international
Marking its centennial, Hymn Society continues push for more diverse music
The future of adoption is in a child’s own community
Germany continues payments to churches a century after deciding to stop
‘This is my real life’: Where Trump’s travel ban hits home
Suicide bombers attack church in Pakistan, killing 9
Nuns help expand coverage and care in Rwanda’s health system
Indian synagogue held first Sabbath service in decades
US wants justice for killers of gay Bangladeshi activists
WCC blasts U.S. for blocking ecumenical meeting in Cuba
GENEVA (RNS) The World Council of Churches says the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba violates religious freedom by preventing a group of Latin American churches from hosting a summit on the island nation. By Peter Kenny.
Christianity in Britain losing ground to Islam, secularism
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) New figures from the 2011 National Census show that the number of people who identify as Christians in England and Wales has fallen by 4 million over the last 10 years, from 37.3 million to 33 million last year. By Trevor Grundy.
Tutu urges Uganda to drop bid to jail gays and lesbians
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday (Dec. 4) urged Uganda to scrap a controversial draft law that would send gays and lesbians to jail and, some say, put them at risk of the death penalty. By Fredrick Nzwili.
Bosnian Muslims thrive in U.S. despite unease over homeland
BOSTON (RNS) Despite their relatively short time in America and the traumas of war, Bosnian Muslims are thriving in American society. Success, however, hasn’t diminished the sense of injustice that many feel over how the bloody war ended, or concerns that their trials could be too easily forgotten. By Omar Sacirbey.
Why we have to take the Saudis’ interfaith offer seriously
Kenyan church leaders say laws would weaken marriage
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Kenyan church leaders are lining up in opposition to proposed new marriage bills, which they say will weaken marriage by allowing cohabitating couples to register as married. By Fredrick Nzwili.
Tibetans have ‘sacred duty’ to support self-immolations
NEW DELHI (RNS) As China's Communist Party began meeting in Beijing this week, six more Tibetans set themselves on fire. Exiled Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay said while he discourages self-immolation, it is the ``sacred duty'' of the exiled community to support it. By Vishal Arora.