Abortion concerns prompt Catholic archdiocese warning on vaccine

Roman Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans are advising Catholics that the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, newly approved for use in the U.S., is “morally compromised” because it is produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus.

Catholic school kicks out kids after mom posts explicit photos online

Crystal Jackson says posting images on the adult, membership-based website has helped her marriage, and now earns her $150,000 a month.

Ashes to be sprinkled over parishioners' heads during pandemic Ash Wednesday

The coronavirus pandemic will change the way ashes are distributed to Christians worldwide on Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.

San Jose church fined $2M; other California churches open doors following new ruling

The justices said for now California can’t continue with a ban on indoor church services, but it can limit attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and restrict singing and chanting inside.

Biden calls out 'political extremism' at National Prayer Breakfast

President Joe Biden called for a confrontation of the “political extremism” that inspired the U.S. Capitol riot in remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.

'God is on your side': Group of US Catholic bishops call for support, defend LGBT youth against bullying

Declaring “God is on your side,” a Roman Catholic cardinal, an archbishop and six other U.S. bishops are declaring their support for LGBT youth and denouncing the bullying often directed at them.

Joe Biden attends service at St. Matthews

President-Elect Joe Biden - who is making history as the nation's second Catholic president - attended services at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in DC ahead of the Inauguration on Wednesday.

Pope Francis says women can read at Mass, but still can't be priests

Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while reaffirming they cannot be priests.

Pope prays for dead in Capitol rioting, appeals for calm

Pope Francis said Sunday that he is praying for those who died in the U.S. Capitol rioting and has appealed for calm to prevail in the United States to help safeguard that nation's democratic values.

Pope Francis misses Vatican New Year's ceremonies due to back pain

Francis was suffering from "painful sciatica" and could not preside at an hour-long, year-end prayer service Thursday evening, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Austin-Travis County officials ask church leaders to limit in-person services

Austin and Travis County city and public health officials say with the holiday season, these places could be seeing large groups of people. 

NIH Director tells churches to stay closed as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations rise in US

His warning comes after a national group that represents more than 20,000 evangelical Christian health care professionals recently urged churches to halt in-person services as coronavirus cases surge across the United States.

Justices order review of California virus rules for churches

The high court's unsigned order Thursday, with no noted dissent, leaves the California restrictions in place for now.

Supreme Court blocks New York's pandemic limits on houses of worship

In a 5-4 vote, the high court barred New York from enforcing certain attendance limits at houses of worship in so-called COVID-19 hot spots. 

Evangelical doctors’ group urges churches to halt in-person services amid COVID-19 surge

The Christian Medical & Dental Association urgently requested that churches strongly consider taking their services online and cancel in-person gatherings until the current surge of COVID-19 cases passes.