Pope Visits Rome Synagogue, Calls on Catholics to Unify
Pope Francis made his first trip to a Rome Synagogue on Sunday, where he expressed his firm stand against religious violence and exhorted the Catholic people to come together.
Iran frees U.S. sailors swiftly as diplomacy smoothes waters
Iran freed ten U.S. sailors on Wednesday a day after detaining them aboard two U.S. Navy patrol boats in the Gulf, bringing a swift end to an incident that had rattled nerves shortly before the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear accord.
Vatican approves loan of relic for Anglican Primate Meeting
The Vatican has approved the loaning of a deeply symbolic religious relic to the gathering of Anglican heads in Britain this week
Nine months after al-Shabab attack; Garissa University reopens
Nine months after the deadliest attack by the Somali-based group, claiming the lives of nearly 150, Garissa University College reopened as Kenya continues to recover from the shock of the massacre.
As Anglicans meet, spiritual leader says schism would be failure
A schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion over homosexual rights and women clerics would be a failure but not a disaster, the spiritual head of Anglicans said
U.S. House to vote on North Korea sanctions bill
The House of Representatives could vote in the coming days on legislation backed by Republican and Democratic lawmakers to broaden U.S. sanctions on North Korea.
China says couples will not need approval to have two children
China will not require prospective parents to obtain approval to have two children under the new "two-child policy", in what appears to be a further relaxation of reproductive controls in the world's most populous country.
France prepares tribute to Charlie Hebdo, Jewish shop victims
France this week commemorates the victims of last year's Islamist militant attacks on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket with eulogies, memorial plaques and another cartoon lampooning religion.
Clinton: Islamic State persecution of Christians, Yazidis, a genocide
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said that Islamic State violence against Christians, Iraqi Yazidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East was genocide.
U.S.-led air strikes kill IS leaders linked to Paris attacks
A U.S.-led coalition has killed 10 Islamic State leaders in the past month with targeted air strikes, including individuals linked to last month's attacks in Paris, a spokesman for the coalition said on Tuesday.
Iraqi army declares first major victory over Islamic State in Ramadi
Iraq's army declared victory over Islamic State fighters in a provincial capital west of Baghdad on Sunday, the first major triumph for the U.S.-trained force since it collapsed in the face of an assault by the militants 18 months ago.
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Senators Press Trump to Confront Xi Over Detained Pastors, Religious Minorities
A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators called on President Donald Trump to raise China’s persecution of Christian pastors and other religious minorities during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week. Led by Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., the lawmakers thanked Trump for diplomatic pressure they said helped secure the July 3 release of Beijing Zion Church founder Ezra Jin after 266 days in detention.
Asbury Seminary to Exit Federal Loan Program Over Debt, Religious Autonomy Concerns
Asbury Theological Seminary plans to leave the federal student loan program and stop processing Title IV loans beginning in May 2027. Title IV governs federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. The Kentucky seminary said the move reflects a desire to reduce student debt and concerns that a future administration hostile to its beliefs could use federal funding as leverage against the school.
12 Christians Detained in Algeria After Worship Gathering as Police Seize Bibles
Algerian special forces raided a Christian worship gathering at a humanitarian shelter on Sept. 4, detaining all 12 people present on suspicion of holding an unauthorized non-Muslim religious service. Police entered the site and transferred the 12 detained Christians to the Bethioua police station.
Colorado Christian School Sees 96 Student Baptisms Through “5th Quarter” Gatherings
Nearly 100 students have been baptized during five periodic worship gatherings held at a Christian high school in Colorado after athletic competitions. Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch launched the 5th Quarter gatherings in fall 2024 and holds the student-focused worship and testimony events twice each academic year.
Iran Faces UN Scrutiny Over Confiscation of Historic Protestant Church
Two United Nations experts have called on Iran to explain the confiscation of St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tehran and the eviction of Christian families from the property. Reports emerged in July that Iranian authorities had seized the church, described as the country’s oldest Protestant congregation, and removed Christian residents living on the site.