NEWS OF THE WEEK
In Cleveland, Ohio, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC) voted overwhelmingly to divest from companies it says are “complicit in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.” The UCC, which has about a million … More
The itinerary for Pope Francis’s upcoming trip to the U.S. was released by the Vatican this week. The schedule suggests Francis will prioritize spending time with poor people and immigrants, in addition to his planned visits to the White House, … More
This week at the Vatican, an interfaith rally of nearly 5,000 people who took to the streets to hail the pope’s recent letter—encyclical—on the environment. The march came 10 days after the release of the document, which urged greater care for … More
According to a new United Nations report, a record number of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have tried to make their way to Europe in the first half of 2015. The UN counted 137,000 migrants, an 83 percent … More
California adopted one of the toughest mandatory vaccination laws in the country this week. Governor Jerry Brown signed the measure, which no longer allows exemptions for personal beliefs, including religious objections. Mississippi and West Virginia are the only other states … More
Baha’is observe the Martyrdom of the Bab (July 9), marking the day in 1850 when one of the founders of their faith was executed in Persia, now Iran.
In Charleston, South Carolina, mourners paid respects to the nine black worshippers who were gunned down by a white supremacist inside the historic Emanuel AME Church last week. A racially diverse gathering of thousands formed a chain across the Ravenel … More
Last weekend in Baltimore (June 20), a coalition of evangelical churches and police united in a prayer rally for peace. Baltimore has seen a surge in violent crime since rioting swept parts of the city in late April. Bishop Harry … More
According to the Associated Press, this week as the Supreme Court neared the end of its term it handed down major victories for same-sex marriage and Obamacare. The Court declared 5-4 on Friday (June 26) that same-sex couples have a … More
Pope Francis made a busy two-day visit to the city of Turin in northern Italy this week (June 21-22). He prayed before the famed Shroud of Turin, held by some to be Christ’s burial cloth. He also celebrated a Mass … More
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