California pastor hands out COVID-19 vaccine exemption letters
A church in California is handing out exemption letters for people who do not want to take the coronavirus vaccine.
Facebook's new prayer tool arrives to mixed reception
Users who are members of faith-based Facebook groups will find an option allowing them to request prayers and other group members will be able to respond via the “I prayed” icon.
FUMC of Austin eliminates debt for Huston-Tillotson students
FUMC gave more than $450,000 to the university, clearing balances and eliminating debt for many of Huston-Tillotson's 2020 and 2021 graduates.
Former DC archbishop Theodore McCarrick charged with abusing minor: report
The Associated Press reports that defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who served as archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2001 to 2006, is facing charges in the 1970s sexual assault of teen.
Hillsong founder says COVID-19 vaccine is a ‘personal decision’ after church member dies
Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston said much of his staff are fully vaccinated after church member Stephen Harmon, refused to get inoculated and later died from COVID-19.
Torrance nun accused of embezzling $835K from Catholic school pleads guilty
'I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT B.S. COMING FROM YOU': A U.S. district judge started the plea hearing by telling the court that he was raised as a Roman Catholic, "and was educated by nuns. And I don't look at nuns as ordinary people.''
Catholic school lawsuit claims mask mandate shields ‘God’s image and likeness’
“Unfortunately, a mask shields our humanity,” the Resurrection School in Lansing, Michigan said in a lawsuit that is now in the appeals process.
Pope Francis returns to Vatican 10 days after surgery
Pope Francis arrived at the Vatican Wednesday after being discharged from a Rome hospital 10 days after intestinal surgery to remove half of his colon.
Pope Francis appears for first time since intestinal surgery
Pope Francis has made his first public appearance since surgery a week earlier.
Dalai Lama turns 86: Spiritual leader expresses appreciation in video message
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has celebrated his 86th birthday by thanking his supporters and expressing his appreciation to India, where he has lived since he fled his homeland in 1959.
Pope Francis eats breakfast, takes walk 2 days after intestinal surgery
Pope Francis ate breakfast Tuesday and took a walk as he continues to recover from a scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis alert and well after intestinal surgery, Vatican says
Pope Francis is “in good condition, alert and breathing on his own,” a day after he underwent planned intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
60 House Democrats sign letter asking Catholic leaders to reconsider Biden rebuke over abortion
U.S. Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights.
Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders on handling of alleged sexual abuse
Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse.
Secret recordings, leaked letters show Southern Baptist officials neglected sexual abuse claims
Releases of leaked letters and secret recordings from within the Southern Baptist Convention are intensifying as critics seek to show top leaders were slow to address sexual abuse and worried more about its reputation and donations than about victims.
Rick Warren, Saddleback megachurch pastor, to retire
Saddleback Church's pastor and "The Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren announced he will step down.
Sex abuse probe: Milwaukee Archdiocese won't cooperate with state
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is refusing to turn over documents to state investigators who are looking into clergy sexual abuse in Wisconsin's five Roman Catholic dioceses.
Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity
After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.
Pope Francis kisses Auschwitz survivor's tattoo
Pope Francis has kissed the tattoo of an Auschwitz survivor during a general audience on Wednesday.
German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban
Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.