international

Marking its centennial, Hymn Society continues push for more diverse music

By Adelle M. Banks — July 22, 2022
(RNS) — Members danced and sang to a global selection of hymns and grappled with the power of song to change the world.

The future of adoption is in a child’s own community

By Kristi Gleason — December 9, 2019
(RNS) — Children in US foster care are kept as close to their biological home as possible to minimize trauma. The same should be encouraged in our child welfare work overseas.

Germany continues payments to churches a century after deciding to stop

By Tom Heneghan — February 13, 2019
PARIS (RNS) — The state subsidies to churches have survived due to a provision in the law that makes ending them more costly than continuing to pay.

‘This is my real life’: Where Trump’s travel ban hits home

By Associated Press — April 21, 2018
(AP) — As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments next week on Trump’s travel ban, its effects are playing out for people from Manhattan to Minnesota to the Middle East.

Suicide bombers attack church in Pakistan, killing 9

By Jerome Socolovsky — December 17, 2017
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas when the bombers appeared in the city of Quetta and clashed with security forces.

Nuns help expand coverage and care in Rwanda’s health system

By Melanie Lidman — May 11, 2017
(RNS) In a poor, Rwandan village, four Kenyan sisters from the Little Daughters of St. Joseph Congregation run a health clinic, and build trust in a country still recovering from genocide and civil war.

Indian synagogue held first Sabbath service in decades

By Jerome Socolovsky — May 25, 2016
COCHIN, India (RNS) A nearly 900-year-old synagogue recently held its first Sabbath service in decades in one of the diaspora’s farthest flung places.

US wants justice for killers of gay Bangladeshi activists

By Akhtar Ali — April 29, 2016
NEW DELHI (RNS) Xulhaz Mannan worked for the U.S. Embassy in the Bangladeshi capital and was editor of Bangladesh's first LGBT magazine.

WCC blasts U.S. for blocking ecumenical meeting in Cuba

By Peter Kenny — December 13, 2012

GENEVA (RNS) The World Council of Churches says the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba violates religious freedom by preventing a group of Latin American churches from hosting a summit on the island nation. By Peter Kenny.

Christianity in Britain losing ground to Islam, secularism

By Trevor Grundy — December 11, 2012

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) New figures from the 2011 National Census show that the number of people who identify as Christians in England and Wales has fallen by 4 million over the last 10 years, from 37.3 million to 33 million last year. By Trevor Grundy.

Tutu urges Uganda to drop bid to jail gays and lesbians

By Fredrick Nzwili — December 5, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday (Dec. 4) urged Uganda to scrap a controversial draft law that would send gays and lesbians to jail and, some say, put them at risk of the death penalty. By Fredrick Nzwili.

Bosnian Muslims thrive in U.S. despite unease over homeland

By Omar Sacirbey — November 28, 2012

BOSTON (RNS) Despite their relatively short time in America and the traumas of war, Bosnian Muslims are thriving in American society. Success, however, hasn’t diminished the sense of injustice that many feel over how the bloody war ended, or concerns that their trials could be too easily forgotten. By Omar Sacirbey.

Why we have to take the Saudis’ interfaith offer seriously

By David Rosen — November 27, 2012
(RNS) — The King Abdullah Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue has come from the very heart of the Muslim world.

Kenyan church leaders say laws would weaken marriage

By Fredrick Nzwili — November 19, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Kenyan church leaders are lining up in opposition to proposed new marriage bills, which they say will weaken marriage by allowing cohabitating couples to register as married. By Fredrick Nzwili.

Tibetans have ‘sacred duty’ to support self-immolations

By Vishal Arora — November 9, 2012

NEW DELHI (RNS) As China's Communist Party began meeting in Beijing this week, six more Tibetans set themselves on fire. Exiled Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay said while he discourages self-immolation, it is the ``sacred duty'' of the exiled community to support it. By Vishal Arora.

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