Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders on handling of alleged sexual abuse
Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse.
Suspect faces terror charges in killing of Muslim family in Canada
Prosecutors laid terrorism charges against a man accused of driving down and killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario. The prosecution says Nathaniel Veltman's four counts of first-degree murder constitute an act of terrorism and prosecutors have upgraded those charges under section 83 of Canada's Criminal Code.
Secret recordings, leaked letters show Southern Baptist officials neglected sexual abuse claims
Releases of leaked letters and secret recordings from within the Southern Baptist Convention are intensifying as critics seek to show top leaders were slow to address sexual abuse and worried more about its reputation and donations than about victims.
Rick Warren, Saddleback megachurch pastor, to retire
Saddleback Church's pastor and "The Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren announced he will step down.
Coaches ousted after player says he was forced to eat pork
The head football coach at an Ohio high school and six other coaches there have been ousted after a football player said he was forced him to eat pork in violation of his religious beliefs for missing a voluntary workout.
Sex abuse probe: Milwaukee Archdiocese won't cooperate with state
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is refusing to turn over documents to state investigators who are looking into clergy sexual abuse in Wisconsin's five Roman Catholic dioceses.
Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity
After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.
Tennessee church mourns after plane crash claims 7 leaders, including founder Gwen Shamblin Lara
“During this horrible tragedy, our church would greatly appreciate prayers,” Remnant Fellowship Church posted on its website after a plane crash killed seven members of its membership team, including founder Gwen Shamblin Lara.
Pope Francis kisses Auschwitz survivor's tattoo
Pope Francis has kissed the tattoo of an Auschwitz survivor during a general audience on Wednesday.
Wave of anti-Semitic incidents rattle New York residents
People in Borough Park, Brooklyn, are looking over their shoulders when they are out and about after the recent anti-Semitic attacks. The NYPD is expected to step up patrols in Jewish neighborhoods.
Suspect arrested in Brooklyn church vandalism: NYPD
Police have charged Ali Alaheri, 29, with criminal mischief as a hate crime after he allegedly yore down a large crucifix at St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst.
Hindu group paid workers from India $1.20 per hour to build NJ temple, lawsuit says
A lawsuit says workers from marginalized communities in India were lured to New Jersey and forced to work more than 12 hours per day at ultra-low wages to help build a Hindu temple.
German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban
Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.
Italian judge on the path to sainthood after getting killed by mobsters
A magistrate slain by mobsters in Sicily and praised by two popes has been beatified by the Roman Catholic church on Sunday in the last formal step before possible sainthood.
Catholic bishops debate if Biden should receive communion given abortion stance
There’s a deep gulf between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego in the high-stakes debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should be denied Communion
Stampede at religious event in Israel kills dozens
More than 100 people were hurt in a stampede at a religious festival in northern Israel. Dozens of participants are feared dead. A student from New Jersey was among the missing.
Connecticut ends religious exemption to vaccination
Gov. Ned Lamont has signed a bill into law that ends Connecticut's long-standing religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools and day care facilities.
Supreme Court set to hear major school speech case after cheerleader booted from squad over Snapchat post
A freedom of speech case that's made its way to the Supreme Court could impact the free speech rights of millions of young Americans.
New Jersey to increase capacity limits for proms, graduations, more
Indoor and outdoor capacity limits are set to increase in New Jersey under a new executive order Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign.
California lifts COVID-19 limits on indoor worship services following US Supreme Court rulings
California lifted its limits on indoor worship services in the face of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that struck down the coronavirus public health mandates. However, the state still said indoor gatherings were “strongly discouraged” and advised limiting the numbers to 25% of a building’s capacity.