baptism
Fasting from food, feeding on the Bible during Lent
By Thomas Reese — March 6, 2019
(RNS) — While fasting is a time-honored way to observe Lent, another ancient tradition concerns being nourished by the Word of God.
Coptic abbot’s murder points to strains over ecumenism in Egypt
By Mina Nader — September 7, 2018
(RNS) — Egypt's Coptic Orthodox community is reeling from the murder of the abbot of St. Macarius Monastery, apparently by traditionalists of his own faith, in a fourth-century center of meditation and scholarship near Cairo.
Vatican seeks ‘courageous’ ideas to combat priest shortage
By Nicole Winfield — June 8, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The church appeared to open the door to making official some ministries that women in remote parts of Latin America already perform, including celebrating baptisms.
Church in Congo suspends sacraments as Ebola spreads
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — June 5, 2018
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Catholics will not be baptized, confirmed, ordained or anointed until further notice in the country’s northwestern regions hardest hit by the outbreak.
40 years after his death, Elvis Presley’s trilogy of baptisms enhances his immortality
By guest — August 10, 2017
(USA Today) — Multiple baptisms aren't uncommon in the American South, where beliefs and practices vary widely, even within various Christian denominations.
Faced with declining numbers, Southern Baptists focus on evangelism
By Adelle M. Banks — June 13, 2017
PHOENIX (RNS) The largest Protestant denomination has lost members for 10 years in a row and has baptized fewer people nine out of the last 10 years.
Church of Scotland to consider online baptisms, Communion
By Yonat Shimron — May 19, 2016
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A Church of Scotland committee is pushing for "a wide-ranging review of practice and procedure which is impacted by the use of new technology in church life."
South Africa’s Anglican bishops move toward gay inclusion
By Fredrick Nzwili — February 23, 2016
(RNS) If the Provincial Synod adopts the resolution, the South African church will be the first African province of the Anglican Communion to welcome gays and lesbians as full members, though it will still bar gay marriages.
How to baptize your dog
By Laura Turner — February 17, 2016
Have you ever worried about the eternal life of your pet? Put your mind at ease.
Georgia school district repudiates baptisms on football field
By Reuters — September 15, 2015
ATLANTA (Reuters) Carroll County schools' assistant superintendent said in a statement on that the baptisms violated school district policy and that the district did not know the ceremony was scheduled to be held at the high school.
School district investigates mass baptism filmed at football practice
By Matthew Pearl — September 1, 2015
VILLA RICA, Ga. — The video, posted by First Baptist Villa Rica, was shot on school grounds just before football practice. "Take a look and see how God is STILL in our schools!" the caption with the video reads.
More Catholics, fewer receiving sacraments: A new report maps a changing church
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 1, 2015
Not even the boom of Catholics in the Global South solves a core problem for the church: Rates are falling for baptism, first communion and other essential Catholic ceremonies.
For Mother’s Day, a place to mourn the babies who never came home
By Lauren Markoe — May 6, 2015
(RNS) For decades, nobody would talk about the babies these mothers lost. Now they have a place to mourn.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have toddler baptized in Jerusalem
By Reuters — April 14, 2015
JERUSALEM (Reuters) In a quick visit to Jerusalem, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had their toddler daughter, North West, baptized on Monday at a 12th century Armenian church in the old walled city.
Pope Francis to moms: It’s OK to breast-feed in public
By Josephine McKenna — January 12, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pope departed from his prepared text which included the phrase “give them milk,” and inserted the Italian term "allattateli," which means “breastfeed them.”
