Philadelphia
Young Catholics bring the spiritual lessons of the Synod on Synodality home
By Kyle Desrosiers — January 3, 2024
(RNS) — Invited to participate in a global meeting of Catholic bishops and lay leaders, young Philadelphians found themselves hopeful about the future of the church.
How Philadelphia’s faith communities held together as Oct. 7 attack tested ties
By Tori Luecking — January 2, 2024
(RNS) — Interfaith bonds fostered by Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups before the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas have allowed the groups to pull together despite a spike in hate incidents.
Black Muslims will play a big role in the next election. Join us.
By Salima Suswell — August 30, 2023
(RNS) — Black Muslims helped elect Joe Biden president and are gearing up for 2024.
20-year church abuse probe ends with monsignor’s quiet plea
By Maryclaire Dale — December 24, 2022
(AP) — A spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner, who inherited the case from his predecessors, called Lynn's unannounced Nov. 2 plea 'the appropriate path for bringing finality and closure to the victims.'
Latino communities across the US celebrate the tradition of the posadas
By Emily Neil — December 22, 2022
(RNS) — For the nine nights before Christmas, Mexican and Guatemalan Catholics gather to reenact the journey at the heart of the Christmas story, and their own lives.
How Philadelphia’s reform DA is teaming with clergy to tackle rising gun violence
By Elizabeth E. Evans — July 1, 2021
(RNS) — Clergy and activists are looking to address the long-term problems that they believe drive the crisis, and they are urging faith leaders to mobilize their flocks in addressing them.
Catholic schools’ push for in-person learning counters record enrollment drop
By Elizabeth E. Evans — March 2, 2021
(RNS) — While public school districts debate in-person learning, many elementary Catholic schools opened their doors in fall of 2020 and have stayed open.
How Philadelphia’s Black churches overcame disease, depression and civil strife
By Stephanie Clintonia Boddie — February 23, 2021
(The Conversation) — The story of how three Black churches endured events similar to those afflicting society today can give both solace and hope.
Orthodox Jews may not like Trump, but they’re voting for him
By Ilana M. Horwitz and Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz — November 2, 2020
(RNS) — Many voters are showing that the character of the person at the top of the ticket can matter less than the familiar issues that are driving our political divide.
Race, religion and contagion
By Jeffrey W. Barbeau — March 31, 2020
(RNS) — In 1793, Philadelphia's black community saved many of their fellow citizens from yellow fever, modeling Christian self-sacrifice despite their second-class status in their own city.
Pope Francis remakes the American hierarchy, one bishop at a time
By Thomas Reese — January 28, 2020
(RNS) — In the appointment of a new archbishop for Philadelphia, the U.S. church has traded a longtime conservative intellectual leader for a pastoral bishop who is most comfortable being with his people.
Philadelphia Episcopalians explore what happens when church is separated from Sunday
By Caroline Cunningham — June 20, 2019
(RNS) — Rather than focusing on Sunday attendance, the once-shuttered St. Stephen's is invested in being present for the community.
Redesigning sacred spaces to serve their communities — and save their congregations
By Caroline Cunningham — January 2, 2019
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) — Three congregations facing difficulties familiar to many urban religious organizations get a design lift to help them serve their neighborhoods.
Catholics and lawmakers respond to sex abuse report
By Jack Jenkins — August 16, 2018
(RNS) — Two days after Pennsylvania's 'catastrophic' report on clergy sex abuse, questions remain about its effect on American Catholics and how states will prosecute such crimes in the future.
Lay off the ADL!
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 19, 2018
The attack on the ADL is yet another chapter in a sad pattern that goes back to Karl Marx.
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