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Vatican cardinal skeptical about married priests for Amazon
By Nicole Winfield — October 2, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinal Marc Ouellet acknowledged the Amazon region's priest shortage and said he was open to debate about it during this month's Amazon synod.
Architect Sir David Adjaye on winning landmark commission for UAE Abrahamic House
By By David Gibson — September 30, 2019
NEW YORK (RNS) — A star architect who designed the $540 million National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Adjaye said his design for the worship space, which will include a Catholic cathedral, a synagogue and a mosque, is intended for real use: 'This is not an exhibition space or tourism. This is a real place of faith.'
Pope Francis meets with priest to discuss LGBTQ Catholics
By Jack Jenkins — September 30, 2019
(RNS) — Pope Francis met one on one with American Jesuit priest James Martin at the Vatican on Monday to discuss LGBTQ Catholics, a move some advocates say is a signal of support for a priest who has come under fire for calling on Catholics to be more compassionate to LGBTQ people. Martin described the meeting as “warm and friendly and punctuated by laughter."
Photos of the Week
By Kit Doyle — September 27, 2019
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes preparations for the Hindu Durga Puja festival, pre-Hispanic temple excavations in Bolivia and more.
Drop in refugee admissions met with outcry from faith-based resettlement agencies
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 27, 2019
(RNS) — The Trump administration’s announcement it would once again slash refugee admissions to the United States to unprecedented lows was met with outcry by refugee resettlement groups — many of which are faith-based.
Former staffers loved Relevant’s mission, but a toxic culture tested their faith
By Jack Jenkins — September 26, 2019
(RNS) — 'I would drive into work every morning and start praying the Lord’s Prayer, because I had no idea if this was going to be a good Cameron day or a bad Cameron day,' one former employee said.
In private meeting, Pope Francis opens up about his faith after his election
By Claire Giangravé — September 26, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The official transcript of a Sept. 5 meeting with Jesuit clergy in Mozambique offers a peek into a less measured side of the Argentine pontiff. Francis opened up about his spirituality after being made pope — and criticized clericalism in the Catholic Church for its fixation on sex rather than equity and integrity.
The science of Sabbath: How people are rediscovering rest—and claiming its benefits
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 25, 2019
(RNS) — People of different faiths are rediscovering the practice of Sabbath, and some point to science suggesting such a day of rest — including time away from social media and digital devices — benefits longevity and mental health.
Nuns hope to be disciples of hope in changing landscape of human trafficking
By Claire Giangravé — September 25, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A group of religious sisters is meeting with Pope Francis this week in Rome to address the issue of human trafficking, linking the rise of victims to populist movements, increased immigration and climate refugees.
Anne Graham Lotz, a year after breast cancer diagnosis, says joy ‘never left me’
By Adelle M. Banks — September 24, 2019
(RNS) — ‘I feel like one reason God allowed me to have this is to show … that cancer is not punishment,’ Lotz said in an interview.
Alarmed African churches demand end to persistent xenophobic attacks in S. Africa
By Fredrick Nzwili — September 24, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — As the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa dies out, churches in the country and others on the continent are demanding an end to the persistent problem, affecting economic migrants in one of Africa’s biggest economies.
For synagogues, High Holidays welcome is complicated by security needs
By Holly Lebowitz Rossi — September 24, 2019
BOSTON (RNS) — At a time of year when people who rarely attend show up, or when people show up for the first time, balancing friendliness and safety becomes especially tricky.
A church, a synagogue and a mosque planned together for the Arabian Peninsula
By By David Gibson — September 23, 2019
NEW YORK (RNS) — The 'Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together' met in New York on Sept. 20 to unveil plans for a church, synagogue and mosque on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The three houses of worship will collectively be called the Abrahamic Family House and will stand together as a symbol of the kind of religious tolerance that the UAE wants to be known for.
Relevant magazine founder ‘stepping away’ from role
By Jack Jenkins — September 23, 2019
(RNS) — Relevant founder Cameron Strang announced his leave of absence in a post published on the magazine’s website on Monday afternoon (Sept. 23). He did not dispute the accounts of former staffers and apologized for his past actions, which he repeatedly described as toxic.
A New York diocese filed for bankruptcy. Will others follow?
By Carolyn Thompson — September 23, 2019
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — All eight of the state's Roman Catholic dioceses face financial pressures as a result of the state's new Child Victims Act.
