China’s Faithful Endure a Long, Bitter Winter of Persecution

Today, China continues to escalate its massive suppression of Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, Jews and Uighur Muslims.

PBS’ 'Sacred' documentary gives intimate glimpses of faith around the world

(COMMENTARY) A new documentary film recently aired on PBS beautifully shows faith as something lived-- not just a set of beliefs, traditions or doctrines on paper.

Entertainment, Religion, Film & TV, Culture, Opinion, Africa, Asia, North AmericaPrincess JonesFebruary 16, 2019Buddhism, Sacred, PBS, Thomas Lennon, Thomas Balmes, religion documentary, documentary, Judaism, Princess Jones, Secondary Feature, Islam, Christianity

How will the Pope’s Arabian adventure affect global Islam?

(COMMENTARY) A joint declaration from the Vatican and Al-Azhar University, seen as the intellectual hub of Sunni Islam, called upon world leaders “to stop using religions to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism, and to refrain from using the name of God to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression.”

Middle East, North America, Opinion, PoliticsRichard OstlingFebruary 16, 2019Pope, terrorism, United Arab Emirates, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sunni Muslims, Catholic media, Richard Ostling, Pope Francis, Islam, sexual abuse, Catholicism, Muslim

Politics trump religious freedom for Russia's Jehovah's Witnesses and China's Uighur Muslims

(COMMENTARY) Russian Jehovah's Witnesses and Uighur Muslims in China are persecuted by their governments, in part because they’re seen as insufficiently loyal, and in part because the global community prioritizes good trade relations.

Politics, Asia, OpinionIra RifkinFebruary 16, 2019Muslims Uighurs, Ira Rifkin, Russia, Jehovah's Witnesses, China, religious freedom, persecution, Beijing, Vladimir Putin, unorthodox, Indonesia, Xiao Qian, Turkey, Erdogan, Islam, Jehovah's Witness

Who are The Evangelicals? Frances FitzGerald studied American history to explain

Historian Frances Fitzgerald reported on white evangelicals for The New Yorker. Now she’s written a book delving into their place in America’s founding and history, long before President Trump.

Hard to avoid religion when fighting about 'fourth-trimester abortions'

(COMMENTARY) Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) favored a state bill that would allow ‘super’ late-term abortions. President Trump has since called for legislation to ban late-term abortions because the child can feel pain in the mother’s womb.

What do Valentine's Day, Jeff Bezos and Catholicism have in common? Time to read some 'explainers'

(COMMENTARY) Complex issues and topics have always been boiled down for ordinary readers to understand. After all, that’s what journalism is really all about. The same goes for understanding religion — and this is where journalism can be a wonderful tool to help people understands different belief systems, traditions, how they intersect with politics and how it impacts our culture and society.

Analysis, Religion, Opinion, North AmericaClemente LisiFebruary 14, 2019Clemente Lisi, Pope Francis, Catholic, priests, The New York Times, Valentine's Day, Jeff Bezos, Catholicism, Christianity

A Royal Pickle: Jordanian Evangelicals and American ‘Help’

(NEWS ANALYSIS) Jordan’s King Abdullah II received the Templeton Prize for religious tolerance in November. Does he deserve it? Abdullah has invited prominent American Evangelicals to visit, including pro-Israel advisors to Trump, while one critical report says the government has shut down their churches and barred visas for foreign Christians.

George Washington’s forgotten legacy: Defense of religious freedom

(OPINION) What has largely been forgotten over the course of the last two centuries is George Washington’s faith and dedication to religious freedom. Although he was a member of the Anglican church, Washington recognized America’s pluralism and the constitutional role of religion in public life.

Analysis, North America, OpinionClemente LisiFebruary 12, 2019George Washington, Presidents Day, religion, Christianity, Primary Feature, Clemente Lisi, religious freedom, Anglican Church, American Revolution

Catholic beat memo: Don't ignore facts about church tradition when reporting on priest shortage

The mainstream media’s response has been to try and get Pope Francis to talk about — and even endorse — the notion of married priests, with no regard for the Catholic church’s Roman rite traditions.

Analysis, Religion, Opinion, North AmericaClemente LisiFebruary 11, 2019Clemente Lisi, Catholic Church, journalism, Catholic, Catholicism, Christianity

Pilgrimage: A journey to Lithuania’s enigmatic Hill of Crosses

As you walk a long, bricked and gravel pathway to the hill, you start to notice odd and sundry versions of the cross and crucifix emerging from the strange mound. High crosses. Low crosses. Gold crosses. Black crosses. Silver crosses. Some forged from metal. Others carved from wood.

My visit to a Black Hebrew Israelite meeting in Harlem

(OPINION) There are faiths that people may be hesitant to understand. Some wouldn’t dare walk through the church doors because of the group’s radical theology. And the Black Hebrew Israelites are one of those faiths that many would pass by.

Filipino Catholics Oppose Lowering the Age of Criminal Liability to 12

The country is grappling with a deadly drug war, where criminal gangs recruit children to work for them.

UK’s National Union of Journalists omits religion from anti-discrimination rules

The UK’s top journalists’ union could be in breach of the law on religious equality.

Religion News, Europe, NewsDr. Jenny TaylorFebruary 7, 2019Jenny Taylor, Dr. Jenny Taylor, National Union of Journalists, Equality Act, NUJ, NUJ rulebook, discrimination, religious discrimination, Chris Frost, Simon McCrossan, Evangelical Alliance, Equality Act 2010, anti-discrimination

New Frederick Douglass biography makes the abolitionist a prime Black History Month feature

(COMMENTARY) A new biography on the famous African-American abolitionist explores his public and private life, including his Protestant (and anti-Catholic) faith.

Books, North America, Opinion, CultureRichard OstlingFebruary 7, 2019Richard Ostling, Frederick Douglass, black history month, black church, African American, abolitionist, slavery, reconstruction, Black History Month, Protestant, anti-Catholic, Christianity

Real news about Global South missionaries that 'The Economist' missed

(COMMENTARY) How have generally more traditionalist Africa, Asian and Latin American missionaries fared in the Global North? The recent Economist article hints at problems, but fails to explore them in any depth.

Europe, North America, Religion, OpinionIra RifkinFebruary 6, 2019global south, missionaries, The economist, Ira Rifkin, Rev. Nnaemeka, post-Christian age, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Religion reporting, Christianity, The Economist

Catholic Leah Libresco writes book for young believers turned accidental hermits

(COMMENTARY) Libresco wants to encourage Christian hospitality to go beyond typical young adult gatherings offering shallow chitchat over wine and cheese.

Religion, North America, Books, Opinion, CultureTerry MattinglyFebruary 6, 2019Terry Mattingly, Leah Libresco, Benedict Option, Rod Dreher, All Saint's Day, Catholicism, Benedict monk, solitude, St. Mary, feast day, community, Catholic, Christianity

Modi's bill to grant citizenship to undocumented Hindus causes stir in India

India’s ruling party is pushing for a controversial immigration bill to pass ahead of the general election that excludes Muslim migrants.

'Tropical Trump' Bolsonaro beholden to Catholic-Evangelical alliance

(NEWS ANALYSIS) Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro — dubbed by some political commentators as the “Trump of the Tropics” — has been dogged by controversy and scandal. The result? That Christian coalition of supporters, a U.S.-style religious right, could very well abandon Bolsonaro if he ultimately fails to deliver.