a state of emergency along its border to stop migrants from coming through, and to keep family — or smugglers — from approaching the border to facilitate their travel further west.

White supremacists found liable for violence at Charlottesville rally

By Jack Jenkins — November 23, 2021

(RNS) — Clergy were among the plaintiffs who brought the case against the white supremacists.

Survey: Americans think bad things just happen; God is not responsible

By Yonat Shimron — November 23, 2021

(RNS) — The vast majority of U.S. adults ascribe suffering at least partly to random chance, a new Pew Research survey found.

Faith advisory board with Trump ties urges religious vaccine exemptions for military