NEWS OF THE WEEK
President Obama made a rare visit to the Pentagon for a briefing on the U.S. fight against ISIS. He said there has been significant progress, but he also pointed out the recent terrorist attacks attributed to ISIS. Obama cautioned that … More
Debates over religious liberty and same-sex marriage continue to heat up. Local officials in several states are seeking to opt out of granting marriage licenses to gay couples, saying the practice violates their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, bakers in Oregon were … More
After weeks of contentious debate, South Carolina lawmakers passed a bill, signed by Governor Nikki Haley, to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds. Defenders of the flag said it represented Southern heritage. But others, especially in the African-American … More
Prominent Mormon leader Boyd Packer died on July 3 at the age of 90. He had been next in line to become the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2008 until his death he led … More
James Dunn died on the 4th of July. He was a prominent Baptist, a retired teacher at Wake Forest University, and a longtime Washington advocate for religious freedom—he called it “soul freedom”—and for the clear separation of church and state. … More
UNESCO has added 27 new sites to its World Heritage list of natural and cultural wonders of “outstanding universal value.” Among the additions: the Jordan River baptism site in Jordan, believed by many to mark the spot where Jesus was … More
Retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah, marked their 60th anniversary by renewing their wedding vows at a celebration in South Africa. Their daughter, Naomi, compared her parents’ love story to that of Romeo and Juliet—except, she said, … More
Two weeks after the prayer meeting massacre at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, the nation continues to confront issues of race. This week, the AME’s national council of bishops issued an urgent “Call to Action,” asking people of all … More
The Episcopal Church this week elected its first African-American presiding bishop. Delegates to the denomination’s national convention elected Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina as the top leader for the next nine years. He will succeed Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, … More
Across the nation, religious groups are analyzing the implications of last week’s Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. Many faith leaders are among those praising the decision as a big step toward justice and equality. But others say the decision … More
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