News
Thecla: The saint who faced down lions and killer seals is one of many ‘leading ladies’ in early Christian texts
3+ hour, 54+ min ago (811+ words) (The Conversation) " The Bible is filled with brave and courageous women. Deborah, the judge who fought a war to protect her people. The widow Ruth, who wittingly convinces a man to marry her in order to continue the lineage of…...
The hidden power of grief rituals
3+ hour, 57+ min ago (896+ words) (The Conversation) " In Tana Toraja, a mountainous region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, villagers pour massive resources into funeral rituals: lavish feasts, ornate effigies and prized water buffaloes for sacrifice. I witnessed this funeral ritual in 2024 while accompanying scholar Melanie Nyhof on…...
Pope meets families of young Italian victims of the Swiss Alps bar fire
4+ hour, 7+ min ago (511+ words) Leo met with around two dozen relatives of the Italian victims in the Vatican, deviating from his prepared speech to tell them that he had immediately agreed to meet with them after learning of their desire to have an audience....
Horses leap through flames and pets go to church in Spanish animal rituals honoring St Anthony
4+ hour, 11+ min ago (515+ words) The contrasting Spanish traditions take place every January to honor St. Anthony the Abbott, the patron saint of domestic animals. And despite criticism from animal rights groups, the horse-and-fire spectacle draws loyal crowds ever year. Las Luminarias is a centuries-old…...
New Hampshire bishop warns clergy to prepare for 'new era of martyrdom"
4+ hour, 19+ min ago (411+ words) Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire made his comments earlier this month at a vigil honoring Renee Good, who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement…...
African Methodist Episcopal Church announces election of Bishop Francine A. Brookins as Chair of the General Board Social Action Commission
4+ hour, 27+ min ago (342+ words) RNS Press Release Distribution Service reaches a niche audience of mainstream and religious press, policymakers, advocacy groups, faith denominations, universities, seminaries, associations, foundations, public relations professionals, book publishers, and more. Paid press releases do not reflect the opinions of Religion…...
With mantras and a tricycle, Buddhist nun supports Denver’s unhoused
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (1432+ words) DENVER (RNS) " On a cool morning in Denver, a 71-year-old Buddhist nun pedaled their electric tricycle beneath highway overpasses and along cracked bike paths, slowing as they approached tents tucked against concrete embankments or someone sleeping under a bridge. "I…...
Mosque cafes brew community for younger, less religious generations of Muslims
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (1157+ words) OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (RNS) " As Manahil Khan stood at the balloon-decorated entrance of Salsabeel Cafe, she took in the stream of students and elders sipping coffee drinks in what once was the prayer hall she'd run around in as a…...
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl shows Asian American Jews they can lead in Jewish spaces
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (689+ words) Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi and as a cantor, happened to be in Jerusalem that day, attending a different conference. Buchdahl heard that Dy was having a hard time and reached out…...
Indigenous artifacts returned by the Vatican are now at a Canadian museum
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (443+ words) Pope Leo XIV gave the artifacts " including a traditional Inuit kayak " and supporting documentation to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which said it would return the items to Indigenous communities "as soon as possible." The items " 62 in all " ultimately…...