Holy Week
Black women cracking ‘stained-glass ceilings’ with Jesus’ 7 last words
By Adelle M. Banks — April 18, 2019
(RNS) — At least a dozen churches across the country are hosting Good Friday services this year that feature seven African American female preachers speaking about the last sayings of Jesus.
A fresh take on Lent from Jewish New Testament professor Amy-Jill Levine
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 7, 2019
(RNS) — 'If I’m not a believer in Jesus, and I think these are fabulous stories, how much more so should somebody who’s a Christian find extraordinary meaning in them?' Vanderbilt Divinity School Professor Amy-Jill Levine says of the stories of Holy Week.
Pope presides over Good Friday amid security, controversy
By Nicole Winfield — March 30, 2018
ROME (AP) — The services come amid a new communications controversy at home over the existence of hell.
‘In the spirit of Holy Week’: Fox’s Laura Ingraham apologizes to David Hogg
By Doug Stanglin — March 30, 2018
(USA Today) — Nestle, Joseph A. Banks, Expedia, Hulu, Johnson & Johnson, Nutrish pet foods, TripAdvisor and Wayfair all announced they would pull their ads from the The Ingraham Angle, in the wake of Hogg's appeal to his 595,000 Twitter followers.
Pope washes the feet of inmates, reveals he has cataracts
By Nicole Winfield — March 29, 2018
ROME (AP) — Francis, 81, disclosed the news as he bid farewell to inmates and staff at the Regina Coeli prison, where he washed the feet of 12 prisoners in a Holy Thursday ritual.
Why isn’t there a ‘War on Easter’ like Christmas?
By Jonathan Merritt — March 28, 2018
Despite their many similarities, Easter has avoided the controversy that stalks Christmas. Here's why.
Where the buffalo roam, a Passion play approaches the century mark
By Bobby Ross Jr. — March 27, 2018
WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE, Okla. (RNS) — Oklahoma’s version of old Jerusalem — mixing rough stone structures resembling those in the Holy Land with occasional sightings of buffalo and longhorn — provides the setting for what organizers describe as North America’s longest continuously running outdoor Passion play.
Christians, Jews and the dubious history of the Passion play
By Lauren Markoe — March 27, 2018
(RNS) — I judge every Passion play by asking if it tells a story that is totally free of anti-Jewish images, costumes and teachings.
On Palm Sunday, pope urges youth to raise their voices
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 25, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope's message comes on the heels of a meeting of young Catholics who told the Vatican they want a more transparent and authentic church, and a day after hundreds of thousands marched in youth-led rallies across the United States to demand greater gun control.
Protesters, fans turn out for Rev. James Martin’s talk in Chicago
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 23, 2018
CHICAGO (RNS) — For Catholics, a talk about Jesus doesn’t seem controversial. But a lecture by the Rev. James Martin drew about 150 protesters Thursday (March 22) over his views on the church and LGBT people.
Religio-secular … again
By Martin E. Marty — April 26, 2017
How “religious” are the “religious” when they make political or consumer choices? How “secular” are the “secular” when they want to do justice to American culture and society by simply overlooking religion and the religious?
Radical generosity revisited
By Martin E. Marty — April 18, 2017
I could profane the plot by writing a true but merely practical summary: 'Radical generosity works.' But Truax and Campbell sacralize the story by rooting it in the trust and faith they demonstrate, as did their members. And, we know, as believers do elsewhere, in a wild variety of ways which also merit attention — surprising as so many of their stories are.
A Good Friday peace walk remembers victims of Chicago violence
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 14, 2017
CHICAGO (RNS) Cardinal Blase Cupich led the procession Friday (April 14) through Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, a community scarred by gun violence.
On Maundy Thursday, Pope Francis washes the feet of 12 prisoners
By Josephine McKenna — April 13, 2017
ROME (RNS) The 12 inmates who took part included a Muslim who is expected to be baptized as a Catholic in June, three women and two men serving life terms.
Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday
By Brent Landau — April 13, 2017
The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring.
