(RNS) Jennifer Knapp, a beloved musician in some Christian evangelical circles, is ready to take a new role as a lesbian activist. In October, Simon & Schuster will publish her memoir. The post Jennifer Knapp makes a case for being gay and Christian in upcoming book appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
“#Happiness is our people’s right. We shouldn’t be too hard on behaviors caused by joy.” – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a tweet after the release of six young Iranians who were arrested for making an “obscene video” of themselves dancing along to the Pharrell Williams song “Happy.” The post Quote of the Day: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appeared first...
WASHINGTON (RNS) Pakistan and Syria have earned their places on the list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom, says a leading religious liberty watchdog. The post Religious rights watchdog pushes to add Pakistan, Syria to list of worst offenders appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) While it is for Catholics to evaluate his record, the late Cardinal John O’Connor has earned a beloved place in Jewish history. He would have been a great rabbi. The post COMMENTARY: Cardinal John O’Connor would have made a great rabbi appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
WASHINGTON (RNS) The fight over gay marriage is far from settled -- and some conservatives insist that it never will be -- but pro-gay groups clearly have the momentum. Here's why. The post ANALYSIS: 5 reasons gay marriage is winning appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) On the eve of a papal visit, the mayor of Bethlehem says Pope Francis can restore hope to Palestinian youth and the “excluded” Palestinian nation as a whole. The post COMMENTARY: In Bethlehem, Pope Francis can show his support for peace, justice appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
Antonia Blumberg ("The Huffington Post," May 21, 2014) Abortion has dominated the pro-life debate for decades, providing a hot-button issue particularly important to Catholics in the United States. But another issue may take its place as the number one 'pro-life' concern, as the National Catholic Reporter argued in a recent op-ed. In a piece entitled "Climate change is church's No....
Bailey Elise McBride (AP, May 21, 2014) Oklahoma City — A school board that approved a Bible-based curriculum for pupils next fall broke into small groups and met privately with the program's chief backer, the president of the Hobby Lobby arts and crafts store chain, to get around an Oklahoma law that requires government bodies to be open to the public, according to emails obtained by The Associated...
Widespread calls for popular TV channel to be shut down after using Sufi song on broadcast of mock celebrity wedding Young children, religious minorities and people with mental health problems have all been accused of the crime of blasphemy in Pakistan. Now the country's most popular television station has shown that even one of Pakistan's most powerful institutions is not immune from a growing trend....
Independent MP's bill would have empowered police to require people to remove any face covering to establish their identity The Queensland government has rejected a push by independents and minor parties to force Muslim women to remove their burqas or veils to prove their identity. The bill, introduced by the independent MP for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, would have allowed lawyers, police, prison...
Ken Loach's thoughtful take on Irish communist Jimmy Gralton's battle to save a community hall from an uptight priest is powerful, if a little pedagogic Jimmy's Hall set visit: Ken Loach battles sight problems to direct the dance He built it and they came. The hall in question was the Pearse-Connolly Hall, put up in the 1920s in County Leitrim by the charismatic Irish communist leader Jimmy Gralton....
Fair Trials charity calls Interpol a 'debt collector' for Gulf states that treat unpaid loans as a criminal offence Britons are losing jobs and being prevented from travelling abroad because Interpol is circulating alerts based on sharia-influenced debt offences issued by Gulf states, a legal rights group has claimed. The international police cooperation agency is circulating red notices its highest...
Forget the bloody martyrdoms and hot pincers Viola's glorious new video installation is a hi-tech Caravaggio that redefines religious art Bill Viola's second coming: watch the eerie video installation Martyrs here Bill Viola has created a powerful modern altarpiece for St Paul's Cathedral that perfectly suits the restrained spirituality of this most English of churches. Coming into Christopher Wren's...
Survivors of Islamists' attack see huts set ablaze as rescuers in Jos search rubble for people buried by car bombs that killed 118 Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked three villages in Nigeria, killing 48 people, residents said, as rescue workers in the central city of Jos searched rubble for the missing a day after two car bombs killed at least 118 . One of the villages that was attacked on Tuesday...
Claims that tensions exist at the maximum security prison, where Muslim prisoners convicted of terrorist offences are held A stark warning of serious problems ahead at Britain's maximum security prison with the largest proportion of Muslim inmates, has been delivered by the chief inspector of prisons. Nick Hardwick warms that there are "some very dangerous men", including gang leaders and...
“We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.” – Federal Judge John E. Jones III, striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage The post Quote of the Day: Federal Judge John E. Jones III appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
If you can guess whether that's a house of worship or a new football stadium you'll win a chance to donate to our spring fundraiser! Check it out, and the rest of the religion news... The post Church or Stadium? * More Louis C. K. * Green Pope: Wednesday’s Roundup appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
Picture the people whom you love. Maybe that’s your mom or your dad, maybe that’s a brother or a sister, maybe that’s a teacher or a coach, maybe that’s a friend. The post Father Knows Best: How do I convince a girl to be with me? appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
WASHINGTON (RNS) Anti-Muslim bus and newspaper ads aim to circumvent the national media. The post Muslim and anti-Muslim groups go to war in bus, print ads appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) Three years after his failed prophecy about the end of the world, a new film about doomsday prophet Harold Camping offers an intimate glimpse inside the last days of his Family Radio empire. The post Apocalypse when? New documentary examines failed prophet Harold Camping appeared first on Religion News Service . ...