NEWS OF THE WEEK
This week saw a grim escalation in the conflict in Syria. The opposition there alleged government forces had used chemical weapons, killing hundreds, including women and children. The U.S. and others called for a UN investigation, with France’s foreign minister … More
From Egypt come reports of growing sectarian violence. The international group Human Rights Watch criticized authorities for not protecting dozens of churches, schools, and businesses that have recently been attacked in the Christian Coptic community that makes up about 10 … More
The United Nations top human rights official this week urged the United States and Israel to provide a legal justification for the use of armed drones in Pakistan, Yemen, and Gaza. The UN’s Navi Pillay called drone strikes a threat … More
More than 30 Hindus died this week after being struck by a train traveling at high speed while on a pilgrimage in eastern India. Earlier this summer, several thousand pilgrims drowned in massive flooding while visiting a sacred area in … More
Faith groups are ramping up pressure on Congress to pass immigration reform. In early September, Catholic priests and bishops around the country will deliver sermons on immigration, part of a larger effort to persuade Catholic lawmakers to support an immigration … More
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill this week banning conversion therapy, a controversial practice that tries to change people’s sexual orientation from gay to straight. Christie, a Catholic, said he does not believe homosexuality is a sin. A … More
The largest group of US Catholic nuns this week said they were hopeful about reaching a resolution with the Vatican after last year’s controversial crackdown on the group. The Vatican accused the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of “serious doctrinal … More
This week (August 28) Hindus celebrate the festival Krishna Janmashtami. It celebrates the birth of the popular deity Krishna, who is believed to be one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu.
Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners this week as peace talks resumed in Jerusalem. The second round of talks began despite Israel’s announcement that it plans to build more than a thousand new housing units in disputed areas, including East Jerusalem. … More
There was widespread condemnation this week of the massive escalation of violence in Egypt, where military forces cracked down on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. More than 600 people were killed, and several thousand were injured. The largest Muslim … More
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