Religion

Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square on Sunday. Francis expressed sorrow for the treatment of Indigenous people in Canada, but did not offer an apology.

Pope Francis Expresses Sorrow But No Apology For Indigenous School Deaths In Canada

7:30pm June 06, 2021

by Matthew S. Schwartz

Francis urged political and religious officials to work toward "healing and reconciliation," but he did not formally apologize for the church's role in the forced reeducation of 150,000 children.

Religion

Religious Leaders On How The Pandemic Affected Their Congregations

6:08pm June 06, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, the Rev. Thomas McKenzie and Imam Rizwan Ali about the impact the pandemic has had on them and their congregations.

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Astronomical text books in Latin are displayed at the Vatican Observatory.

The Vatican's Space Observatory Wants To See Stars And Faith Align

7:53am June 06, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

For a long time, the Catholic Church rejected scientific findings that conflicted with its doctrine, even persecuting Galileo. Now the Vatican looks to promote its observatory as a bridge to science.

Malala Yousafzai is the subject of the cover story in the new issue of British Vogue. A comment she made about marriage has prompted social media outrage in Pakistan.

Malala Yousafzai's Interview In 'British Vogue' Sparks Anger In Her Native Pakistan

6:14pm June 04, 2021

by Diaa Hadid

The Nobel Peace Prize winner posed for a cover portrait and spoke openly in an interview. One of her remarks about marriage has prompted vitriolic responses on social media in her homeland.

Donald Trump attends a worship service in Las Vegas when he was a presidential candidate in 2016. Trump won over many white conservative Christians by wrapping their traditional priorities in with his own particular cultural fixations.

How Is The GOP Adjusting To A Less Religious America?

8:00am June 04, 2021

by Danielle Kurtzleben

For the first time, a majority of Americans are not church members, according to a recent poll. That could have long-term consequences for Republicans, long affiliated with more religious voters.

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A class action lawsuit recently filed in federal court in New Jersey alleges that the BAPS Hindu temple in Robbinsville brought some 200 workers to the U.S. on R-1 visas as religious volunteers. The lawsuit alleges that the temple actually held them again

Religion

Human Trafficking Allegations Thrust Caste Into Spotlight For American Hindus

7:24pm June 03, 2021

by Fred Mogul

Laborers from India have filed a lawsuit against one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States. They allege that the temple held them against their will and paid illegally low wages.

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How Does A Decline In Churchgoing Affect American Politics?

11:16am June 03, 2021

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Gallup recently found U.S. church membership at a record low. The decline may be a long-term threat to the GOP, and why culture war issues often supplant more overtly Christian messages in the party.

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A proposed policy being considered by the Loudon County School Board in Virginia would require school staff to use a student's name and pronouns outside their legal names if the student or their parent or guardian requests it.

A Virginia Teacher Was Put On Leave After Opposing New Rights For Trans Students

4:39pm June 02, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

The policy would allow transgender and gender-expansive students to use names and pronouns outside their legal names. The teacher said doing so violates his religious beliefs.

Pope Francis prepares to leave after celebrating a special Mass for the Myanmar faithful last month at the Vatican. On Tuesday, Francis issued new canon law focused on sexual abuse, fraud and the attempted ordination of women.

The Pope Is Toughening Church Laws On Sex Abuse, Fraud And The Ordination Of Women

6:25pm June 01, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

The first major revision of Catholic canon law in nearly four decades redefines clerical sex abuse and mandates specific punishments. It also sets punishments for the attempted ordination of women.

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A person carries a sign supporting QAnon during a May 2020 protest rally in Olympia, Wash.

How Religion, Education, Race And Media Consumption Shape Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

4:45pm May 27, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

A new survey from the polling firm PRRI breaks down conspiracy theory acceptance by religious group, level of education, and sources of news and information, among other things.