Read a special Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly interview with scholar and author Karen Armstrong. She has written many books on religion, including THE BATTLE FOR GOD and ISLAM: A SHORT HISTORY. More →

September 13, 2002

BOB ABERNETHY: Mr. Hackett is with us now. Welcome. There have been a lot of estimates all over the place about the extent of the need within Afghanistan. What’s your estimate? KENNETH F. HACKETT (Executive Director, Catholic Relief Services): Our … More →

October 26, 2001

Two American aid workers in Afghanistan, 29-year-old Dayna Curry and 24-year-old Heather Mercer, were arrested by security officials and accused of preaching Christianity, which is strictly forbidden by the Taliban. More →

October 5, 2001

As the U.S. builds coalitions and deploys troops in response to last month’s attacks, an old moral question has resurfaced: In order to fight a great evil, how much evil do you have to condone? R & E discusses the implications with Nina Shea of the Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House, Dr. Stephen Morrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Rev. Dr. John Wimberly, Jr. of D.C.’s Western Presbyterian Church. More →

October 5, 2001

AN INTERVIEW WITH ERNESTO CORTES Ernesto Cortes, the Southwest regional director of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), is widely regarded as the most effective grassroots organizer in the nation. Working with congregations and faith communities to improve public life has … More →

March 2, 2001

Ten years after the Tiananmen Square massacre, U.S.-Sino relations are again at a low point, sparked by the mistaken bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and charges that China stole nuclear secrets. Some activists are concerned the tense political situation will pose increased difficulties for advocacy and human rights, such as religious freedom. More →

June 4, 1999

On April 5, Muslims around the world will begin observing events associated with the annual hajj, one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Millions are converging on Mecca, located near the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Anisa Mehdi accompanies one American pilgrim as he says good-bye to his family and heads off to Mecca for the first time.
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March 27, 1998