News
Near Chicago, a Lutheran church finds new life at the YMCA
By Bob Smietana — April 19, 2024
(RNS) — A struggling Lutheran church has found new life by giving its building to the YMCA.
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and ‘American Idol’ alum, dies at 47
By Associated Press — April 19, 2024
‘Flynn’ portrays the Christian nationalist evangelist’s fight with the ‘Deep State’
By Tess Owen — April 19, 2024
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Maurizio Cattalan, Zoe Saldana join iconoclastic Vatican Biennale exhibition inside women’s prison
By Colleen Barry — April 19, 2024
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis, who met with over 200 artists in the Sistine Chapel last year, will see the mural for himself when he visits the pavilion April 28.
Teenager is charged with terrorism offenses in stabbings of bishop and priest at Sydney church
By Mark Baker and Keiran Smith — April 19, 2024
SYDNEY (AP) — A crowd of up to 600 people converged on the church after the attack, some demanding that police hand over the boy.
John Adams’ Nativity oratorio ‘El Nino’ gets colorful staging at the Met
By Mike Silverman — April 19, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) —The production is a retelling of the birth and early life of Jesus through a mix of biblical verses and modern Latin American poetry, medieval texts and apocrypha.
Animal cruelty officer-turned-animal chaplain Matty Giuliano loves ferrets and St. Francis
By Kathryn Post — April 18, 2024
EATONTOWN, N.J. (RNS) — ‘I know there are plenty of people out there who believe animals have no souls,’ said Giuliano. ‘And I cannot accept one of God’s creation is, spiritually, the equivalent of a cup of ice cream.’
Israelis prepare for a Passover overshadowed by war and loss
By Michele Chabin — April 18, 2024
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Some households in Israel are limiting the number of Seder guests out of fear that Iran or one of its proxies will attack Israel during the Passover observance.
Europe’s Jews expand security program as they grapple with antisemitic fallout of Gaza war
By David I. Klein — April 18, 2024
(RNS) — After being piloted in six communities, a European Community-sponsored security program, EUCARE, is now ready to be implemented across the continent.
New leader of Jesse Jackson’s civil rights organization steps down just months on the job
By Sophia Tareen — April 18, 2024
CHICAGO (AP) —Haynes, 63, said he felt it was “necessary” to move on in light of “challenges that continue to exist,” but declined to elaborate further.
Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream, thanks to Modi’s decade in power
By Krutika Pathi and Sheikh Saaliq — April 18, 2024
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Supporters and critics agree on one thing: Modi has achieved staying power by making Hindu nationalism acceptable — desirable, even — to a nation of 1.4 billion that for decades prided itself on pluralism and secularism
Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive
By Sam Mednick — April 18, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — This year, Alon Gat is struggling with how to reconcile a holiday commemorating freedom after his mother was slain and other family members abducted when Hamas attacked Israel.
Sydney teen accused of stabbing 2 clerics showed no signs of radicalization, Muslim leader says
By Rod Mcguirk and Mark Baker — April 18, 2024
SYDNEY (AP) — The teen spoke in Arabic about the Prophet Muhammad being insulted after he stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and the Rev. Isaac Royel during Monday night's Assyrian Orthodox service, which was being streamed online.
Prominent Baptist pastor in military-ruled Myanmar detained again hours after release from prison
By Grant Peck — April 18, 2024
BANGKOK (AP) — The Rev. Hkalam Samson was among the 3,300 prisoners released nationwide on Wednesday to mark the traditional Thingyan New Year holiday.
Nancy French had it all — then along came Trump. Her new book ‘Ghosted’ tells all.
By Bob Smietana — April 18, 2024
(RNS) — Once a go-to ghostwriter for conservative politicians, Nancy French lost friends and many of her clients for criticizing Donald Trump.
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