NEWS OF THE WEEK
Meeting in Japan, the UN panel on climate change reported this week that the effects of global warming are increasingly evident. It called on world leaders to act now to help people adapt to the changes and slow them down. … More
Lebanon this week marked what the UN called a “devastating milestone”: one million Syrians have now registered for official refugee status there. Lebanon’s own population is just about four-and-a-half million, making it the country with the highest per capita concentration … More
Orthodox Jewish feminist leader Rivka Haut died of cancer this week. She was 71. Haut was one of the first Orthodox Jewish women to teach the Talmud. She founded Women of the Wall, a group that fights for the rights … More
This week is Navaratri, a nine-day Hindu festival honoring the female deity Durga. The festival culminates with a celebration of Lord Rama.
President Obama visited Pope Francis at the Vatican this week (March 27) in what was their first meeting. They exchanged greetings and gifts before moving into a private conversation that lasted 52 minutes. The discussion was said to be cordial … More
The Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a pair of challenges to the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act—Obamacare. One of the challengers is Hobby Lobby, a chain of craft stores owned by a Christian family. They say … More
The Christian relief group World Vision has reversed its controversial decision to hire employees who are in same-sex marriages. Earlier this week, World Vision had announced it was changing its employment policy to allow Christians in same-sex marriages to work … More
In Egypt, there were protests of mass trials for those accused of being Islamist supporters of ousted president, Mohammed Morsi. Earlier this week, 529 defendants were sentenced to death for their alleged involvement in attacking a police station and killing … More
A Catholic bishop in Germany accused of lavish spending has been officially relieved of his duties. This week Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the bishop of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebarz-van Elst, known to some as “Bishop Bling-Bling.” He got in … More
A high-profile delegation including the governor of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput was at the Vatican this week to persuade Pope Francis to visit the U.S. next year. They asked the pope to come to the World Meeting of … More
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