TAG · Religion & Society
About a dozen people attended an Ash Wednesday service at Boston's Old North Church in March. Two days later, a handful of worshippers gathered for a Shabbat service at Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. Both congregations have been…
3 MIN READDemocracy came to the cradle of Voodoo religion in 1991, when Benin's military dictator Mathieu Kérékou surprisingly lost an election he had organized. Kérékou had amassed power partly by banning the practice of so-called sorcerers, whose…
4 MIN READAn independent UK government review has recommended barring NHS staff from wearing political badges on their uniforms, including pro-Palestinian symbols, as part of a broader set of measures to tackle antisemitism within the health service.
3 MIN READCardinal Robert McElroy, the Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday removed a well-known priest from his role as an exorcist of the archdiocese after the priest publicly suggested that UFO sightings were the work of demons.
3 MIN READSupport for same-sex marriage among U.S. adults has dropped to 65%, down from 71% in 2022-2023, according to Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey released Wednesday. The percentage of Americans who view gay and lesbian relations as…
3 MIN READHuge crowds of Muslim pilgrims gathered in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday to throw pebbles at pillars in a symbolic ritual marking one of the final days of the Hajj, as temperatures soared past 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius). The…
3 MIN READMillions of Muslims began the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims arriving from outside the country, according to Hajj passport forces. The start of the multi-day rite comes amid regional…
3 MIN READU.S. Muslims like Faisal Rashid and his wife are set to join the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as the ritual begins Monday against a backdrop of Iran war tensions and an uneasy ceasefire. The couple secured their spots in…
3 MIN READSome American Muslims are traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this week while the region remains unsettled after an Iran war that began in late February and widened before a ceasefire was reached in April. The pilgrimage is a religious…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical on artificial intelligence on May 25, with the Vatican saying the document will focus on the care of human dignity in the AI era. The launch will include Pope officials and speakers, including…
3 MIN READIsrael will for the first time allow women to sit for the rabbinic exams that Israel’s rabbinate requires for Orthodox men, NPR reported May 19. The change follows years of court fights, but Israel’s official rabbinate still refuses to…
3 MIN READPakistan is preparing a large group of pilgrims for Hajj as millions of Muslims turn to a multiday journey to Mecca. NPR reported that ongoing fighting in the Middle East has added uncertainty to travel plans and costs for some pilgrims,…
3 MIN READU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Rome on May 7, 2026, for a diplomatic visit that both sides described as an effort to reaffirm strong bilateral ties following President Donald…
3 MIN READA breakaway Catholic traditionalist group rejected the Vatican's offer of talks on February 19, signaling it plans to proceed with consecrating four bishops on July 1 despite papal threats of sanctions and schism. The Society of St. Pius…
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President Donald Trump’s administration held a conservative Christian prayer gathering on the National Mall Sunday as part of celebrations for the nation’s 250th birthday. The event, organized by Freedom 250 with work involving the White…
3 MIN READThe White House has designated Sunday as the date for a daylong prayer event on the National Mall, organized with private church organizations and federal agencies, NPR reported. The event, called “Rededicate 250,” marks the 250th…
3 MIN READThousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington on Sunday for a daylong Christian worship rally billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God,” according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump…
4 MIN READThousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on May 17 for “Rededicate 250,” a prayer festival that organizers said is partially funded and organized by the Trump administration. NPR’s Emily Feng reported from the lawn as…
3 MIN READThousands streamed onto the National Mall in Washington on Sunday for a daylong, America-themed prayer rally billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God,” organized as part of this year’s 250th anniversary…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV has established a Vatican study group on artificial intelligence and signed his first encyclical, expected to call for an ethics-based approach to AI that prioritizes human dignity and peace, the Vatican announced Saturday.
3 MIN READJalue Dorje, 19, a reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist lama recognized by the Dalai Lama at age 2, has moved from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, to the Mindrolling Monastery in northern India to begin formal monastic training, the latest chapter…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV has created an in-house study group on artificial intelligence, the Vatican said Saturday, as he prepares to release his first encyclical expected to emphasize an ethics-based approach that prioritizes human dignity and peace.…
3 MIN READThe Associated Press profile of Jalue Dorje, a US-born teenager who was recognized by Tibetan Buddhist leaders as a reincarnated lama, follows him from a Minneapolis-area childhood to monastic life in the Himalayas. Now 19, Dorje has been…
3 MIN READThe Vatican on Wednesday issued a final warning to the breakaway traditionalist Society of St. Pius X that its planned consecration of four bishops without papal approval would be a schismatic act incurring automatic excommunication, the…
5 MIN READA US-born teenage Buddhist lama, Jalue Dorje, has blessed thousands at a monastery in Nepal’s Himalayan foothills, according to an Associated Press report. The story traces how Dorje, now 19, went from playing Madden NFL in Minnesota to…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV’s Vatican issued a final warning to the Society of St. Pius X on May 13, saying its planned July 1 consecration of four bishops without papal consent would be a schismatic act that carries automatic excommunication. The…
3 MIN READJERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli troops will spend weeks in military prison after a video circulated showing one soldier allegedly defacing a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon and another taking a photograph of it, the Israeli military…
3 MIN READDr. John Gordon spent three decades as a reproductive endocrinologist before a crisis of conscience over surplus embryos and genetic testing drove him to overhaul his practice. His wife, Allison, told him their comfortable life was built…
3 MIN READDr. John Gordon, a Christian fertility specialist, relocated from suburban Washington, D.C., to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2019 to found Rejoice Fertility, a clinic that refuses to discard viable embryos, perform genetic testing, or donate…
3 MIN READAbraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades who survived the Holocaust as a child, died Sunday at age 86, the organization announced. Foxman counseled world leaders and became a prominent…
3 MIN READA reproductive endocrinologist in Knoxville, Tennessee, has shifted his fertility practice after growing troubled by ethical questions raised by IVF, including the creation of surplus embryos and genetic testing. Dr. John Gordon, who…
3 MIN READA Christian IVF doctor in Knoxville, Tennessee, has opened a faith-based fertility clinic that aims to limit the creation of surplus embryos, as IVF faces renewed scrutiny among some American Christians and abortion-rights advocates. The…
3 MIN READAbe Foxman, who led the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades until retiring in 2015, has died at 86, the ADL said May 10. The organization said it “deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director,” without providing…
3 MIN READMembers of a White House-created religious liberty advisory panel have proposed tearing down the constitutional separation of church and state, rewarding a baker who refused to serve a same-sex couple, and ordering the Justice Department…
6 MIN READTechnology companies, long skeptical of organized religion, are turning to faith leaders for help in navigating the ethics of artificial intelligence. Representatives from Anthropic and OpenAI met with a wide range of religious groups last…
4 MIN READTech companies are turning to faith leaders for guidance on how to shape artificial intelligence as concerns mount about its rapid integration into society, the Associated Press reported. Leaders from multiple religious groups met in New…
3 MIN READWorship attendance at churches and other houses of worship rose in 2025 for the first time in about two decades, according to a new report by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. The institute said its survey of leaders at 7,453…
3 MIN READMore than a dozen houses of worship were burned or damaged in the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, and many faith leaders say the recovery effort has strengthened relationships across religious lines. Rabbi Amy Bernstein of Kehillat…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV prayed for political leaders to end “fratricidal hatred” during an anniversary visit to Pompeii on Friday, the first-year milestone since his election. Speaking at a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii, the pope also…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV marked his first year in the Vatican by choosing a longer view than his predecessor, reshaping finances and appointments while preparing for major flashpoints over the Latin Mass and Germany’s “Synodal Path.” In a look ahead…
3 MIN READSouthern Baptist Convention membership dropped to 12.3 million in 2025, its lowest level since 1973, according to data released Tuesday by Lifeway Research, the denomination’s research affiliate. The 3% decline continues a nearly…
3 MIN READThe Southern Baptist Convention’s membership fell 3% in 2025 to 12.3 million, its lowest level since 1973, according to results released Tuesday by Lifeway Research. At the same time, the denomination reported nearly 4% higher weekly…
3 MIN READAs the U.S. approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the long-running debate over whether the nation’s founders intended a Christian republic is being amplified by recent political and advocacy…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV visited a prison in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, telling inmates “You are not alone,” as part of the final leg of his Africa tour. During the visit, he urged authorities to focus justice on protecting dignity, and he delivered a…
3 MIN READBeth Moore, the longtime Bible teacher who left the Southern Baptist Convention more than five years ago, said she is starting to wind down Living Proof Ministries and will stop hosting major public events. In interviews, Moore described…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV paid tribute to Pope Francis on Tuesday on the first anniversary of Francis’s death, recalling Francis’s preaching on God’s mercy and his gestures of solidarity with poor people. The American pope delivered the remarks aboard…
3 MIN READThe percentage of men ages 18-29 who say religion is "very important" jumped to 42% from 28% in 2022-2023, surpassing young women for the first time in at least 25 years, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday. The gender reversal is…
4 MIN READLONDON — Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally on Thursday expressed solidarity with Pope Leo XIV in calling for peace in the Middle East, standing by the pontiff as his advocacy drew public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
3 MIN READU.S. Catholic voters backed Donald Trump in 2024, but many across the Catholic political spectrum reacted with dismay after Trump launched a broad verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first pope leading the U.S. Catholic Church. Critics…
3 MIN READGenerative AI has moved into religion, with apps offering users chat-style guidance from AI “Jesus” and other spiritual avatars, from personalized video-call experiences to offerings framed around prayer and encouragement. In the latest…
3 MIN READHundreds of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in Washington, D.C. packed into DSK Mariam Church to sing hymns in Ge’ez, pray and keep vigil as Easter Sunday unfolded. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection—known as Fasika in Amharic—arrives…
3 MIN READMillions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians observed Good Friday on April 10 in Addis Ababa, with celebrations dampened by fuel scarcity and rising food prices tied to the Iran war, the Associated Press reported. The shortages are affecting…
3 MIN READWATERVILLE, Maine — As Passover approaches, Rabbi Rachel Isaacs is preparing ceremonial foods at Beth Israel Congregation in central Maine, where membership has quadrupled over the past 15 years. Isaacs, who leads the Center for Small Town…
4 MIN READPope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff with a call for people with weapons to lay them down and for those who have power to seek peace through dialogue. In his Urbi et Orbi blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica’s loggia, the…
3 MIN READRabbi Rachel Isaacs is using Passover week to spotlight a growing effort to strengthen rural synagogues across the U.S., from central Maine to Montana. Isaacs, who leads a center at Colby College, said her work has reached dozens of…
3 MIN READA traveling exhibit called “Inspired Generosity” opened in Minneapolis this week, highlighting stories of giving from the American Muslim community and challenging stereotypes that cast Muslims as outsiders. The exhibition, first debuted…
3 MIN READThe Trump administration has posted Easter messages on official social media accounts that celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection, drawing both praise from some Christians and criticism from others who say government agencies should not…
4 MIN READGood Friday was marked across Latin America on Friday with Catholic devotees holding processions and ceremonies that re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus, from colonial Antigua in Guatemala to cities in Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. In…
3 MIN READGood Friday, observed by Christians ahead of Easter Sunday, falls on April 3 this year for Catholics and Protestants and April 10 for Orthodox Christians. Services often begin around 3 p.m. and may include centuries-old liturgy and public…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV rejected claims that God justifies war during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, while asking for special prayers for Christians in the Middle East. Speaking to tens of thousands gathered in the square, he said…
3 MIN READDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon on Wednesday since the Iran war began, staging the event for civilian employees and uniformed personnel in a livestreamed setting. During the…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV will travel to the site of the Council of Nicaea on Nov. 28 to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the church meeting that helped define the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith still recited by millions, the Vatican…
3 MIN READSyrian Kurds have returned to Afrin, a district in northern Syria, to mark Nowruz for the first time since exile, Associated Press reported. The return comes after the government of interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa declared Nowruz…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV has endorsed Pope Francis’ controversial 2016 document “The Joy of Love” as he marks its 10th anniversary, while convening a Rome meeting of bishops’ conference presidents on ministering to families. The endorsement centers on…
3 MIN READMuslims around the world are bidding farewell to Ramadan and preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the Islamic fasting month. Eid al-Fitr is typically greeted with congregational prayers and festivities,…
3 MIN READThailand is holding a “Death Fest” that invites people to confront mortality while also offering palliative-care and end-of-life services, organizers said. The three-day fair, now in its second year, drew visitors and health, funeral and…
3 MIN READOne of Silicon Valley tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s invitation-only lectures on the Antichrist is scheduled to take place in Rome from Sunday to Wednesday, amid public distancing from Catholic universities initially linked to the event.…
4 MIN READPeter Thiel, a Silicon Valley tech billionaire, is holding a four-lecture, invitation-only series in Rome on the Antichrist, drawing public distance from Catholic institutions initially linked to the event. The lectures run from Sunday to…
3 MIN READThailand’s “Death Fest,” held for a second year, invites visitors to confront mortality through Buddhist teachings while also offering services and practical guidance for end-of-life planning. The three-day event took place in Nonthaburi…
3 MIN READTwo towns on the Arizona-Utah border — Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah — have entered a new era after courts removed control from a polygamous religious sect tied to imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs. The Fundamentalist Church of…
4 MIN READIn Atlanta, young adults have been lining up outside 2819 Church, where pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell’s sermons and worship have helped drive attendance from fewer than 200 weekly visitors in 2023 to about 6,000 now. Some arrive as early…
3 MIN READAli Darwich, a 33-year-old gay Muslim influencer in Berlin, used an inclusive Ramadan Iftar hosted with friends to call for acceptance across identities and faiths, including gay Muslims. In remarks to The Associated Press, Darwich said he…
3 MIN READAli Darwich, a gay Muslim influencer in Berlin, hosted an inclusive Ramadan iftar aimed at showing acceptance across faiths and sexual orientations, the Associated Press reported. Darwich, who goes by @alifragt on Instagram, spoke to…
3 MIN READMore than 5,000 spiritual seekers gathered at the LAX Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles from Feb. 20–23 for the 24th annual Conscious Life Expo, where speakers described city-sized spacecraft, channeled alien wisdom and claimed to be incarnate…
4 MIN READMuslims across the United States are entering Ramadan with heightened worries about immigration enforcement, rising anti-Muslim rhetoric during election season, and the Iran war affecting families with loved ones in the Middle East,…
3 MIN READHoli, widely known as the Hindu festival of colors, is celebrated in March in India, Nepal and other South Asian countries and across the diaspora. The festival is marked with music, dancing, food and the throwing of colored powders, and…
3 MIN READConservative Anglican leaders are meeting in Nigeria for a four-day gathering aimed at deciding whether to pursue a possible breakaway from the official, London-based Anglican Communion, a step that could reshape one of the world’s largest…
3 MIN READJerusalem photographer Leo Correa described how he captured Ramadan Friday prayers at sunrise as Palestinians crossed the Qalandia checkpoint to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City. Correa said the photo was taken at about 7…
3 MIN READA messy “flour war” broke out Monday in the Greek seaside town of Galaxidi, as revelers pelted each other with bags of dyed flour to mark Clean Monday, which begins the Orthodox Lent season. The annual end-of-carnival festivities turned…
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