A restoration project on YouTube has rendered a short piece of film depicting Pope Leo XIII into never-before seen quality. David Martin, who restored the footage from 1896 into color, spoke to ReligionUnplugged.com about the scenes of Pope Leo XIII captured and the identities of the men surrounding him, long forgotten.
Read MoreThe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced its cooperation with the U.S. government to organize and process the tens of thousands of Afghan refugees entering the country as the U.S. withdraws troops and the Taliban assumes control over Afghanistan.
Read MoreHeraldic achievements — a personal ecclesiastical coat of arms — have historically been one of the most important possessions of high-ranking Catholic clergymen and contain layers of meaning. But today they are an increasingly ignored art form inside and outside the Church. Will the Church abandon heraldry traditions going back centuries or will more bishops resurrect the practice?
Read MoreThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused major waves via their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. Accusations of racism, betrayal and a lack of empathy dominated the talk, but one key detail dropped about the couple’s wedding has left the Church of England in a difficult position.
Read MoreIn 2017, Catherine Mardon and her husband were surprised with memberships into the Catholic Church’s Order of St. Sylvester for their work with disability advocacy and management of several activism campaigns.
Read MoreThe Catholic Church in Germany is already the most disruptive and wealthiest national church in communion with the Pope of Rome. Now, the bishops of the German Catholic Church are dropping a massive, controversial document onto the Vatican’s lap that seeks to break away from Catholic doctrine in the realms of sexual morality, ordination of women and episcopal authority.
Read MoreSr. Nathalie Becquart, a French nun, was appointed as under-secretary for the Synod of Bishops on Saturday, Feb. 6. The decision has been divisive for Catholics. Becquart is the first woman to be appointed to the Synod, a Catholic institution established by Pope John Paul II as an advisory council for the pontiff made up of clergymen from around the world.
Read MoreMyanmar’s coup could bring even more harm to religious minorities there, like Rohingya Muslims who have been the targets of ethnic cleansing by the military. In the U.S., faith leaders of the sanctuary city movement are pushing back on fines, and a new American coalition of non-religious elected officials hopes to counter White Christian nationalism.
Read MoreThis week while much of the media dissected why some Christians were drawn to QAnon, investigated pastors’ links to the rioters, and examined the Christian symbols present in photos from the protest, smaller but important stories slipped through the cracks.
Read MoreCatholic clergy showed concern for the future of the United States and displayed a rare public patriotism after an insurrectionist mob broke into the Capitol building and resulted in the deaths of at least five people.
Read MoreA professor who departs from Gordon College’s religious views on LGBTQ is suing to protect her promotion, while a federal judge turned down Michigan Catholic parents’ plea for an exemption to a mask mandate. Read five of the latest religious freedom struggles.
Read MoreJews are fed up with being told where they can worship and what they can build, and the Department of Justice has swept in to have their back. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is having a rare moment of bipartisan unity begging other countries to stop persecuting religious minorities. In India, fears of “love jihad” have fueled a new anti-conversion law in the country’s most populous state, appeasing Hindu nationalists. Finally, California churches have won a step forward in a lawsuit against the governor.
Read MorePope Francis is known for his aesthetic: simplicity and modesty with plain white robes, a few silver pieces of jewelry, and black orthopedic shoes. His wristwatch is no exception: a Casio MQ24-7B2, a departure from previous popes who sported expensive time pieces.
Read MoreIn an online broadcast to his followers, Rev. Sean Moon, son of the Unification movement’s founder, said America is threatened by totalitarianism and must fight back to ensure President Trump serves a second term, even if that means dying in “a gun fight with police.”
Read MoreWorldwide, religious leaders are making headlines in secular society for the realms where their faiths clash with the political.
Read MoreCardinals, archbishops and other clerical leaders of the Catholic Church from around the world have penned a flurry of letters and official statements in the wake of the ground-breaking McCarrick report that concludes while many in the Vatican hierarchy had known for years about sexual abuse allegations against ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick and not removed him, Pope Francis was not complicit.
Read MoreRecent days have seen a wide range of religious liberty issues brought to the forefront of American discussions. From college campuses to metropolitan archdioceses to one of the biggest social media platforms on earth, the role and appropriateness of religion and religious practice is being challenged daily.
Read MoreWhy a federal court has denied petitions from a Native American tribe to stop construction on land they claim their ancestors are buried, how two Chilean churches were set ablaze during protests against inequality and the latest world leader to demand a UN investigation of China’s abuses against Uighurs.
Read MoreAmerican third parties like the American Solidarity Party are enjoying a wave of interest this election as voters become more frustrated by the two-party system and choosing between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. In a political climate where Christians often find it impossible to cast a vote without compromising at least a few of their religious convictions, the ASP hopes to convince them that they can be the answer.
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