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Final synod document expected to mention female deacons
By Claire Giangravé — October 23, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As word spread that the final document of the Amazon synod will include recommendations about the ordination of women to the diaconate, bishops involved in the synod have taken a stand asking for more female participation and leadership in the Catholic Church.
Christian aid groups vow to stay to help after US sudden withdrawal from Syria
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 22, 2019
(RNS) — Christian aid organizations in Syria have sprung into action in response to the new conflict in the region and are vowing to stay with the Kurds as the crisis grows.
Texas grand jury declines to indict monsignor in consent case
By Nomaan Merchant and Nicole Winfield — October 22, 2019
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict the onetime deputy to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on charges he sexually assaulted a married woman in a case that raised questions about consent in the #MeToo era.
As synod deliberates, vandals dump controversial indigenous carving into the Tiber
By Claire Giangravé — October 21, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The theft of four versions of 'Our Lady of the Amazon' has succeeded in pushing the conservative opposition to Pope Francis' agenda to the fore.
Photos of the Week
By Kit Doyle — October 18, 2019
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes Arbaeen in Iraq, followers of indigenous goddess Maria Lionza in Venezuela and more.
Demi Lovato’s controversial trip to Israel included exploring Jewish roots
By Michele Chabin — October 18, 2019
While in the Holy Land, Lovato and her mother met with an expert on Sephardic Jews, who are descended from Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal 500 years ago.
Kenyans see ‘hand of God’ in Kipchoge’s record-breaking marathon run
By Fredrick Nzwili — October 17, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — The two-hour marathon barrier has finally been broken. As Eliud Kipchoge arrived back home in Nairobi on Wednesday, fellow citizens pointed to a 'hand of God' in his sub-two-hour run on Saturday in Vienna.
Study: Religious attendance flatlining, but giving remains strong
By Yonat Shimron — October 16, 2019
(RNS) — The study from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University finds that nearly half of America’s estimated 360,000 congregations saw an increase in giving from three years ago.
After call from Indian official, library pulls Sikh ‘genocide’ memorial
By Aysha Khan — October 16, 2019
(RNS) — After an Indian official called the Connecticut library, the entire memorial — which accused India of committing genocide against Sikhs in 1984 — was quietly removed from the library.
Inside the WhatsApp group of young Muslims praying for Bernie’s health
By Aysha Khan — October 15, 2019
(RNS) — A group of young American Muslims just finished an entire recitation of the Quran on the Vermont senator's behalf. Here's why.
Meditation apps proliferate, even if what they provide is not enlightenment
By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil — October 15, 2019
(RNS) — Some teachers worry that corporate America's adoption of Buddhism’s spiritual practice could be used for unethical purposes.
Buttigieg, Warren reject O’Rourke plan to link church tax status, LGBT policy
By Jack Jenkins — October 14, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A comment last week by candidate Beto O’Rourke that churches and faith-based institutions should lose their tax-exempt status if they don’t support same-sex marriage has brought criticism from two of his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Photos of the Week
By Kit Doyle — October 11, 2019
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes Yom Kippur events, the conclusion of Durga Puja and more.
At Amazon synod, women insist that equality should mean the right to vote
By Claire Giangravé — October 11, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Catholic women attending the summit of bishops at the Vatican on the Amazon region praised the climate of inclusivity and openness ushered in by Pope Francis but insist that equality demands they also have a right to vote.
Speaking of abuse: Baptist news service, Bible scholars grapple with language
By Adelle M. Banks and Emily McFarlan Miller — October 10, 2019
(RNS) — Some Christians are reassessing how to describe sexual misconduct, with an eye to owning up to the seriousness of abuse.
