News
Fisk Jubilee Singers continue to sing spirituals 150 years later
By Adelle M. Banks — October 6, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Fisk Jubilee Singers are artists and do not limit themselves to just Negro spirituals,’ its director said. ‘There’s versatility in our choice of music when we have celebrations.’
Two priests cleared of charges in Vatican sexual abuse trial
By Claire Giangravé — October 6, 2021
(RNS) — The school’s former rector and a former student were acquitted, but behavior that came to light during the trial prompted Pope Francis to move the seminary out of the Vatican.
Judges in Vatican financial trial order prosecutors to release evidence to defense
By Claire Giangravé — October 6, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The decision followed a forceful pushback on Tuesday from the team of lawyers representing 10 defendants, including the church's former third-highest-ranking prelate, Cardinal Angelo Becciu.
Vaccine mandate for NYC educators survives court challenge
By Karen Matthews, Marina Villeneuve, and Larry Neumeister — October 6, 2021
New York City's vaccination mandate for school staff survived a court challenge Tuesday while hospitals across the state reported few disruptions to their services due to the vaccine requirement for health care workers.
South Africa’s Desmond Tutu turns 90 amid new racist slur
By Andrew Meldrum — October 6, 2021
The painting of a racial slur on his portrait in Cape Town last month highlights the importance and relevance of his work for equality.
SBC committee waives privilege after bitter debate, moving abuse investigation forward
By Bob Smietana — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — ‘We deserve what is coming for us as a people,’ said Tiffany Thigpen, abuse survivor.
Religions for Peace made history with its new leader. Then came historic challenges.
By Eric J. Lyman — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — Azza Karam is the first woman and first Muslim to head the international interfaith peace organization. Within months of her taking over, the world was in the grips of the coronavirus and a global recession.
Faith, endurance of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer revealed in new biography
By Adelle M. Banks — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — ‘She used the Bible in many different ways,’ said Hamer’s biographer. ‘She used it to shame her white oppressors who claimed also to be Christians.’
Born into slavery, they rose to be elite New York Jews. A new book tells their story.
By Yonat Shimron — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — In her new book, ‘Once We Were Slaves: The Extraordinary Journey of a Multiracial Jewish Family,’ Laura Arnold Leibman shows that Jews were not only slave owners. They were also slaves.
Russia confines Siberian shaman to mental hospital for challenging Putin
By David I. Klein — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — The sentence comes in response to Aleksandr Gabyshev’s 2019 attempt to march from Siberia to Moscow, where, he claimed, he would use his self-proclaimed shamanic powers to ‘purge’ Vladimir Putin from power.
Vatican megatrial stalls as judge considers request to start afresh
By Claire Giangravé — October 5, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The defense has ‘a right to obtain a copy’ of the evidence, said the president of the Vatican tribunal.
NIH head Collins steps down, led fight against cancer, COVID
By Dino Hazell — October 5, 2021
Collins said he was ‘grateful and proud of the NIH staff and the scientific community, whose extraordinary commitment to lifesaving research delivers hope to the American people and the world every day.’
EU unveils strategy to tackle rising antisemitism in Europe
By Associated Press — October 5, 2021
According to Europe’s Fundamental Rights Agency, nine out of 10 Jews consider that antisemitism has increased in their country and is a serious problem. More than one in three people have considered emigrating to escape the abuse.
American Girl releases doll outfits for Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah celebrations
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 5, 2021
(RNS) — Happy Christmahanukwanzadan!
Nicaragua’s President Ortega calls bishops ‘terrorists’
By Associated Press — October 5, 2021
His regime has also accused civic groups, opposition leaders and media outlets of crimes like treason and money laundering.
