News
Hundreds of police raid a religious compound in search of Filipino preacher wanted for child abuse
By Jim Gomez — August 26, 2024
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Apollo Quiboloy, preacher of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, claims to be the appointed son of God.
John Lennon’s inspiration for ‘Strawberry Fields’ bears new fruit for Salvation Army
By Catherine Pepinster — August 26, 2024
LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom (RNS) — The Salvation Army is exploiting a connection to the Beatles to draw more visitors to fund its mission and encourage people who would never consider stepping inside a church to find out about Christianity.
In Chicago, ‘Little Palestine’ adds its voice to roar of the Democratic convention
By Reina Coulibaly — August 23, 2024
CHICAGO (RNS) — With the DNC happening in their backyard, many residents came straight from work or school to participate in the protests.
Orthodox churches boomed during pandemic, study finds, but calls growth ‘mixed bag’
By Meagan Saliashvili — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — Almost half of US Orthodox churches remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to only 12% of all religious congregations.
Carlos Whittaker spent seven weeks screen-free. Here’s how his idea of God changed.
By Ellie Davis — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — The former worship pastor emphasizes that ‘Reconnected’ isn’t another book about why phones are bad. Instead, it’s about the beautiful things on the other side of the phone.
Photos of the Week: Shiite pilgrims; DNC protests
By Kit Doyle — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes Shiite pilgrims in Iraq, pro-Palestinian activists protesting the Democratic National Convention and more.
How much does forgiveness cost? $7 million for one Christian college.
By Bob Smietana — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — A dispute over how to count employees may cost Gordon College, a Christian school in Boston, millions after its request to have a COVID-era loan forgiven was turned down.
Palestinian allies make last-ditch push for speaker on the DNC stage
By Yonat Shimron — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — The DNC has so far denied a request to allow Americans to hear the stories of Palestinian people in Gaza whose lives have been upended by Israel’s massive military.
As AME Church meets for General Conference, retirement plan questions continue
By Adelle M. Banks — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — Some 2,900 people have joined an ‘AMEs for Reform’ Facebook group and others have issued open letters as part of ‘AMEs for Justice and Accountability.’
A quarter of US Catholic parishes have a Spanish Mass, bishops’ survey says
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — The survey, conducted between April and August 2024, will be used by the conference as Catholic leaders work locally and nationally to implement the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
The man Biden calls ‘my rabbi’ on what it’s like to offer a prayer at the DNC
By Jack Jenkins — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — ‘You have to consider people of different faiths, different political persuasions when you give a benediction,’ said Rabbi Michael Beals. ‘You’re representing the Holy One.’
Ancient ‘heresies’ set to Gungor’s music in new Pelagius musical
By Kathryn Post — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — Michael and Lisa Gungor will be in the audience as the curtain raises on ‘Pelagius’ in Atlanta this weekend.
Parallel to DNC, a Chicago interfaith vigil mourns the loss of life in Gaza
By Bob Smietana and Reina Coulibaly — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — Activists who have been protesting at the Democratic National Convention over the war in Gaza took time out to mourn and draw strength from their varying faiths.
In a remote corner of Ohio, a traffic law brings Harvard to the aid of the Amish
By Kelsey Osgood — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — New safety measures mandate flashing lights on buggies, a requirement some conservative Amish say violates their faith. Harvard University Law School agrees with them.
Ukraine’s ban targeting Russian-linked faith groups raises religious freedom concerns
By David I. Klein — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — Even some supporters of Ukraine see the ban as an overstep in the name of national security, a violation of religious freedom and a potential risk to continued foreign military aid.
