This Life: And His name will be Immanuel
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article first published on ASSIST News Service, reflects on the name Immanuel…
Southern Baptist leaders to weigh in as turmoil over race theory grows
RNS New Orleans pastor Fred Luter, the only Black person to have served as president of the predominantly white Southern Baptist Convention, has added his name to a statement on justice and repentance released Friday. The Justice, Repentance, and the SBC statement comes as Black Baptists and others continue to object to the rejection of “critical race theory”, […]
Vatican: OK to get virus vaccines using abortion cell lines
Vatican CityAP The Vatican on Monday declared that it is “morally acceptable” for Roman Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses, guidance that came after some churchmen in the United States argued that such products were immoral. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s […]
Pope tells Vatican bureaucrats to stop gossipy conflicts
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis urged Vatican bureaucrats on Monday to stop their gossipy, self-absorbed conflicts, issuing another tough-love Christmas message at the end of a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic and a financial scandal at the Holy See. Francis gathered his cardinals, bishops and Vatican prelates for his annual Christmas greeting in the Apostolic […]
Britain faces isolation as world tightens borders to keep out new coronavirus strain
Dover, EnglandReuters Countries across the globe shut their borders to Britain on Monday due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, causing travel chaos and raising the prospect of food shortages days before Britain is set to leave the European Union. India, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Jordan and Hong Kong suspended […]
UK PM to chair emergency meeting on travel
Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency response meeting on Monday to discuss international travel, in particular the flow of freight in and out of Britain, a spokeswoman for his office said on Sunday. Britain’s European neighbours began closing their doors to travellers from the United Kingdom on Sunday amid alarm about a […]
After turbulent 2020, faith in America faces more big issues
AP For many religious denominations in the United States, there were two shared preoccupations in 2020 beyond the usual matters of faith: How to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and how to respond to tumultuous political events. With Joe Biden replacing Donald Trump as president, and with vaccines eventually expected to ease the threat of […]
Georgia pastor and Trump adviser tests positive for COVID-19
Gainsville, GeorgiaAP The leader of a north Georgia megachurch who has been a spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. Jentezen Franklin, the senior pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville was absent from Sunday services, news outlets reported. Pastor Javon Ruff announced the diagnosis during Free Chapel’s Sunday service, held both […]
Airports advised to step up security efforts for COVID-19 vaccine cargo
Montreal, CanadaReuters Airports around the world are being advised to step up security efforts to protect COVID-19 vaccine shipments amid police warnings of potential targeting from criminal networks. The recommendation from a global airports body comes as pharmaceutical companies and airlines are carrying out the largest logistical operation of its kind to distribute vaccines designed […]
Expanding horizons: In a rare move, Catholic nuns set out to build a new monastery
KATELYN FERRAL, writing for Religion News Service, reports on how, amid declines in people attending church, one small community of religious sisters is growing so much they are fundraising to build a bigger home…