Sep 14 Rabbi Irwin Kula explains the meaning and rituals of Yom Kippur Today, Jews across the globe observe Yom Kippur, by fasting from sundown to sundown. Continue reading
Sep 12 Pope Francis says atheists who "abide by their own conscience" are granted God's mercy Video still/PBS NewsHour Pope Francis, known for his conciliatory tone, wrote in a 26,000-word letter to an Italian newspaper that atheists must "abide by their own conscience." The letter published Wednesday in La Repubblica was a… Continue reading
Sep 12 Coptic Christians eager to start lives in U.S., but still call Egypt 'home' By Larisa Epatko When Mary, a 29-year-old Coptic Christian from Minya, Egypt, landed seven months ago at Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia, many thoughts were swirling in her head. Continue reading
Sep 11 Priestly celibacy, a Catholic "tradition" Vatican's new Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, told a Venezuelan newspaper that priestly celibacy "is not a church dogma," but rather "a church tradition." These comments have raised eyebrows in the Catholic community. But the National Catholic Reporter… Continue reading
Aug 19 Coptic Christians make an 'easy target' in Egypt's unrest By Larisa Epatko While thousands of Egyptians in Cairo rejoiced over President Mohammed Morsi's overthrow in July, others were concerned about possible reprisals against the country's minority Coptic Christians. Continue reading
Jul 31 Live Twitter Chat: Changing Perspectives within the Catholic Church PBS NewsHour holds live Twitter chats each Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT. Join us @NewsHour using the hashtag #NewsHourChats. Photo by Servizio Fotografico L'Osservatore Romano via Getty Images. On the way home from his seven-day… Continue reading
Jul 29 Watch Using Simple Language, Pope Francis Helps Shift Conversation About the Vatican The pope's remarks on gay Catholics may suggest a shift in acceptance, but not a change in church policy or teaching. Judy Woodruff talks to John Allen of The National Catholic Reporter, who has been covering the pontiff's trip to… Continue watching
Jul 29 Watch Pope Francis Strikes Tolerant Tone in Remarks on Gay Catholics On a flight home from a trip from Brazil, Pope Francis directly answered a range of questions from the press. To one question the pontiff responded: "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will,… Continue watching
Jul 24 Watch Francis Greeted With Jubilant Reception in Rio on First Trip as Pope Francis Greeted With Jubilant Reception in Rio on First Trip as Pope… Continue watching
Jul 12 My Eight Seconds With the 'Hugging Saint' PBS NewsHour political editor Christina Bellantoni's program and "hugging token" for her visit to a revered guru known as the "hugging saint." Amma, a 60-year-old South Indian woman who has hugged more than 32 million people to promote love,… Continue reading