Religion

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: A former priest and two professional dominatrices accused of performing sex acts on the altar of a Catholic church in Pearl River were charged by the north shore District Attorney’s Office Thursday with one count of institutional vandalism, a felony. Travis John Clark, 37, who was pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and …

The Washington Post reports: Robert Aaron Long’s longtime church condemned him in a lengthy statement on Friday morning, saying the 21-year-old suspect in the shootings at three Georgia spas had committed an “extreme and wicked act.” “These unthinkable and egregious murders directly contradict his own confession of faith in Jesus and the gospel,” the statement from Crabapple First Baptist Church …

Reuters reports: The Vatican said on Monday that priests and other Catholic Church ministers cannot bless same-sex unions and that such blessings are “not licit” if carried out. The Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), issued the ruling in response to questions and moves in some parishes to impart such blessings as a sign …

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports: The longtime treasurer of a Mt. Pleasant Township church was arrested this week after admitting to state troopers he stole at least $150,000 from church coffers and spent a large portion of the money on a pornographic website, according to court records. Glenn E. Yothers, 56, of Unity, is charged with theft by deception and theft …

Religion News Service reports: Jeremiah Johnson, the self-described prophet who faced backlash from fellow evangelical Christians after publicly apologizing for prophesying former President Donald Trump would be reelected president, is ending Jeremiah Johnson Ministries. The announcement comes “after much prayer and the clear direction of the Lord,” Johnson said Monday (March 8) on his Facebook page. It also comes after …

NPR reports: Pope Francis has touched down in Iraq for the first-ever papal visit to the predominantly Muslim country, beginning a four-day visit in Baghdad, where yellow and white Vatican flags and likenesses of the pontiff flutter above hastily weeded traffic circles. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi welcomed Francis at Baghdad International Airport. He was greeted with fanfare as he stepped …

Reuters reports: Former pope Benedict has chided conservative Roman Catholics who have not accepted his decision to resign as “fanatical”, telling them that there is only one pope and it is Francis. Benedict, now 93, in 2013 became the first pope in more than 600 years to resign instead of ruling for life, saying he no longer had the strength …

The New York Times reports: One of the country’s largest adoption and foster care agencies, Bethany Christian Services, announced Monday that it will begin providing services to L.G.B.T.Q. parents nationwide effective immediately, a major inflection point in the fraught battle over many faith-based agencies’ longstanding opposition to working with same-sex couples. The Michigan-based evangelical organization announced the change in an …

The San Francisco Chronicle reports: A San Francisco priest has died from COVID-19, a week after his church temporarily shut down after at least three priests and clergy members tested positive for COVID-19. Father Bob Stein of Saints Peter and Paul Church died early Tuesday morning, per a statement published by the North Beach institution on its website. The church …

Los Angeles’s ABC News affiliate reports: Frederick K.C. Price, one of Los Angeles’ most prominent religious leaders and founder of the Crenshaw Christian Center, has died from COVID-19 at the age of 89. Apostle Price, who led services in the landmark FaithDome for many years, died Friday evening, according to a statement issued by EIF Ministries. Price founded the Crenshaw …