How the Black Plague Made the Shroud of Turin a Beloved Relic
Just as the faithful clung to religious iconography — whether true relic or icon — during pestilent periods in the Middle Ages, relics remain relevant to the hopeful in the modern era.
Apt Bible Passage at Catholic Mass Coincides with Earthquake
The Scripture quite literally came to life for several Catholic churches in North Carolina as a rare earthquake rattled portions of the state over the weekend during Sunday services.
Amid Pandemic, Future of Many Catholic Schools is in Doubt
As the new academic year arrives, school systems across the United States are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Roman Catholic educators have an extra challenge — trying to forestall a relentless wave of closures of their schools that has no end in sight.
Lebanon Priests Recount Horror as Blast Rocked Church
The world witnessed fleeting glimpses of the horror wrought on the Lebanese people on Aug. 4 through videos that circulated widely online, among them that dramatic footage as Rabih Thoumy celebrated Mass via livestream from Saint Maron-Baouchrieh church. He recounts the explosion and aftermath.
Jerry Falwell Jr. Taking Indefinite Leave from Liberty University Amid Controversy
Jerry Falwell Jr. is taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from his role as president of Liberty University. The move comes Friday (Aug. 7) following a request from the executive committee of Liberty University’s board of trustees, according to a statement from the Baptist university
Lebanese Baptists Minister in Aftermath of Explosion
After a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut Tuesday (Aug. 4), Baptists in that Middle Eastern nation immediately asked for prayers — and then started ministering to their neighbors before the dust from the blast even settled.
To Cope with Pandemic, Americans Choose Binge-Watching TV Over the Bible
When it comes to coping with the stress and uncertainty of a pandemic, most Americans are turning not to God, but to TV. That’s just one of the findings of a Pew Research Center survey released Friday (Aug. 7).
Biden Quotes Bible at Baptist Meeting, While Trump Says Biden is ‘Against God’
Addressing a virtual gathering of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Joe Biden invoked Scripture while speaking directly to religious voters who make up a core part of the Democratic Party’s base.
Religious Freedom in America: Popular & Polarizing
The principle of religious freedom is important to most Americans. But as President Donald Trump touts his support for it during his reelection bid, there are notable fault lines among people of different faiths and political ideologies over what it truly means.
Canadian Pastor Guilty of Defying Myanmar’s Coronavirus Law
A court in Myanmar on Thursday sentenced the Canadian pastor of an evangelical church to three months imprisonment after finding him guilty of violating a law intended to combat the spread of the coronavirus.