religion

Palestinian scout bands parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday.

Once again, COVID means scaled-back Christmas celebrations around the world

9:57pm December 24, 2021

by The Associated Press

From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to Boston, the surging coronavirus put a damper on Christmas Eve for a second year, forcing churches to cancel or scale back services and disrupting travel plans.

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists weren't in Bethlehem on Christmas eve due to COVID

4:54pm December 24, 2021

by Daniel Estrin

For the second year, the Christmas eve celebration in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was muted by the pandemic precautions.

A handful of visitors tour the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Christ, in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on Dec. 15.

Religion

For a second Christmas, the Holy Land is closed to pilgrims because of COVID

1:46pm December 23, 2021

by Daniel Estrin

A Palestinian who gives tours of Bethlehem, and the different meanings it holds for different people, reflects on another subdued Christmas in the West Bank city.

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Pastors are scrambling to decide whether to hold Christmas Eve services

5:07pm December 22, 2021

by Deena Prichep

Hopes of a post-pandemic Christmas are vanishing. The rise of the coronavirus omicron variant has pastors scrambling at the last minute to decide whether to hold Christmas Eve services.

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A caravan drives to the airport after departing from the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dec. 16, 2021.

Missionaries who were kidnapped in Haiti escaped from their abductors, aid group says

2:23pm December 20, 2021

by The Associated Press

The group of 12 navigated by stars to reach safety after a two-month kidnapping ordeal, officials with Christian Aid Ministries, the Ohio-based agency that the missionaries work for, said on Monday.

U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpasses 800,000

8:13am December 18, 2021

by Scott Simon

As the number of confirmed COVID deaths surpasses 800,000, Scott Simon speaks with Pastor Jesse Rincones of San Antonio about consoling families that have lost loved ones.

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Piñatas: A staple in Christmas traditions

6:08pm December 17, 2021

by Alejandra Marquez Janse

Piñatas are a common element in parties across different countries and especially in Mexico around Christmas time. The story of their origin combines cultures, traditions and religions.

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Kashmir's Jamia Masjid, or the grand mosque is seen through its gate that remains locked on Fridays in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir.

In Kashmir, closed mosque raises questions about India's religious freedom

5:26am December 16, 2021

by The Associated Press

For Kashmiri Muslims the Jamia Masjid is a sacred venue, but it's been closed most Fridays for the past two years. The government has said those who manage it couldn't stop anti-India protests there.

Muslim rights organization fires director for passing information to a hate group

5:30pm December 15, 2021

by Tana Weingartner

The Ohio chapter of a Muslim rights organization says it has fired one of its directors, saying he had been spying on the organization for years and passing information to an anti-Muslim hate group.

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House members want Lauren Boebert removed from assignments over Islamophobic comments

5:25pm December 15, 2021

by Caitlyn Kim

House Democratic leaders may bring up a resolution to remove Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert from her committee assignments over her Islamophobic comments.