Religion

/

Health

Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/TNS

Kansas City-area police, fire dismiss chaplains with ties to International House of Prayer in fallout from sex abuse report

Religion / Religious News /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All Grandview police and fire chaplains associated with the International House of Prayer-Kansas City have been dismissed in the fallout from a third-party investigation into a sex abuse scandal involving the 24/7 global ministry, according to local officials.

“I can confirm we severed ties with several of our public ...Read more

As Catholics celebrate the beginning of Lent, where do the ashes for Ash Wednesday come from?

Religion / Religious News /

PITTSBURGH —In the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, the Rev. Edward Yuhas of St. James and St. Katharine Drexel parishes in Washington County, begins collecting palm branches from parishioners.

The palms are burned over an open fire, creating the black and gray powdered ash that will be put on foreheads of the faithful in the form of a ...Read more

David Aaro/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Senate Republicans in Georgia advance religious liberty bill

Religion / Religious News /

ATLANTA — Senate Republicans advanced a bill that would bolster legal protection for religious rights, despite critics warning it could lead to discrimination against gay people and other groups.

The measure, Senate Bill 36, limits the state’s ability to enforce or pass legislation that conflicts with religious beliefs. The bill passed ...Read more

The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Celebrating Sunday Mass in a 'wild church'

Religion / Religious News /

WILMINGTON, Del. — Windswept rain clouds raced over a swollen Brandywine Creek on a recent, blustery Sunday, and worshippers scattered like leaves to wander its muddy banks.

One ran her hands over an old oak’s rough bark. Another picked up pieces of trash. A pair of Canada geese honked loudly at them all.

The Rev. Pete Nunnally, of St. ...Read more

Carl Juste/Miami Herald/TNS

Christianity comeback? Major survey shows flight from faith has slowed -- at least for now

Religion / Religious News /

The percentage of people who call themselves Christians has been in free fall for over a decade but appears to have leveled off — at least for now, according to a major new study of religious beliefs in America.

The results don’t necessarily suggest a resurgence of Christianity but signal that a significant shift toward a more secular ...Read more

-/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa/-/IPA via ZUMA Press

What is chronic lung disease, the condition Pope Francis suffers from?

Religion / Religious News /

In just a matter of weeks, Pope Francis has faced several new challenges in his long-running battle with chronic lung disease. The spiritual leader’s condition has been critical, with news of his well-being waxing and waning since Feb. 14 given his age and fragility.

Here’s a breakdown of what 88-year-old Francis is facing:

What conditions...Read more

File/The Wichita Eagle/TNS

ICE can't enter religious sites that sued, including Philadelphia Quakers, judge rules

Religion / Religious News /

PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has paused changes to U.S. Department of Homeland Security policy that would allow immigration enforcement agents to enter houses of worship. The order affects the Quaker, Sikh, and Baptist congregations throughout the country, including Quakers in Philadelphia, affiliated with the lawsuit.

Over a dozen migrants...Read more

Tracy Glantz/The Island Packet/TNS

Bird flu is causing an egg shortage. A church is giving dozens to those in need

Religion / Religious News /

COLUMBIA, S.C. — “It’s an eggs-ellent day,” Pastor John Ptak said as an orderly line formed and a light drizzle fell outside the White Knoll, South Carolina, campus of Radius Church on Thursday morning.

People lined up early for free eggs, handed out by the dozen at the weekly food pantry operated by the church.

When they heard of the ...Read more

David Pashaee/Middle East Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

Are mass deportations Christian? Florida leaders contemplate the question

Religion / Religious News /

Thomas Wenski, the archbishop of Miami, has been working with immigrants in Miami for going on 50 years.

His flock is worried. Although thousands of recent immigrants in his Catholic archdiocese are here legally, many know people who are not. Florida is home to some 1.2 million people who are in the country illegally.

Some of Wenski’s ...Read more

Mark Mirko/Hartford Courant/TNS

Religious groups suing to prevent ICE raids in houses of worship

Religion / Religious News /

Twenty-seven organizations representing Jewish and Christian-based denominations filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump’s administration, asking a judge to prevent immigration enforcement actions in houses of worship.

As part of the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the Department of Homeland ...Read more

Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Should athletes talk about religion and politics? What Americans said in new poll

Religion / Religious News /

Athletes have historically displayed their faith in different ways during competitions, and a majority of Americans who watch sports are supportive of it, a new poll found.

Fifty-six percent of sports fans in the U.S. said they are very or somewhat supportive of athletes speaking about religious faith or other spiritual issues, according to a ...Read more

Amid sweeping immigration crackdown, Minnesota churches scrambling to respond

Religion / Religious News /

Church leaders are scrambling to respond as the Trump administration makes sweeping changes in immigration policy, ranging from freezing federal funds for refugee resettlement to revoking a policy prohibiting the arrest of undocumented immigrants in Christian houses of worship.

“This is a moment for us to recommit to the stranger among us ...Read more

Georgia-based Baptist group joins lawsuit to keep ICE out of churches

Religion / Religious News /

ATLANTA — A network of Baptist churches headquartered in Georgia is suing the Department of Homeland Security over its decision to scrap a Biden-era policy that limited federal immigration arrests near so-called “sensitive locations,” such as churches, schools and hospitals.

The Decatur-based Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s lawsuit ...Read more

Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS

Kansas City's International House of Prayer founder committed sexual abuse, misconduct against 17 women, investigation finds

Religion / Religious News /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — International House of Prayer-Kansas City founder Mike Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct against 17 women — including minors — over decades, amid a thriving culture of systematic abuse and coverups, a third-party investigation has found.

“Throughout the investigation, we have identified and interviewed ...Read more

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America/TNS

Rev. Budde, who asked Trump to 'show mercy,' says the time for love is now

Religion / Religious News /

ATLANTA — The physical health benefits of love have been affirmed by science — reduced depression, lower blood pressure, less anxiety, and even improved sleep. In this moment of political division in the United States, theologians say Americans must now look to the spiritual benefits of love, and seek to reconnect with those who hold ...Read more

Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Michigan priest defrocked for imitating Elon Musk's 'Nazi' salute

Religion / Religious News /

A Michigan priest was relieved of his duties after giving what appeared to be a Nazi salute inspired by Elon Musk at a political rally last week.

The Anglican Catholic Church condemned Father Calvin Robinson for making “a gesture that many have interpreted as a pro-Nazi salute” at the end of an address to an anti-abortion, right-wing ...Read more

San Diego police investigate defacing of synagogue, church

Religion / Religious News /

SAN DIEGO — A Jewish synagogue in Bankers Hill was defaced similarly to that of a nearby Christian church over the weekend, prompting an investigation from San Diego police, officials said.

Parishioners at Ohr Shalom Synagogue were informed Sunday that their building had been spraypainted with the words “No Gods” and “Free Gaza,” the ...Read more

Carl Juste/Miami Herald/TNS

Catholics, start your engines. It's Archbishop Wenski's annual motorcycle 'biker' mass

Religion / Religious News /

MIAMI -- Nearly 350 riders hailing from all corners of Florida revved their motorcycle engines in the parking lot of a Doral church, as they waited for the signal to start their ride. The chilly temperatures that plagued South Florida for a week warmed up to a nice 70 degrees. Perfect for a Sunday ride.

No, these aren’t the Hell’s Angels ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

US Catholic bishops condemn Trump immigration crackdown. Do church members agree?

Religion / Religious News /

A majority of U.S. Catholics said Donald Trump would be better equipped to handle immigration issues, according to exit polls, but less than one week into his second term as president, some church leaders are speaking out against his administration’s immigration crackdown.

Trump signed dozens of executive orders on immigration Jan. 20, ...Read more

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America/TNS

Supreme Court will decide if religious schools may be funded as public charters

Religion / Religious News /

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court announced Friday it will hear an Oklahoma case to decide whether the state must authorize a religious school as a public charter.

The new church-state case could yield a potentially momentous decision that could change public schools in much of the nation.

Los Angeles and other large cities have been leaders ...Read more