Over the years, the Catholic church in South Africa has devoted itself to helping the poorest of the poor in this most unequal society to take on mighty entities in their quest to regain long lost dignity. The church began shepherding a class action against the countryâs three major coal mining firms seeking compensation for sick former workers and their families who died as a result of lung disease and other associated illnesses.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis wanted a media blackout at the recent Synod on Synodality. As a result, a meeting meant to inspire open dialogue was held under a veil of silence. This did not go unnoticed by those of us in the press who cover the church. But some seemed more upset than others.
Read More(OPINION) Caution is imperative by both Muslim and Jewish communities. There is no need to be added to a list of victims of these hate crimes as these lists are mere numbers to the world. It does not matter if you are pro-Palestine or pro-Israel. What matters most is humanity and being pro-peace.
Read MoreLa Catrina is a ubiquitous character associated with Day of the Dead, known in Spanish as DĂa de los Muertos, both in Mexico and around the world. Additionally, it has also become an icon of Mexican identity throughout the world.
Read More(REVIEW) âFive Nights at Freddyâsâ is a storytelling mess, but profoundly illustrates the heart of modern fears around AI that Hollywood is presently exploring. The movie is based on the video game franchise of the same name and centers on Mike, who agrees to work a shady job as a security guard on the night shift.
Read MoreThe ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is rooted in decades of mistrust and animosity between Jews and Muslims. To get a better understanding of this war and how we got into the present situation, here are seven books about Israel and the region.
Read MoreWhat should a New Yorker do should they come across a ghost? In other words, who you gonna call? The answer is Scott Orlansky, the lead investigator of Ghost Bros.: Paranormal Research Team, thatâs who! Ghost Bros. is based in the the Big Apple and is run by Orlansky and his brother Justin.
Read More(OPINION) If the sons of Judah were historyâs first creative minority, and Americaâs renewal depends on the creative minority, and Catholic astronomers in China were the second creative minority, then Iâm praying for a third creative minority. The books of Jeremiah and Daniel provide some of the details regarding becoming the creative minority.
Read MoreThe Vaticanâs meeting of bishops â the second phase of a multi-year effort that began in 2021 known as the Synod on Synodality â concluded amid a growing debate regarding a number of key issues. The meetings this month centered around the future of the Catholic church and has put progressives and conservatives at odds when it comes to doctrinal issues.
Read MoreThe annual celebration of Halloween is marked by fun and frightening traditions, those that involve monsters being the most fun and frightening of them all. These representations of evil are inextricably linked with religion, used to condemn evil, find comfort in suffering and much more.
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest religion news related to the Israel-Hamas war. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) When I asked the students in my history class at the University of Michigan if they had heard of the Triangle fire, I was shocked to see almost all raise their hands. Many were familiar with how the disaster inspired the growth of labor activism and worker protections. Few of them, however, had thought about the central role of American Jewish women, the focus of my research.
Read MoreAs the war between Israel and Hamas escalates, many U.S. evangelicals are debating whether current events are related to biblical prophecy. A main factor influencing evangelicalsâ views on the current conflict is their opinion of Israel. Is it merely a modern state without spiritual significance? Or, is Israel the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that factors into end times events?
Read MoreSandro Jadon was standing in the birthplace of Christ when he got the âTzevaa Adomâ alert on his phone. Thatâs Hebrew for âthe color redâ â a âred alertâ notice on the messaging app Telegram. Hamas was firing rockets from Gaza. At first, the Arab Israeli tour guide and member of the Nazareth Church of Christ didnât think much of it.
Read More(ESSAY) Itâs been nearly three weeks since the attacks and Israel seems to be a country transformed. The turnaround from a nation bifurcated by protests for and against judicial reform just last month to one united by social cohesion has been extraordinary. Yet, the trauma from the Oct. 7 terror attack unleashed by Hamas that killed 1,300 civilians remains.
Read More(ESSAY) Amid the pain and suffering in the Middle East, it is good to be reminded that beautiful things also happen there. One such remembrance came on Oct. 11 with the funeral of Father Simaan Ibrahim in Muqattam, in the southeast of Cairo. It was a funeral, with much lament, but was also a joyous occasion that drew 30,000 people to worship in the of the monastery of St. Simaan the Tanner Church, which he founded and led for 50 years.
Read More(ANALYSIS) âThe Exorcistâ is not a film about a successful exorcism, but about what we do in the face of uncertainty and the cynical grinning face of the demon doubt. It is not a film about a priest, but about a human being.
Read More(OPINION) Letâs start with Chapter 9 of Ecclesiastes: âUnder the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.â Baseball is different from basketball, where a perfect shot will go into the basket. In baseball, itâs possible to hit a ball so hard â yet a well-positioned fielder can catch it.
Read More(OPINION) With a flair for the dramatic, Sayers required British mystery writers to take an oath, which included: âDo you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them, using those wits which it may please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance on, or making use of, Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo-Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, Coincidence or the Act of God?â
Read More(REVIEW) âThe Great Dechurchingâ is a groundbreaking new book that should redefine how we talk about the reasons behind the decline in American church attendance, even if its proposed solutions miss the forest for the trees.
Read More
