Middle East
New Palestinian saints highlight region’s beleaguered Christians
By Rosie Scammell — May 11, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The two nuns offer a glimmer of hope for Middle Eastern Christians, beset by violence and recent targeting by militants from the Islamic State group.
Syrian Catholic leader pleads with US Christians not to forget his threatened church
By David Gibson — April 29, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) “We are in grave danger; we may disappear soon,” Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart said in trying to keep one of the world's original Christian communities from vanishing.
The war against Christians must end (COMMENTARY)
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 7, 2015
(RNS) I know how American Jews would be reacting if it had been Jewish students who were killed. We can only hope that Christian priests and pastors will do the same: Speak out about the lethal persecution of Christians.
Pope Francis challenges Muslims to condemn violence in the name of God
By Josephine McKenna — December 23, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Islam is a religion of peace, one which is compatible with respect for human rights and peaceful coexistence,” the pope said.
Pope Francis to Jews: We’re all under attack now
By Josephine McKenna — September 18, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "He said first it was your turn and now it is our turn. In other words, first Jews suffered savage attacks that were met with the world's silence and now it is Christians who are being annihilated and the world is silent."
Global religious hot spots get their own U.S. envoy
By Lauren Markoe — August 20, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Congress created a new job at the State Department to protect religious minorities across the Middle East. But is the position really open?
Evangelical leaders will travel to Israel to signal their support
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 12, 2014
(RNS) The trip will include Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and former Southern Baptist ethics czar Richard Land.
Presbyterians narrowly vote to divest from 3 companies involved in Israeli/Palestinian conflict
By Lauren Markoe — June 20, 2014
(RNS) The 310-303 vote marks a victory for divestment supporters both within and without the 1.8 million-member PCUSA, now the largest American church to embrace divestment as a strategy to pressure Israel to return its illegally held lands.
Pope Francis calls for ‘courage’ toward peace between Israel, Palestine
By Josephine McKenna — June 9, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare," Pope Francis told the Israeli and Palestinian presidents. "It calls for the courage to say yes to encounter and no to conflict, yes to dialogue and no to violence."
The Audacity of Pope: The ‘Francis Doctrine’ puts the Vatican back on the world stage
By David Gibson — June 3, 2014
(RNS) In a world of heart-wrenching suffering, leaders from President Obama to Russia's Vladimir Putin often seem like helpless actors controlled by events rather than directing them. Pope Francis also risks that fate.
Pope Francis will take rabbi and Muslim leader with him to Holy Land
By Josephine McKenna — May 15, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim leader Omar Abboud will accompany the pope on his May 24-26 trip, which will include Jordan, the West Bank and Israel.
Christian leaders say Middle East Christians must not be forgotten
By Adelle M. Banks — May 7, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) “If history has any lesson to teach us about silence, it’s not a good one,” Cardinal Donald Wuerl said.
COMMENTARY: Orthodox bishops chafe at Christian persecution in the Middle East
By David Steinmetz — November 14, 2013
(RNS) With the civil war in Syria and the civil conflict in Egypt, instances of violent repression against minority Christians have increased. This rise was particularly worrying for Orthodox bishops, who lead the largest body of Christians in the Middle East.
Interview: Desmond Tutu on gay rights, the Middle East and Pope Francis
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — September 13, 2013
(RNS) "Naming a center after a person who is still alive can make it seem that an individual somehow on their own was able to accomplish what he accomplished. It was our people. "
Study: Religious oppression rises despite Arab Spring
By Lauren Markoe — June 20, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of countries in the region with sectarian or communal violence between religious groups doubled from five to 10 during 2011, a year that coincided with most of the political uprisings of Arab Spring.
