Oct 25 Watch 7:13 China's Xi launches largest crackdown on country's Christians in years By Nick Schifrin, Claire Mufson Ahead of Trump’s visit next week, China’s President Xi has launched a major crackdown on the country’s Christians, which number in the tens of millions. Earlier this month, Beijing arrested a prominent underground church pastor and more than 20 other… Continue watching
Aug 07 Trump energizes conservative Christians with religious policies and assaults on cultural targets By Peter Smith, Associated Press President Donald Trump has repeatedly delivered for the conservative Christians who form the bedrock of his Republican support. Continue reading
Dec 22 At least 22 people killed by Israeli airstrikes as Vatican envoy visits Gaza for pre-Christmas Mass By Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said, while Gaza's small Christian community celebrated a pre-Christmas Mass. Continue reading
Oct 18 What's a 'Jezebel spirit'? Some Christians use the term to paint Kamala Harris with a demonic brush By Isabella Volmert, Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press The term has deeply racist and misogynistic roots that is setting off alarm bells for religious and political scholars. It is inspired by the biblical story of the evil Queen Jezebel, who persecuted prophets and was punished with a horrible… Continue reading
Aug 25 Watch 7:08 The rise of American megachurches and new challenges to their influence By Lisa Desjardins, Kaisha Young, Zoie Lambert There are hundreds of thousands of religious congregations across the United States. Some of the biggest, known as “megachurches,” are facing challenges as the culture around organized religion changes. Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology of religion at Hartford International… Continue watching
Apr 10 Watch 10:24 Ukrainian Christian groups face violent crackdown from Russian forces By Simon Ostrovsky, Dan Sagalyn, Nana Adwoa Antwi-Boasiako Russia first occupied the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in March 2022. After the persecution of pro-Ukrainian activists, former government officials, human rights defenders and journalists, Russian secret services turned its attention to churches, their pastors and congregations. With the support… Continue watching
May 19 Pandemic will affect Communion rituals for U.S. Christians By David Crary, Associated Press Striking changes in Communion will take place at Catholic and Protestant churches across the United States over coming weeks as restrictions on large gatherings –- imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak –- are gradually eased. Continue reading
Dec 24 Pope Francis leads Christmas Eve Mass at Vatican By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press "An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when paradoxically a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive," Francis said. Continue reading
Nov 12 Allegations against Roy Moore roil U.S. evangelical ranks By David Crary, Associated Press Now, as Roy Moore's Republican U.S. Senate campaign is imperiled, there's an outpouring of impassioned and soul-searching discussion in evangelical ranks. Continue reading
May 26 Watch Coptic Christians en route to monastery targeted in a deadly assault By PBS News Hour Gunmen blasted an isolated bus packed with men, women and children in Egypt, killing at least 28. The victims were Coptic Christians who were making their way to a monastery along an unpaved desert road. Chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret… Continue watching