Latest Religion News
Soccer player Paulinho won't let intolerance of his Afro-Brazilian religion stop his faith
LAGOA SANTA, Brazil (AP) — When Brazilian soccer player Paulinho scored a goal at the Tokyo Olympics, he celebrated by pointing an imaginary arrow at the flashing cameras as homage to a deity in his persecuted Afro-Brazilian faith – and taking aim at religious intolerance. ...
A Belgian bishop says the Vatican has for years snubbed pleas to defrock a pedophile ex-colleague
BRUSSELS (AP) — A prominent Belgian bishop on Wednesday criticized the Vatican for failing to defrock a former bishop who admitted sexually abusing children, saying it had led to massive frustration with the highest Roman Catholic authorities. Disgraced bishop Roger Vangheluwe,...
Revised report on Maryland church sex abuse leaves 5 church leaders’ names still redacted
BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland’s attorney general released some previously redacted names in its staggering report on child sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore on Tuesday, but the names of five Catholic Church leaders remained redacted amid ongoing appeals, prompting criticism of the church by...
Less-redacted report on Maryland church abuse still redacts names of church leaders
BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland's attorney general released some previously redacted names in its staggering report on child sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore on Tuesday, but the names of five Catholic church leaders remained redacted amid ongoing appeals, prompting criticism of the church by...
Vatican presses world leaders at UN to work on rules for lethal autonomous weapons
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Vatican's top diplomat urged world leaders Tuesday to put a pause on lethal autonomous weapons systems for long enough negotiate an agreement on them, joining a series of U.N. General Assembly speakers who have expressed concern about various aspects of artificial...
Man brings gun and knives into a Virginia church service after vague online threats, police say
HAYMARKET, Va. (AP) — A man posted vague online threats of violence and images of a Virginia church before going inside with a loaded handgun and two knives during Sunday services, police said Monday. The man was arrested and no one was hurt after officers rushed to Park Valley...
Sex abuse allegations against a deceased cardinal add to the German church's troubles
BERLIN (AP) — A scandal centering on sexual abuse allegations against a long-deceased cardinal has created a “very difficult situation” for the troubled Catholic Church in Germany, a top German bishop said Monday, hours after a statue of the late cleric was removed from its perch outside...
Pope blames weapons industry for Russia-Ukraine war and 'martyrdom' of Ukrainian people
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday labeled the weapons industry as being a key driver of the “martyrdom” of Ukraine’s people in Russia’s war, saying even the withholding of weapons now is going to continue their misery. Francis appeared to refer to...
Ideological rifts among U.S. bishops are in the spotlight ahead of momentous Vatican meeting
NEW YORK (AP) — Early next month, the Vatican will open an unprecedented gathering of Catholic clergy and laypeople from around the world. The synod is intended to be a collegial, collaborative event, though the agenda includes divisive issues such as the role of women in the church and the...
National Cathedral replaces windows honoring Confederacy with stained-glass homage to racial justice
The landmark Washington National Cathedral unveiled new stained-glass windows Saturday with a theme of racial justice, filling the space that had once held four windows honoring Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. The new windows depict a march for justice by...
