Ezra 3 (in photos)
The rebuilding of the Temple in Ezra 3, as seen in photos of Pope Francis leading worship at the site of churches destroyed by the Islamic State at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq.
Where IS Ruled, Pope Calls on Christians to Forgive, Rebuild
Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic heartland, which was nearly erased by the Islamic State group’s
On First Day in Iraq, Pope Francis Pays Tribute to Christian Martyrs
Standing in the Assyrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad where 50 worshippers, clergy, and policemen were killed in a 2010 terrorist attack, Pope Francis on Friday made an appeal for “forgiveness, reconciliation, and rebirth” in the struggling Middle Eastern nation.
SBU Urges Court to Accept Governing Documents
Southwest Baptist University is urging a circuit court judge to approve its new governing documents and reject an effort by a former trustee to intervene. A Baptist layman filed a petition on Feb. 22 with the Circuit Court of Polk County in an effort to
Pope’s Visit Brings Attention to the Dwindling Population of Christians in Iraq
Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday in a first-ever papal visit to the country that is expected to raise awareness about the challenges facing Iraqi Christians, who are a dwindling minority in the nation.
Catholic Nun’s Kneeling Protest in Myanmar Praised as ‘Model for Church Leaders’
A Catholic nun, kneeling before armed forces in Myanmar and begging them not to open fire on protesters, has become a symbol for the protests against the military coup that destabilized the country in February.
Faith Leaders Urge Missouri Not to Create “Rush Limbaugh Day”
As Missouri lawmakers consider creating a day to honor Rush Limbaugh after his death last month, a group of three dozen faith leaders mostly in St. Louis submitted testimony opposing the bill. Rep. Hardy Billington, a Republican and a Baptist deacon, authored a bill two
A Shot or Not
Jeanie McGowan reflects on the decision to get a COVID-19 vaccination, and how the experience went. She also notes how she and her husband will continue to do their part to help their community stop the spread of the virus.
Faith Leaders Urge Clemency for Oklahoma Death Row Inmate, Cite Mounting Evidence
Faith leaders are ramping up their support for an Oklahoma death row inmate as his clemency hearing nears. Julius Jones, 40, was sentenced to death in 2002, but his advocates say a different person committed the crime in which a prominent Edmond, Oklahoma, businessman was
A Continuing Assault on Democracy
Editor Brian Kaylor reflects on efforts by lawmakers across the country to make it more difficult to vote. Such bills attempts to undo the work of faithful advocates during the civil rights movement, and some bills even target Black churches.