Facebook's new prayer tool arrives to mixed reception
Users who are members of faith-based Facebook groups will find an option allowing them to request prayers and other group members will be able to respond via the “I prayed” icon.
Former DC archbishop Theodore McCarrick charged with abusing minor: report
The Associated Press reports that defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who served as archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2001 to 2006, is facing charges in the 1970s sexual assault of teen.
Hillsong founder says COVID-19 vaccine is a ‘personal decision’ after church member dies
Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston said much of his staff are fully vaccinated after church member Stephen Harmon, refused to get inoculated and later died from COVID-19.
Catholic school lawsuit claims mask mandate shields ‘God’s image and likeness’
“Unfortunately, a mask shields our humanity,” the Resurrection School in Lansing, Michigan said in a lawsuit that is now in the appeals process.
Pope Francis returns to Vatican 10 days after surgery
Pope Francis arrived at the Vatican Wednesday after being discharged from a Rome hospital 10 days after intestinal surgery to remove half of his colon.
Pope Francis appears for first time since intestinal surgery
Pope Francis has made his first public appearance since surgery a week earlier.
Pope Francis eats breakfast, takes walk 2 days after intestinal surgery
Pope Francis ate breakfast Tuesday and took a walk as he continues to recover from a scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis alert and well after intestinal surgery, Vatican says
Pope Francis is “in good condition, alert and breathing on his own,” a day after he underwent planned intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
Black Clergy of Philadelphia seek accountability over gun violence prevention money
The Black Clergy of Philadelphia held a press conference to push city leaders for accountability and oversight regarding how millions of dollars of gun violence prevention money is spent.
60 House Democrats sign letter asking Catholic leaders to reconsider Biden rebuke over abortion
U.S. Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights.
Supreme Court rules Philadelphia wrongly limited ties with Catholic foster care that refused same-sex couples
In another victory for religious groups at the Supreme Court, the justices on Thursday unanimously sided with a Catholic foster care agency that says its religious views prevent it from working with same-sex couples. The court said the city of Philadelphia wrongly limited its relationship with the group as a result of the agency's policy.
Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders on handling of alleged sexual abuse
Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse.
Sex abuse probe: Milwaukee Archdiocese won't cooperate with state
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is refusing to turn over documents to state investigators who are looking into clergy sexual abuse in Wisconsin's five Roman Catholic dioceses.
Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity
After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.
German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban
Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.
Italian judge on the path to sainthood after getting killed by mobsters
A magistrate slain by mobsters in Sicily and praised by two popes has been beatified by the Roman Catholic church on Sunday in the last formal step before possible sainthood.
Catholic bishops debate if Biden should receive communion given abortion stance
There’s a deep gulf between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego in the high-stakes debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should be denied Communion
San Francisco unveils prayer rooms at high-volume vaccination sites during Ramadan
Taking its cue from New York City, San Francisco decided to open up prayer rooms at high-volume vaccination sites during Ramadan and beyond.
Poll: 40% of evangelical Protestants, largest religious group in US, hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine
A recent photo posted online of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest evangelical denomination, getting the COVID-19 vaccine drew more than 1,100 comments.