New Dead Sea Scrolls dating back nearly 2,000 years discovered in Israel
The new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text are believed to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago.
LGBT Network CEO: Vatican decree on unions is 'mean-spirited'
Pope Francis has endorsed providing gay couples in same-sex unions with legal protections but that is for civil protections only.
Vatican says Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions as God ‘can’t bless sin’
The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.
Sri Lanka to ban burqas, close more than 1,000 Islamic schools
Sri Lanka on Saturday announced plans to ban the wearing of burqas and said it would close more than 1,000 Islamic schools known as madrassas, citing national security.
Pennsylvania church treasurer accused of stealing $150G to fuel porn addiction
A Pennsylvania church treasurer is accused of stealing over $150,000 from the house of worship to fuel his addiction to porn, according to reports.
Yeshiva basketball players revel in their winning streak
The Yeshiva Maccabees stretched the nation's longest active winning streak at any level of college hoops to 36 games.
Catholic diocese raises concerns over Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The Diocese of Rockville Centre claims the vaccine is the result of research originally derived from aborted fetal tissue specimens in the 1970s.
Missouri pastor on leave after telling wives to 'lose weight,' strive to look like Melania Trump
A Missouri pastor is on leave and in counseling after he told his congregation in a sermon last month that wives should make themselves sexually available to their husbands, "lose weight," and look less "butch."
Pope Francis calls on Christians to forgive in land ISIS once ruled
Pope Francis has urged Iraq's Christians to forgive the injustices committed against them by Islamic extremists.
Pope Francis holds historic, symbolic meeting with top Iraq Shiite cleric
Pope Francis and Iraq’s top Shiite cleric have delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence, urging Muslims to embrace Iraq’s long-beleaguered Christian minority during a historic meeting.
In visit to Baghdad, Pope Francis urges Iraq to embrace its Christians
Pope Francis has urged Iraqis to treat their Christian brothers as a precious resource to protect, not an “obstacle” to eliminate as he opens the first-ever papal visit to Iraq.
101-year-old New Yorker shows her strong survival spirit
Lee Fruchtman, who was born in Munich, escaped Nazi Germany when she was 17. Now 101, she reflects on the sadness and joys of her life.
Abortion concerns prompt Catholic archdiocese warning on vaccine
Roman Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans are advising Catholics that the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, newly approved for use in the U.S., is “morally compromised” because it is produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus.
Jewish families adapt Purim celebrations amid pandemic
This year, Jewish families are gathering on video calls to celebrate one of the most joyous holidays in the faith.
How the pandemic has affected Black churches
The parking lot at Berean Christian Church in Georgia sits empty and the sanctuary is silent.
Ashes to be sprinkled over parishioners' heads during pandemic Ash Wednesday
The coronavirus pandemic will change the way ashes are distributed to Christians worldwide on Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.
Connecticut Gov. Lamont vaccinated; he and Black leaders urge people to get shots
Under state rules, the governor, 67, became eligible for the shot last week when vaccinations opened up to people 65 and older.
Mardi Gras 2021: Bars closed, Bourbon Street barricaded amid COVID-19 pandemic
Parades and parties on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and the days leading up to the annual pre-Lenten bash were canceled and bars were ordered closed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
World's second-oldest person survives coronavirus at age 116
A 116-year-old French nun who is believed to be the world’s second-oldest person has survived COVID-19 and is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday.
San Jose church fined $2M; other California churches open doors following new ruling
The justices said for now California can’t continue with a ban on indoor church services, but it can limit attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and restrict singing and chanting inside.