Philadelphia pastor elected to lead historic Black church in New York City (RNS) — New York’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church has elected its new senior pastor, likely bringing an end to a national search to replace the late Rev. Calvin O. Butts, who had served the church for a half-century before his death in 2022. The post Philadelphia pastor elected to lead historic Black church in New York City appeared first o…

Conservative prelate warns that excommunicating Viganò will lead to further division VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Even so, Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider said claims of Pope Francis’ illegitimacy are unfounded. The post Conservative prelate warns that excommunicating Viganò will lead to further division appeared first on Religion News Service.

Is President Biden too old to be president? (RNS) — Leave politics aside. How we treat the diminished and the feeble matters. The post Is President Biden too old to be president? appeared first on Religion News Service.

More than 1,300 people died during Hajj, many of them after walking in the scorching heat CAIRO (AP) — More than 1,300 people died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, Saudi authorities announced Sunday. The post More than 1,300 people died during Hajj, many of them after walking in the scorching heat appeared first on Religion …

Its move from Israel to Jordan complete, Love Into Action resumes mission to aid disabled (RNS) — Laurence and Sharon Garnett chose their new home to help underserved Bedouins and Syrian refugees. The post Its move from Israel to Jordan complete, Love Into Action resumes mission to aid disabled appeared first on Religion News Service.

‘I love this work, but it’s killing me’: The unique toll of being a spiritual leader today (The Conversation) — Spiritual leaders’ own pain often goes unnoticed as they tend to their community’s challenges. Two psychology researchers explain the growing concern over a potential “great resignation,” with more than a third of U.S. pastors thinking about quitting. The post ‘I love this work, but it’s killing me’: The unique toll of bein…

How Indigenous peoples are reclaiming their celebrations of the summer solstice − and using them to resist (The Conversation) — A historian of astronomy writes about the role of astronomical events in Indigenous cultures − and also the exploitation of their sacred traditions in present times. The post How Indigenous peoples are reclaiming their celebrations of the summer solstice − and using them to resist appeared first on Religion News Service.

It was meant to be a Christian utopia. Now this Nigerian community is helpless against rising seas AYETORO, Nigeria (AP) — The coastal Nigerian community of Ayetoro was founded decades ago and nicknamed “Happy City,” meant to be a Christian utopia that would be sinless and classless. But now its remaining residents can do little against the rising sea. The post It was meant to be a Christian utopia. Now this Nigerian community is helpless aga…

More than 15 policemen, several civilians killed by gunmen in Russia’s southern Dagestan region MOSCOW (AP) — The gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police post in two cities, according to the authorities. The post More than 15 policemen, several civilians killed by gunmen in Russia’s southern Dagestan region appeared first on Religion News Service.

Faith in Choice: Two Years After Dobbs State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Rev. TJ Fitzgerald of The Truth Pregnancy Resource Center in Dallas, and Smriti Krishnan from the National Council of Jewish Women The post Faith in Choice: Two Years After Dobbs appeared first on Religion News Service.

Christian Reformed synod tells LGBTQ-affirming churches to repent or disaffiliate GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (RNS) — At its national synod this week, the Christian Reformed Church in North America voted to put congregational leaders on ‘limited suspension’ if their churches publicly welcome LGBTQ+ members, violating the CRCNA’s official stance on same-sex relationships.  The post Christian Reformed synod tells LGBTQ-affirming chu…

Unitarian Universalists to vote on updated covenant, values at 2024 General Assembly (RNS) — To Unitarian Universalists, changes to the denomination’s covenant clause are weighty, and occasionally fraught. The post Unitarian Universalists to vote on updated covenant, values at 2024 General Assembly appeared first on Religion News Service.

International conference sheds light on the clerical abuse of disabled individuals VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Children with psychological or intellectual disabilities and people who are deaf, blind or autistic are up to five times more likely to suffer abuse. The post International conference sheds light on the clerical abuse of disabled individuals appeared first on Religion News Service.

New Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments churns old political conflicts NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Under the new law, all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities will be required to display a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” next year. The post New Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments churns old political conflicts appeared first on Religio…

‘Loyal to the Oil’: Finding religion in the Stanley Cup finals (The Conversation) — The Edmonton Oilers are more than a hockey team. In some ways, they symbolize devotion to a way of life − and one of Canada’s major industries. The post ‘Loyal to the Oil’: Finding religion in the Stanley Cup finals appeared first on Religion News Service.

As France reels from the rape of a Jewish girl, antisemitism comes to the fore in election campaign PARIS (AP) — Concerns came to the fore after two adolescent boys in a Paris suburb were given preliminary charges this week of raping a 12-year-old girl and religion-motivated violence, according to prosecutors. The post As France reels from the rape of a Jewish girl, antisemitism comes to the fore in election campaign appeared first on Religion…

Photos of the Week: Eid al-Adha; International Yoga Day (RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes the Eid al-Adha holiday, International Yoga Day and more. The post Photos of the Week: Eid al-Adha; International Yoga Day appeared first on Religion News Service.

The children of Sudan have been forgotten (RNS) — The details of this crisis are horrifying. Yet most Americans know little to nothing about it. The post The children of Sudan have been forgotten appeared first on Religion News Service.

New York City celebrates the 10th International Day of Yoga NEW YORK (RNS) — In bustling Times Square, hundreds of yoga practitioners gathered to celebrate International Day of Yoga: an initiative from the UN that marks a decade this year. The post New York City celebrates the 10th International Day of Yoga appeared first on Religion News Service.

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate violates its own religious freedom heritage (RNS) — It’s a legal birthright that goes back to the French Revolution and Thomas Jefferson. The post Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate violates its own religious freedom heritage appeared first on Religion News Service.