Religion

German Priests To Defy Vatican, Bless Same-Sex Unions

The Associated Press reports: Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week. The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the …

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Anti-Gay Scamvangelist Ernest Angley Dies At Age 99

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports: The Rev. Ernest W. Angley, a faith-healing Pentecostal televangelist who claimed a lifetime of personal visits from God, has died at age 99, according to an announcement Friday on the website of his Cuyahoga Falls-based ministry. The preacher rose over the decades from tent revivalist to running a world-wide ministry with his namesake from what …

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Christian Groups Hail Biden’s Raise Of Refugee Limits

The Christian Post reports: President Joe Biden announced Monday that he is raising the United States refugee resettlement ceiling in a move that contrasts with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, drawing praise from faith-based refugee advocacy organizations. World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals and one of nine agencies authorized by the State Department to resettle …

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“Ex-Gay” Catholics To Hold Conference On Chastity

Via press release from Christian Newswire: “Saint Joseph: Model of Courageous Love” is the theme of Courage International’s 34th Annual Conference, which will take place at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas, from July 15 to 18, 2021. The annual conference draws members of Courage – adults who experience same-sex attractions and desire to live a chaste life – and EnCourage – …

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Archbishop: Deny Communion To Abortion Supporters

The National Catholic Reporter reports: Amid the growing calls among conservative Catholics to deny President Joe Biden Communion, San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has released a new letter calling for public figures who support abortion to be barred from the sacrament. “Because we are dealing with public figures and public examples of cooperation in moral evil, this correction can also …

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Dozens Killed In Israel Ultra-Orthodox Stampede

The BBC reports: At least 44 people have been killed in a crush at a crowded religious festival in the north-east of Israel. Dozens more were injured at the Lag B’Omer celebration, which takes place annually at the foot of Mount Meron. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the scene and said Sunday would be a day of national mourning. …

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Facebook Tests Request/Respond To Prayers Feature

Religion News Service reports: When the unfamiliar pop-up touting a new feature appeared on Robert P. Jones’ Facebook, the CEO and founder of PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) posted a screen grab to Twitter. “Wondering what fb algorithm thinks it knows about me?” Jones mused. The new Facebook feature? Prayer posts. The function will allow members of Facebook groups to …

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Pope Francis: Pray All Of May To Stop COVID Pandemic

From the Vatican’s official news outlet: Catholics across the globe are encouraged to dedicate the Marian month of May to praying for an end to the pandemic. The initiative, behind which the Pope has thrown his support, involves 30 Marian Shrines from various parts of the world. The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization announced the news with a …

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Archbishop Compares Same-Sex Marriage To Bestiality

The Colorado Times Recorder reports: Medical professionals and Catholic leaders gathered in Denver last week for a conference on health care ethics that promoted anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion extremism and echoed the Republican Party’s attacks against transgender youth. Among the speakers at the April 10 conference was Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, a highly active anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ advocate. Aquila was particularly …

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CT Set To End Religious Exemption For School Vaccines

The Associated Press reports: A contentious bill that would end Connecticut’s long-standing religious exemption from immunization requirements for schools, beginning with the 2022-23 school year, now awaits action in the state Senate. The legislation passed on a 90-53 vote in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives just before 3 a.m. on Tuesday, following more than 16 hours of sometimes combative debate. …

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Pope Fires US Bishop Over Alleged Abuse Coverup

Via press release from Minnesota’s Diocese of Crookston: It has been announced today that, after an extensive investigation, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, asked for, and has now accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael Hoeppner from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Crookston. The investigation which led to the acceptance of Bishop Hoeppner’s resignation arose from reports that he …

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Religious Violence Escalates In Northern Ireland

The Associated Press reports: Crowds from Protestant and Catholic communities hurled bricks, fireworks and gasoline bombs at police and each other overnight in Belfast, as a week of street violence escalated. Police and politicians tried Thursday to calm the volatile situation in Northern Ireland, where Britain’s exit from the European Union has unsettled an uneasy political balance. The focus of …

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Pope Demands Vaccines For Poor In Easter Message

Reuters reports: Pope Francis urged countries in his Easter message on Sunday to quicken distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world’s poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a pandemic “scandalous”. “The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nonetheless – and this is scandalous – armed conflicts …

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Court Rejects Pastor’s Bid For Prayer Vigil At US Capitol

First, a reminder from yesterday: Rev. Patrick Mahoney will be seeking injunction relief to conduct his Good Friday Service and prayer vigil at the Capitol. Rev. Mahoney was told last week by the US Capitol Police the Good Friday Service would not be allowed because it was in a “restricted area.” Both Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, acting …

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Biden Urges Faith Leaders To Get Behind Vax Outreach

The Washington Post reports: President Joe Biden acknowledged Thursday a rise in coronavirus cases and asked faith leaders to urge their communities to get vaccinated and to not be too “cavalier” when it comes to social distancing and traveling. “They’re going to listen to your words, more than they are me, as president of the United States,” Biden told the …

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Vatican Cardinal: Biden Isn’t A Real Catholic [VIDEO]

Via press release from Christian Newswire: From his residence in Rome, American Cardinal Raymond Burke responded pastorally to questions posed by Thomas McKenna, Founder of Catholic Action for Faith and Family and host of the monthly broadcast “Conversations with Cardinal Burke.” In the 25-minute interview, Cardinal Burke articulates in clear and unwavering terms a set of prudent steps of pastoral …

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Gallup: Church Membership Below 50% For First Time

Gallup reports: Americans’ membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999. U.S. church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and …

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Pope Francis: Satan Is Making The Pandemic Worse

Reuters reports: Pope Francis led Palm Sunday services in an almost empty St. Peter’s Basilica because of coronavirus restrictions for the second consecutive year and said the devil is taking advantage of the pandemic. In pre-coronavirus times, Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week and leads to Easter, tens of thousands of people would pack St. Peter’s Square. …

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STUDY: How The GOP Is Creating Religious “Nones”

The Christian Post reports: The marrying of religion and politics among conservatives to create the well-known and powerful religious right that forms a voting bloc for the Republican Party has led some Americans to abandon their ties to the Christian faith and join the ranks of secularists, scholars argue in a new book. The researchers present evidence suggesting that many …

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Georgia Church To Expel Shooter Because Murders Show He Isn’t A “Regenerate Believer In Jesus Christ”

From Crabapple First Baptist Church: We are thankful for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that offers forgiveness and new life to all who truly repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone for salvation. We are thankful for the grace and mercy of the Lord that gives us strength to endure in times of …

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