Greek Church tells priests to ignore pandemic closure order

Greece's powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten virus restrictions before the planned reopening of schools

Pope Francis 'saddened' by news that people went 'on holiday' to avoid lockdowns

Pope Francis strongly criticized people on Sunday who traveled abroad in order to escape coronavirus lockdowns, saying it showed a lack of awareness and compassion.

Suspect still unfit for trial a year after Hanukkah stabbing

A judge ordered a hearing about civil commitment for Grafton Thomas, who is charged with stabbing five people with a machete at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey in 2019. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.