The artist and entrepreneur connecting modern art to ancient faith

Ned Bustard is inspired by his Christian faith to create art and build a publishing company. An upcoming book will explore the modern art, and ancient faith, in the Vatican museums.

News, North America, Primary Feature, Culture, Art and MusicMeg CaponeFebruary 20, 2020Meg Capone, Ned Bustard, Christian art, Christian artist, Primary Feature, Christianity Comment

Why Pope Francis ruled against married priests in the Amazon

(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.

LDS Church releases handbook long held secret, changes policies for LGBTQ people

The Mormon church has combined and updated its handbook, a portion of which had previously remained off-limits for lay members. Several changes relate to LGBTQ members, while the church remains firm in its support for only traditional marriage.

Was President Trump disagreeing with Brooks or Jesus at the National Prayer Breakfast?

(OPINION) Religious conservatives debated Trump’s remarks for a week after the traditionally bipartisan event. Some have gone as far as suggesting he should not attend the next one, or it should not be held at all.

Opinion, North AmericaTerry MattinglyFebruary 19, 2020National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump, Trump, Arthur Brooks, Cal Thomas, Christianity, Terry MattinglyComment

Is Europe Christian? That depends on what you mean by 'Christian'

(OPINION) Traditional expressions of Christianity are decreasing all over Europe, although Christian identity is stronger for reasons not related to church doctrine or theology.

Opinion, EuropeRichard OstlingFebruary 18, 2020Europe, Christianity, Olivier Roy, European University Institute, Pew Research Center, Richard OstlingComment

‘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.

Opinion, AfricaDr. Jenny TaylorFebruary 18, 2020Jenny Taylor, Dr. Jenny Taylor, terrorism in Africa, West Africa, ISIS, Al Qaeda, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, World Watch Monitor, Christian persecution, Christianity, Terror, TerrorismComment

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.

News, AfricaJohn SemakulaFebruary 17, 2020Uganda, Uganda Christians, archbishop Janani Luwum, secondary feature, Secondary feature, Primary Feature, Christianity, Secondary Feature, John SemakulaComment

The U.K. breached its Genocide Convention duties without consequences

The Oxford Forum for International Development, the largest student-run International Development conference in Europe, recently hosted discussions on preventing and punishing genocide of religious minorities, among other topics.

Middle East, OpinionEwelina U. OchabFebruary 17, 2020Middle East, persecution, Persecution, opinion, religious minority, United Nations, genocide, Ewelina U. Ochab, Genocide, Religious Minorities, Christianity, Judaism, JewsComment

Bishop Speaks About Explosive Rift Between Montenegro’s Parliament And Serbian Church

Hundreds of thousands of believers in the tiny Balkan country have been protesting a new law that would allow the government to take possession of property from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

LDS leaders are poised for a major rollback of secrecy

(OPINION) For the first time, the authoritative Mormon rules guidebook will be available to the public. It will be a historic breakthrough.

Opinion, North America, ReligionRichard OstlingFebruary 14, 2020Religion News Service, Jana Riess, Mormons, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS, LDS Church, Mitt Romney, transparency, financial transparency for religions, Salt Lake Tribune, Richard Ostling, ChristianityComment

Treating congregations like families is one response to the #ChurchToo era

(OPINION) Shifting gender roles and expectations mixed with revelations about sexual misconduct in church communities make relationships in congregations a complicated matter. Adjusting how we divide people in church may help them navigate life better.

Opinion, North AmericaTerry MattinglyFebruary 14, 2020marriage, Marriage & Family, family, Family Life, Bronwyn Lea, sex, fidelity, infidelity, #ChurchToo, Terry Mattingly, Christianity, Gender RolesComment

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.

Africa, NewsTom OsanjoFebruary 14, 2020secondary feature, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, Kenya, Daniel arap moi, moi funeral, kenya dictator, Tom Osanjo, Daniel Arap Moi, ChristianityComment

More Jews are learning to fight anti-Semitism — with their hands

A self-defense school in New York City is busy training Jewish groups from area synagogues and schools as anti-Semitic violence has increased. Local officials and religious leaders are urging more Jews to take more precautions and responsibility for their security.

News, North AmericaMicah DanneyFebruary 14, 2020Jewish, Anti-Semitism, anti-semitism in the US, New York Self Defense Academy, Primary Feature, Micah Danney, Judiasm, Jews, JudaismComment

This veteran religion journalist likes to sing spirituals — but not when she's working

(OPINION) “Weekend Plug-In” is a column by veteran religion writer Bobby Ross Jr. Look every Friday for analysis, insights and top headlines from the world of faith. This week: veteran religion writer Adelle M. Banks reflects on her 25 years with Religion News Service.

Weekend Plug-In, Religion, The State of Journalism, OpinionBobby Ross Jr.February 14, 2020Bobby Ross Jr., Adelle Banks, RNS, Religion reporting, West Freeway Church of Christ, Sexual abuse, spiritual abuse, Primary Feature, Christianity, Texas Church Shooting, GunsComment

Ministers who survived church shootings hold forum on security

The two preachers, one from Tennessee and one from Texas, have both experienced the real-life nightmare of Sunday morning worship giving way — suddenly and inexplicably — to deadly gunfire.

News, North AmericaBobby Ross Jr.February 13, 2020church shooting, security, attacks on houses of worship, attacks on churches, gun violence, gun rights, First Amendment, secondary feature, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, Bobby Ross Jr., Christianity, Church ShootingComment

'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.

Middle East, North America, Religion, Africa, Film & TV, Culture, OpinionDr. Robert CarleFebruary 13, 2020Accept the Call, PBS, Islam, Islamic State, ISIS, radicalization, extremism, terrorism, Somalia, Sufism, Salafi, Primary Feature, movies, film, Robert Carle, Dr. Robert CarleComment

Pope Francis dampens progressive hopes by refusing to ordain married men in the Amazon

(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.

Latino Lutherans from 17 countries discuss caring for migrants

Representatives gathered in Colombia for the first inter-American Lutheran conference to share ideas and support in their mission to care for migrants, especially children in detention centers.

News, North America, South AmericaKristina PugaFebruary 12, 2020Kristina Puga, Latinos, Lutheran, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, immigration, ELCA, sanctuary ministry, ammparo, Christianity, secondary feature, secondary featuree, Secondary feature, Secondary FeatureComment

The pilgrimage that inspired Ferrero Rocher chocolates

The chocolates resemble the pilgrimage site in Lourdes, France where St. Bernadette is believed to have first seen the Virgin Mary on this day 162 years ago.