Catholics
Priest who used to be KKK member apologizes 40 years later
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 10, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — A former Ku Klux Klan member who burned a cross on a black couple's lawn 40 years ago, before becoming a Roman Catholic priest, has finally written his victims an apology.
Pope dives into Rohingya crisis upon arrival in Myanmar
By Nicole Winfield — November 27, 2017
(AP) — Rohingya Muslims have faced state-supported discrimination in the predominantly Buddhist country for decades.
Pope reaffirms conscience as heresy debate divides church
By Nicole Winfield — November 11, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis reaffirmed the 'primacy' of using one's conscience to navigate tough moral questions in his first comments since he was publicly accused of spreading heresy by emphasizing conscience over hard and fast Catholic rules.
When Americans tried – and failed – to reunite Christianity
By David Mislin — November 8, 2017
(The Conversation) — In the early 1900s, ambitious Protestants in the U.S. attempted the unthinkable.
On Reformation anniversary, Lutherans bridge divides with other faiths
By Adelle M. Banks — October 31, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The co-chairs of the U.S. Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue celebrated their accomplishments even as they acknowledged remaining differences.
Reconciliation among Christians might be closer than we think
By Mitchell T. Rozanski — October 30, 2017
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) — Working to bring Christians back together has taught me about our shared faith and how it can still light the world.
Good without God? More Americans say amen to that
By Kimberly Winston — October 17, 2017
(RNS) — A majority of American adults say belief in God is not required to be a moral person.
Pope adds 35 saints to church, nearly all martyrs
By Jerome Socolovsky — October 15, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The latest saints were proclaimed Sunday during a Mass celebrated by Francis in St. Peter's Square and attended by some 35,000 faithful, many of them pilgrims from the homelands of those being honored.
Conservative theologians accuse pope of spreading heresy
By Nicole Winfield — September 24, 2017
None of them are bishops. But organizers say the initiative reflects a concern among a certain contingent of academics and pastors over Francis' positions.
The Pope, the Mafia, and the rest of us
By Martin E. Marty — September 19, 2017
So here we have the unquestioned leader of the largest religious organization/communion in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, taking on the presumably most powerful organizational embodiment of crime, at least in the Western world. Who noticed?
The 11 sisters of Siervas are a rock band like ‘nun’ other
By Jerome Socolovsky — September 19, 2017
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) — Eleven nuns take the stage wearing traditional black-and-white habits but are anything but old school as they belt out songs to the ringing of electric guitar and a rock 'n' roll beat.
Seminary cancels talk by priest who urges dialogue with gays
By Rachel Zoll — September 16, 2017
NEW YORK (AP) — Far-right Catholic websites and some conservative Catholic writers have denounced a book by the Rev. James Martin advocating for more compassion for gays within the church, and that has led to online campaigns to pressure Catholic institutions against hosting him.
Pope rails against attempts to restore old-style Catholic worship
By Christopher Lamb — August 25, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — It’s not every day that Pope Francis chooses to invoke the full weight of his office. But when it comes to the furious internal rows over Catholic worship, he’s decided enough is enough.
Saint’s statue defaced amid Confederate monuments debate
By Kimberly Winston — August 21, 2017
(RNS) A statue of the Rev. Junipero Serra, canonized by Pope Francis but denounced by some Native Americans, was vandalized in Los Angeles.
Confidant of Pope Francis condemns US religious right
By guest — July 13, 2017
(AP) — The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor of the influential Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, said a shared desire for political influence between 'evangelical fundamentalists' and some Catholics has inspired an 'ecumenism of conflict' that demonizes opponents and promotes a 'theocratic type of state.'
