For whom the bell tolls: US COVID-19 deaths recalled with church bell, vigils, services
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports on how US churches are commemorating the lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic…
Orthodox priest shot at church in France, motive unknown
Lyon/Paris, FranceAP A Greek Orthodox priest was shot Saturday while he was closing his church in the French city of Lyon, and authorities locked down part of the city to hunt for the assailant, authorities said. The priest, a Greek citizen, is in a local hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot twice in the […]
COVID tests should play bigger role in international travel – WHO expert
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters COVID tests should be more widely used in international travel than quarantines, the chair of the World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee said on Friday. Didier Houssin, chair of the independent panel of experts advising WHO on the COVID-19 pandemic, said it was important for the UN agency to provide fresh guidance on safe […]
In Indian state election, former migrant worker pledges jobs for the poorest
Mumbai, IndiaThomson Reuters Foundation In an Indian state election that has drawn huge rallies and promises from major parties including free COVID-19 vaccines, one former migrant worker is going door-to-door seeking votes from villagers by championing job creation and higher wages. Standing as an independent candidate in eastern Bihar state, Sanjay Sahni has won support […]
Pope Francis talks about Benedict, criticism and life after COVID-19 in new interview
Vatican CityRNS In a wide-ranging interview with an Italian news agency published on Friday, Pope Francis addressed his relationship with his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, saying the retired Pope is “like a father and a brother to me”. Francis, who sat for the interview with AdnKronos on Tuesday, said, “Our relationship is really good, […]
US megachurches continue to grow and diversify, steer clear of politics – report
RNS America’s megachurches have continued to thrive over the past five years, attracting more worshippers, becoming more diverse and opening new locations. A pre-pandemic, national survey of megachurches from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found the median megachurch draws about 4,100 attenders to its worship services, up from about 3,700 in 2015. Lakewood Church […]
US election: Fraught poll puts faith leaders through a political test
ELANA SCHOR, of the Associated Press, looks at the challenges facing US clergy who try to tackle the issues at stake in the election without endorsing either side…
Christians Against Trumpism ad thanked evangelical leaders for speaking out. Not all appreciated it.
RNS An ad running in The Washington Post and other outlets on Friday thanked a number of prominent evangelical Christian leaders and organisations for “standing up in this dark time.” But at least one of the evangelicals named in the ad and on the website Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism doesn’t appear to appreciate the gesture. […]
Under pressure, WHO plans COVID-19 vaccine insurance scheme for poor nations
Brussels, BelgiumReuters A vaccine scheme co-led by the World Health Organization is setting up a compensation fund for people in poor nations who might suffer any side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to allay fears that could hamper a global rollout of shots. The mechanism is meant to avoid a repetition of delays experienced a decade […]