NEWS OF THE WEEK
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that local governments can begin their meetings with prayer, even if they explicitly favor one religion. In the 5 to 4 decision, the Court said such prayers do not violate the Constitution as … More
This week a bipartisan group of criminal justice experts called for sweeping reforms in the way the death penalty is carried out across the country. The report made 39 recommendations, including reducing the number of drugs used in lethal injections. … More
In Geneva this week, a U.N. panel sharply criticized Vatican officials over the church’s handling of clergy sex abuse cases. Church officials defended their record, saying they had dismissed more than 800 priests for sex abuse over the past decade. … More
The Vatican’s chief of doctrine accused the largest umbrella group of US nuns of not cooperating with disciplinary measures imposed in 2012. In unusually blunt language, the official specifically criticized the Leadership Conference of Women Religious or LCWR for selecting … More
U.S. Hispanics are leaving the Catholic Church in large numbers, according to a Pew Research Center study released this week. Fifty-five percent identify as Catholic today, down twelve percent from 2010. The report also suggests that more Hispanics are becoming … More
Jordan has opened a sprawling new refugee camp for tens of thousands of Syrians who keep pouring into the country. The Azraq camp will be able to hold up to 130,000 people. Many faith-based groups are already working there. The … More
This week (May 13), Buddhists celebrate Buddha Day, when they mark the birth, spiritual awakening and death of the historical Buddha.
Faith-based organizations are mobilizing to aid victims of this week’s deadly storms that hit large sections of the country. Local congregations and groups from many denominations are helping to assess the damage and determine needs. Several disaster response teams provided … More
Religious leaders are among those condemning this week’s botched execution in Oklahoma, and many are calling for a new examination of the death penalty in the US. Oklahoma City Roman Catholic Archbishop Paul Coakley said the failed lethal injection and … More
Escalating violence in Ukraine is intensifying worldwide concerns about the crisis with Russia. Meanwhile, one of Ukraine’s highest profile Jews was shot this week. Gennady Kerenes, mayor of Ukraine’s second largest city, was flown to Israel for treatment. At the … More
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