(REVIEW) Historian John McGreevy’s new book “Catholicism: A Global History from the French Revolution to Pope Francis,” covering a period of 230 years, can only be defined as ambitious. Extremely well researched and skillfully put together, McGreevy’s book is a must-read for anyone interested in the planet’s largest Christian denomination.
Read More(OPINION) I have received more texts than usual the past two weeks. Most of them were about a rather unusual subject — Italy’s national elections. I say unusual subject because it’s not every day that this subject is discussed among my American friends. The reason? The politics and faith of politician Giorgia Meloni.
Read MoreWhen Fortunata Evolo, a 20th century Italian mystic, was alive, thousands would come to her Italian village to seek her guidance. After her death in 2009, the pilgrims kept coming, declaring that she continued to perform miracles from her heavenly abode. They prayed at her tomb and finished building the “Villa of Joy,” a complex that Evolo said appeared to her in a vision.
Read More(ANALYSIS) On Tuesday, a preliminary draft Supreme Court opinion was leaked to Politico, revealing that the court — as of February — intended to overturn Roe v. Wade. What does the leak mean for the court and America, and how have faith voices responded?
Read More(REVIEW) One of the most misunderstood biblical figures has to be Mary Magdalene. A new book tries to finally set the record straight with a full examination of her life. In fact, centuries of distortions and myths is what theologian and author Adriana Valero tries to uncover in order to paint a fuller, and truthful, representation of one of the most important women from the New Testament.
Read MoreCheryl Brown Henderson, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Oliver Brown, shares behind-the-scenes details about her family’s important connection to the landmark 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Henderson spoke at Oklahoma Christian University’s annual History Speaks event.
Read More(OPINION) Conflict over abortion will likely only increase as courts release opinions on a Mississippi “heartbeat’ law and consider overturning Roe v. Wade. Here’s how pro-life Christians should respond.
Read More(OPINION) Pro-abortion rights activists — including the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the Unitarian Universalist Association and major non-Orthodox Jewish organizations — have filed their briefs for the Supreme Court hearing on Mississippi’s abortion law. But Protestant denominations are notably missing.
Read MoreOlympians like Dominique Dawes and Rochelle Stevens talked to ReligionUnplugged about their faith, wrestling with mental challenges in the Games and supporting U.S. gymnast Simone Biles who withdrew from competition this week over mental health concerns and vertigo-like symptoms. Biles and Dawes have both shared leaning on their Catholic faith in their gymnastics careers.
Read MoreLinda Byler, 63, is an Old Order Amish wordsmith who began writing out of financial desperation. With 39 published novels, she has captivated Amish and non-Amish audiences (called English)—readers from around the nation who sometimes drop by her farm just to meet the writer who captures the simple life of the Amish sect, more than 300,000 strong in the United States alone.
Read MoreReligionUnplugged talked to a sex trafficking survivor in the U.S. about the Christian misconceptions of human trafficking: false, incomplete, misguided, unhelpful and even harmful ideas. She has both praises and criticisms of how American Christians are responding to prostitution… “I feel like the biggest misconception, especially in the Christian realm, is just that it's not the movie Taken in the United States. It can be, but that is the minority. The majority you know, looks very much like chosen prostitution. But it's not.”
Read More(OPINION) The harsh reality is that news consumers will need to read a wider variety of news sources if they are interested in finding solid facts, on-the-record sources and some sense of balanced reporting. On issues linked to religion, culture and politics, that will mean paying more attention to independent religious publications — including Catholic websites — that are now punching way above their weight.
Read More(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.
Read MoreFor the last 12 years, on the anniversary of Miriam the Prophetess’ death, artist Maureen Kushner has led a boat full of women to the spot on Lake Kinneret where, according to Jewish lore, the mystical spring known as Miriam’s Well now rests. Though the pandemic altered the group’s plans this year, it didn’t stop them from making the pilgrimage.
Read MoreGladys Kwedyo has not been able to walk since she contracted polio at 2 years old, but she’s never allowed the disability to stop her from having a fulfilling career and marriage or going into church ministry to help those in need. Though the pandemic has effectively shut down Zimbabwe, Kwedyo has a hand-controlled car, two hands and a big heart.
Read MoreWhile white evangelicals are the least likely religious group to view global warming as a crisis, there is a growing movement of evangelicals like Michelle Frazer who not only care about the impacts of climate change, but perhaps more significantly, are appealing to conservative Christians in ways that the secular, left-leaning environmental movement hasn’t.
Read More(OPINION) Pope Francis — a week after the dust settled from his decision not to create an Amazonian rite that would have allowed married men to serve as priests and women as deacons — continues to garner news coverage as Catholic progressives and traditionalists debate what it all means.
Read More(OPINION) In a surprise move, Francis rejected a proposal on Wednesday that had called for married men in remote areas of the Amazon to serve as priests, a decision widely seen as a victory for conservative Catholics who feared such an exception would eventually lift the celibacy requirement of clergy around the world.
Read MoreA prison ministry’s visit catalyzed a young woman’s personal transformation that took her from inmate to social media influencer. Her connection with her audience grew out of her connection to God and faith.
Read MoreThe pro-life movement’s “traitorous prince’” is frustrated by his progressive comrades and fed up with his former cohorts on the religious right.
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