Churches & Religion

A man holds a banner reading “happy birthday Pope Francis” before the Angelus noon prayer in St.Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. Pope Francis turned 87 on Dec.17.

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if they don’t resemble marriage

December 18, 2023, 10:12am Churches & Religion

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. Read story

FILE - The Rev. Bill Farmer, center, speaks to members of the congregation during service at the Grace Methodist Church Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Homosassa Springs, Fla. The new congregation was created by former United Methodists after their previous congregation voted to stay in that denomination. Grace Church affiliated with the more conservative Global Methodist Church. A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have received permission to leave the denomination during a five-year window, closing in December 2023, that authorized departures for congregations over disputes involving the church’s LGBTQ-related policies.

One fourth of United Methodist churches in US have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?

December 15, 2023, 12:18pm Churches & Religion

A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have received permission to leave the denomination during a five-year window, closing this month, that authorized departures for congregations over disputes involving the church’s LGBTQ-related policies. Read story

A man recites Christian prayers at a damaged Satanic display at the Iowa state Capitol on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. The display, which has prompted outrage by some people who say it’s inappropriate at any time but especially during the Christmas holidays, was damaged Thursday.

A Mississippi House candidate is charged after a Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol

December 15, 2023, 10:09am Churches & Religion

A Satanic Temple display inside the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot running for a statehouse seat in Mississippi is accused of the damage. Read story

Pope Francis delivers his blessing during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.

The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican

December 13, 2023, 12:33pm Churches & Religion

Pope Francis says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica of St. Mary Major, not in the grottoes of the Vatican like other popes, so he can be near his favorite icon of the Madonna. Read story

Biden is hosting a Hanukkah ceremony at the White House as fears mount about rising antisemitism

December 11, 2023, 11:37am Churches & Religion

President Joe Biden is hosting a White House reception Monday evening to mark Hanukkah, celebrating the festival of lights as he has continued to denounce rising antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad amid the Israel-Hamas war. Read story

Catholic pilgrims yearn to visit Kalaupapa

Kyong Son Toyofuku, left, her goddaughter Yunra Huh, center, and husband, Lance Toyofuku, right, walk into St. Philomena Church on July 18 during a tour of Kalaupapa, Hawaii. The church was expanded and used by St. Damien and his parishioners in the 1800s while he lived with and cared for leprosy patients banished to Kalaupapa.

Kalaupapa beckoned to Kyong Son Toyofuku. She had long prayed to visit the hard-to-reach Hawaiian peninsula, trapped by its deep-green, sheer sea cliffs and rugged, black rock shores that glisten under the Pacific’s pristine waters. Read story

Churches & Religion

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if they don’t resemble marriage

One fourth of United Methodist churches in US have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?

A Mississippi House candidate is charged after a Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol

The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican

Biden is hosting a Hanukkah ceremony at the White House as fears mount about rising antisemitism

When is St. Nicholas Day? And how did this Christian saint inspire the Santa Claus legend?

Is door opening for women in the Catholic Church? Miami woman leading the call has new hope

Student murals cover up hate on wall of Seattle synagogue

Catholic pilgrims yearn to visit Kalaupapa

Celebrating Light over Darkness: Chabad Jewish Center of Clark County hosts lighting of menorah