'This is scandalous': Pope decries war, weapons spending amid the pandemic in Easter message
“The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nevertheless — and this is scandalous — armed conflicts have not ended, and military arsenals are being strengthened,'' Francis said, sounding angry. “That is today's scandal.”
Christians celebrate second Easter marred by COVID-19 pandemic
Christianity’s most joyous feast day is being celebrated worldwide with faithful sitting far apart in pews and singing choruses of “Hallelujah” through face coverings for the second Easter Sunday.
Iraqi Christians reenact Jesus carrying the cross on Good Friday
An Iraqi man was filmed carrying a wood cross through a small village in northern Iraq, one of many observances held to commemorate the Christian holiday of Good Friday.
Some Holy Land sites reopen as Christians mark Good Friday
Christians in the Holy Land are marking Good Friday this year amid signs the coronavirus crisis is winding down.
US church membership falls below 50% for 1st time in nearly a century
For the first time since the late 1930s, less than half of Americans say they belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, according to a new Gallup poll.
New Dead Sea Scrolls dating back nearly 2,000 years discovered in Israel
The new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text are believed to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago.
Vatican says Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions as God ‘can’t bless sin’
The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.
Pennsylvania church treasurer accused of stealing $150G to fuel porn addiction
A Pennsylvania church treasurer is accused of stealing over $150,000 from the house of worship to fuel his addiction to porn, according to reports.
Pope Francis calls on Christians to forgive in land ISIS once ruled
Pope Francis has urged Iraq's Christians to forgive the injustices committed against them by Islamic extremists.
Pope Francis holds historic, symbolic meeting with top Iraq Shiite cleric
Pope Francis and Iraq’s top Shiite cleric have delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence, urging Muslims to embrace Iraq’s long-beleaguered Christian minority during a historic meeting.
In visit to Baghdad, Pope Francis urges Iraq to embrace its Christians
Pope Francis has urged Iraqis to treat their Christian brothers as a precious resource to protect, not an “obstacle” to eliminate as he opens the first-ever papal visit to Iraq.
Abortion concerns prompt Catholic archdiocese warning on vaccine
Roman Catholic leaders in St. Louis and New Orleans are advising Catholics that the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, newly approved for use in the U.S., is “morally compromised” because it is produced using a cell line derived from an aborted fetus.
Ash Wednesday is modified across the Delaware Valley for the pandemic
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for Christians worldwide. And, like everything else for almost a year, the coronavirus pandemic changed the way ashes were distributed on the solemn day.
Ashes to be sprinkled over parishioners' heads during pandemic Ash Wednesday
The coronavirus pandemic will change the way ashes are distributed to Christians worldwide on Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.
San Jose church fined $2M; other California churches open doors following new ruling
The justices said for now California can’t continue with a ban on indoor church services, but it can limit attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and restrict singing and chanting inside.
Facebook introduces new fact-check tool to combat Holocaust denial
Anyone who searches on Facebook for terms related to the Holocaust or Holocaust denial will see a message labeled “Learning about the Holocaust,” which includes a link to read credible information about the Nazi genocide.
Joe Biden attends service at St. Matthews
President-Elect Joe Biden - who is making history as the nation's second Catholic president - attended services at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in DC ahead of the Inauguration on Wednesday.
Joe Biden will become second Catholic president when sworn in
Joe Biden's faith has been front and center in the toughest times in his life. From the early tragic deaths of his first wife and daughter to the loss of his son Beau.
Pope Francis says women can read at Mass, but still can't be priests
Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while reaffirming they cannot be priests.