Latest Religion and politics News

Biden pays tribute to Iranian women at Nowruz celebration

Mar. 20, 2023 15:12 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden used a White House event to mark Persian New Year on Monday to pay tribute to Iranian women and girls who took to the streets of Iran to protest following the death last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and vowed to keep pressure on Tehran. ...

Haley, Ramaswamy among those taking on 'woke ideology' in SC

Mar. 18, 2023 17:47 PM EDT

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Republicans who are seeking to lead their party in the 2024 presidential race gathered in South Carolina this weekend with a goal at the forefront of their agenda: taking on “woke ideology.” On Saturday in North Charleston, the group Palmetto...

Mormon Church gives water to boost imperiled Great Salt Lake

Mar. 17, 2023 19:43 PM EDT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donating a small reservoir's worth of water rights to Utah's Great Salt Lake. Replacing grass with rocks and water-wise landscaping around neatly manicured churches. Reducing water use by more than one-third outside the headquarters in Salt Lake City's Temple Square. These...

Argentina's initial fervor for Pope Francis has faded

Mar. 12, 2023 01:58 AM EST

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — When Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina became Pope Francis, much of his home country celebrated as if it had just won a soccer World Cup championship. A decade later, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church generates divided opinions and much less fervor....

Trump vs. DeSantis: Florida pastors mull conservative issues

Mar. 11, 2023 09:45 AM EST

DORAL, Florida (AP) — Several of Florida’s conservative faith leaders have the ear of two early frontrunners for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination – former President Donald Trump, who lives in Palm Beach, and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The clergy's top political priorities...

At a glance: Jehovah's Witness beliefs, history in Germany

Mar. 10, 2023 10:13 AM EST

A gunman attacked a service held by his former congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses at their worship hall on Thursday night, killing six people and injuring eight before taking his own life in the northern German city of Hamburg, officials said. The international Christian...

Miami faith community strains to help new exiles, migrants

Mar. 05, 2023 09:15 AM EST

HIALEAH, Florida (AP) — A few days after selling all she had to flee Cuba with her three children on a crowded boat, Daneilis Tamayo raised her hand in praise and sang the rousing opening hymn at Sunday worship in this Miami suburb. “The only thing that gave me strength is the...

Miami faith community strains to help new exiles, migrants

Mar. 05, 2023 09:05 AM EST

HIALEAH, Florida (AP) — A few days after selling all she had to flee Cuba with her three children on a crowded boat, Daneilis Tamayo raised her hand in praise and sang the rousing opening hymn at Sunday worship in this Miami suburb. “The only thing that gave me strength is the...

China purging 'Western erroneous views' from legal education

Feb. 28, 2023 02:14 AM EST

BEIJING (AP) — China has ordered closer adherence to the dictates of the ruling Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping in legal education, demanding that schools “oppose and resist Western erroneous views” such as constitutional government, separation of powers, and judicial independence. ...

West Virginians clash over religious freedom bill at hearing

Feb. 24, 2023 19:30 PM EST

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Some people said West Virginia needs a law to codify the right of residents to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs because of growing threats to their constitutional freedoms. Others who spoke during a public hearing...