US Catholic bishops divided over Biden presidency
RNS A statement released by US bishops on Wednesday after President Joe Biden’s inauguration highlighted tensions between Catholic teachings and the new administration and put a spotlight on the divided episcopacy in the country. “Today, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an ill-considered statement on the day of President Biden’s inauguration,” tweeted Cardinal Blase Cupich of […]
Japan doubles down on Tokyo Olympics, denies report of cancellation
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japan doubled down on its commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and flatly denied reports on Friday of a cancellation, in a move that is unlikely to temper public fears of holding the event during a global pandemic. Though much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a […]
Snapshot: Fireworks over the Washington Monument, Washington DC, on Inauguration Day
See EVAN VUCCI’s image…
Soundbite – The TCM Update: For KING & COUNTRY, Hillsong Worship, Owl City, Phil Joel and Ambrose release new singles
Ambrose’s Breathe Again is one of the Christian singles released recently. Listen to this week’s TCM Update…
With new executive order in US, this immigrant is leaving church sanctuary after 3.5 years
Durham, North Carolina, USRNS Jose Chicas, a native of El Salvador who has been living in church sanctuary for more than three years, will move out Friday after President Joe Biden signed an executive order temporarily halting the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Chicas, 55, has been living in an old clapboard house next door to […]
UN approves global conference on protecting religious sites
United NationsAP The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday condemning damage and destruction of religious sites and asking the secretary-general to convene a global conference to spearhead public support for safeguarding places of religious heritage. The resolution condemns the increasing targeting of “cultural property, including religious sites and ritual objects…by terrorist attacks and outlawed […]
Human trafficking cases in Thailand hit decade low due to COVID-19
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation Police in Thailand last year launched the lowest number of human trafficking investigations in a decade as coronavirus restrictions on businesses and borders hindered criminal networks, according to a soon-to-be released government report. A total of 131 cases were filed last year – down from 288 in 2019 – showed the […]
Vaccine access: “Invisible” migrants risk being last in line for COVID-19 vaccination
ANASTASIA MOLONEY and NITA BHALLA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, report on the vulnerability of refugees and migrants to ‘vaccine nationalism’ as host nations put their own citizens first…
“Starve to death or die of COVID” – stark choice for Brazil’s poor
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilThomson Reuters Foundation Coronavirus is spreading and deaths are mounting – but what most worries the leaders of Brazil’s isolated and vulnerable communities is how on earth to feed people now government has pulled their main emergency aid. Ivone Rocha is co-founder of Semeando Amor, a non-profit that distributes basic staples to […]
Essay: What is truth?
Sight columnist TIM COSTELLO reflects on the nature of truth – and conspiracy theories…