Faith & Family
Fairfax, Arlington counties can defend transgender student policies in court, judges rule
An appeals court delivered a victory Thursday to Fairfax and Arlington counties' school systems, ruling that they can turn to the regular federal courts to defend their transgender student policies against the Department of Education.
Reason, faith and ghosts: The surprising mix of beliefs researchers found in religious Americans
Americans who trust science and reason more than their churches' teachings, but still believe in God or attend services, are also more likely to believe in magic than those who prioritize religious teachings.
Questions swirl about pope’s future and what he knew when praying at a French shrine famed for cures
When Pope Leo XIV was elected after the pained finale of Pope Francis' pontificate, there was hope that a younger, healthier pope would be able to guide the Catholic Church for quite some time before age and ailments slowed him.
Religious preschools want public funding but exemptions from nondiscrimination rules
When Colorado launched its Universal Preschool Program in 2023, the goal was simple: Give every 4-year-old in the state access to free, publicly funded education. To deliver on that promise, the state allowed both public and private providers - including faith-based preschools - to participate, provided they abide by the program's rules.
Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. Here’s what that means
Pope Leo XIV had the lower section of his right lung removed after doctors diagnosed him with the most common form of lung cancer. While lung cancer is a leading killer, survival rates can be high if it's caught early, as the pope's tumor appears to have been. Here are some things to know.
No decision after Family Federation head attends appeal hearing in Seoul court
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the 83-year-old spiritual leader of the global religious organization known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, returned to prison Tuesday after a hearing in a Seoul courtroom regarding her appeal of the sentence she received in August.
Pope Leo is eating and recovering after cancer surgery, his doctors say
Pope Leo XIV was eating regularly Wednesday and began walking and doing respiratory exercises, and his tests are normal following surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, the Vatican said.
Her son has serious disabilities. She believes she is the best person to teach him
"You can't hit me, Will. You know that," Katherine Walter says to her 11-year-old son, deflecting a swat.
U.S. military archbishop: Catholic soldiers shouldn’t take part in firing squad of Fort Hood shooter
The archbishop for the U.S. military says Catholic soldiers should not participate in the firing squad execution of the former Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
Vatican: Pope Leo has lung cancer, had lower lobe of right lung removed
Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and that the lower lobe of his right lung was removed.
Surgery confirms pope has lung cancer and he had the lower lobe of his right lung removed
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule and the Vatican said the operation was completed "successfully, on schedule and as planned."
Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung nodule at Rome’s Gemelli hospital
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule, officials said, an operation that should determine whether the lesion is malignant and if other treatment is needed.
Experts urge parents to prepare kids for possible livestreamed execution
This is not an article about politics, capital punishment or whether the Fort Hood shooter deserves to be executed in public for his crimes. Instead, it's focused on the unprecedented parental challenge of handling the near-certain prospect that children will hear of or see footage of the Dec. 3 U.S. execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan if the Trump administration follows through with plans to livestream the event.
Archbishop of the U.S. military says Catholic soldiers should not serve on firing squad
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees the Catholic Church's pastoral services to Catholics in the U.S. military, is condemning the proposed livestream of the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan.
What to know about Pope Leo’s planned lung nodule surgery
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to have an operation this week to remove "a localized nodule" in his lung that was "detected at a very early stage." It is the first medical event of his 17-month papacy.
Pope Leo declares death penalty ‘inadmissible’ as his native U.S. plans to livestream execution
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday declared capital punishment ''inadmissible" as he marked the World Day Against the Death Penalty and his native United States announced plans to livestream an execution by firing squad.
Australian bishop acknowledges 8-year delay in justice in Indigenous abuse case but defends process
A top Australian Catholic bishop has acknowledged the eight-year delay in bringing a fellow bishop to justice on charges he sexually abused young Indigenous men. But he defended the church's decision to let police take the lead in the case as a necessary guarantee.
Pope Leo lays groundwork for future conclave by naming Filipino cardinal as dean of cardinals
Pope Leo XIV took a first step Friday to lay the groundwork for the eventual conclave that will elect his successor: He appointed Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new dean of the College of Cardinals, elevating his profile as a papal contender in the process.
Compassionate shift by the Catholic Church with first suicide memorial by a U.S. archdiocese
The Rev. Charles Rubey recalls the moment when he realized Catholic priests needed to do a better job supporting families of those who died by suicide.
In Southern races, Democrats are breaking with their party on transgender policy
Democrats trying to win in conservative areas of the Southeast are assuring voters that they don't support liberal transgender policies.