Religion

In his campaign, Trump criticized President Obama for his reluctance to use the words "radical Islamic extremism." The Trump administration may now want to refocus key programs on Muslim extremists.

Trump Reportedly Plans To Refocus Violent Extremism Initiative On Muslims

12:25am February 11, 2017

by Tom Gjelten

The Trump administration reportedly wants to refocus an Obama administration program on exclusively Islamic extremism. Muslim leaders and some counterterrorism experts say such a change may be unwise.

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Fragments of jars that contained stolen scrolls, found in a cave in cliffs near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea in Israel.

Archaeologists Excavate 12th Cave They Say Once Housed Dead Sea Scrolls

2:45pm February 09, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

A team from the U.S. and Israel says it has found evidence that another cave in Qumran was used to store the ancient manuscripts dating back to the time of Jesus.

Widespread Child Sexual Abuse By Australian Catholic Church Revealed

8:09pm February 08, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Rachel Browne, reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, about the official report regarding alleged pedophilia by Catholic priests in Australia. She says over 4,500 people have made claims of child sexual abuse connected to Catholic institutions over the last 35 years. One of the key figures is American priest and canon lawyer Thomas Doyle, who is a whistleblower. He's been testifying to The Royal Commission investigating the abuse about the Church's cover-ups.

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Anti-Pope Francis posters appeared in Rome last week, with a message in a Roman street dialect saying, "Hey, Frank, you took over Congregations, suspended priests, decapitated the Order of Malta and the Franciscans of The Immaculate, ignored Cardinals...

Steve Bannon Aligns With Vatican Hard-Liners Who Oppose Pope Francis

6:52pm February 08, 2017

by Sylvia Poggioli

Bannon has made common cause with those in the Vatican who resist the pope's liberal moves. Francis' supporters worry that after Trump's victory, the pope is a lonely progressive on the global stage.

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Residents and reporters follow Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian, ethnic Chinese governor of Jakarta, as he campaigns for election in an East Jakarta neighborhood.

Facing Blasphemy Charges, Indonesian Politician 'Happy That History Chose Me'

1:59pm February 07, 2017

by Anthony Kuhn

The case against Jakarta's Christian, ethnic Chinese governor has raised serious concerns about religious and ethnic tolerance in a country that claims to be the Muslim world's most moderate.

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Pope Benedict XVI apologized in 2008 to victims of child sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy at a mass in Sydney at St. Mary's Cathedral.

Australian Catholic Church Alleges 7% Of Priests Sexually Abused Kids Over Decades

4:47pm February 06, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

"These numbers are shocking, they are tragic and they are indefensible," says a church representative. More than 4,400 people reported allegations of abuse at more than 1,000 different institutions.

The Evangelical Response To Trump

8:11am February 05, 2017

Donald Trump was the overwhelming choice among evangelicals. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Christian radio host Julie Roys about whether evangelicals are heartened by his actions so far.

Hanan Isweiri is a Ph.D. student at Colorado State University. She flew to Libya in January to visit with family after her father's death. She was able to re-enter the U.S. Saturday.

Travel Ban Keeps Scientists Out of the Lab

7:37am February 05, 2017

by Joe Palca

The Trump administration's travel ban is preventing some researchers from returning to the U.S. Scientists fear this could negatively impact collaborations and international scientific meetings.

The Rev. Adam Hamilton preaches to the congregation at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection outside of Kansas City. The multi-campus church with a membership of more than 20,000 is the largest Methodist church in the U.S.

Kansas City Clergyman Seeks Way To Pastor Across The Political Divide

7:19pm February 03, 2017

by NPR Staff

The Rev. Adam Hamilton of the largest U.S. Methodist church says sermonizing about politics is both a challenge and an obligation. His congregation is split between Trump supporters and critics.

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Christian Governor Fights Blasphemy Charge In Muslim-Majority Indonesia

5:54am February 03, 2017

by Anthony Kuhn

Can a non-Muslim hold office in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation? The ethnic Chinese, Christian governor of Jakarta is on trial for insulting Islam, and the verdict may answer that question.