Vatican's soccer team had little choice but refuse to play in Austria

(COMMENTARY) The women’s soccer team representing the Vatican — yes, the Vatican has a women’s soccer team — canceled its planned international debut in Austria when sports, religion and politics made for a bad mix.

Pilgrimage: Normandy and Lourdes defy France's secularism

(OPINION) Two very different French sites — Lourdes, one of the holiest in the world for Roman Catholics, and the American cemetery at Normandy — have the ability to bring visitors closer to God in very different ways.

Europe, Religion, Society, Travel, OpinionClemente LisiJune 24, 2019Jewish, Christianity, Roman Catholic, France, Notre Dame, Lourdes, Normandy, Clemente Lisi, Primary Feature, Secondary Feature, secondary feature, secularism

Keep McCarrick in the news by educating readers

(COMMENTARY) On the one-year anniversary of the revelations that exposed the past misdeeds of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the story doesn’t look like it is subsiding anytime soon.

Analysis, North America, Politics, Opinion, ReligionClemente LisiJune 19, 2019Christianity, Catholic church, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Clemente Lisi, Clergy sex abuse, Primary Feature, Secondary Feature

How to report religion angles of 'UFO sightings'

(COMMENTARY) A recent UFO sighting by the US Navy made news but not many delved into the religious implications of intelligent design or life beyond Earth.

Religion, Science, North America, OpinionRichard OstlingJune 17, 2019Richard Ostling, science fiction, aliens, ufos, Siegel, US Navy, intelligent design, intelligent life, UFO, Alien, Christianity

Director Franco Zeffirelli's faith inspired his best movies

(COMMENTARY) The Italian director is known for many things, but will be most remembered for is his deep Roman Catholic faith, his an ardent support for the anti-abortion movement and his 1977 masterpiece movie Jesus of Nazareth.

Film & TV, Europe, Primary Feature, Religion, Opinion, CultureClemente LisiJune 15, 2019Roman Catholic, Christianity, movies, Franco Zeffirelli, Jesus of Nazareth, Clemente Lisi, films, Primary Feature, Secondary Feature, Oscars, Academy Awards

Is the Vatican playing a game of 'wag the dog' with the American press?

(COMMENTARY) Pope Francis is a great example of an international leader whose handlers like to control the message. Not too different from the White House press office, where access can often be very limited. That makes the papal news conference, the one that takes place aboard the pope’s flight on the way to Rome at the end of very trip, very important.

Analysis, Europe, Religion, OpinionClemente LisiJune 13, 2019Roman Catholic, Christianity, Clemente Lisi, Vatican, Pope Francis, Theodore McCarrick, American press

Southern Baptists aren't doing enough for sexual abuse victims

(COMMENTARY) The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting wrapped up Wednesday by taking an “action” against sexual abuse that is a way of distancing itself from churches that have mishandled sexual abuse instead of reaching out to victims.

Primary Feature, Religion, Women, Opinion, North AmericaMeagan SaliashviliJune 12, 2019Meagan Clark, SBC, #ChurchToo, #metoo, sexual abuse, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Southern Baptists, Southern Baptist Convention, southern baptist convention 2019, Beth Moore, Matt Chandler, Primary Feature, Christianity

Tips on reporting from this week's annual Southern Baptist Convention meet

(COMMENTARY) The SBC is expected to discuss a sex abuse study and complementarian views on gender that prohibit women pastors.

North America, Religion, OpinionRichard OstlingJune 11, 2019Richard Ostling, SBC, Southern Baptist Convention, sex abuse, J.D. Greear, complentarian, women pastors, Baptist Press, Baptist news, Christianity

The real story of America's bloody struggle for religious freedom

We talked with Steven Waldman, founder of BeliefNet and author of the new book Sacred Liberty, about America’s battles for religious freedom— how the notion that the US was founded with religious liberty in mind is wrong— our current challenges for preserving it, and much more.

Abortion news coverage needs to include various faith traditions

(COMMENTARY) What has been lacking throughout the ongoing abortion debate, from a media coverage standpoint, has been broader context. This is especially true of covering those who are adamantly opposed to abortion.

Analysis, Health, North America, Politics, OpinionClemente LisiJune 5, 2019Christianity, Catholic church, catholicism, abortion, politics, Clemente Lisi, Secondary Feature, women, social media

Pope vs. populists: European election results highlight Catholic divisions

(NEWS ANALYSIS) Never shy about brandishing a rosary or invoking God’s help, Italy’s Matteo Salvini has provided voters in the recent European elections with an alternative to Pope Francis’ pro-migrant stance and the church’s traditional social teachings.

Looking to C.S. Lewis for what it means to be a good Christian

(COMMENTARY) Christians cannot earn their way into God’s good graces by voting for a certain political party. Christians are freely granted God’s grace purely through their faith. If one believes that the only way to be a “good Christian” is to vote for a specific party, he or she is missing the big picture of Christianity.

Analysis, North America, Politics, Religion, OpinionCara SwainJune 2, 2019Trump, Democrats, Republicans, Christians, President Trump, Secondary Feature, secondary feature, Christianity, Cara Swain, C.S. Lewis, Donald trump

Hans Nielsen Hauge: An Early Norwegian Entrepreneur Evangelist Revered From Oslo To Minnesota

Who could imagine that a Norwegian itinerant preacher and entrepreneur born in the 18th century would become a leadership model in modern business?

The bell that saved abandoned babies in the Middle Ages

(COMMENTARY) Foundling wheels or baby hatches were safe spaces for women to leave unwanted babies anonymously for the church to adopt and care for. The same principle could be replicated today.

A Closer Look at North Korea’s Deadly Regime

(COMMENTARY) When we think of North Korean armed forces, most of us envision a formidable parade of clean-cut, perfectly uniformed soldiers marching in lock-step. However, like the “Potemkin Villages” a few tourists manage to see, those tidy uniforms are nothing more than window dressing for the bankrupt regime.

Is the Religious Right fading? Reporters need to pay attention

(COMMENTARY) If an Evangelical crisis is coming, journalists need to spring into action immediately.

North America, Politics, Religion, OpinionRichard OstlingMay 27, 2019Richard Ostling, evangelical, Donald Trump, religion in decline, church in decline, American Christians, Eric Metaxas, Everett Piper, Michele Bachmann, Christianity, Secondary Feature

The 2020 Presidential Election: Assessing the options for Christian voters

(COMMENTARY) As 2020 approaches, two key issues morally bind Christian voters: abortion and immigration. Any voter — secular or spiritual — should shed themselves of political jargon and focus on the platform of the Republican and Democratic candidates.

North America, Politics, Analysis, OpinionNicholas BrunoMay 27, 2019secondary feature, Democrats, Primary Feature, Christianity, Trump, Elections, Nicholas Bruno, President Trump, Republicans, Presidential Election, election Comments

Digital church is missing the point (even with VR)

(COMMENTARY) In a very consumeristic fashion, Americans are consuming from churches and not participating in the life of the church or giving back in return. The rise of Internet-based congregations is only making the problem worse.

Avengers shows the God-shaped hole in the Marvel Universe

(COMMENTARY) In Avengers Endgame, faith is noticeably missing, even though most humans religious or not ask the big questions when faced with death and destruction.

Viral tweets highlight the question: should women be pastors?

(COMMENTARY) Echoing papal pronouncements, a position paper and then a columnist of the Southern Baptist Convention’s seminary said that Jesus Christ appointed only male apostles. Evangelical author Beth Moore was one among many voices to push back on Twitter.

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