Pope Francis eats breakfast, takes walk 2 days after intestinal surgery
Pope Francis ate breakfast Tuesday and took a walk as he continues to recover from a scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis alert and well after intestinal surgery, Vatican says
Pope Francis is “in good condition, alert and breathing on his own,” a day after he underwent planned intestinal surgery, the Vatican said.
Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders on handling of alleged sexual abuse
Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse.
Nun who ran Catholic school in Torrance accused of embezzling $835K
The retired principal of a Catholic elementary school in Torrance, who as a nun took a vow of poverty, confessed to fraud and money laundering charges involving the theft of more than $835,000 in school funds to pay for personal expenses, including gambling trips, federal prosecutors announced.
Rick Warren, Saddleback megachurch pastor, to retire
Saddleback Church's pastor and "The Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren announced he will step down.
Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity
After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.
Pastor, parishioner react after FDLE nabs 4 men accused of stealing from churches
Four men are in jail, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from hundreds of churches around Florida. The men, all Romanian nationals, appeared before a judge on Thursday.
Romanian nationals accused of stealing from Florida churches
A Florida-based group of Romanian nationals stole $740,000 from hundreds of churches by taking donation checks from their mailboxes and cashing them, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday.
German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban
Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.
Italian judge on the path to sainthood after getting killed by mobsters
A magistrate slain by mobsters in Sicily and praised by two popes has been beatified by the Roman Catholic church on Sunday in the last formal step before possible sainthood.
Catholic bishops debate if Biden should receive communion given abortion stance
There’s a deep gulf between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego in the high-stakes debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should be denied Communion
More than 40 people killed in stampede at religious festival in Israel
A stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in northern Israel killed at least 44 people and injured about 150 early Friday, medical officials said. It was one of the country's deadliest civilian disasters.
San Francisco unveils prayer rooms at high-volume vaccination sites during Ramadan
Taking its cue from New York City, San Francisco decided to open up prayer rooms at high-volume vaccination sites during Ramadan and beyond.
Florida church leader, family indicted for allegedly selling bleach as fake COVID-19 cure
A family accused of selling a toxic industrial bleach as a coronavirus cure through their church has been indicted on federal charges.
Florida lawmakers pass moment of silence
Florida public-school students might soon have a required moment of silence at the start of each day, under a measure passed Thursday by the Florida Senate and headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
Liberty University sues Jerry Falwell Jr. for millions in damages after alleged sex scandal revealed
Liberty University is suing Jerry Falwell Jr. The school is seeking millions in damages after an acrimonious breakup with its former leader last year.
‘The cathedral is saved’: Construction continues on 2-year anniversary of fire that engulfed Notre Dame
Bystanders stood and watched as reconstruction continues at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, two years to the day since a devastating fire engulfed the iconic church.
Poll: 40% of evangelical Protestants, largest religious group in US, hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine
A recent photo posted online of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest evangelical denomination, getting the COVID-19 vaccine drew more than 1,100 comments.
'This is scandalous': Pope decries war, weapons spending amid the pandemic in Easter message
“The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nevertheless — and this is scandalous — armed conflicts have not ended, and military arsenals are being strengthened,'' Francis said, sounding angry. “That is today's scandal.”