Pope Seeks to “Liberate” Mary from the Mafia
Pope Francis is giving his blessing to a new Vatican think tank that is seeking to prevent the Mafia and organized crime groups from exploiting the image of the Virgin Mary for their own illicit ends.
Head of Federal Election Commission Calls Separation of Church & State a ‘Fallacy’
The head of the Federal Election Commission chastised Catholic bishops during a pair of interviews this week, accusing church hierarchy of “hiding behind” their nonprofit status and declaring that this year’s U.S. election amounts to a “spiritual war” that threatens the country’s “Christian moral principles.”
Nun Runs Treadmill Marathon, Raises Money for Chicago’s Poor
When the Chicago Marathon was canceled due to coronavirus, Sister Stephanie Baliga decided to put on her sneakers and run the standard 26.2 miles — in her convent’s basement.
Churches Report Giving Boost Months after Pandemic Started
Giving to congregations has shifted upward after churches closed their buildings earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a survey shows. The new State of the Plate research finds that close to two-thirds (64%) of churches across the country reported in August that giving is
Despite Summer of Protests, Many White Christians See Less Racism
As racial tensions have risen in recent months, a new report reveals that some White Christians are becoming less motivated to act on racial justice, and an increasing share say there is “definitely” not a race problem in the country.
Southern Baptist President Pushes for Downplaying ‘Southern’ Name
Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear would like Southern Baptists to be less known by the word “Southern,” which references the SBC’s birth as Baptists in the southern part of the U.S. broke away from the national body to support slavery. He prefers the moniker
MBC Changes Nominating Rules Amid SBU Controversy
Last year’s annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention featured controversy over how the MBC treated Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, during the process of nominating trustees. So, the MBC this year changed its nominating rules ahead of its annual meeting.
Black Church Leaders Demand Apology for Trump Ad
Leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the pastor of an AME congregation in Wilmington, Delaware, are condemning a Trump-Pence campaign ad that uses footage of Joe Biden kneeling in the sanctuary of a Black church, describing it as racist and demanding an apology.
Birmingham Church Bombed in ‘63 Planning Virtual Remembrance
Crowds gather every year at 16th Street Baptist Church to mark the anniversary of the horrific day when a bomb planted by Ku Klux Klansmen went off just before worship, killing four Black girls. This year’s 57th observance will be virtual because of the coronavirus
American Baptists to Shift 2021 Biennial to Virtual Format
The Executive Committee of the American Baptist Churches USA’s Board of General Ministries voted Thursday (Sept. 10) to move the ABCUSA’s Biennial Mission Summit in 2021 to a virtual format due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.