Religion
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Clergy abuse survivors testify in Catholic church bankruptcy case: 'Do you see me now?'
BALTIMORE — The 58-year-old woman couldn’t bear to share the details of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child, but its effect on her came across loud and clear Monday in a Baltimore courtroom as she faced the leader of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
“Do you see me now?” she cried toward Archbishop William Lori, who was seated across ...Read more
Eight clergy abuse survivors to testify in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case
BALTIMORE — Eight people who survived sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy in Maryland are set to testify in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case.
Their statements in court will bring to 14 the number of abuse victims who testified in the case about their torment. Monday’s hearing is the second such proceeding scheduled by ...Read more
California bans public funding for religious schools. With the courts' help, these families want to change that.
California has long had a hard ban preventing public school funding from going toward any sectarian instruction or sectarian schools.
But now families in at least two federal lawsuits in California, encouraged by a Supreme Court that has been friendly to many religious liberty cases, are challenging that prohibition, which they argue ...Read more
Gavin Newsom, during his speech at the Vatican on climate change, accuses Trump of 'open corruption'
VATICAN CITY — Gov. Gavin Newsom accused former President Donald Trump of “open corruption” in a speech Thursday at a climate summit of Catholic officials and international leaders, elevating his criticism of the Republican leader in the hallowed halls of the Vatican.
The California governor referenced news stories alleging that Trump ...Read more
New York Gov. Hochul visits Pope Francis in Vatican climate conference
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Vatican City on Thursday to hear a climate address from Pope Francis and deliver one of her own.
Hochul, who is Catholic, sat in the first row as Francis spoke in the Clementine Hall, a luminous chamber with walls adorned by intricate Renaissance frescoes, and was invited to greet the pope after his speech.
...Read more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, during his speech at the Vatican on climate change, accuses Trump of "open corruption"
VATICAN CITY — Gov. Gavin Newsom accused former President Donald Trump of "open corruption" in a speech Thursday at a climate summit of Catholic officials and international leaders, elevating his criticism of the Republican leader in the hallowed halls of the Vatican.
The California governor referenced news stories alleging that Trump ...Read more
Missouri anti-LGBTQ advocate Vicky Hartzler appointed to US religious freedom agency
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday appointed former Rep. Vicky Hartzler — a conservative Christian who was once brought to tears speaking out against a bill to provide federal protections to same-sex marriages — to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Her appointment to the commission, a bipartisan federal agency ...Read more
Hindu group, aiming to build temple, alleges discrimination in Nevada
LAS VEGAS — After it says it is being blocked by a Henderson ordinance from building a Hindu temple on a 5-acre patch of land in a rural neighborhood, a local Hindu group accuses the city of discrimination.
The association is now appealing to the federal government to intervene on its behalf.
The American Hindu Association says a city ...Read more
Federal funds to offset 'hate tax,' protect Conn. religious institutions against rising antisemitism
HARTFORD, Conn. — When Erika Brunwasser needed help picking up her daughter from preschool, her friend was shocked to find two security guards posted outside the synagogue that housed the school.
“She thoughtfully asked how it feels as a parent to leave my child every day at a place that is targeted by hate,” Brunwasser said. “Sadly, ...Read more
Washington AG: Archdiocese of Seattle refusing to share sex abuse documents
SEATTLE — The Archdiocese of Seattle is refusing to turn over documents showing how it handled child sexual abuse allegations by church leaders, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a news conference Thursday.
The archdiocese is citing a legal exemption for religious organizations that shields the records from public disclosure, ...Read more
A peace sign with watermelons was removed near Philly's Germantown Friends School after parents objected. That was just the start of the debate.
PHILADELPHIA — Quaker community members hung a “peace” sign on the campus of Germantown Friends School in the fall. It was a message everyone seemed to agree on.
But outrage ensued in late February after they added a series of cloth watermelons next to the simple five-letter message.
The watermelon imagery — an unofficial symbol of ...Read more
At U. of C. encampment, Jewish organizers explain significance of their anti-Zionist Shabbat service
After a tense day of protests, counterprotests and increased university police presence on the University of Chicago’s Main Quadrangle, the sun began to fade Friday evening and the Jewish holy day of Sabbath began.
Within the encampment established by the University of Chicago United for Palestine coalition, about 50 Jewish students and ...Read more
United Methodists look to move forward after anti-LGBTQ language is removed
As a historic global conference of the United Methodist Church draws to a close in Charlotte Friday, the issue of homosexuality that has driven away many of the denomination’s churches appears settled.
Delegates on Thursday removed language in Methodist Church laws that for decades has said homosexuality was “incompatible” with Christian ...Read more
United Methodists strike decades long ban on ordination of LGBTQ clergy
There were tears, hugs, prayer and singing in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the United Methodist Church removed a line prohibiting the ordination of LGBTQ clergy that had been in place since 1984.
According to Unite Methodist News, delegates - without debate - voted 692 to 51 for the changes on the day’s consent calendar, which enabled the...Read more
Saying the stakes could not be higher, Newsom to speak at Vatican climate summit
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking his climate change advocacy overseas next month to the epicenter of Catholicism, where he was invited to speak at a summit of mayors and governors hosted by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
State and local leaders will gather at the summit from May 15 to 17 to discuss the effects of rising ...Read more
Tensions with insurers mount in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case
BALTIMORE — Tensions are growing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case around the role of the church’s insurers.
Baltimore’s arm of the Catholic Church, America’s oldest archdiocese, has sued its insurers for alleged breach of contract in one legal battle. In another argument, the insurers sought to block the committee of ...Read more
Legislation to restructure United Methodists moves forward
United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment many say could defuse debates over the role of LGBTQ people in the church. The amendment, approved Thursday at the denomination’s gathering in Charlotte, N.C., gives each region of the international church the ability to make their own decisions on divisive ...Read more
COUNTERPOINT: Bible blasphemy or act of godliness?
Donald Trump was recently accused of “Bible blasphemy” for selling a version of the Bible, which prompted me to write this article on his motivations for such an act. Is this truly blasphemy? Or is it a way to encourage his followers to study the Holy Scriptures to “Make America Great and Godly Again”?
In a court of law, I believe this ...Read more
POINT: Perverting God's word for politics is a sin
In March, former President Donald Trump began hawking a “God Bless the USA” Bible online for $59.99, a King James Version that also includes the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
“Let’s make America pray again,” he said. “We must defend God in the public square and not allow the media or the...Read more
Archdiocese of Chicago sued over priest accused of sexually abusing altar boy at elementary school and parish on Lower West Side in '90s
CHICAGO — The Archdiocese of Chicago is facing a lawsuit in connection with a former priest accused of sexually abusing and exploiting an altar boy at a now-closed elementary school and parish on the city’s Lower West Side.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that the Rev. John Keehan repeatedly ...Read more
Popular Stories
- California bans public funding for religious schools. With the courts' help, these families want to change that.
- Clergy abuse survivors testify in Catholic church bankruptcy case: 'Do you see me now?'
- Eight clergy abuse survivors to testify in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case
- Gavin Newsom, during his speech at the Vatican on climate change, accuses Trump of 'open corruption'
- New York Gov. Hochul visits Pope Francis in Vatican climate conference