Los Angeles
Chronicling Los Angeles’ iconic Virgin of Guadalupe street art
By Alejandra Molina — February 10, 2023
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — 'Whenever you see a virgencita you feel safe. You know that your people, your gente, your raza are around,' said Oscar Rodriguez Zapata.
In LA, activists ‘summon spiritual energy’ to seek justice for Keenan Anderson
By Alejandra Molina — January 15, 2023
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A vigil on Saturday for Keenan Anderson was not a protest but a 'spiritual gathering,' said Melina Abdullah, co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter.
Jack Hayford, prominent Pentecostal pastor in Southern California, has died
By Alejandra Molina — January 9, 2023
(RNS) — Hayford authored more than 50 books and composed hundreds of songs, including the widely known 'Majesty.'
HBO’s ‘Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo’ centers victims in ‘cult’ sex abuse scandal
By Alejandra Molina — December 6, 2022
(RNS) — The new three-part series delves into the history and growth of La Luz del Mundo and focuses on the former members coping with the trauma of the church.
White House condemns Kanye-fueled antisemitic freeway demonstration in Los Angeles
By Alejandra Molina — October 24, 2022
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The freeway demonstration on Saturday comes after Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, was blocked from posting on Twitter and Instagram over antisemitic posts.
Suit: California teacher says Bright Horizons fired her for exercising religious beliefs
By Alejandra Molina — October 14, 2022
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The suit claims religious discrimination and wrongful termination after the teacher refused to read children’s books promoting same-sex marriage.
When Jewish leaders say “I was wrong”
By Jeffrey Salkin — October 1, 2022
It takes moral courage to say that you were wrong. 'Tis the season to do so.
Nonreligious women of color convene to talk Christian nationalism, reproductive rights
By Alejandra Molina — September 29, 2022
(RNS) — ‘It cannot all be focused on church and state separation. That’s not going to work for people of color, specifically women of color,’ said one organizer of the Women of Color Beyond Belief conference.
As the religiously unaffiliated rise, a new atheist podcast network launches in Los Angeles
By Alejandra Molina — September 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A new podcast platform hopes to tap into a rapidly expanding audience of young, secular millennials.
La Luz del Mundo leader, Naasón Joaquín García, faces new lawsuit in Los Angeles
By Alejandra Molina — September 12, 2022
(RNS) — From the time they were young children, the plaintiffs 'were routinely coerced' to believe García’s 'wishes and desires were direct orders from God,' according to the complaint.
Arson investigation after fire destroys historic LA church
By Associated Press — September 12, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities are investigating a potential arson after a fire broke out early Sunday morning at the historic Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
In his debut country album, Rhett McLaughlin breaks up — with God
By Riley Farrell — August 11, 2022
(RNS) — The ‘Good Mythical Morning’ comedian goes on a spiritual deconstruction journey in his album, ‘James and the Shame.’
New book invites Christians to rethink homelessness
By Kathryn Post — August 9, 2022
(RNS) — ‘If we actually saw Jesus on the side of the road ... we probably wouldn’t just roll down our window and hand him a five.’
Black Jewish leader works to boost community, inclusiveness
By Deepa Bharath — July 5, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nate Looney believes he can channel his painful personal experiences into healing divisions and changing perceptions, and help make a trip to the synagogue a spiritual rather than a scarring encounter for Jews of color.
California Christian groups fight post-Roe measures to expand abortion rights
By Alejandra Molina — July 1, 2022
(RNS) — 'So many of us have worked for a large part of our lives to see Roe end and then to realize that as Roe is ending, California is increasing abortion — that is very difficult.'
