Jewish community in Portugal inaugurates Holocaust Museum to remember country's role aiding refugees

A new Holocaust Museum in Porto, Portugal tells the story of the more than 100,000 Jewish refugees who passed through Porto and Lisbon desperate to book passage from the neutral country to the United States during WWII to escape the Nazis.

The Legacy of John Stott, the Queen's Chaplain Who Represented Global Evangelicals

(OPINION) John Stott, who served as the Queen's chaplain, shepherded Her Majesty in her faith, sold millions of books, was named one of Time Magazine’s most 100 influential people, and yet, remained a humble man. Here’s why his centenary is being celebrated by churches and organizations on every continent.

First for U.S. Leader: Biden Officially Acknowledges Armenian Genocide

(OPINION) April 24 has long been observed worldwide as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. In 2021, President Joe Biden chose to formally acknowledge that the systematic murder of more than a million Armenian Christians by the Ottoman Empire was, in fact, a genocide.

Middle East, North America, Opinion, EuropeLela GilbertApril 25, 2021Lela Gilbert, Armenian genocide, Biden, genocide, Armenia, Turkey, Erdogan, RechargeComment

Serbian Orthodox monastery listed as ‘endangered’ with monks facing attacks

The monastery Visoki Decani is one of the holiest sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church and is now considered endangered by Europe’s leading heritage site preservation organization.

Europe, NewsMladen AleksicApril 19, 2021Mladen Aleksic, Primary Feature, Serbian Orthodox, monastery, Visoki Decani, Europa Nostra, St. Sava, ZengerComment

The Tyrannical Threat of New Blasphemy Laws in Scotland

(OPINION) In Scotland, old blasphemy laws are being discarded — only to be replaced with harsher ones. The bill introduced is opposed by many faith and secular groups.

How Harry And Meghan Sent The Church Of England Into Panic Mode

The 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.

Forget mindfulness: What the world needs now is a revival of English mysticism

Dr. Jenny Taylor meets an “accompanist” with soul in her English village: the author Maxine Green who with co-author Dr. Phil Daughtry just published the book “The Art of Accompanying” about the life of one’s soul and the delight in being still.

Europe, BooksDr. Jenny TaylorFebruary 24, 2021Dr. Jenny Taylor, Jenny Taylor, Maxine Green, The art of accompanyingComment

Serbia's New Patriarch Brings Track Record of Peace-Building To Divided Nation

(ANALYSIS) The Serbian Orthodox Church elected Patriarch Porfirije after its former leader died of COVID-19. Porfirije has won many international accolades for growing a drug addiction therapy program and building bridges between Serbs, Croatians and the people of Kosovo, a disputed Muslim-majority territory with many 13th and 14th century Serbian Orthodox holy sites.

U.K. Churches Viewed More Positively Since COVID-19 Pandemic, New Survey Shows

A February survey shows that non-Christians in the U.K. have developed a more positive view of the church since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Fazlun Khalid shows how environmentalism is intrinsic to Islam

Fazlun Khalid has worked for decades to raise environmental consciousness among Muslims and demonstrate what he sees as the inherently ecological nature of Islam and the environmental worldview it espouses.

Berliners debate renaming street honoring 'Nazi' pope after Israel's only female PM

Berliners are debating renaming Pacelliallee – a major street named after Rome-born Eugenio Pacelli, better known as Pope Pius XII, to honor former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir (1898-1978). Pius XII served as a Vatican ambassador in Berlin and has been accused of anti-Semitism and sympathizing with Nazis during the Holocaust. Meir was Israel’s first and only female prime minister.

The Most Powerful Church Outside Rome Is Fighting To Loosen Its Authority

The 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.

What Does It Mean For A Woman To Serve With The Synod Of Bishops?

Sr. 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.

Can 'Super Mario' and Catholic Social Teaching rescue Italy's faltering economy?

(ANALYISIS) Italian economist Mario Draghi is forming a new government at the president’s request after a collapse of the ruling coalition over its handling of the pandemic. How will Catholic Social Teaching factor in helping lockdown-weary Italians — from business owners to the unemployed — achieve economic stability? The answer can be found in a 2013 speech.

Religious Freedom Lately: Open Doors Report, Booze On Planes And Title IX

This 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.

One In Eight Christians Worldwide Live In Countries Where They May Face Persecution

The World Watch List 2021, a list compiled by Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, paints a concerning picture of the situation Christians face around the world. The most likely and violent place for Christians to be located is in North Korea, though the list grows daily as countries shift towards religious persecution.

Pope Francis changes canon law: What it means for the Catholic Mass

(ANALYSIS) The move — in the wake of a decades-old priest shortage — will grant women the chance to serve as lectors, read Scripture and serve as eucharistic ministers. The changes, however, will continue to forbid women from being made deacons or priests.

5 storylines involving the Catholic church to watch for in 2021

(ANALYSIS) What will 2021 bring? That’s the big question following a 2020 that will forever remain a year where the world was held hostage by a pandemic. It was also a year where we had a combative presidential election and a reawakened social justice movement that brought our divided politics out into our streets.