Leaders of Berlin’s interfaith House of One manage Israeli-Palestinian tensions
RNS In the middle of old Berlin, Christians, Muslims and Jews have been creating an interfaith center with a church, mosque and synagogue all in the same building. Since breaking ground on the House of One, meant to celebrate the three monotheistic religions, the groups behind the project have been looking forward to its opening […]
Azza Karam resigns as secretary general of Religions for Peace
RNS Religions for Peace, an international interfaith coalition that advocates for nonviolent solutions to the world’s conflicts, announced in a 16th June statement that Azza Karam, its secretary general since 2020, has resigned her position. Azza Karam on 23rd August, 2019. PICTURE: Christian Thiel/Religions for Peace The organisation’s executive committee noted in the statement its […]
US faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth
United StatesRNS More than 200 US interfaith leaders have requested that President Joe Biden establish a commission to study reparations for African Americans by signing an executive order by the newly recognised federal holiday Juneteenth. “Our faith traditions hold as central the essential worth of each person as having been created in the image of […]
In the US, clergy file suit over Missouri abortion ban, arguing it establishes a religion
United StatesRNS An interfaith group of clergy has filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s strict abortion ban, arguing the statute violates the state’s constitution by imposing one set of religious values on all residents. Advocates announced the lawsuit on Thursday from the sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral, an Episcopal church in St Louis. Traci Blackmon speaks […]
A “commitment to service”: DC’s faith communities rally to protect bused-in immigrants
EMILY NEIL, of Religion News Service, reports that organising efforts in Washington have become a blueprint for other cities…
Amid Russia’s war, Pope says faith cannot justify such evil
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan AP Pope Francis told the Russian Orthodox hierarchy and other faith leaders Wednesday that religion must never be used to justify the “evil” of war and that God must never “be held hostage to the human thirst for power”. Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Francis opened an interfaith conference in the former […]
Pope, opening Kazakh visit, blasts “senseless” Ukraine war
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan AP Pope Francis begged for an end to Russia’s “senseless and tragic war” in Ukraine as he arrived Tuesday in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan to join faith leaders from around the world in praying for peace. Francis flew to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for […]
Bridging divides: A priest overcomes India’s anti-Christian violence to lead interfaith dialogue
The Kandhamal riots of 2008 stand out as a watershed moment in India’s history of mass violence against minorities. PRIYADARSHINI SEN reports, in an article first published on Religion News Service, that a Catholic priest who survived them wants to bring faith leaders together to get past that history…
In the US, Doug Emhoff highlights Black interfaith contributions as new project launches
RNS Second gentleman Doug Emhoff lauded the interfaith work of Black religious communities for “saving lives” through distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations and for continuing efforts to get out the vote when he spoke at a midweek Black History Month event. “Over the past year, Black faith communities have been working as trusted voices in their […]
Australian religious leaders call for end to indefinite immigration detention
Sydney, Australia A campaign to end indefinite detention in Australia for dozens of men, some of whom have been locked up for as long as nine years, has been launched by the nation’s religious leaders in the wake of the Novak Djokovic case. More than 30 faith leaders have urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison and […]