Latest Religion and politics News
Pope warns Earth heading for self-destruction without action
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis warned Thursday that the world is “on a path of self-destruction” if political leaders fail to courageously use the COVID-19 pandemic as a chance to make the planet a fairer and greener place. In a video message released on World Earth Day,...
Pope meets with Lebanon's PM-designate, urges end of crises
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis met with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday and urged all Lebanese political leaders to “urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation," as the country endures a series of crises and disagreements that have prevented the...
House votes to curb power of presidency on travel bans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House passed legislation Wednesday designed to constrain a president’s power to limit entry to the U.S., a response to former President Donald Trump’s travel ban covering five Muslim-majority countries. President Joe Biden...
Colorado bill would protect gender identity and expression
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would add “gender identity” and “gender expression” to anti-discrimination statutes as state lawmakers across the country are introducing bills aimed at curbing transgender rights. There are 21 states...
Lawmakers move closer to letting child sex abuse victims sue
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — For the first time, prominent Republican state senators on Wednesday put their support behind legislation in Pennsylvania to change the law to allow now-adult victims of child sexual abuse to sue the perpetrators or institutions that did not prevent it when it...
S Carolina hate crime bill backers realize time running out
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Supporters of making South Carolina the next-to-last state in the U.S. to pass a hate crime law acknowledged Wednesday they are running out of time in this year's legislative session. A House-passed bill was sent to the full Senate Judiciary...
House overrides Idaho governor's veto on emergency powers
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Republican-dominated House on Wednesday voted to override GOP Gov. Brad Little’s veto of a measure seeking to curb a governor’s power to respond to emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers voted 48-19 to attain the two-thirds...
Organization plans to challenge Ten Commandments law
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Wisconsin organization that opposes religious displays on public property says a new North Dakota law that allows the Ten Commandments in public schools is unconstitutional. “The North Dakota law flouts the Constitution in an attempt to sneak...
Japan's Suga makes offering at war shrine but doesn't visit
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday donated a religious offering to a Tokyo shrine viewed by China and both Koreas as a symbol of wartime aggression, though he avoided a visit. Suga’s offering of “masakaki” leaves at Yasukuni Shrine...
Sri Lankan archbishop asks Muslims to reject extremism
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Sri Lankan Catholic archbishop appealed to the country's Muslims on Wednesday to reject extremism and join Catholics in determining the truth behind Easter Sunday suicide bombings in 2019 that killed 269 people. Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal...
