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Barry Williams/New York Daily News/TNS

Long Island Catholic diocese finalizes $323 million settlement for child sex abuse victims

Religion / Religious News /

NEW YORK — A years-long legal battle between Long Island’s Catholic diocese and hundreds of alleged sex abuse victims came to an end Wednesday, with a bankruptcy judge in Manhattan approving a plan that finalizes a $323 million settlement.

As part of the settlement, the Diocese of Rockville Centre will begin making payments next year to ...Read more

Ex priest, 93, pleads guilty to raping, kidnapping young boy

Religion / Religious News /

A retired Roman Catholic priest accused of raping and kidnapping a young boy nearly 50 years ago entered a guilty plea on Tuesday, just before jury selection for his criminal trial was set to get underway.

Lawrence Hecker, 93, pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature and theft. He’s scheduled...Read more

Patrick Hruby/Los Angeles Times/TNS

You don't have to celebrate Christmas to experience the spiritual benefits of Advent

Religion / Religious News /

Ellen O'Brian hadn't bought a candy-filled advent calendar in years, but when she saw the festive cardboard box with little numbered panels in her local natural foods store, she couldn't resist.

"It's put out by a chocolate maker called Divine, and it's dark chocolate for the dark time of the year," said O'Brian, founder of the Center for ...Read more

Southern California priest supported political candidates, apparently violating federal law: 'I won't stop'

Religion / Religious News /

LOS ANGELES — A week before the general elections, worshipers at the St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church in Bell Gardens were listening to the parish announcements when Father Nabor Rios introduced a political candidate.

"I'm not saying to vote for her," he told people, pausing. "Well, I am saying to vote for her, but Isabel is gonna run�...Read more

Erik Galicia/Fresno Bee/TNS

'You are not an error.' How an Episcopal church reaches LGBTQ+ farmworkers

Religion / Religious News /

FRESNO, Calif. — Workplace bullying, religious trauma, complicated relationships with their own communities.

These are some of the challenges that LGBTQ+ farmworkers face, said Rev. Nelson Serrano Poveda, the Latino/Hispanic missioner at Fresno’s St. James Episcopal Cathedral. Many come from small, socially conservative towns in Latin ...Read more

Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS

In melding faith and politics, churches follow do's and don'ts this election season

Religion / Religious News /

Don’t be surprised as Election Day fast approaches to see many signs outside Florida churches telling you to vote a certain way.

Mixing faith and politics, churches have long weighed in on matters affecting communities in the state and across the U.S., and their efforts are underway this year with the issue of abortion on Florida’s ballot. ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Denver Archdiocese, Catholic nonprofit contribute $225,000 to anti-abortion group in fight over Colorado's Amendment 79

Religion / Religious News /

DENVER — The Archdiocese of Denver and a nonprofit representing the state’s Catholic bishops have contributed $225,000 to a Colorado anti-abortion group in its fight against Amendment 79, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution.

The Pro-Life Colorado Fund, a coalition of more than 50 anti-abortion groups, received...Read more

Youth leader at Texas megachurch charged with child porn

Religion / Religious News /

A youth leader at an Evangelical megachurch in west-central Texas has been arrested and charged with child pornography, authorities said.

Charles Goff, who served as a youth volunteer at the Beltway Park Church in Abilene for approximately three years, reportedly told a member of the church he was struggling with his desire to watch child ...Read more

Marcus Yam/Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Ruling revives lawsuit to allow state funding for special education to go to religious schools

Religion / Religious News /

A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel revived a lawsuit this week filed by Orthodox Jewish families that sued California education officials over the state’s policy of refusing to fund special education programs at religious schools.

Two religious schools and three Orthodox Jewish parents whose children have autism filed the lawsuit against ...Read more

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

'Stay in that loneliness:' In Chicago, monks study, work and pray seeking God

Religion / Religious News /

CHICAGO -- A siren screamed down 31st Street as six men faced one another in a dim church and began to chant.

They chanted standing up. They chanted bent over. Above a thumping bass from a passing car, they prayed to the holy trinity through St. Benedict that travelers would arrive at their destinations and for seasonable weather. They prayed �...Read more

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS

101 indigent, unknown people buried with dozens of strangers there to mourn them; 'We're going to walk that last walk with them'

Religion / Religious News /

CHICAGO -- When 101 people were laid to rest at Chicago's Mount Olivet Cemetery last Wednesday afternoon, no family or friends were there to mourn them. Yet they were certainly not alone.

As cold sunshine flooded the cemetery, around 20 Catholic high school students stood sentinel in their uniforms by the wooden caskets, holding yellow roses ...Read more

Megan Varner/Getty Images North America/TNS

Kamala Harris brings her Georgia campaign to church as candidates vie for religious votes

Religion / Religious News /

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church was awash in pink Sunday morning, a stark contrast to the reds and blues that have dominated the 2024 presidential campaign.

It was Pink Sunday to bring attention to breast cancer. But the distinctly feminine shade also seemed a fitting backdrop for the day’s guest: Kamala Harris, who, if she is elected ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

LA Catholic Church covered up molesting priests for decades. The price: $1.5 billion and so much pain

Religion / Religious News /

LOS ANGELES — Clergy sex abuse scandals have rocked Catholic churches across the world, but few places have seen the financial toll of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

With a record $880 million settlement with victims announced this week, the Los Angeles Archdiocese has now paid out more than $1.5 billion.

The bill reflects its rank as the ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

LA Catholic Church to pay record settlement over clergy abuse; cumulative payouts top $1.5 billion

Religion / Religious News /

LOS ANGELES — In what could be the closing chapter in a landmark legal battle, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse dating back decades in the largest settlement involving the Catholic Church.

Attorneys for 1,353 people who allege that they suffered horrific abuse at the hands of ...Read more

Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun/TNS

Attorney: 900 to 1,000 filed sex abuse claims in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case

Religion / Religious News /

BALTIMORE — Somewhere between 900 and 1,000 people have filed claims in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case, alleging they were sexually abused as children by people in the Catholic Church’s employ, an attorney said in court.

Edwin Caldie, a lawyer for a committee of abuse survivors tasked with representing the interests of all...Read more

Ben Goode/Dreamstime.com/TNS

Does theology impact Black churches' involvement in elections? What experts say

Religion / Religious News /

For many who grew up in predominantly Black church congregations, the importance of public involvement was intertwined with historical and theological teachings.

“Part of the importance to me about civic engagement was absolutely passed down as a young person,” said Valerie Cooper, associate professor of Black church studies at Duke ...Read more

Ventura County district attorney’s office/Ventura County district attorney’s office/TNS

Former LA Archdiocese priest pleads no contest to possession of child pornography

Religion / Religious News /

LOS ANGELES — A former Catholic priest with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has pleaded no contest to possession of child pornography and several related special allegations, authorities said.

Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, 39, who was a member of the archdiocese at the time of the allegations, admitted to possessing over 600 images of child sexual...Read more

After Helene, a Baptist congregation looks for answers and solace and ways to help

Religion / Religious News /

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. -- First Baptist Church returned to its pews Sunday morning for the first time since Helene devastated Western North Carolina.

Before the service, parishioners gathered in small groups, checking in on each other, asking how they’d fared.

“Did you lose power?” one woman asked another.

“Four days,” came the response....Read more

Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun/TNS

Church sues Maryland arguing for right to discriminate in employment based on religion

Religion / Religious News /

BALTIMORE — The Seventh-day Adventist Church is suing Maryland, arguing that its fair employment law prevents religious organizations from being able to hire — and fire — people based on their beliefs, bridging those groups’ constitutional right to religious independence.

The church said in its lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. ...Read more

Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS

LA police ramp up patrols around synagogues during Rosh Hashana

Religion / Religious News /

LOS ANGELES — Police departments in the Los Angeles area are ramping up patrols around synagogues during Rosh Hashana this week — though authorities say they have not received any specific reports of threats or planned demonstrations.

The Beverly Hills Police Department has partnered with private security and increased patrols around ...Read more