NEWS OF THE WEEK
At the Vatican this Sunday (October 5), Pope Francis is opening an unusual synod, a two-week gathering of Catholic bishops from around the world to discuss the church and families. Among the possible topics are marriage, divorce, cohabitation, annulments, and … More
The Jewish High Holy Days conclude with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (October 4). Then on Wednesday evening (October 8) Jews begin celebrating Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, recalling their ancestors’ 40 years of wandering in the desert by … More
Amid expanded US coalition airstrikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Discussing an international strategy to combat the extremist group was at the top of the … More
This week a group of more than 120 Muslim scholars and legal experts from around the world issued an open letter in Arabic to ISIS followers and fighters, declaring that the group and its actions violate the Islamic faith. The … More
During his trip to Albania last week, Pope Francis called on Muslims and all people of faith to denounce extremists who use religion to justify violence. He said, “To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege.”
Humanitarian officials are raising new alarms about the situation for refugees who are fleeing ISIS offensives. This week alone, more than 140,000 Syrians poured across the border into Turkey, and UN officials said they are bracing for the possibility of … More
There was a strong faith-based contingent as hundreds of thousands of activists took to the streets of New York for the People’s Climate March. They urged the international community to take stronger actions to protect the environment. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, … More
UN General Assembly leaders also focused on the spiraling Ebola crisis in West Africa. International health officials warned that if the disease keeps spreading at its current pace, hundreds of thousands could be infected by the end of the year. … More
Growing numbers of Americans believe the role of religion is waning in public life, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. And most Americans think that waning influence is a bad thing. The survey found increases among … More
Many Catholics, especially moderates and liberals, are praising Pope Francis’s choice for the new archbishop of Chicago, Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane. The 65-year-old succeeds Cardinal Francis George, who is retiring after serving there 17 years. Cupich is widely seen … More
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