White House
Spicer talks ‘pro-life president,’ embassy move in first White House briefing
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 23, 2017
(RNS) In his first press briefing at the White House, President Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer spoke to two issues important to the conservative Christians who overwhelmingly had voted for the president.
Did God choose Trump? What it means to believe in divine intervention
By Lauren Markoe — January 17, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) For some believers, a God who picks the president is a God close at hand. For skeptics, the belief can lead to catastrophic conclusions.
Obama: Discrimination against Muslims an affront to American values
By RNS staff — July 22, 2016
WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Obama praised the contributions of Muslim immigrants to the United States, saying any effort to discriminate against the Islamic faith plays into the hands of terrorists.
White House adds gender and religious diversity to advisory board
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2016
WASHINGTON (RNS) New members include a transgender woman and representatives of Sikh and Baha’i organizations.
White House, faith leaders say ‘moral obligation’ to halt payday loans
By Adelle M. Banks — April 14, 2016
(RNS) They agreed to "do something to stop payday lenders from preying on consumers."
White House to talk terrorism with Apple, Facebook
By Elizabeth Weise — January 8, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — Obama administration officials are scheduled to meet with major tech executives to discuss terror organizations’ growing exploitation of the Internet for recruitment and planning, and how firms can help federal law enforcement.
No such thing as ‘second-class’ faith, White House asserts
By Lauren Markoe — December 17, 2015
(RNS) Religious pluralism deserves more appreciation, the White House says.
Texas teen arrested over clock is moving to Qatar with his family
By Reuters — October 21, 2015
DALLAS (Reuters) Ahmed Mohamed, 14, has accepted an offer from the Qatar Foundation to study at its Young Innovators Program.
Pope at White House: Fight global warming, protect religious freedom
By David Gibson — September 23, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) In his first remarks on American soil, Pope Francis told President Obama and a huge crowd at the White House that the U.S. must safeguard religious freedom and stressed the “urgency” of battling global warming.
Conservatives outraged at gays on White House guest list for Pope Francis! (Vatican, not so much)
By David Gibson — September 21, 2015
(RNS) It looks like American conservatives and Obama critics are more upset than anyone else. "I would love to visit and talk to gay and lesbian people," Francis recently told a visiting American priest.
The student behind viral #IStandWithAhmed: ‘I had to’
By Monica Hernandez — September 18, 2015
DALLAS -- The viral Twitter hashtag supporting the clock-making Texas teen arrested as a terror suspect was launched by a college student, Amneh Jafari.
White House honors 12 faith leaders as climate-change ‘champions’
By Adelle M. Banks — July 21, 2015
(RNS) Their projects range from a zero-waste synagogue in Boulder, Colo., to global development work after natural disasters.
5 takeaways from Tuesday’s White House celebration of gospel music
By Adelle M. Banks — April 14, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) “Gospel music is what fuels my love of music in general,” first lady Michelle Obama said.
Obama to host Pope Francis at White House in September
By David Gibson — March 26, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis will become the third pope to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when he meets with the president and first lady during his U.S. tour in September.
Mayor: ‘Without Jews Paris would not be city that it is’
By Oren Dorell — February 20, 2015
French citizens of all stripes are part of a "national community" that transcends religion, village and country of origin, she said. "We cannot accept this opposition or violence of one group over another within a national community in Paris."
