Killing Grandma and other religion questions during the COVID-19 crisis

In the news these days — including religion headlines — it’s all coronavirus all the time. Our Weekend Plug-In columnist explores some of the COVID-19-related big ideas and questions emerging in the world of faith.

How will the global upheaval from COVID-19 affect religion?

(OPINION) The roles that religion and religious leaders play during crises have consequences for how people regard religion long after the crisis ends. We should consider the past to understand the implications the coronavirus pandemic will have.

5 saints Catholics are calling on to fight the coronavirus pandemic

Catholics have called for the intercession of a great number of saints (such as Saint Pope Gregory the Great) throughout history to help defeat widespread illness, plagues and epidemics. There are scores of saints that can be called upon in a time of crisis. While the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, Catholics are looking for the intercession of these five saints to battle COVID-19.

Aging Catholic priesthood risk health to comfort the faithful during pandemic

The main duties of a priest are to administer the church’s sacraments — which include baptism, confession and holy communion — while also visiting the sick and providing pastoral care to parishioners. How does all that work during the COVID-19 pandemic when most priests are in the high-risk age category for contracting the deadly virus?

The Quiet Sufi Behind Morocco's Push For Moderate Islam

Ahmed Toufiq, Morocco’s minister of Islamic affairs, is leading an export of the kingdom’s Boutchichiya Sufi Islam and pushing back against the Wahhabi tradition of Saudi Arabia with its links to Salafi jihadism.

Changes in Gambia Threaten Its Traditions Of Pacifist Islam

(OPINION) The Muslim-majority West African nation has historically had high religious freedom, but changes to its Constitution and growing territorial control of terrorist groups could threaten that.

A History Of Impunity In Nigeria Has Led To Increased Christian Persecution

(OPINION) In December 2019, news began to filter out of Nigeria that a Daesh affiliated terror group has been responsible for the brutal murder of several Christians. The new wave of killings does not come as a surprise.

The mother still campaigning for her daughter's rescue from Boko Haram

(OPINION) Leah Sharibu was just 14 when Boko Haram militants burst into her school in Northeastern Nigeria, two years ago this week and seized 109 Muslim girls and her, the only Christian. Five girls died, and 104 were later released. Her mother continues to campaign for government officials to find her daughter and bring her home.

‘The West fiddles’ while West Africa burns

(OPINION) An expert on global terrorism says the West is “weak on Africa” – despite it being the “new frontline” against terror.

Ugandan Christians honor archbishop killed by dictator

More than 10,000 people attended an annual event commemorating the life of Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was killed in 1977 for speaking out against Idi Amin’s regime.

Kenyans split over death of past president Daniel Arap Moi

(NEWS ANALYSIS) While some mourn the death of Moi as a great leader who championed education and Christianity, others see a very different man— a dictator responsible for brutal violence and suppressing free speech.

'Accept the Call' shows Somali father wrestling with his American son's radicalization

The 2019 documentary, now airing on PBS, follows a Somali father’s quest to understand why his American-born son tried to join ISIS in Syria.

Kenyan Seventh-day Adventists want religious freedom — and atheists have become their greatest ally

Some schools are requiring exams on Saturday, when Adventist students observe sabbath.

U.S. launches first-ever international religious freedom alliance

(NEWS ANALYSIS) At the launch on Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed the ever-growing need to combat the increasing violence based on religion or belief, including “terrorists and violent extremists who target religious minorities, whether they are Yazidis in Iraq, Hindus in Pakistan, Christians in northeast Nigeria, or Muslims in Burma” and “the Chinese Communist Party’s hostility to all faiths.”

Ugandan Pastor leaves wife, says marriage vows are Satanic

The mainstream Anglican communion, the Church of Uganda, has condemned the pastor for leaving his wife for a younger woman in his church. The Pentecostal pastor is one of many prominent church leaders preaching in favor of the ruling political party and claiming to provide miracles to amass a bigger crowd and donations.

Anointing oil stampede in Tanzania is a symptom of a larger problem in Africa

A popular Pentecostal pastor was arrested after he led a service that resulted in 20 deaths. The incident is part of a dangerous trend in some African countries, where services create deadly conditions for desperate people.

Nigeria is a killing field of defenseless Christians

(NEWS ANALYSIS) A recent report found that Islamic terrorist groups killed at least 1,000 Nigerian Christians last year and displaced many others with land grabs. While the government says it has defeated Boko Haram, killings of Christians have spiked in recent weeks.

West African Christians face Islamic terror as US weighs troop withdrawals

(OPINION) West Africa’s Christians are suffering extraordinary levels of violence at the hands of radical Islamist killers, while the Pentagon is deliberating withdrawing troops from the region.

Africa’s Young Christians Face Danger from Islamic Extremism

(OPINION) An ongoing Islamic extremist project to exterminate Christians in sub-Saharan Africa is even more brutal and more consequential for the Church than it is in the Middle East. Is anyone paying attention?

Iceland's bestselling book on the woman who escaped pirates

The Travels of Guðríður Símonardóttir tells the little-known story of an Icelandic woman in the 17th century who was captured by North African pirates. She was enslaved at a harem in Algiers until ransomed, then married Iceland’s most famous poet. His hymns, inspired by the couple’s suffering, are still sung in churches and at funerals.

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