Religion

France Considers A Law To Curb What It Views As Islamist Extremism

3:59pm November 26, 2020

by Eleanor Beardsley

To the dismay of many French Muslims, President Emmanuel Macron is pushing a law to tighten oversight of mosques, arguing that a phenomenon that he calls Islamist separatism is leading to terrorism.

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Pope John Paul II addressing a crowd in 1978. A Vatican investigation into church leaders' failings that allowed the rise of a now-disgraced former U.S. cardinal has led some Catholics to call for "difficult reckoning" with the sainted pope.

Vatican's McCarrick Report Casts A Dark Cloud Over Pope John Paul II's Legacy

1:07pm November 25, 2020

by Sylvia Poggioli

A Vatican investigation into church leaders' failings that allowed the rise of a now-disgraced former U.S. cardinal has led some Catholics to call for "difficult reckoning" with the sainted pope.

Pope Francis waves as he arrives for the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday.

In A New Book, Pope Francis Speaks Out On The Coronavirus And Anti-Mask Protests

5:08pm November 23, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

People who claim that mask mandates deprive them of their personal freedom, Francis says, are "victims only in their own imagination." The book also addresses demonstrations against racial injustice.

Religion

Muslim Communities Divided Over Abuse Allegations Against Popular Preacher

5:31pm November 22, 2020

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Alia Salem of FACE, or Facing Abuse in Community Environments, about allegations of abuse leveled against popular Muslim preacher Nouman Ali Khan.

Many Americans are mourning the loss of Thanksgiving traditions due to the coronavirus pandemic, such as family gatherings. But some are seeking new rituals to mark the holiday.

Religion

Families And Friends Mourn Loss Of Thanksgiving Traditions, Seek New Ones

5:06pm November 21, 2020

by Deena Prichep

Thanksgiving usually means gatherings and celebrating abundance. As the pandemic rules out crowded tables, Americans mourn missed traditions and build new ones.

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An ethnic Hui Muslim man stands in front of Laohuasi Mosque in Linxia, Gansu province, in 2018. Chinese Muslims are most densely clustered in the northwestern regions of Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang, but live across the country, as they have for more than

China Targets Muslim Scholars And Writers With Increasingly Harsh Restrictions

7:56am November 21, 2020

by Emily Feng

The intellectual heart of China's Muslim community is under threat as scholars, writers, religious leaders and their families are under constant state surveillance.

Yazidi refugees from Iraq are among those fleeing religious persecution. The Biden administration promises to allow refugees into the U.S. at much higher numbers than the Trump administration did.

Biden Gives New Hope To Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution

5:41pm November 20, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

Joe Biden intends to admit 125,000 refugees in his first year. Many will be fleeing religious persecution. While highlighting persecution, President Trump cut refugee admissions to 15,000.

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A member of Jesus' Church prays on top of a car during a Sunday church service held at Great Marsh Park in Cambridge, Maryland, on March 22, 2020.

Evangelical Doctors' Group Pleads With Churches To Stay Home

6:53pm November 19, 2020

by Sarah McCammon

Leaders of a national Christian medical group write that Christians who gather now could appear not to "care that we may be contributing to others getting this illness because of our selfishness."

Some churches at the center of COVID-19 outbreaks have shunned attention or responded with defiance, while others have limited crowd sizes and encouraged congregants to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Some Faith Leaders Defiant, Others Transparent Over COVID-19 Outbreaks

4:34pm November 19, 2020

by Patty Wight

Many faith leaders may believe churches are singled out for blame, but one Baptist pastor in Maine called for safety precautions after members tested positive for the coronavirus.

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LGBTQ supporters gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 8, 2019.

Religious Freedom Arguments Give Rise To Executive Order Battle

11:31am November 16, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

Legislative remedies prove ineffective in reconciling religious freedom claims with concerns about discrimination, so the battle is waged via executive orders.