Religion

Church of England still forbids same-sex marriages in its churches

By Sylvia Hui, Associated Press

The Church of England says it will allow blessings for same-sex, civil marriages for the first time.

‘Pray for Damar’: Wave of public prayer follows Hamlin’s collapse

By John Zenor, Associated Press

The intersection of prayer and sports has been especially prominent in the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse during an NFL game.

U.S. Marine Corps compelled to allow Sikh Americans to begin basic training with turbans, beards

By Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

A federal court of appeals has granted a preliminary injunction to immediately allow two Sikh Americans to begin basic training in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) with their turbans, beards, and unshorn hair required by their faith.

Religiously, Congress doesn’t reflect modern America, Pew finds

By Peter Smith, Associated Press

The religious makeup of the incoming 118th Congress looks more like what America used to be than what it is today.

A timeline of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s life

By Associated Press

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to resign, has died. Here are highlights from his life.

Benedict XVI, pope who resigned to spend final years in quiet, dies at 95

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday.

Pope Francis denounces war, poverty and injustice in Christmas Eve mass

By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press

Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those “ravenous” for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism.

Bethlehem rebounds from pandemic, lifting Christmas spirits in West Bank

By Maya Alleruzzo, Jalal Bwaitel, Associated Press

The biblical town of Bethlehem marked a merry Christmas on Saturday, with thousands of visitors descending upon the traditional birthplace of Jesus as it rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic.

Ancient but small in number, Zoroastrians confront depletion of their faith

By David Crary, Associated Press

About 1,200 Zoroastrians from 16 countries will be assessing their faith's prospects during the four-day World Zoroastrian Congress that is opening in New York City.

‘I trust in God:’ Religious backers of abortion rights reconcile their work with their faith

By Claire Galofaro, Associated Press

As the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to dismantle the constitutional right to an abortion, an Alabama clinic's staff of mostly Black, Christian women draw on their faith that they will somehow continue.