News
California church sues over polling place dispute
A local voter complained about the church’s Black Lives Matter banners and the church was removed as a county polling place.
Hispanic evangelical group offers churches’ help in housing migrant children
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is launching a campaign to offer aid to immigrant children held in detention centers at the border.
Ancient Siloam Pool road excavation sparking latest political clash between Israel and Palestine
The road, which was at ground level 2,000 years ago, is now under the Arab neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem.
Covenant Church expels congregation and pastors over LGBTQ inclusion
The vote expelling the 145-year-old First Covenant Church Minneapolis was the first time the Evangelical Covenant members have removed a congregation from the denomination.
UCC endorses Green New Deal
The denomination helped launch the environmental justice movement in the 1980s and more recently was an early leader in divesting from fossil fuels.
United Arab Emirates bills itself as interfaith leader
The UAE, a financial powerhouse and growing power in the Arab world, is committed to showing Western allies that all are welcome to worship there.
Sanctuary churches say fines against immigrants meant to sow fear
People living in sanctuary to escape deportation have received fines of up to half a million dollars.
Giving to religious groups down slightly, according to new report
One shift was a drop in number of people itemizing tax deductions, the Giving USA report on philanthropy noted.
Southern Baptists make changes to address sexual abuse and racism
In February, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News published a joint investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against some 380 current and former Southern Baptist ministers and volunteers.
Quebec law bans symbols of faith in public sector
Canada, unlike the US, does not have a bill of rights explicitly endorsing freedom of religion.
US Catholic bishops revise policies for abuse cases, but laity input not required
Victims’ advocates say stronger measures are needed.
Revival of religion in Cuba reaches public square
Religious diversity and participation have flourished in Cuba since the country loosened restrictions. Christians are aiding their neighbors—and testing possibilities for political dissent.
Congo churches continue work to stop Ebola despite attacks by militants
A Methodist church-based messaging platform has sent hundreds of texts to people’s phones about how to prevent Ebola transmission.
Faith-based activists win fight to clean up Los Angeles drilling site
The oil drilling facility is 130 feet from a church and 730 feet from an elementary school, reported a local coalition fighting for regulation of such sites.
Southern Baptist seminary nixes idea of reparations to black Baptist college
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has acknowledged that it benefited from the slave trade. A clergy group encouraged the school to give part of its endowment to a college started by people who had been enslaved.
Botswana overturns law criminalizing gay and lesbian sexual relationships
Botswana, like dozens of countries worldwide, inherited its law on gay sex from the British Empire. In recent years momentum has been building to repeal those laws.
30 years after Tiananmen Square, China still restricting freedoms
Yan Xiong, who was a student leader at the 1989 demonstrations, sees Chinese people increasingly becoming disillusioned. Authorities have arrested pastors and placed more than 1 million Uighur Muslims into internment camps.
Churches in Europe act to shield migrants from deportation
In several nations, congregations have opened their doors to asylum seekers as government leaders have hardened policies.
Louisiana antiabortion groups seek to ‘change heart and minds’ even amid wave of strict laws
Antiabortion activists have trained advocates to frame their cause as supporting women. And they’ve helped push state legislatures to pass hundreds of restrictive measures in hope of Roe’s repeal.
Study suggests more acceptance for nones in Canada than in the United States
The big difference, researchers concluded, is that the decline in religious affiliation started earlier in Canada.