125 Baptist High School Students Kidnapped in Nigeria
About 125 students kidnapped from a Baptist church school in northern Nigeria are especially in danger because of their Christianity and the unwillingness of local authorities to pay a ransom.
Pope: Lebanon Must Remain a ‘Land of Tolerance, Pluralism’
Pope Francis insisted Thursday that Lebanon must remain a “land of tolerance and pluralism” as he welcomed the country’s Christian patriarchs to the Vatican to pray for an end to the economic and political crisis that has thrown the country into chaos and threatened its
Pope on Myanmar: Houses of Worship Serve as Neutral Refuge
Pope Francis on Sunday decried the suffering of refugees in Myanmar and pleaded that houses of worship be respected as neutral places to take shelter. He told the public that he was joining his voice to that of the Asian nation’s bishops in also calling
The Religious Politics of Israel
Perhaps the looming transition in Israeli politics from the charismatic leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu to an unprecedented coalition government featuring right, center, left, and even Islamist parties is the chance to interrogate what the attitude of U.S. Christians towards Israel should be.
Brazil’s Evangelicals, Bound to Bolsonaro, Fight to Follow His Lead on Pandemic
Like Donald Trump in the United States, Bolsonaro initially dismissed COVID-19 as a “little flu” and made evangelical Christian support a centerpiece of his political strategy. As the pandemic grew more dire through the spring, pastors have had a powerful influence on health policy.
Pope: God Doesn’t Distinguish Between Natives, Foreigners
Pope Francis on Thursday denounced “aggressive” nationalism that rejects migrants, and said Catholics should follow the Gospel-mandated call for an inclusive, welcoming church that doesn’t distinguish between “natives and foreigners, residents, and guests.”
As Brexit Stirs Tensions, Northern Irish Clergy Reprise Peacekeeping Roles
Bitter negotiations over Northern Ireland’s status after Brexit have reignited old tensions between Irish Catholic nationalists and pro-British Protestant unionists. Dissident paramilitary groups have also allegedly renewed a bombing campaign against Northern Irish police forces.
Famine in the Bible is More than a Curse
Famines in biblical times were interpreted as more than mere natural occurrences. The authors of the Hebrew Bible used famine as a mechanism of divine wrath and destruction – but also as a storytelling device, a way to move the narrative forward.
Volcanic Eruption in Caribbean Prompts Christian Relief Efforts
The eruption of the La Soufrière volcano on Friday left the population on the main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines without clean water. Local churches and international relief groups quickly started mobilizing aid.
Religious Party Seeks Gains in Peru’s Legislative Elections
Amid widespread disgust with traditional politicians and an extremely fragmented electorate, Frepap, the political arm of a messianic religious group called the Israelites of the New Universal Pact, has emerged as a potential favorite in legislative elections Sunday.