Lord Of The Rinks: One Of Canada’s Hockey Heroes Was Also A Catholic Priest

David Bauer coached Canada’s men’s ice hockey team at the 1964 Winter Games. Largely credited with creating the first truly national Canadian hockey team, Bauer left a truly great legacy. An educator and Catholic priest, Bauer was a pioneer and remains a Canadian icon admired to this day.

Read More
Vatican Game That Never Ends: Knowns And Unknowns With Covering Next Papal Election

(OPINION) Currently, there is a season of speculation about Pope Francis’ future and whether his newly chosen cardinals are his final bid to shape the conclave that will elect the next pope. Francis has hinted he might consider the idea of resigning, but Vaticanologists figure Francis will not do so as long as another former pope is alive.

Read More
South African Church Leaders Ponder Policy Woes As They Celebrate Anniversary Of Soweto Uprising

Some churches and religious organizations have adopted the government’s theme in their events and preaching. To highlight the importance of education, it has become a norm for the older generation to go to work or attend church services and business meetings wearing school uniforms. This significant event has drawn the world’s attention to South Africa since 1976.

Read More
How Music Saved The Oldest Anglican Church In Chile

St. Paul’s cathedral, part of the cultural heritage of the British community in Valparaíso, turns to music to keep its doors open. After its parishioners emigrated from the Chilean port city in the 20th century, a restoration process began with concerts at the Queen Victoria Memorial Organ.

Read More
How Will Southern Baptists Address Sexual Abuse?

(OPINION) In Southern Baptist polity — with sprawling structures of autonomous congregations that, to varying degrees, fund state, national and global ministries — there are no leadership structures resembling local Presbyterian presbyteries, regional annual conferences among United Methodists or the powerful diocesan structures of Catholics, Episcopalians and others. Local churches ordain, hire and fire clergy.

Read More
What The Los Angeles Times Missed About Biola University

(OPINION) A Page 1 analytical feature in the Los Angeles Times about Biola University suggested it was on a downward spiral, perhaps part of an impending implosion of similar schools nationally. And it pointed at Michael Longinow, without naming him, as the faculty adviser to a campus newspaper in which free thought — particularly about race — was not allowed.

Read More
Clash Of The Acronyms? Finding The Right FoRBula In The Fight For Religious Freedom

(OPINION) There is a noticeable difference between the terminology of the religious freedom cause in Europe and the United States. In the last decade, in the European context especially, the acronym FoRB (freedom of religion or belief) has become the universal acronym. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to use the standard acronym IRF (international religious freedom).

Read More
Ex-FLDS Women Describe Horrific Loss Of Freedom, Eventual Escape In ‘Keep Sweet’

“Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” tells the story of Warren Jeffs’ rise in the FLDS church after the death of his father Rulon and the way women were treated as property under the practice of polygamy. ReligionUnplugged.com talked to Rachel Dretzin about the series and why she focused on the heart-wrenching stories of women who left the church.

Read More
The Ordination Of The First Female Rabbi 50 Years Ago Has Brought Many Changes — And Some Challenges

(ANALYSIS) Fifty years ago, on June 3, 1972, as Sally J. Priesand became the first woman ordained a rabbi by a Jewish seminary, her 35 male classmates spontaneously rose to their feet to acknowledge her historic feat.

Read More
Choosing Joy Over Happiness: Why An American Catholic Doctor Stayed Put In Sudan’s Civil War 

(ANALYSIS) Tom Catena, an American Catholic, has worked as a doctor for 14 years in the the Nuba Mountains in Sudan — a desolate, rebel-held area that was bombed repeatedly from 2011 until 2018 by the Khartoum government when Omar al-Bashir was president.

Read More
As We Await SCOTUS Decision On Abortion, Press Avoids News About Church Vandalism

(OPINION) As we await a final Supreme Court ruling, we could be in for a long summer of violence and vandalism. My criticism here is not in the news coverage this issue has received. Instead, it’s the lack of coverage. The vandalism of the past few weeks and the lack of news coverage could very well be a template of what’s to come once the Supreme Court makes public a final decision.

Read More
Faith Helps Drive Steph Curry And The Golden State Warriors in NBA Title Quest

In a sport in which scoring three-pointers, avoiding turnovers and getting to the free-throw line frequently are all keys to a successful season, it’s the Golden State Warriors’ commitment to Christ and faith that has become a major driver for the success of this team.

Read More
Secretary Blinken: The Rights Of Religious Minorities Are Under Threat In Communities Around The World

(OPINION) On June 2, the U.S. State Department delivered its annual report to Congress on international religious freedom. The report identifies the numerous challenges to the right to freedom of religion or belief worldwide. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized some of the main findings of this in-depth research into the situation around the world.

Read More
Canada Awaits Pope Francis Visit As Pontiff Aims At Reconciliation With Indigenous Peoples

Pope Francis’ trip to Canada next month will have a rather dour feel. The pope will make the transatlantic trip so he can apologize in person for past abuses suffered by Indigenous people at the hands of the Catholic Church. The pope will be in Canada from July 24 to 29 with stops in Edmonton, Quebec City and the small town of Iqaluit, where nearly half the population of 8,000 is Inuit.

Read More
Surging Violence Against Nigeria’s Christians Demands White House Action

(OPINION) On Pentecost Sunday in Owo, Nigeria, a horrifying massacre took place at St. Francis Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the St. Francis church massacre is only the latest outrageous account of anti-Christian terrorism in Nigeria. There have been countless others.

Read More
Southern Baptist Leaders Respond to Guidepost Solutions Pride Tweet After Abuse Investigation

Guidepost Solutions, the firm leading the Southern Baptist Convention investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, tweeted support for the LGBTQ movement June 6 as part of Pride Month. Several SBC leaders have responded with criticism, calling for the church to cut ties with the firm.

Read More
Fake Miracle Spree In Kenya Leads To Pentecostal Oversight

In Kenya, an especially noxious scandal involved “pastors” making robocalls to people promising miracles in exchange for donations. The harder the miracle, the larger the donation. In 2014, in the wake of a fake miracle spree, the government of Kenya tried to sharply curtail the freedom of fake pastors to operate.

Read More
Pro-Abortion Rights Protesters Interrupt Joel Osteen Church Service

Three activists with a Texas pro-abortion rights group interrupted a service at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch last weekend by stripping to their underwear and shouting, “My body, my choice,” “Overturn Roe,” “Hell no” and other epithet-laced slogans.

Read More