NEWS OF THE WEEK
The legal fate of over a thousand newlywed same-sex couples in Utah is in limbo just weeks after a federal judge ruled they could marry. In December the judge overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage, which immediately led many … More
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control says that more unmarried women who get pregnant while dating are choosing to move in with the fathers rather than get married. The report calls this arrangement “shotgun cohabitation,” which is … More
The Vatican confirmed this week that Pope Francis will travel to the Middle East in late May. He plans to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Amman in Jordan. His objective is to improve relations between Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox, … More
In Manila, in the Philippines, several hundred thousand people assembled for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, a life-sized wooden statue of Jesus believed to have healing powers. Ninety percent of Manila’s people are Roman Catholic, many of whom … More
Christians around the world celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, which recalls the revelation of God in human form as Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians in Istanbul reenacted the baptism of Jesus by diving into the Bosphorus River to retrieve a … More
Faith leaders had mixed reactions to the bipartisan budget agreement passed by Congress this week. For many months religious groups have been urging the government, when slashing the nation’s deficit, to protect programs that serve the poor. The Christian lobby … More
At the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated his 77th birthday. He raised eyebrows earlier in the week with changes to an important Vatican committee that helps to select new bishops. Francis replaced two American cardinals known for their hardline conservative views … More
This week a United Methodist pastor was defrocked after he refused to withdraw his support for same-sex marriage. Reverend Frank Schaefer of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania had been serving a 30-day suspension after a church jury convicted him of violating church … More
A federal judge in Utah this week struck down parts of an anti-polygamy law in that state, ruling that it is not a crime for polygamous families to live together, even though so-called plural marriages are still illegal. The case … More
Around the world, Christians are making final preparations for Christmas. In the Philippines, survivors of the catastrophic Typhoon Haiyan held a traditional dawn worship service which began a series of masses in the days leading up to Christmas. Participants said … More
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