The Columbian

Churches & Religion

War, hostages, antisemitism: A somber backdrop to this year’s Passover observances

April 21, 2024, 5:21pm Churches & Religion

Passover is a major Jewish holiday, celebrated over seven or eight days each year, commemorating the exodus of ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt, as recounted in the Bible. To many Jews, it symbolizes freedom and the birth of a Jewish nation. Read story

Cristel Cordona, second from left, shows photos of a recent marriage to visiting Guatemalan Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini, at the St. Anne Catholic Church, in Carthage, Miss., Dec. 20, 2019. Ramazzini was at the parish to participate in a listening session with immigrants impacted by arrests by immigration agents at seven Mississippi food processing plants. (AP Photo/Rogelio V.

Guatemalan cardinal keeps up fight for migrants and poor

April 20, 2024, 6:04am Churches & Religion

As more than 100 men carrying an elaborate float of Jesus halted before him, Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini lost no time in calling for social justice — the hallmark of the Catholic bishop’s decadeslong frontline ministry. Read story

A man places flowers outside the Christ the Good Shepherd church in suburban Wakely in western Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Australian police say a knife attack in Sydney that wounded a bishop and a priest during a church service as horrified worshippers watched online and in person, and sparked a riot was an act of terrorism.

A knife attack in Australia against a bishop and a priest is being treated as terrorism, police say

April 16, 2024, 8:09am Churches & Religion

Australian police say a knife attack in Sydney that wounded a bishop and a priest during a church service as horrified worshippers watched online and in person, and sparked a riot was an act of terrorism. Read story

President Russell M. Nelson, right, speaks with counselor Dallin H. Oaks during The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conference, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City.

Mormon leader makes his mark

April 13, 2024, 5:37am Churches & Religion

The oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged congregants on Sunday to spend more time worshipping in temples. He backed up the invitation by announcing plans to build 15 new places of worship around the globe. Read story

Majority of Catholics support abortion rights, says new study

April 12, 2024, 3:53pm Churches & Religion

Nearly 60 percent of U.S. Catholics believe abortion should be legal, according to a new poll. Read story

Muslim devotees, including women in the background, offer Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, April. 10, 2024.

Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr in the shadow of Gaza’s misery

April 10, 2024, 8:22am Churches & Religion

Muslims around the world celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday Wednesday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But events were overshadowed by the worsening crisis in Gaza and Israel’s expected military offensive in Rafah city after six months of war. Read story

FILE - A person stands on the porch of the international headquarters of the Satanic Temple in Salem, Mass., Oct. 24, 2016. Someone threw an explosive device onto the porch of The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts at a time when no one was inside, and the device and damage it caused were not found until nearly 12 hours later, police said. No injuries were reported. State police bomb technicians ensured that the device was no longer a danger, police said in a news release Monday, April 8, 2024.

Explosive device thrown onto porch of Satanic Temple in Massachusetts, no injuries reported

April 9, 2024, 8:51am Churches & Religion

Someone threw an explosive device onto the porch of The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts at a time when no one was inside, and the device and damage it caused were not found until nearly 12 hours later, police said. No injuries were reported. Read story

Pope Francis touches a photograph of a child as he meets with Ashley Waxman Bakshi, right, and other relatives of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, at the Vatican, Monday, April 8, 2024. Israel sent troops to Khan Younis in December, part of its blistering ground offensive that came in response to a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel. Israeli authorities say 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and roughly 250 people taken hostage.

Pope marks 6-month anniversary of Hamas attacks by meeting with relatives of hostages

April 9, 2024, 8:23am Churches & Religion

Pope Francis met Monday with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, marking the six-month anniversary of the attack in southern Israel with an hourlong audience. Read story