Top Story
Baptists who split from Southern Baptist Convention have own sex abuse policies
By Adelle M. Banks — March 6, 2019
(RNS) — As the Southern Baptists grapple with how to address sex abuse allegations, three other Baptist networks that split from them have already taken steps to educate and assist their congregations should they face similar situations.
4 things to know about Ash Wednesday
By William Johnston — March 5, 2019
(The Conversation) — The Christian practice of marking ashes on believers' foreheads to kick off the penitent season of Lent dates to the 10th century.
A virtual reality tour of solitary confinement helps religious groups rally for a ban
By Yonat Shimron — March 5, 2019
(RNS) — Solitary confinement is a growing concern for religious groups across the country that have come to adopt the now common nomenclature for the practice: torture.
New Pakistani leader’s education aims may include reining in religious schools
By Naila Inayat — March 5, 2019
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) — Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's plans to introduce a nationwide curriculum for all his country's schools, including its 38,000 madrassas, is viewed skeptically by religious leaders.
Church elders let confessed abuser attend services; now judge has banned him
By Bobby Ross Jr. — March 4, 2019
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (RNS) — Elders at a Pennsylvania Church knew that a former youth minister and camp leader had confessed to abuse. But they still allowed him to come to church services until a judge ordered him to stay away.
Photos of the Week
By Kit Doyle — March 1, 2019
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes the UMC General Conference, the start of Carnival, and more.
Miniature Washington Cathedral to be created with Lego bricks
By Adelle M. Banks — March 1, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The completed Lego cathedral will be 7 feet tall, 13 feet long and 8 feet wide — about the size of a minivan.
‘In this to the end’: LGBT United Methodists express hurt, hope after vote
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 28, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — After a wrenching three days of deliberations and spending $3.7 million to organize a special conference of its global church, the UMC has only marginally more more clarity on its future than when the meeting began.
Catholic bishops, advocates meet to discuss response to Trump border policies
By Jack Jenkins — February 28, 2019
(RNS) — 'We were at the border yesterday. The emergency is not here,' one bishop said.
Faith is no excuse for skipping vaccines, says med school professor
By Bob Smietana — February 28, 2019
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) — 'These are important times where religious leaders need to speak out on behalf of vaccines,' said Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine. 'We need an interfaith statement on vaccines.'
Pennsylvania prosecutor fights clergy sex abuse as she maintains Catholic faith
By Bobby Ross Jr. — February 27, 2019
EBENSBURG, Pa. (RNS) — When local district attorney Kelly Callihan referred an abuse claim against her family’s erstwhile pastor to state authorities, she initiated a series of investigations that renewed the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis nationwide.
United Methodists pass Traditional Plan, keep ban on LGBTQ clergy, same-sex marriage
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 26, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — Delegates to a special session of the United Methodist Church decided Tuesday to strengthen the denomination’s ban on the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ people.
Jews and Muslims say Belgian animal cruelty law trammels religious freedom
By Elena Berton and Jabeen Bhatti — February 26, 2019
PARIS (RNS) — A ban on slaughtering livestock without stunning them first is seen as a direct attack on kosher and halal practices.
United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 25, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — The plan recommended by the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops will 'almost certainly still come up' as a minority report during Tuesday's plenary session, according to one LGBTQ advocacy group.
United Methodists vote pensions, ‘Traditional Plan’ as top priorities
By Emily McFarlan Miller — February 25, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — The so-called Traditional Plan ranked just below pensions in a vote ranking plans and petitions as high or low priority taken at the start of the special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference.
