Faith & Family
A federal judge blocks Idaho from prosecuting doctors for health-protecting abortions
A federal judge says Idaho can't prosecute doctors who perform abortions to protect a pregnant person's health or prevent self-harm.
In Weimar, Germany, a festival preserves Yiddish culture while reinventing it
In Weimar, Germany, where the streets once echoed with the notes and ideas of Bach, Liszt and Goethe, another European musical tradition has been reverberating for more than a quarter-century: Yiddish.
U.S. military base schools put new emphasis on Western civilization and Christianity
The Department of Defense is introducing a course centered on Western civilization and Christianity this fall in the schools it operates for military families, part of an effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to redirect the education system toward patriotic values and classical learning.
France’s top court blocks under-15 social media ban, citing constitutional freedoms
A top court in France on Friday struck down a law banning children under 15 from using social media, saying it infringes on fundamental freedoms.
U.S. missionary kidnapped in Niger is released after 9 months in captivity, his organization says
An American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger in October has been released, his organization said Friday.
Israel’s Christians rely on faith and allies as they fear rising harassment
Sister Mayela wears her black veil and habit as she walks to work near where another Catholic nun was violently attacked in Jerusalem's Old City - but she's now accompanied by a Jewish volunteer for protection.
Spanish town’s Socialist council moves patron saint holiday, drawing backlash
A small town in Andalusia has become the center of a national dispute after its Socialist-led council voted to move a centuries-old local holiday off the date tied to its patron saint's festivities, drawing accusations from the opposition that the change is designed to strip the celebration of its religious character.
Families feel the pinch of higher children’s shoe prices as kids head back to school
When Jonah Seidenberg found out about Nike Minds, a futuristic-looking sneaker that claims to improve concentration by stimulating the soles of the feet, he had to have them.
Australian jury convicts former Catholic bishop of sexually abusing 2 men
An Australian jury on Thursday convicted a former Catholic bishop renowned for hosting alcohol-fueled house parties of sexually abusing two young Indigenous men.
How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences during back-to-school and beyond
Parent-teacher conferences can conjure a familiar scene: adults crammed into child-size chairs, listening to teachers run through a list of students' achievements and struggles.
Argentines pray that Pope Leo’s visit alleviates their economic stress
Nearly 40 years after the last papal visit to Argentina, many Catholics received the news of Pope Leo XIV's trip to the South American country in November as a divine sign during economic hardships that have driven millions of Argentines into debt.
Suspended priest in Grenada turns to calypso to preach about sexual abuse and Gaza
A suspended Catholic priest on a tiny Caribbean island is embracing calypso to make his voice heard on topics including Gaza and sexual abuse within the church.
Pope Leo to meet with clergy abuse survivors during upcoming trip to France
Pope Leo XIV will meet with survivors of clergy abuse during a four-day trip to France next month that will include a visit to UNESCO headquarters, a meeting with French bishops in Lourdes and an interreligious meeting in the border city of Metz, the Vatican announced on Friday.
After centuries in India, the last Cochin Jews try to keep their history alive
As the sun set over Kochi's historic Jew Town neighborhood, Keith Hallegua donned a gray kippah and began a solitary walk to the synagogue at the end of his cobbled street.
Trump administration moves forward with Head Start overhaul, proposing to eliminate regulations
President Donald Trump's administration said Thursday it plans to overhaul Head Start, tossing out many of the regulations that are the hallmark of the early education program for the nation's poorest children.
Archbishop Mullally ends Africa tour with calls for healing from church’s role in slavery
After renewing her commitment to a controversial 100 million pound Church of England fund apologizing for the church's historical ties to the slave trade, Archbishop Sarah Mullally ended her 10-day Africa tour Tuesday calling for peace and healing.
Ohio already has the oldest Mormon temple. Now it has one of the newest
Elder Brian Garner led a small group of visitors through the sturdy wooden door of what looked like an ordinary colonial church. But nearly two centuries ago, it was where a radical departure in American religious history took hold.
Kids online safety bills head to full Senate in yearslong effort to rein in Big Tech
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday advanced four kids online safety bills to the floor.
U.K. antisemitic incidents surge 21% amid Iran war, London terror attacks
Antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom jumped 21% in the first half of 2026 compared with a year earlier, marking the second-highest six-month total ever recorded. A watchdog group tallied 1,926 antisemitic incidents between January and June, up from 1,598 during the same period last year.
Empty pews and fear of ICE on Maryland’s Eastern Shore after TPS ends for Haitians
These are harrowing days for the Word of Life Center, a church that has long been a vibrant hub of the Haitian community on Maryland's Eastern Shore.