Pope Francis misses Vatican New Year's ceremonies due to back pain
Francis was suffering from "painful sciatica" and could not preside at an hour-long, year-end prayer service Thursday evening, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
Newark mayor slams anti-maskers during vigil for COVID victims
New Jersey's largest city has recorded nearly 22,00 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 750 deaths in 2020.
Faith leaders around the world who died in 2020
There were many religious leaders — some admired worldwide, others beloved only locally — who died in 2020.
Bill legalizing abortion passes in Pope Francis' native Argentina
Abortion will be legalized in Pope Francis' homeland up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and also will be legal after that time in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life.
A pandemic Christmas: Churches and borders shut
Curfews, quarantines and even border closings complicated Christmas celebrations Friday for countless people around the globe, but ingenuity, determination and imagination helped keep the day special for many.
Christmas unites community after fire guts historic church
Members of New York City's historic Middle Collegiate Church, which was destroyed in a massive fire have been uplifted by the spirit of the Christmas season, singing carols and performing dances in an online observation of Advent. Their message: We will rebuild.
8 School Sisters of Notre Dame lost to COVID-19 in a week
Eight sisters at the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Elm Grove have died of COVID-19 since Dec. 9.
Food pantry sees growing need amid pandemic
Lighthouse Mission, says the holiday season is typically the busiest time of year but donations are down and the need is way up.
Fire rips through Brooklyn synagogue
A fire ripped through a synagogue in Brooklyn Wednesday.
Florida pastor who fought Sunday alcohol sales charged with child porn
A Florida pastor who crusaded against alcohol sales on Sundays is now facing child pornography charges, state investigators say.
2020 Vatican nativity display draws comparisons to ‘Star Wars’ scene
The Vatican’s 2020 nativity scene, which is different every year, has drawn criticism from some for its futuristic style.
Supreme Court orders NJ to reexamine religious services restrictions
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered lower federal courts in Colorado and New Jersey to reexamine state restrictions on indoor religious services
NYPD kills gunman at Manhattan Christmas concert
An armed man was fatally shot by police outside The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan on Sunday afternoon.
Anne Frank memorial in US defaced with swastika stickers
The United States' only memorial to Holocaust victim Anne Frank was plastered with stickers depicting a swastika, a symbol appropriated by the Third Reich during the World War II era and used by white supremacists.
Jersey City bias massacre victims remembered 1 year later
Jersey City paused to mark the anniversary of a bias attack that killed a police officer and three people in a Jewish grocery store.
Trump announces Morocco to normalize ties with Israel, 4th country to do so in Arab-Israeli peace push
President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Morocco will normalize relations in the latest achievement of his administration's press to push Arab-Israeli peace.
Photo Essay: Faithful mourn, carry on amid pandemic
Relief may be on the way in the form of mass-produced vaccines, but COVID-19 continues to ravage communities around the world with the global death toll reaching some 1.5 million, leaving the living to mourn them and carry on.
West Michigan pastor encourages congregation to catch COVID-19 to 'get it over with'
A senior pastor at a west Michigan church encouraged his congregation to catch COVID-19 so as to "get it over with."
Lawsuit claims village discriminates against Orthodox Jews
A federal lawsuit claims a village in suburban New York discriminates against Orthodox Jewish residents through land use restrictions.
Oklahoma declares day of prayer as virus surges
As coronavirus continues surging in Oklahoma, nearing 200,000 cases, Gov. Kevin Stitt has declared Thursday a day of prayer and fasting in the state.