Higher Ground
Pope lists tragedies of children in war and trafficking at a rights summit
Pope Francis convened a high-level summit Monday to demand that children be protected from war, forced labor, trafficking and exploitation, throwing his moral authority behind a global initiative to uphold children's fundamental rights despite the Catholic Church's own poor record in protecting them from sexual abuse.
Hindu ascetic rising from the river after a holy dip is emblematic of Maha Kumbh festival in India
The man appears in a silhouette after rising from the river. His dreadlocked hair is flicked backwards, sending a stream of water in a clockwise swirl. Others surround him, with some holding the saffron flag of Hinduism, all repeating a centuries-old ritual that Hindus believe cleanses them of their sins and releases them from the cycle of rebirth.
Jimmy Carter’s audiobook of Sunday school lessons wins posthumous Grammy
Former President Jimmy Carter has won a posthumous Grammy award.
‘Devils’ take to the streets as small Spanish village celebrates the Endiablada festival
Every year in early February, local residents in the small Spanish village of Almonacid del Marquesado celebrate the feast day of the Virgen of Candelaria, with "devils" and dancers taking to the streets in a vibrant display of faith and tradition.
U.S.-backed commander says his Kurdish-led group wants a secular and civil state in post-Assad Syria
The commander of the main U.S.-backed force in Syria said Sunday the recent ouster of the Assad family from power should be followed by building a secular, civil and decentralized state that treats all its citizens equally no matter their religion or ethnicity.
Israel’s Netanyahu heads to U.S. to discuss ‘victory over Hamas’ with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will discuss "victory over Hamas," countering Iran and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries in his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Pope Francis stumbles while walking into Jubilee audience at the Vatican as his walking stick snaps
Pope Francis tripped while entering the Vatican auditorium for an audience Saturday after the handle of his walking stick snapped, but he avoided falling.
In time for Candlemas, Mexicans seek to restore broken baby Jesus figurines
It might cost more to repair them than to buy new ones. But baby Jesus figurines have such sentimental value in families that every January an area in downtown Mexico City is full of people with the broken religious sculptures looking for a workshop for hands, legs, nose, eyes, eyelashes or fingers.
Biswa Ijtema event in Bangladesh, thousands of Muslims attend
Tens of thousands of people gathered on a riverbank near Bangladesh's capital on Friday to listen to sermons by Islamic scholars at the Biswa Ijtema, or global congregation of Muslim devotees.
Michigan priest has license revoked by church after mimicking Musk’s straight-arm gesture
A Michigan priest had his license revoked by the Anglican Catholic Church after he mimicked a straight-arm gesture performed by Elon Musk during a speech earlier this month that some have interpreted as a Nazi salute.
Couple challenging Vatican bank’s ban on workplace marriages invoke pope’s pro-family message
Pope Francis has long urged couples to marry and have babies rather than dogs. And he has long championed the rights of workers and held up labor itself as the foundation of human dignity.
Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios
Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the country's communist party in 1990.
An Iraqi man who carried out Quran burnings in Sweden is killed in a shooting
An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden has been killed in a shooting near Stockholm, authorities said Thursday.
Richard Williamson, Catholic bishop whose denial of Holocaust embarrassed Pope Benedict XVI, dies
Richard Williamson, an ultra-traditionalist Catholic bishop whose denial of the Holocaust created a scandal in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated him and other members of his breakaway society, has died. He was 84.
Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival
Grieving families cremated their loved ones while others cared for their injured relatives in hospitals on Thursday, a day after a stampede killed at least 30 people and injured 60 others on a riverbank at the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India.
Pastor’s criminal conviction for helping the poor raises major question
Christians are called to be the proverbial "hands and feet of Jesus," feeding, clothing and assisting the less fortunate. Yet legal stalemates between faith-filled ministries and local governments -- quagmires over zoning laws and other preclusions that thwart Christians' efforts to serve the poor and homeless -- are rampant roadblocks to such efforts.
Hamas is set to free 3 Israelis and 5 Thais in next hostage release, Israeli official says
An Israeli official said Wednesday that Hamas will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, and five Thai nationals in the next hostage release, slated for Thursday.
The Year of the Snake is underway with Lunar New Year festivities around the world
Firecrackers popped, incense was offered at temples and dancers and drummers paraded Wednesday in Asia and farther afield as millions around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year.
Australian authorities find trailer filled with explosives intended for antisemitic attack
Australian police say a trailer laden with explosives found on the outskirts of Syndey last week is the latest escalation in a series of antisemitic attacks in the country.
Police say at least 30 people have died in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India
At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the world's largest religious gathering early Wednesday, police said, as millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters during the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India.
