religion

Communities Struggle To Decide Whether To Resume In-Person Worship

4:07pm July 22, 2020

by Madelyn Beck

Some churches have resumed in-person worship after months of the shutdown. But others have not started yet. Deciding whether and how to reopen churches is difficult for many communities.

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Firefighters work to extinguish the blaze at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Nantes on Saturday. The fire shattered stained-glass windows and sent black smoke billowing from between its two towers.

Blaze At Centuries-Old Cathedral In Nantes Under Investigation As Arson

10:53am July 18, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The fire at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul called to mind the one at Notre Dame Cathedral last year. French officials say they have controlled the blaze and avoided a "Notre Dame scenario."

Religion

Coronavirus Victims: 1st Muslim Prison Chaplain In Texas, Akbar Nurid-Din Shabazz

3:59pm July 17, 2020

Akbar Nurid-Din Shabazz, the first Muslim chaplain in the Texas criminal justice system, died of COVID-19 on April 23. He was 70.

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A member of the security personnel wears a mask during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

COVID-19 Surge Has Some Church Leaders Rethinking Whether To Reopen

1:33pm July 17, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

One survey finds 5% of pastors saying their churches will not resume in-person worship for the remainder of 2020.

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The choir at Meadowridge Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas, performs at a worship service in October 2019.

National

Multiracial Congregations May Not Bridge Racial Divide

11:48am July 17, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

The number of multiracial churches is growing in the United States, but the leaders of color who work in them still see attitudes of white supremacy.

Several Churches Announce They Won't Reopen This Year

6:34am July 17, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

A small but growing number of churches have announced they do not plan to reopen until 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns.

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The Vatican, shown here last month, has issued new guidance on how bishops should respond to allegations of sexual abuse.

Religion

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse

7:03pm July 16, 2020

by David Welna

A step-by-step manual for investigating and reporting sexual abuse cases involving clergy calls on church authorities to alert civilian officials even if not required to do so by law.

Pompeo's Vision Of Human Rights May Hurt LGBTQ, Women's Rights, Critics Say

4:58pm July 16, 2020

by Jackie Northam

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unveiled his vision of how the U.S. should redefine its advocacy of human rights — stressing religion. Critics say it could endanger abortion rights and LGBTQ equality.

Sudan Introduces Wide-Reaching Reforms To Move Away From Strict Islamist Rule

4:40pm July 13, 2020

by Eyder Peralta

Sudan has upended decades of strict Islamist governance by spiking apostasy laws and making female genital mutilation illegal. In addition, it will allow non-Muslims to drink alcohol.

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Religion

Recent SCOTUS Decisions On Religion Open Up New Questions

7:54am July 11, 2020

by Tom Gjelten

The Supreme Court says LGBTQ persons have civil rights, but new rulings also gives religious institutions more freedom from the government. Critics see an erosion of church-state separation.

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