Latest Religion News

Rabbi recounts fear and heroism during deadliest antisemitic attack in US history

Jun. 01, 2023 16:48 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rabbi Jonathan Perlman took the witness stand Thursday wearing the yarmulke he had on the day a gunman burst into his Pittsburgh synagogue during Sabbath services and began shooting anyone he could find. The skullcap Jews wear as a reminder of God's presence fell...

Cyprus ex-bishop who indecently assaulted teen girl in 1981 gets suspended sentence

Jun. 01, 2023 12:43 PM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A court in Cyprus on Thursday gave a former bishop in the Greek Orthodox Church to a 12-month suspended sentence after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl 42 years ago. In passing sentence, Larnaca District Court Judge Evie...

Minnesota plans rewrite of rules for copper-nickel mining near popular wilderness

Jun. 01, 2023 12:32 PM EDT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota regulators have concluded that state rules governing where copper-nickel mines can be built are insufficient to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from noise and light pollution, creating another potential obstacle to the proposed Twin...

Bishop acquitted of raping nun resigns as leader of Catholic diocese in Indian city

Jun. 01, 2023 09:16 AM EDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — A bishop acquitted of raping a nun resigned as leader of the Catholic diocese in an Indian city on Thursday. Pope Francis accepted the resignation of 59-year-old Franco Mulakkal, who was bishop of the Jalandhar Diocese in the northern state of Punjab. ...

Defying taboos, Shiite cleric in Iran takes in street dogs and nurses them back to health

Jun. 01, 2023 02:14 AM EDT

QOM, Iran (AP) — It's rare these days for a turbaned cleric in Iran to attract a large following of adoring young fans on Instagram, but Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei has done it by rescuing street dogs in defiance of a local taboo. Tabatabaei posts regularly — to his more than 80,000...

'Felt like a year': Worshipper describes fear during gunman's deadly attack on Pittsburgh synagogue

May. 31, 2023 22:04 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — It was her brother's active faith that inspired Carol Black to recommit as an adult to being a practicing Jew several years ago, and their shared commitment brought them to the Tree of Life synagogue on the October 2018 day it was attacked. Testifying on the...

Answered prayers: Tennessee church recovers truckload of organ pipes

May. 31, 2023 16:41 PM EDT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The prayers of a Tennessee church were answered when whoever stole a moving truck near its building didn't keep what they found inside: old organ pipes, and lots of them. Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis had loaded a Penske truck earlier this month...

Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee, will travel the US

May. 31, 2023 15:21 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Little Amal, a 12-foot (3.7-meter) puppet of a Syrian refugee, will journey across the United States this fall, visiting key places in America's history to raise awareness about immigration and migration. The puppet of the 10-year-old girl will visit the U.S....

Vatican questions how priest moved $17 million meant for missionary work into investment fund

May. 31, 2023 14:38 PM EDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The former monastery on a quiet residential street in Rome once sheltered Jews fearing deportation during World War II. Purchased by the Vatican in 2021 as a dormitory for foreign nuns studying at Rome’s pontifical universities, the building now stands empty, a collateral...

Lawyers for Pittsburgh synagogue defendant admit he carried out deadliest US antisemitic attack

May. 30, 2023 18:29 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Robert Bowers carried out the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history when he killed 11 people and injured seven others by storming a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find. On that, everyone agrees. Even though Bowers’ defense...