Congolese President Tshisekedi sworn in for second term after disputed vote
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Reuters Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term on Saturday after a landslide victory his opponents have refused to recognise due to widespread irregularities over the December general election. Authorities have acknowledged there were issues but dismissed allegations the vote was stolen. […]
Guatemala’s liberal new leader faces huge obstacles to anti-graft drive
Guatemala City, Guatemala Reuters Guatemala’s new leftist President, Bernardo Arevalo, took office on Monday after a tortuous delay that underlined the uphill struggle he faces to meet high expectations and enact a sweeping anti-graft agenda in opposition-controlled Congress. Arevalo, the Central American country’s most liberal leader in years, powered to victory in August, vowing to […]
Lula takes reins of Brazil, slams Bolsonaro’s anti-democratic threats
Brasilia, Brazil Reuters Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s President on Sunday, delivering a searing indictment of far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro and vowing a drastic change of course to rescue a nation plagued with hunger, poverty and racism. In a speech to Congress after officially taking the reins of Latin […]
In the US, Biden inauguration priest resigns as president of Jesuit university
California, USRNS Rev Kevin O’Brien, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden, has resigned as president of Santa Clara University in Northern California after university officials said he engaged in behaviors “inconsistent” with Jesuit protocols. O’Brien’s resignation comes about two months after the Jesuits USA West Province placed him […]
US Christian author and speaker Jen Hatmaker apologises for line in inaugural prayer critiqued as erasing Native Americans
RNS Jen Hatmaker was “proud” to offer the final prayer in the liturgy for the inaugural interfaith prayer service Thursday hosted virtually by the Washington National Cathedral. The popular Christian author, speaker and podcaster has also apologised for it – at least for the first line of the prayer, which began, “Almighty God, you have […]
Biden’s Bible puts him in line with inaugural tradition
Washington DC, US AP Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took their oaths of office on Wednesday using Bibles that are laden with personal meaning, writing new chapters in a long-running American tradition – and one that appears nowhere in the law. The Constitution does not require the use of a specific text for swearing-in ceremonies […]
The storied history of St Matthew’s, the church Biden will attend on Inauguration Day
Washington, DC RNS Hours before he takes the oath of office Wednesday as president, Joe Biden is reportedly slated to attend a worship service at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, commonly known as St Matthew’s, with a bipartisan group of members of Congress and other politicians in attendance. The decision is something of a break […]
Rev William Barber II to headline interfaith inauguration prayer service
Washington DC, USRNS The Washington National Cathedral will host a virtual iteration of its traditional interfaith worship service the day after Joe Biden’s inauguration, with activist and pastor Rev William Barber II preaching the sermon. The gathering, a long-standing inaugural tradition, will be hosted by Rev Randy Hollerith, the cathedral’s dean, and Bishop Mariann Budde, […]
Joe Biden’s family Bible anchors faith-infused inaugural events
RNS President-elect Joe Biden plans to be sworn in with his hefty family Bible when he becomes the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday. It’s one of many ways religion will be a facet of the inaugural activities surrounding the country’s second Catholic president. “it’s just been a family heirloom on the Biden […]
In inaugural address, Biden will appeal to national unity
Washington DC, USAP President-elect Joe Biden will deliver an appeal to national unity when he is sworn in Wednesday and plans immediate moves to combat the coronavirus pandemic and undo some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial policies, his incoming chief of staff said Sunday. Biden intends a series of executive actions in his first […]