News
John Paul Lederach to receive Niwano Peace Prize
Lederach is being honored for his four-decade-long peacebuilding career.
Vatican’s global summit on protecting children lays out principles for reform
Soon after the Vatican summit, in which a Nigerian leader spoke of the need to change how the church responds to abuse, secular courts announced convictions of two cardinals.
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in case about war memorial cross
The Bladensburg Peace Cross, which bears the names of 49 men who died in World War I, is on land now owned by a Maryland government commission.
Future unclear after UMC votes to keep rules on LGBTQ couples, clergy
The United Methodist Church retained current language in its Book of Discipline—but it might not be enforced, and churches are considering leaving from both sides.
Conflict between brothers splits Uganda’s thriving Abayudaya Jewish community
Gershom Sizomu is rabbi of the community of 2,000 people that belongs to the Conservative movement, while his brother has led a splinter group seeking to convert to Orthodox Judaism.
What do relics mean to believers today?
A six-month U.S. tour, The Heart of a Priest, is offering the chance to venerate a relic of St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney.
New tax targets employee parking offered by congregations, nonprofits
Even when a congregation is below the threshold the IRS has established, determining that requires a fair amount of computation.
Religious leaders express hopes for CAR peace deal
Churches and mosques have been caught in the middle of violence in the Central African Republic, where militias have frequently fought over mineral resources.
Six-year prison sentence for Jehovah’s Witness in Russia sparks outcry
Dozens of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been charged with participating in or organizing the group’s activities since since the Supreme Court outlawed the group two years ago.
United Methodist assembly meets to make a decision on sexuality and the church
There are multiple options on the table at the special meeting of the top legislative body for the 12.6-million-member global denomination.
In aftermath of Nairobi attack, Kenyans seek to prevent harassment of Somalis and Muslims
Community leaders have worked to counter the idea that Muslims are collectively to blame for attacks by al-Shabaab militants.
Southern Baptist leaders address reports showing decades of sexual abuse
“It’s time for pervasive change,” said SBC president J. D. Greear.
Yechiel Eckstein, rabbi who befriended evangelicals, dies at age 67
Through the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews that Eckstein founded, evangelicals have contributed more than $1 billion to Jewish causes.
Foster care agency allowed to continue Protestants-only policy
The U.S. government recently granted faith-based foster care agencies in South Carolina an exemption to a regulation barring religious discrimination in federally funded foster care programs.
New York Muslim village calls for justice after plot against it is foiled
For more than a decade, Islamberg has been a focus of right-wing conspiracy theories and has found itself the target of anti-Muslim white supremacist attacks as a result.
Despite claims by politicians, Muslim extremism is rare in the U.S.
Last year only 14 Muslim Americans were arrested for alleged involvement with violent extremism—and none of them entered the country illegally.
Muslim slave’s narrative offers new window on Africans in America
A digitized version of Omar ibn Said’s 15-page autobiography is now available through the Library of Congress.
Jerusalem homeowners distressed by Greek Orthodox Church’s land sales
The financially strapped church sold property to private investors in a way that critics see as secretive.
U.S. groups look to Canada to resettle refugees
Canada’s private sponsorship program allows churches, community organizations, and individuals to apply for resettlement for refugees. U.S. partners can help.
Muslim civil rights group sues Maryland over ban related to Israel boycott
Twenty-six states currently have some form of a ban on supporting the the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement.