The Religious Forces Shaping Iraq After The US Withdrawal

The U.S. has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq after a 12-year mission against ISIS. Iraq is more stable but remains shaped by powerful Shia parties, Iranian influence, armed militias, Sunni political recovery, Kurdish autonomy and lingering ISIS activity — raising questions about the country’s future.

Inside Bangalore: India’s City Of Churches Etched In Faith And Memory

(TRAVEL) We Bangaloreans are just a stone’s throw away from a place of worship. And if one threw a stone, chances are it would probably land on one of the beautiful, iconic places of worship in Bangalore. Or perhaps the stone might get stuck in one of the many traffic jams.

The Catchphrases We Inherit Without Thinking

(OPINION) Once we start using this lexicon, we have been successfully “groomed” into a new discourse we might not quite “get” — but which we begin to accept as normal. No, I’m not a signed up conspiracy theorist, and yes, language evolution is part of the dynamic of a lively society whose moods and modes it carries. But is that all it is?

Eiffel Tower Dispute Raises Questions About Observance and Public Spaces

(ANALYSIS) A visit by BAPS Hindu monks to the Eiffel Tower sparked a worker strike and broader debate over religious accommodation in public spaces. The controversy centers on brahmacharya, a Hindu discipline emphasizing control of the senses, which monks practice through strict celibacy and spiritual discipline.

A Nun And Composer Team Up To Tell St. Francis Of Assisi’s Story: ‘He Continues To Speak’

St. Francis has inspired people for generations — and now, on the 800th anniversary of his death, he will inspire people once more, though a moving composition about his life.

When Inclusion Becomes Erasure: Canada’s Secularization Of Prayer

(OPINION) By demanding that public discourse be scrubbed of distinct theological substance, the state is fundamentally rewriting the rules of the Canadian public square. What is promoted as a welcoming gesture functions in reality as an institutional restriction on authentic faith, replacing shared cultural roots with administrative conformity.

800 Years After St. Francis Of Assisi’s Death, His Story Gets A Vivid New Restoration

(ANALYSIS) The frescoes, located in the Bardi Chapel of Florence’s Basilica of Santa Croce, take up a major place in Christian art relative to their physical footprint. Giotto is routinely credited as the artist who broke decisively from the flat conventions of medieval painting and introduced something recognizably modern.

Fulton Sheen’s Beatification Tests How The Catholic Church Weighs Holiness

The ultimate finding was consequential because recognition of a miracle is a major step in the process toward beatification. For Catholics, the episode provides a tangible connection between Sheen’s life and his continuing spiritual influence. It also illustrates how the church’s sainthood process operates.

Malala Yousafzai Wants The Taliban ‘Held Accountable For Their Crimes’

Activist Malala Yousafzai returned to New York this week to discuss the paperback release of her memoir “Finding My Way” — but the conversation moved beyond her story of attending college and growing up. At the center was the issue that has defined much of Yousafzai’s public life: The Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls and its use of religion to justify restrictions on their rights.

What Colleges Get Wrong When They Define Zionism As Jewish Statehood

(ANALYSIS) Haverford, a small liberal arts college, has become the latest school to settle a lawsuit over how it handled antisemitism. Its president wrote that “students including those who identify as Jewish, and/or Israeli, and those who support Zionism: That is, the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and statehood in the land of Israel, are welcome and enjoy equal access to the College and all of its educational programs and activities.”

New York’s San Gennaro Feast The Story Of How Italian Immigrants Became American

For two weeks in September, everyone wants to be Italian — at least judging by the crowds at the annual Feast of San Gennaro in New York City’s Little Italy. Founded in 1926, the largest and longest-running Italian festival in the United States celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, with locals and tourists alike descending upon Mulberry Street in Manhattan to celebrate Italian American culture.

Why Is JD Vance Talking About The Antichrist?

(ANALYSIS) The Catholic church is far from perfect, but the more acceptable it becomes to ignore the Vatican, the easier it becomes to declare almost anything — opposing progressive politics, endorsing Christian nationalism or spreading antisemitism — to be part of Catholicism, no matter what the pope says.

An English Church Has Hired Someone To Find Hidden Treasures

Walk along the River Thames, and you can encounter thousands of years of history through artifacts that wash ashore. Some “mudlarkers” spend significant time looking for the treasures — and now a nearby cathedral has named its first Mudlark-in-Residence to help visitors learn about the area’s history.

Mohler Walks Back Christian Nationalism Blasphemy Law Amid Criticism

Mohler’s comments in the 2026 book “Five Views on Christian Nationalism,” which proved contentious, were based on the supposition of drafting a new constitution for a fractured nation in the year 2099.

God And Comedy: How Faith, Joy And A Good Laugh Can Bring Us Closer To The Almighty

What role should Comedy play in the life of a Christian? What kinds of joking does God make off limits? And, does God like joking around as much as we do? On this week’s podcast, I spoke with a witty Catholic philosopher and a pastor who moonlights as a comedian to find out.

Keep An Eye Out For London’s ‘Church Watchers’: ‘Beautiful Spaces And Interesting People’

The Church Watchers — all of whom are volunteers — are responsible for maintaining the openings of these small sanctuaries throughout the week. They take the job very seriously.

25 Years Later, The World That Made 9/11 Still Casts A Shadow

The 9/11 attacks are often remembered as a single event. That morning, 19 terrorists turned commercial airliners into weapons and the modern era of terrorism began. A total of 2,977 people died in the terrorist attacks, the deadliest to ever take place on U.S. soil. To understand 9/11, one need to take a look at the Islamic radicalization of a movement that few in the West took seriously.

25 Years After 9/11, St. Nicholas Church Stands as a Place of Peace

A church in New York City offers visitors a place to find peace as they mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. St. Nicholas is a small Greek Orthodox parish that was destroyed when the South Tower collapsed. More than two decades later, the church has been completely rebuilt and is now a national shrine.