Latest Religion News
Patriots owner Robert Kraft campaigns against antisemitism
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced the camera during a video call, pointing to a small, sky-blue lapel pin on his blazer. The pin is the symbol of a $25 million “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign launched Monday by the 81-year-old billionaire through his Foundation to...
Whitney Houston's family wants to highlight her gospel roots
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston’s brother remembers when his young sister listened to their mother during gospel rehearsals before she mimicked every tune that was sung. As Houston rose to pop superstardom, her exceptionally talented vocals were rooted in gospel music. And...
Churches provide solace in tornado-ravaged Mississippi Delta
ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — As a deadly tornado tore through the lower Mississippi Delta, the Rev. Mary Stewart clung to a door in the hallway of her Rolling Fork home, shielding herself from the branches and chunks of debris that came flying through her shattered windows. Friday's...
Pray for rain: Spanish farmers hold unique Mass amid drought
L'ESPUNYOLA, Spain (AP) — When Josep Altarriba looks across his parched fields, the Spanish farmer can't remember a time of such widespread drought in Catalonia. If it doesn't rain in the next two weeks, he says there's little chance of saving the harvest. What can be done? For the...
Work underway on renovating historic Memphis cathedral
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — From the floor, the vaulted ceiling of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is obscured by layers of scaffolding. Up 25 feet, workers are chipping off century-old plaster, damaged from years of water leaks, in a steady tapping that reverberates through the nave. ...
Tensions on the rise at revered Kyiv monastery complex
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The courtyards of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have been busy with more than just the usual worshippers, going to and from its churches in the sprawling monastic complex that is Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site. Also busy Friday were people in civilian...
Finnish leadership condemns attack on veteran lawmaker
HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s leaders strongly condemned an assault on a Jewish lawmaker who was assaulted and punched in the face Saturday while campaigning for the country's April 2 general election. President Sauli Niinisto tweeted that Saturday’s physical attack on veteran...
Jehovah's Witnesses mourn victims of Hamburg shooting
BERLIN (AP) — Members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany held a memorial service Saturday for the six people killed during a mass shooting at a religious service in Hamburg this month. A 35-year-old German man who opened fire during the March 9 service killed himself as...
German bishop resigns, cites responsibility in abuse scandal
BERLIN (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday accepted a resignation request from a German bishop who asked to step down because of his mistakes in handling sexual abuse cases. Franz-Josef Bode, who has been the bishop of Osnabrueck, Germany, since 1995, said in a personal statement that...
Pope expands sex abuse law, reaffirms adults can be victims
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday updated a 2019 church law aimed at holding senior churchmen accountable for covering up sexual abuse cases, expanding it to cover lay Catholic leaders and reaffirming that vulnerable adults and not just children can be victims of abuse when they are...
