Pope Francis is pinning much of his hopes for a more peaceful world in the new year on women, saying violence against them is akin to profaning God and calling for them to be increasingly involved in making major decisions.
Baby Jesus goes missing from popular Florida nativity scene
On the sixth day of Christmas, Baby Jesus vanished from his manger in a popular nativity scene at a Florida park — right under the noses of Mary, Joseph and bowing kings.
A ‘defining feature of masculine men’ — soldier’s Norse pagan faith earns beard waiver
A soldier serving in Afghanistan with the Nevada Army Guard has been granted a religious accommodation to grow a beard in accordance with a Norse pagan faith that traces its origins to Scandinavia.
Texas church shooting and Hanukkah stabbing spur calls for increased security at places of worship
A shooting at a church in Texas and a stabbing at a rabbi’s home during a Hanukkah celebration in New York over the weekend have renewed calls for increased security and the right to be armed in places of worship.
Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2019
From Goliath-size walls to clay seal impressions the size of a fingernail, archaeological discoveries announced in 2019 continued to add context to our understanding of the Bible.
Lawsuit: Southern Baptist leader ignored sex abuse complaint
A new lawsuit accuses a top-ranking Southern Baptist official in Arkansas of failing to report sex abuse allegations against a pastor last year.
Parishioners praised for stopping gunman who killed two at Texas church
Following the deadly shooting at a church in Texas Sunday, investigators are praising the heroic parishioners who stopped the gunman. Several people with guns jumped up to help protect the congregation.
10 religious influencers who died in the decade: 2010-2019
Over the last decade, prominent people — household names and lesser-known leaders on social and moral issues — died after playing an outsized role in the realm of religion.
A silent worship revival at an Episcopal church for the deaf
The Lord’s Prayer ended with the bang of dozens of fists that landed on open palms after a circular motion and a thumbs up in a joint “Amen!”
Ex-Christian publication editor who quit says he had ‘no other choice’ after pro-Trump editorial
A former editor for The Christian Post said Thursday he had “no other choice” but to resign from his job after the Christian news website issued a strong editorial supporting President Donald Trump.
Why did Trump ditch his church in Palm Beach on Christmas Eve for evangelical service?
On Christmas Eve, six days after a prominent evangelical magazine published a blistering editorial calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office, the president and first lady ditched services at the liberal church in Palm Beach where they were married and headed…
Michigan synagogue member sues anti-Israel protesters, city
A member of a Michigan synagogue is suing anti-Israel protesters and Ann Arbor city leaders over 16 years of protests outside the Beth Israel Congregation, arguing the protesters have been uniquely provocative and that some restrictions on them would not…