Religion
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Catholic leader in Kansas sues satanic church, arguing it stole holy items for upcoming ritual
KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Catholic Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, is suing the Satanist organizers behind next week’s planned Black Mass ritual at the state Capitol, alleging that they unlawfully obtained a consecrated host and wine.
The lawsuit, filed in Leavenworth District Court last Friday, names Michael Stewart, Travis ...Read more

GOP divisions derail 'religious liberty' vote in Georgia for now
The effort to revive Georgia’s controversial “religious liberty” legislation stalled in a House committee Wednesday after two Republicans joined Democrats to oppose it.
The measure could come up for another vote, but the Republican pushback to a bill Democrats have long rejected was another reminder of how divisive the legislation remains...Read more

How Christian nationalism differs among Hispanic Protestants and Catholics: New study
Support for Christian nationalist ideology differs among Hispanic Protestants and Catholics depending on how individuals identify themselves racially, according to a new study.
Christian nationalists believe Christian values should be fused with the nation’s identity, experts said. Half of all Americans believe the U.S. is a Christian nation ...Read more

'My abuser is finally being held accountable' woman tells Texas lawmakers about Gateway founder
A woman who says the founding pastor at Gateway Church abused her starting when she was 12 is speaking out against the use of nondisclosure agreements in child sexual assault cases.
Cindy Clemishire gave emotional testimony to a panel of Texas House lawmakers on March 19, just days after ex-Gateway Church lead pastor Robert Morris turned ...Read more

New archbishop of Archdiocese of Detroit installed during special Mass
DETROIT — For the first time in more than a decade and a half, the Archdiocese of Detroit has a new leader at the top.
Bishop Edward Weisenburger was installed Tuesday as the archdiocese's new archbishop during a special mass at Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. During the afternoon mass, Weisenburger traded seats with ...Read more

How emboldened Georgia Republicans revived 'religious liberty' debate
ATLANTA — For much of the last decade, the “religious liberty” debate was one of the most polarizing political fights in Georgia.
Companies threatened boycotts. Protesters flooded the Capitol. Lawmakers risked their careers by taking dramatic stands.
Now, the once-explosive feud has been eclipsed by new culture wars fights over ...Read more

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

Senate Republicans in Georgia advance religious liberty bill
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

Celebrating Sunday Mass in a 'wild church'
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

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

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

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

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

Are mass deportations Christian? Florida leaders contemplate the question
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

Religious groups suing to prevent ICE raids in houses of worship
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

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

Kansas City's International House of Prayer founder committed sexual abuse, misconduct against 17 women, investigation finds
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
Popular Stories
- 'My abuser is finally being held accountable' woman tells Texas lawmakers about Gateway founder
- How Christian nationalism differs among Hispanic Protestants and Catholics: New study
- Catholic leader in Kansas sues satanic church, arguing it stole holy items for upcoming ritual
- GOP divisions derail 'religious liberty' vote in Georgia for now
- New archbishop of Archdiocese of Detroit installed during special Mass