Religion News Service | Ethics

Company touts ‘medical tourism’ to Israel for sick pilgrims

Michele Chabin | Feb 15, 2012

JERUSALEM (RNS) An Israel-based tourism company is offering "medical tourism" packages that combines medical care with a pilgrimage for the thousands of Americans who travel abroad for medical care. By Michele Chabin.
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From the RNS archives: Catholic birth control decree remains controversial

Daniel Burke | Feb 10, 2012

This article was written in 2008, around the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, the papal document that reinforced the Catholic Church's ban on artificial birth control. c. 2008 Religion News Service (RNS) Some say Pope Paul VI predicted the dangers of loosening sexual morals: widespread divor...
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British group can’t tout divine healing in ads, website

Al Webb | Feb 6, 2012

LONDON (RNS) Britain's powerful media advertising watchdog has banned a Christian activist group from claiming that God's cure-all powers can heal a string of medical ailments. By Al Webb.
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Billy Graham released from hospital

Lauren Markoe | Dec 6, 2011

(RNS) Evangelist Billy Graham returned to his North Carolina home Tuesday (Dec. 6) after a six-day stay in a nearby hospital where he was treated for pneumonia. Graham, 93, responded well to antibiotics and grew stronger and more mobile after physical therapy, said Dr. Mark Hellrich, the pulmonologi...
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Church wrestles with growth of Wisconsin shrine to Mary

Judy Keen | Oct 21, 2011

CHAMPION, Wis. (RNS) Philip and Barbara Hesselbein came to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to pray for a grandson who has an inoperable brain tumor. Darlene Searcy prayed for her family and for herself; she has cancer. Mary Spakowicz, who also has cancer, came "because God will hear me here." Th...
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GUEST COMMENTARY: Southern Baptists, change thy name

Jonathan Merritt | Oct 21, 2011

CHAMPION, Wis. (RNS) Philip and Barbara Hesselbein came to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to pray for a grandson who has an inoperable brain tumor. Darlene Searcy prayed for her family and for herself; she has cancer. Mary Spakowicz, who also has cancer, came "because God will hear me here." Th...
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Think you’ll need last rites? Better plan ahead

Michael O'Malley | Apr 5, 2011

CLEVELAND (RNS) In days long gone, Roman Catholic priests regularly made deathbed house calls, even in the middle of the night with little notice, to pray over the dying and anoint them with holy oils. The candlelight ritual, popularly known as last rites, continues in hospitals, nursing homes, hosp...
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Vatican to draft guidelines for Catholic hospitals

Francis X. Rocca | Feb 3, 2011

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Controversies over bioethical standards at U.S. Catholic hospitals show the need for greater Catholic education for health care workers, Vatican officials said Thursday (Feb. 3). Church leaders said a new set of biomedical guidelines will be published later this year, as well as a...
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Vatican says no change to teaching on condoms, prostitutes

Francis X. Rocca | Dec 21, 2010

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI's recent comments about condoms do not mark a change in "Catholic moral teaching" or "pastoral practice" on AIDS prevention or contraception, the Vatican said Tuesday (Dec. 21). The statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the Catholic Church's hi...
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Lutheran leader seeks Communion agreement with pope

Luigi Sandri | Dec 17, 2010

ROME (RNS/ENInews) The president of the Lutheran World Federation is calling on Lutherans and Catholics to issue a common statement on Holy Communion to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. "Our intention is to arrive at 2017 with a common Roman Catholic-Lutheran declara...
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