Negotiations stretched into a fourth day seeking the return of 17 members of a US-based missionary group kidnapped over the weekend by a violent gang that is demanding $1 million ransom per person.
Lawmakers join faith leaders to voice support for ‘Build Back Better’ package
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other Democratic lawmakers joined a group of mostly liberal-leaning religious leaders on Wednesday (Oct. 20) to voice faith-rooted support for federal legislation central to President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda.
China crackdown on Apple store hits holy book apps, Audible
Amazon’s audiobook service Audible and phone apps for reading the holy books of Islam and Christianity have disappeared from the Apple store in mainland China, the latest examples of the impact of the country’s tightened rules for internet firms.
Federal courts reach divergent outcomes in health care worker vaccine disputes while class action challenges federal mandate
A federal court in New York has halted enforcement of the state’s vaccine mandate (known as Section 2.61) against health care workers who have religious objections. Seventeen plaintiffs challenged the emergency order because it contains no mechanism for seeking a religious accommodation.
Voting rights demonstration leads to faith leaders’ arrests outside White House
An interfaith assortment of faith leaders and actors were arrested outside the White House on Tuesday (Oct. 19) as they demanded in prayers and speeches that President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Congress do more to advocate for voting rights…
Inside the fraught effort to create a Christian nationalist internet
It was late September when Andrew Torba, founder of the social media platform Gab, tapped out a message to his users declaring the website would update its online infrastructure. Upgrades are common in the tech industry, but Torba’s reasoning for…
Baptist watchdog flunks Forever 21, praises H&M in annual ‘ethical fashion’ report
The fashion industry continues to struggle with wage gaps and sustainability, according to a report from an Australian Christian watchdog group, despite marked improvement in how the industry treats workers and sources its goods over the past few years.
Egypt’s President Promotes Religious Choice During Human Rights Rollout
Committing Egypt to a five-year program of human rights reform, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi did not mince words about religion.
The Reformed Church in America moves toward restructuring, prepares for departures
The Reformed Church in America’s 214th General Synod, taking place in Tucson, Arizona, voted Saturday (Oct. 16) to appoint a team to develop a restructuring plan for the nearly 400-year-old denomination as it divides over LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage….
Repeal of Illinois abortion notification buoyed by Texas law
Alarmed and at the same time energized by a Texas law that bans most abortions, abortion-rights advocates in the General Assembly are targeting what people on both sides of the contentious issue consider the last restriction on access to abortion…
Christian Aid Ministries says 17 missionaries kidnapped in Haiti
A group of 17 missionaries including children was kidnapped by a gang in Haiti, according to a voice message sent to various religious missions by an organization with direct knowledge of the incident.
Southlake school leader tells teachers to balance Holocaust books with ‘opposing’ views
A top administrator with the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake advised teachers last week that if they have a book about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should also offer students access to a book from an “opposing” perspective, according to…