Franklin Graham calls IRS probe of ministry finances ‘un-American’
(RNS) The IRS probe of conservative nonprofit groups included the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian group, evangelist Franklin Graham said.
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Canadians turning away from organized religion
TORONTO (RNS) A new national study shows that while Canada is still overwhelmingly Christian, Canadians are turning their backs on organized religion in ever greater numbers.
Congregations tend the soil and the soul with vegetable gardens
(RNS) Citing a line from Leviticus 25, “for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and settlers with me,” Chicago’s Robert Nevel spearheaded a congregational garden to benefit a local soup kitchen, saying, “We need to be stewards of the land.”
ANALYSIS: Will the Kermit Gosnell verdict change the abortion debate?
(RNS) When rogue abortionist Kermit Gosnell was found guilty of delivering and then killing late-term infants, abortion opponents were convinced they had a case that could finally reshape a static abortion debate. Yet for a variety of reasons, those prayers for a game-changing impact may go unanswered.
Vatican revives its ancient patronage of the arts
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For centuries, popes sponsored the work of artists such as Michelangelo, Raffaello or Bernini, but the marriage between art and faith became estranged in modern times. With a new exhibit at the prestigious Venice Biennial art festival, the Vatican hopes to revive church patronage of the arts.
Harold Camping may be facing doomsday, but not the one he intended
(RNS) Two years after radio evangelist Harold Camping erroneously predicted the end of the world, his California-based Family Radio has sold its prominent stations and let go of veteran staffers.
COMMENTARY: The boogeyman approacheth
(RNS) Conspiracy theorists tend to overreach, and common sense sees through their extravagant imaginings, but not before lives have been ruined, urgent needs avoided, and people rendered a bit more suspicious of their neighbors.
Candida Moss debunks the ‘myth’ of Christian persecution
(RNS) Growing up Catholic in England, Candida Moss felt secure in life, yet learned in church that Christians have been persecuted since the dawn of Christianity. As an adult and a theologian, she wants to set the record straight.
Catholic population surges across the Global South
VATICAN CITY (RNS) While the number of Catholic priests in the Americas and in Europe is declining compared to the overall Catholic population, those losses were offset by increasing ranks of permanent deacons.
Canterbury Cathedral says it’s not closing its doors
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) “The Germans didn’t force us to close Canterbury Cathedral during the Second World War,” cathedral spokesman Christopher Robinson said. “So there’s no chance it will be closed to visitors because we need to carry out some urgent repairs.”
