Bills to enhance religion in schools spur fights between faiths WASHINGTON (RNS) — As lawmakers push faith-focused education bills, the statutes are facing pushback from an unexpected source: other religious people. The post Bills to enhance religion in schools spur fights between faiths appeared first on Religion News Service.

Photos of the Week: Stampede in India, Bulgarian Patriarch (RNS) — Each week RNS presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo gallery includes a stampede after a religious festival in India, the enthronement of the new Bulgarian Patriarch and more. The post Photos of the Week: Stampede in India, Bulgarian Patriarch appeared first on Religion News Service.

With new patriarch, Bulgarian Orthodox Church turns toward Moscow ISTANBUL (RNS) — Many who opposed Daniil, the new Patriarch of All Bulgaria, worry that his election represents a sharp turn away from the policies of his predecessor, Neophyte I, who is remembered as a unifier. The post With new patriarch, Bulgarian Orthodox Church turns toward Moscow appeared first on Religion News Service.

‘Which parts of the world do we stop covering?’ Former leaders alarmed by USCCB layoffs ask (RNS) — ‘The budget of an organization reflects its priorities,’ said retired Des Moines, Iowa, Bishop Richard Pates. The post ‘Which parts of the world do we stop covering?’ Former leaders alarmed by USCCB layoffs ask appeared first on Religion News Service.

With National Rally showing strength in Sunday’s vote, French Muslims hold their breath PARIS (RNS) — While National Rally leader Marine Le Pen recently said no Muslim citizens would lose rights if her party won, Muslim leaders expect the closure of many mosques and Islamic schools, the deportation of foreign imams and stricter bans on wearing hijab if Sunday’s vote goes her way. The post With National Rally showing strength in Sun…

Labour wins UK elections in landslide, but suffers losses in heavily Muslim areas LONDON (RNS) — Labour lost a handful of former strongholds to independent candidates standing on pro-Palestinian tickets. The post Labour wins UK elections in landslide, but suffers losses in heavily Muslim areas appeared first on Religion News Service.

Vatican excommunicates former US ambassador Vigano, declares him guilty of schism ROME (AP) — The Vatican excommunication means that Vigano is formally outside the church, and cannot celebrate or receive its sacraments. The post Vatican excommunicates former US ambassador Vigano, declares him guilty of schism appeared first on Religion News Service.

Mosaics by an artist accused of abusing women will stay on the Lourdes shrine, for now ROME (AP) — A French bishop has put off any decision on whether to remove mosaics by an ex-Jesuit artist accused of abusing women, saying that they’ll stay for now on the Lourdes shrine but that eventually they should be removed. The post Mosaics by an artist accused of abusing women will stay on the Lourdes shrine, for now appeared first on Rel…

The Episcopal Church revises clergy misconduct protocols for fairness, transparency (RNS) — The changes come as the denomination prepares to welcome a new presiding bishop with a history of bringing abuse to light. The post The Episcopal Church revises clergy misconduct protocols for fairness, transparency appeared first on Religion News Service.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is still doing its work. Churches should join in. (RNS) — A church that includes people with disabilities is a more radiant church. The post The Americans with Disabilities Act is still doing its work. Churches should join in. appeared first on Religion News Service.

California Baptists cut staff, citing decline in Cooperative Program Giving (RNS) — Overall giving to the SBC’s national funding program is down about 2%. The post California Baptists cut staff, citing decline in Cooperative Program Giving appeared first on Religion News Service.

Judge rules against Texas Attorney General Paxton in campaign against migrant shelters (RNS) — ‘The record before this Court makes clear that the Texas Attorney General’s use of the request to examine documents from Annunciation House was a pretext to justify its harassment of Annunciation House employees and the persons seeking refuge,’ Judge Francisco Dominguez wrote. The post Judge rules against Texas Attorney General Paxton in…

Why Nepal had a religious monarchy − and why some people want it back (The Conversation) — Many in Nepal are protesting to bring back the Hindu monarchy, which was dissolved in 2008. A scholar of South Asian religions explains what’s behind these protests. The post Why Nepal had a religious monarchy − and why some people want it back appeared first on Religion News Service.

Supreme Court of Oklahoma says no to Catholic charter school, but this may not be the end of the boundary-pushing saga (The Conversation) — Officials have vowed to keep fighting for permission to open the school as a charter – which would be a controversial first for the country. The post Supreme Court of Oklahoma says no to Catholic charter school, but this may not be the end of the boundary-pushing saga appeared first on Religion News Service.

Pakistani court sentences Christian man to death for posting hateful content against Muslims MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — In August 2023, groups of Muslim men burned dozens of homes and churches after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men tearing out pages from Islam’s holy book, the Quran. The post Pakistani court sentences Christian man to death for posting hateful content against Muslims appeared first on Religion News Service.

For Israel’s Reform Jews, no need to follow US peers in ordaining rabbis in interfaith marriages JERUSALEM (RNS) — ‘In America there is a high rate of interfaith marriages. Here, that issue is irrelevant to us,’ said Nachman Shai, dean of the Israel Rabbinical Program. The post For Israel’s Reform Jews, no need to follow US peers in ordaining rabbis in interfaith marriages appeared first on Religion News Service.

Lawsuits challenging abortion bans on religious freedom grounds falter (RNS) — Advocates argue the legal strategy that abortion bans violate religious freedom are not yet dead. In both the Missouri and Kentucky cases, appeals are planned. The post Lawsuits challenging abortion bans on religious freedom grounds falter appeared first on Religion News Service.

Christian groups announce merger to “help shape future” of U.S. politics as elections loom I AM PR The post Christian groups announce merger to “help shape future” of U.S. politics as elections loom appeared first on Religion News Service.

Partners of US Catholic bishops’ social justice department adjust after layoffs (RNS) — ‘We are hoping that there is some kind of alternative plan to keep the church going, to keep the justice and peace programs going, to keep our advocacy work going,’ said Steven Nabieu Rogers, executive director of the Africa Faith and Justice Network. The post Partners of US Catholic bishops’ social justice department adjust after layoff…

For the first time in a century, the Holy Land has no chief rabbi (RNS) — In a historic moment, Israel’s two chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, left office on Sunday with no clear successors elected in their stead, leaving the posts vacant for the first time since the 1920s.  The post For the first time in a century, the Holy Land has no chief rabbi appeared first on Religion News Service.