Protesting From the Pews
This issue of A Public Witness looks back at the 'kneel-ins' of the civil rights movement to consider recent protests at prominent churches.
Hateful Faith and Violence Against Palestinians in the ‘Holy Land’
Liberation theologians Allan Boesak and Wendell Griffen make the case that people who care about love, justice, and peace should be disgusted by U.S. complicity in the Israeli oppression of Palestinians.
African Methodist Episcopal Church Leaders Call for Halt to All US Funding of Israel
The statement comes amid continuing calls for cease-fire and humanitarian aid for the victims of the war that began on Oct. 7.
Multifaith March for Peace in Gaza Launches From Philadelphia
Religious leaders, activists, and artists from various Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish traditions embarked on an eight-day pilgrimage to the U.S. Capitol as part of a call for ceasefire.
Israel Complains After Vatican Denounces ‘Carnage’ and Disproportionate Response in Gaza
'Israel’s right to self-defense has been invoked to justify that this operation is proportional, but with 30,000 dead, it’s not,' said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state.
Lenten Cease-Fire Campaign Includes Ash Wednesday Mass Outside White House
‘As there’s ashes on our head, there’s also blood on our hands because we cannot exempt ourselves from what this country is doing,’ said the Rev. Graylan Hagler, pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.
Signing Our Blessing to War
This issue of A Public Witness takes a look at past efforts from Christian clergy to bless weapons of war before returning to a current conflict to hear from a pastor in the little town of Bethlehem.
Pope Francis Denounces the Weapons Industry As He Makes a Christmas Appeal for Peace in the World
Vatican officials said about 70,000 people filled St. Peter's Square for Francis' noonday speech and blessing. They included many people flying Palestinian flags, as well as some Ukrainian ones.
Western Churches Called for Cease-Fire. Palestinian Christians Heard Empty Words.
Palestinian Christians have felt abandoned by global Christian church leaders’ statements on the Israel-Hamas war, with some viewing the war as a moment for Western denominations to reckon with their colonialist past.
Pope Francis Condemns Saturday’s Israeli Attack on Christian Church As Act of Terrorism
'It’s war, it’s terrorism,' Pope Francis said.