NEWS OF THE WEEK
A tragedy in India this week: More than 100 pilgrims were killed in a stampede on the final day of Navaratri, a major ten-day Hindu festival honoring the female deity Durga. According to local officials, thousands were crossing a bridge … More
Relief efforts are underway in the Philippines after a powerful earthquake this week. Church leaders are appealing for food and medical aid. Hundreds are dead or missing, and there was significant damage to two of the country’s oldest churches, which … More
There were more high-profile kidnappings in Syria this week. Gunmen stopped a humanitarian convoy and kidnapped seven Red Cross aid workers in northern Syria. At least three were later released. Meanwhile, there were new signs of hope for other prominent … More
In Baltimore this week, Conservative Jews celebrated their movement’s one-hundredth anniversary. Conservative Judaism used to be the largest American Jewish denomination, but in recent years membership has dropped significantly. It’s now estimated to be just under a million. Movement leaders … More
Bahá’ís celebrate the birth of the B’ab, one of their religion’s central figures. Bahá’ís consider the B’ab a messenger of God who in the 19th century prepared the way for the founder of their faith, Bahá’u’lláh.
As the government shutdown entered its second week, many religious leaders ramped up their criticism of lawmakers in Washington. A coalition of 98 Catholic, evangelical, and mainline Protestant leaders accused elected officials of pursuing an ideological agenda at the expense … More
Religious conservatives rallied in Washington at the annual Values Voter Summit. Activists reaffirmed their support for federal budget cuts and their opposition to the Affordable Care Act. The group heard from several Republican members of Congress who have been leading … More
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The watchdog group was formed in 1997 to enforce international treaties against the use of chemical weapons. The Nobel committee said recent events in Syria … More
Muslims from around the world are gathering in Mecca for the annual hajj or pilgrimage. Around 3 million are expected, including more than 14,000 Americans. While diseases spread by travelers are always a challenge during the hajj, this year health … More
Leaders of the U.S. Catholic bishops met with Pope Francis at the Vatican this week. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is president of the bishops conference, described it as “a meeting of brothers.” Dolan said the pope was curious … More
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