World
Head of Catholic order for the Holy Land calls for a ‘just peace’
By Claire Giangravé — March 15, 2024
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As skepticism of brokering peace in the Holy Land grows, Cardinal Fernando Filoni insisted coexistence is still possible.
Caribbean musician Sherwin Gardner’s viral hit song surpasses 1 billion TikTok views
By Adelle M. Banks — March 15, 2024
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (RNS) — ‘It's like a prayer,’ Gardner said of his hit song. ‘God already kind of answered that — within the first two weeks of the year.’
Pope acknowledges criticism and health issues but says in his new memoir he has no plans to retire
By Nicole Winfield — March 15, 2024
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling bronchitis, the flu and a cold on and off this winter and for the past two weeks has asked an aide to read most of his speeches.
Nearly 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received financial compensation
By Barbara Surk — March 15, 2024
NICE, France (AP) — The report described a “systemic” coverup by church officials and urged the French Catholic Church to respect the rule of law in France.
The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division
By Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui — March 15, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Polish Catholics get a new leader as the church struggles to reckon with sexual abuse
By Associated Press — March 15, 2024
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A number of Poland's archbishops and bishops have retired or stepped down, with the Vatican's approval, for ignoring or trying to cover up abuses cases and for downplaying the trauma of the victims.
Israel’s army exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox are part of a bigger challenge: The Jewish state is divided over the Jewish religion
By Michael Brenner — March 15, 2024
(The Conversation) — The Israel-Hamas war has fueled tensions around military exemptions, but the issue has long roiled Israeli politics.
Patriarch Neophyte I of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church dead at 78
By David I. Klein — March 14, 2024
(RNS) — A soft-spoken theologian, Neophyte I was a critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zimbabwe police rescue 251 children used as labor and find graves in religious sect compound raid
By Farai Mutsaka — March 14, 2024
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Apostolic groups that infuse traditional beliefs into a Pentecostal doctrine are popular in the deeply religious southern African country.
Yeezy shoe sales lead Adidas to plan to donate $150 million to anti-hate groups
By Associated Press — March 14, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The company has made donations to the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
Virgin of Charity unites all Cubans — Catholics, Santeria followers, exiled and back on the island
By Luis Andres Henao and Giovanna Dell'orto — March 14, 2024
EL COBRE, Cuba (AP) — The cult of the Virgin of Charity became part of Cuban nationalism in late 19th century.
3 Egyptian Coptic church monks are killed in an attack at a monastery in South Africa
By Gerald Imray — March 14, 2024
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The attacks in Egypt have subsided recently amid tighter security around Christian places of worship in the Muslim-majority country.
Evangelical Christians are fierce Israel supporters. Now they are visiting as war-time volunteers
By Melanie Lidman — March 14, 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s Tourism Ministry estimates around one-third to half of the approximately 3,000 daily visitors expected to arrive in March are part of faith-based volunteer trips.
Hindu women look to ancient goddesses for guidance on modern feminism
By Richa Karmarkar — March 13, 2024
(RNS) — Many point to Shakti, the divine feminine energy, as an antidote to toxic masculinity.
Unexpected defeat of referendums shows growing power of Ireland’s traditional Catholics
By Daniel O'Connor — March 13, 2024
DUBLIN (RNS) — At a Mass said in Latin on Sunday (March 10), Ireland’s traditional Catholics declared political victory, days after a pair of referendums aimed at secularizing the Irish Constitution were unexpectedly and resoundingly defeated.