At African Climate Summit, Faith Leaders Join Demands for Climate Justice
‘Matters of climate change cannot be politicized, reduced to economies,’ said a Lutheran priest, but instead should be ‘treated as a matter of life and death.’
‘Hope Is Possible.’ Pope Francis Joins Religious Leaders in Mongolia to Promote Harmony
Pope Francis’ message for religious dialogue and freedom in Mongolia takes place as the neighboring Chinese government cracks down on faith groups.
France’s Education Minister Bans Long Robes in Classrooms. They’re Worn Mainly by Muslims
French authorities have increasingly moved to defend secularism, a constitutional principle meant to guarantee religious neutrality in a multicultural nation.
Pope Says ‘Backward’ U.S. Conservatives Have Replaced Faith With Ideology
Francis has previously acknowledged the criticism directed at him from some U.S. conservatives, once quipping that it was an “honor” to be attacked by Americans.
Nicaraguan Government Bans Jesuit Order & Says All Its Property Will Be Confiscated
Nicaragua’s government on Wednesday declared the Jesuit religious order illegal and ordered the confiscation of all its property. The move comes one week after the government of President Daniel Ortega confiscated the Jesuit-run University of Central America in Nicaragua.
Wanted: Russian Pastor for Preaching Peace
Earlier this month, Russian police raided a prominent Baptist minister’s home for criticizing the military. But before they could arrest him, he slipped out of the country. We spoke with him as he recalled his ministry and courageous defiance.
Amid Climate Change Concerns, Pope Francis Says He Is Updating His ‘Green’ Encyclical
The pope made the announcement while addressing the need for human rights protections in Europe.
Church Leaders Plead With Israeli Government as Anti-Christian Incidents Increase in Holy Land
The incidents have been organized by extremist groups who consider Christians to be enemies of the Jewish people.
Pakistan Arrests 129 Muslims After Mob Attacks on Churches & Homes of Minority Christians
Police in eastern Pakistan arrested 129 Muslims after a mob angered by an alleged Quran desecration attacked a dozen churches and nearly two dozen homes of minority Christians, officials said Thursday. Police also arrested the two Christian men suspected of defacing the Quran.
The World’s Religions Converge in Chicago
This issue of A Public Witness takes you to Chicago to hear a taste of religious leaders calling for the people of the world’s religions to work together for religious freedom and to make a more peaceful and just world.