Lebanon
Mired in crises, Lebanon marks 1 year since horrific blast
By Zeina Karam — August 4, 2021
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon marks one year since the horrific explosion at the port of Beirut with a national day of mourning.
Pope resumes public audiences a month after major surgery
By Frances D'emilio — August 4, 2021
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis resumed his routine of holding weekly audiences with the general public a month after he underwent bowel surgery, and during the much-awaited appearance Wednesday he recalled the anniversary of the devastating Beirut port explosion and expressed the desire to visit Lebanon. After removing his face mask to protect against […]
Jordan debating whether to open up to Shiite pilgrims
By Daoud Kuttab — July 8, 2021
AMMAN, Jordan (RNS) — Jordanians are discussing the possibility of opening the Sunni Islam-majority country to Shiite pilgrims long discouraged from visiting the tombs of the relatives of the Prophet Muhammad.
Pope Francis urges political leaders in Lebanon to overcome partisan interests
By Claire Giangravé — July 1, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — While calling on Lebanese politicians to ‘find urgent and durable solutions’ to the current crisis, Francis urged the international community to come together so the country will ‘not collapse, but embark upon a path of recovery.’
Folk healers create modern techniques from their ancestors’ lost lore
By Isaiah Murtaugh — May 13, 2021
(RNS) — A collective of healers and practitioners is revisiting ancestral practices to become ‘ancestors for the future.’
How much longer will the Middle East celebrate Christmas?
By Knox Thames — December 24, 2020
(RNS) — The birthplace of Christianity may soon be uninhabitable for its believers without reforms to help them survive.
Lebanon’s disaster donation dilemma
By Nada Moumtaz — September 22, 2020
(RNS) — When disasters like last month's explosion in Lebanon happen, we want to help out. But many big aid organizations focus on their own agendas, not recipients', and in Lebanon religious charities are often controlled by politicians.
Pope Francis calls for a day of fasting and prayer for Lebanon
By Claire Giangravé — September 2, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Standing beside a waving Lebanese flag, Pope Francis paid homage to the troubled population of Beirut on Wednesday (Sept. 2) and implored its residents to ‘take courage’ as they begin the reconstruction of their city.
As fewer refugees enter the US, one Chicago group decides to go to them
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 14, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — As fewer refugees are arriving in the United States, organizations that work with refugees — many of which are faith-based — are finding new ways to reach out to those who have been forced to flee their home countries.
Lebanese town bans Muslims from buying, renting property
By Bassem Mroue — June 26, 2019
BEIRUT (AP) — The ban only applies to Christian property — a Muslim resident or landowner of Hadat is allowed to sell or rent his property to Muslims from outside the town or to whomever he wants.
Throwing Israel off the bus
By Jeffrey Salkin — August 8, 2016
Lebanon loses the good sportsmanship award. Welcome to my new word -- dissrael.
America’s moral obligation in the global refugee crisis
By Jerome Socolovsky — May 26, 2016
(RNS) "If you’re a good swimmer, you’ve got an obligation to jump in the river to save a drowning child."
Saudi Arabia says it will punish anyone linked to Hezbollah
By Reuters — March 14, 2016
DUBAI -- Hezbollah has close ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia's bitter rival for power in the region.
The lesson of Lebanon: Can this war-torn nation provide an example for getting along? (COMMENTARY)
By Chris Seiple — January 15, 2015
(RNS) By all accounts, Lebanon should have broken down by now. But that hasn’t happened. And it’s not likely to.
Vatican walks a fine line on trying to combat blasphemy
By Alessandro Speciale — September 25, 2012
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Catholic leaders in Muslim countries are calling for a U.N. resolution against blasphemy -- a potential problem for the Vatican as it tries to combat religious desecration while stopping short of endorsing laws to outlaw it. By Alessandro Speciale.
