Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders on handling of alleged sexual abuse

Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse.

Secret recordings, leaked letters show Southern Baptist officials neglected sexual abuse claims

Releases of leaked letters and secret recordings from within the Southern Baptist Convention are intensifying as critics seek to show top leaders were slow to address sexual abuse and worried more about its reputation and donations than about victims.

Rick Warren, Saddleback megachurch pastor, to retire

Saddleback Church's pastor and "The Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren announced he will step down.

Cafe tagged with anti-Semitic hate speech; hate crimes on the rise in San Francisco

A popular cafe in San Francisco's Mission District was tagged with anti-Semitic hate speech. It’s another example of the growing number of hate-related cases happening in the city.

Sex abuse probe: Milwaukee Archdiocese won't cooperate with state

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is refusing to turn over documents to state investigators who are looking into clergy sexual abuse in Wisconsin's five Roman Catholic dioceses.

Vatican law criminalizes sexual abuse of adults by priests, laity

After 14 years of study, Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority and to say that laypeople who hold church office can be sanctioned too.

Tennessee church mourns after plane crash claims 7 leaders, including founder Gwen Shamblin Lara

“During this horrible tragedy, our church would greatly appreciate prayers,” Remnant Fellowship Church posted on its website after a plane crash killed seven members of its membership team, including founder Gwen Shamblin Lara.

Pope Francis kisses Auschwitz survivor's tattoo

Pope Francis has kissed the tattoo of an Auschwitz survivor during a general audience on Wednesday.

Many Arizona churches allowing fully vaccinated parishioners to ditch face masks

For the first time in 14 months, some people attending church service at one church in Scottsdale are able to do so without wearing their masks, following new CDC guidelines on mask-wearing by fully vaccinated Americans.

German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban

Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.

Italian judge on the path to sainthood after getting killed by mobsters

A magistrate slain by mobsters in Sicily and praised by two popes has been beatified by the Roman Catholic church on Sunday in the last formal step before possible sainthood.

Catholic bishops debate if Biden should receive communion given abortion stance

There’s a deep gulf between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego in the high-stakes debate over whether politicians who support abortion rights should be denied Communion

200 Palestinians hurt in clash with Israeli police at mosque, medics say

The Palestinian emergency service says more than 200 people were wounded in a night of heavy clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and elsewhere in Jerusalem, where tensions have soared in recent weeks.

Clergy sex abuse probe launched by Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced a statewide initiative, led by the Wisconsin DOJ, which will review reports of clergy and faith leader abuse.

California lifts COVID-19 limits on indoor worship services following US Supreme Court rulings

California lifted its limits on indoor worship services in the face of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that struck down the coronavirus public health mandates. However, the state still said indoor gatherings were “strongly discouraged” and advised limiting the numbers to 25% of a building’s capacity.

Mesa Arizona Temple renovations bring much needed life back to Mesa

The Mesa Arizona Temple has been undergoing extensive renovations since May of 2018 and while the renovations aren't complete just yet, newly built homes and business storefronts are being moved into.

Poll: 40% of evangelical Protestants, largest religious group in US, hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine

A recent photo posted online of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest evangelical denomination, getting the COVID-19 vaccine drew more than 1,100 comments.

'This is scandalous': Pope decries war, weapons spending amid the pandemic in Easter message

“The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nevertheless — and this is scandalous — armed conflicts have not ended, and military arsenals are being strengthened,'' Francis said, sounding angry. “That is today's scandal.”