NEWS OF THE WEEK
Religious groups around the world are urging renewed prayers for peace amid heightened clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups expressed outrage after the bodies of three abducted Israeli teens were recovered in the West Bank Monday. … More
In Iraq, religious leaders continued to raise appeals about the plight of those fleeing sectarian violence, including Iraqi Christians. This week Chaldean Catholic bishops in Iraq said more than 40,000 Christians fled their villages last week alone. Meanwhile, human rights … More
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the father of the Jewish Renewal movement, has died at age 89. View our report on the Jewish Renewal movement and the Rabbi’s lessons on preparing for death in our piece about The December Project.
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld France’s ban on Islamic face-covering veils. France outlawed wearing full-face veils in public in 2010, prompting an outcry from Muslims who argued that wearing the veil was a religious obligation. This week … More
Muslims around the world have begun their month-long observance of Ramadan, when those who are able to do so fast from sunrise to sunset and make special offerings to the poor.
This week the US Supreme Court unanimously struck down a Massachusetts law banning protests near clinics that perform abortions. The state’s “buffer zone” law had required that anti-abortion protests take place at least 35 feet from the entrances of clinics. … More
The Court’s long-awaited decision in the Hobby Lobby case is expected Monday (June 30). Many court watchers say it’s the most important religious case in years. At issue is whether, under the Affordable Care Act, for-profit companies can be required … More
A United Methodist pastor who was defrocked for officiating at the same-sex wedding of his son was reinstated this week. Reverend Frank Schaefer of Lebanon, Pennsylvania was stripped of his credentials last year after he was found guilty by a … More
A prominent Mormon activist urging the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to open the priesthood to women has been excommunicated on charges of apostasy. Kate Kelly founded the group Ordain Women in 2013. This week she was informed … More
An Episcopal chaplain became the first openly transgender priest to preach at the Washington National Cathedral this week. Reverend Cameron Partridge was at the National Cathedral to speak in honor of LGBT pride month. Partridge began transitioning from female to … More
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