Religion
Churches are making room for grief and loss at Christmas
More and more congregations are trying to be sensitive to those who are grieving during the holidays. The move ranges from special services to the inclusion of hymns and prayers that speak to sadness during regular Sunday worship.
Deadly violence in Nigeria tied to United Methodist Church schism over LGBTQ policies
A religious schism has turned deadly in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two young children killed as homes were set ablaze, according to United Methodist News Service.
Sotheby’s to auction off ancient Ten Commandments tablet
One of the earliest tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments (dating to A.D. 300-800) is scheduled to go up for auction at Sotheby's on Wednesday.
Supreme Court to consider whether Catholic group is exempt from religious taxes
At issue is whether the charity Catholic Charities is qualified to be exempt from state unemployment taxes as a religious institution.
Photographer pays homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and reclaims her connection with the divine
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a significant religious figure who signifies hope and protection for countless Latinos in the U.S. and abroad. For photographer Amanda Lopez, she's an emblem of home.
Pope Francis goes electric in new eco-friendly popemobile
Pope Francis, who heads the Catholic Church, has doubled down on his commitment to the environment with a new electric popemobile presented by Mercedes-Benz.
How a Sabrina Carpenter song led to a priest’s demotion for mishandling church funds
Officials say Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was disciplined for mishandling $1.9 million in parish funds. He faced scrutiny last year for letting Carpenter film a music video at his Brooklyn church.
How to bridge our political divide? A pastor’s answer: Do unto others
A Pennsylvania church just blocks from where then-candidate Donald Trump's would-be assassin lived created a sermon series on the Golden Rule to try to bridge political divisions in its congregation.
Pope calls for investigation into whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide
Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel's military attacks on Gaza constitute genocide. It's the first time he's publicly suggested that Israel may be engaged in genocide.
This county is the most religiously diverse in the U.S.
This stretch of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland is so packed with houses of worship, it's been called the Embassy Row of Religions. But locals know it as the Highway to Heaven.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
The new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday. The judge said the law is "unconstitutional on its face."
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigns over sex abuse scandal
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned over accusations that he failed to report physical and sexual abuse to the police.
Paws and prayers: Hoover church’s furry congregation gets blessed
The recent service at Prince of Peace Catholic Church is part of honoring St. Francis of Assisi.
United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans
Roughly half of churches in the United Methodist Church North Alabama Conference have voted to disaffiliate within the last year, according to new study.
In tornado-ravaged Selma, prayers of thanks
The Sunday after a tornado devastated much of the historic city of Selma, church congregations raised up prayers of gratitude for lives spared and gave prayers of comfort for lives lost elsewhere to the storm.
Remembering A Murdered Birmingham Priest For His Faith And Courage
This week marks 100 years since Father James Coyle was murdered in broad daylight in downtown Birmingham hours after he secretly married an interracial couple. He's remembered for his faith and courage during a time of religious intolerance, racism and xenophobia.
As The Pandemic Drags On, UAB Pastoral Care Head Finds New Ways To Connect
Eight months after we first spoke, we checked back in with Malcolm Marler, senior director of pastoral care at UAB Medicine.
Southern Baptists Apologize for Sex Abuse Coverups
In the last day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Birmingham, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination apologized for decades of sexual abuse and cover ups in the church.
