Religion

A person receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Los Angeles in April.

Judging 'sincerely held' religious belief is tricky for employers mandating vaccines

1:33pm October 04, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

As religious exemptions are now being sought in droves, their use raises concerns that they pose a serious public health risk. But some say vaccine mandates are too much, too soon.

Religion

Remembering John Shelby Spong, Episcopal bishop and LGBTQ champion

1:42pm October 01, 2021

by Terry Gross

In 1977, Spong became one of the first American bishops to ordain a woman into the clergy. In 1989, he was the first to ordain an openly gay man. Spong died Sept. 12. Originally broadcast in 1996.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, bows his head as Assemblyman James Ramos opens a meeting with tribal leaders from around the state in 2019 in West Sacramento, Calif. In 2021, Ramos authored, and Newsom signed, a law to erect a monument to Native Americans in Sac

California plans to replace a toppled statue with a monument to Native Americans

5:00am October 01, 2021

by Ed Fletcher

Last year, protesters tore down a controversial statue of Spanish missionary Junipero Serra at the state capitol in Sacramento. New legislation makes way for a monument to Native people in its place.

Imam Mohamed Herbert of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, the city's only mosque, whose congregation is preparing to aid in resettling the 850 Afghan refugees bound for the city.

Oklahoma Welcomes Hundreds Of Afghan Refugees — Despite The State GOP's Objections

7:09pm September 29, 2021

by Chris Polansky

Oklahoma is welcoming more Afghan refugees than any state besides California and Texas. The state Republican party opposes it, but elected GOP leaders are defying it and eager to help new arrivals.

The waiting area of a pop-up vaccination site at St. John The Divine Cathedral sits empty as the rush for vaccinations winds down on June 27, 2021 in New York City. The demand for vaccinations has declined just as the Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus

Getting A Religious Exemption To A Vaccine Mandate May Not Be Easy. Here's Why

2:07pm September 28, 2021

With COVID-19 vaccine mandates taking effect around the country, requests for religious exemptions are on the rise. Under federal law, employers have a lot of discretion in granting the requests.

Religious Exemptions To Vaccine Mandates Present A Dilemma For Employers

6:26pm September 27, 2021

With vaccine mandates in place all over the country, workers opposed to the shots are requesting religious exemptions, but federal law puts employers in a strong position when weighing the requests.

Religion

Rev. Rose Okeno's Historic Ordination Adds To Women's Progress In Kenya

7:43am September 27, 2021

Rev. Rose Okeno is the first woman elected as a full Anglican bishop in Kenya. Her ordination defies a church movement that put a moratorium on female bishops.

Hobby Lobby bought the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet for $1.67 million in 2014. Now it's being returned to Iraq.

An Ancient Tablet, Stolen Then Acquired By Hobby Lobby, Will Be Returned To Iraq

7:38pm September 21, 2021

by James Doubek

Known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, it was looted from Iraq and made its way through several hands before Hobby Lobby purchased it for the Museum of the Bible in 2014.

India's New Laws Against 'Love Jihad' Give Hindu Conservatives Power To Halt Weddings

4:55pm September 15, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

In India, Hindu nationalists have passed laws making it harder for interfaith couples to marry. The laws have increased a stigma and emboldened extremists to interrupt weddings.

A New Law In India Is Making It Harder For Interfaith Couples To Get Married

5:53pm September 14, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

In India, new laws forbid brides or grooms from converting to their spouse's religion. The idea is to halt forced conversions. But they've led to attacks on interfaith couples.