Religion

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays along the Mediterranean Sea in the Israeli city of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv.

In Israel, A New Battle Over Who Qualifies As Jewish

3:42pm October 13, 2015

by Emily Harris

Government rabbis decide who is officially Jewish, which affects issues including marriage and divorce. But religious and political rivals have started their own system for conversion.

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John Harris, who runs the T. Cribb & Sons funeral home in the East End of London, stands in the coffin warehouse. The key to staying in business in the changing district is to diversify and specialize, he says.

Family Wakes London Neighborhood's Diversity In A Funeral Home

4:57pm October 10, 2015

by Leila Fadel

John Harris's family has buried Cockney East Enders in style for generations. But London has changed, so the funeral home now has washrooms for Hindus and will soon make room for Muslim rites as well.

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6 Palestinians Killed In Clashes With Israeli Soldiers

8:18pm October 09, 2015

by Emily Harris

Israeli troops killed several Palestinians in clashes and there were a series of separate stabbing attacks as violence increased over access to Jerusalem sites holy to both sides.

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'Not In God's Name' Confronts Religious Violence With A 'Different Voice'

6:43pm October 08, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks about his new book, Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence.

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A Diary Of Day 1: The Pope's Visit To Cuba

1:38pm October 07, 2015

by Carrie Kahn

Pope Francis spent his first day in Cuba celebrating mass at Havana's Revolution Plaza, visiting President Raul Castro and greeting Cuba's youth.

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Religion

The Synod Could Be The Defining Moment Of Francis' Papacy

3:09pm October 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

Sunday is the first day of a three-week meeting of Catholic bishops to tackle questions of marriage, divorce and homosexuality — issues that go to the heart of what it means to be a Catholic.

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Amid Societal Shifts, What Will New Mormon Leader Appointments Mean?

2:36pm October 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will announce three new top leaders. Scholar Matthew Bowman discusses what the change could mean at a time when social issues challenge the faith.

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Pope's Visit Brings Focus To Tenuous Intersection Of Faith And Politics

2:16pm October 05, 2015

Many Americans are reassessing Pope Francis' triumphant U.S. tour because of his meeting with Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis.

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Religion

Pope's Meeting With Kim Davis Disappoints LGBT Catholics

7:43am October 05, 2015

by Renee Montagne

Marianne Duddy-Burke, head of Dignity USA, a group of LGBT Catholics, says she was inspired by Pope Francis' visit. That turned to disappointment with news the pontiff met secretly with Kim Davis.

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Bishops Question How To Achieve Pope's Vision Of An Inclusive Church

5:06am October 05, 2015

by Sylvia Poggioli

Pope Francis has opened an assembly of bishops to talk about issues facing families — such as marriage, divorce and contraception. He reiterated that the Catholic church opposes same-sex marriage.