Faith & Family
Attack sets fire to centuries-old religious site in Kyiv and kills 5 in Kharkiv
A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine killed five rescuers in Kharkiv and wounded at least 20 people in the capital Kyiv on Monday as strikes set apartment buildings ablaze and sparked a fire at one of the country's most significant religious landmarks.
A viral photo of Pope Leo XIV and a Barcelona boy sparked an emotional search for his family
Pope Leo XIV locked eyes with the 7-year-old boy, holding both his hands as the two smiled at one another. Captured by Associated Press chief photographer Emilio Morenatti, the moment resonated first with onlookers and then with many others around the world.
Pope is delayed in the Canary Islands when his charter flight has a technical problem
Pope Leo XIV and some members of the Vatican delegation got off a plane in the Canary Islands on Friday shortly after boarding the Iberia charter en route back to Rome.
As UFOs go mainstream, the jury is out on what the existence of alien life might mean for religion
In "Disclosure Day," out Friday, Steven Spielberg is once again inviting audiences to ponder the existence of extraterrestrial life - and the implications it would have for religion on Earth.
Republicans ask EPA to consider abortion drug as contaminant in public water systems
A group of Republican lawmakers from the House and Senate are asking Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add a chemical abortion drug to the list of contaminants in public water systems.
Female athlete sues after prosecutor declines to charge transgender wrestler with sexual assault
A female high school wrestler who says she was sexually assaulted on the mat by a biological male has filed a Title IX lawsuit against Washington state officials, taking the case to court after prosecutors declined to charge the transgender athlete.
Pope slams world’s indifference to migrants while visiting onetime ‘dock of shame’ in Canary Islands
Pope Leo XIV traveled to a once-notorious epicenter of the European migration debate on Thursday, challenging countries to uphold migrants' rights while shaming those leaders, including Christians, who turn them away with indifference.
Happy Fidelity Month! Red states, feds promote June rebrandings in rebuff to Pride
For those weary of Pride Month, take heart: In vast swaths of the country, the month of June is undergoing a refresh.
A Pentagon list overhaul puts Mormon church’s Christian identity back in the spotlight
The Pentagon's revision to its list of Christian religions this week has reignited a nearly 200-year-old debate: Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Christian denomination?
Southern Baptists vote to advance a formal ban on churches with women pastors
Thousands of Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to advance a formal ban on women pastors in the nation's largest Protestant denomination, sending a clear message that men alone should preach to these conservative evangelical congregations.
Pope honors Barcelona’s sacred monuments on death centenary of Sagrada Familia designer Gaudi
Pope Leo XIV honored Barcelona's most sacred and beautiful monuments Wednesday with a noontime prayer at a mountain-top abbey and an evening Mass planned at the famed Sagrada Familia Basilica on the centenary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudi.
Insider tour of the Sagrada Familia reveals 5 divine enigmas and hidden treasures
The Sagrada Familia basilica features sandcastle-like spires, stone carved to look like lush flora, a kaleidoscopic interior and a trove of treasures, some hiding in plain sight. Even regular worshippers at Barcelona's world-famous landmark find themselves dumbstruck with wonder.
U.S. Catholic bishops are consecrating the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: What it means
To mark the 250th anniversary the United States, Catholic bishops from across the nation will come together Thursday to consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pope’s youth rally in Spain gets raw, with frank discussion of depression and domestic violence
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday sought to encourage Spain's young people to persevere in their faith, as he presided over an evening rally that was notable for its frank discussion of depression, domestic violence and "toxic" family relationships.
Religious schools push ‘respectful disagreement’ in Trump era
Religious colleges are holding themselves up as models of respectful political disagreement in the Trump era, as they met this week to promote their speech codes as moralizing influences on students.
Pope Leo XIV gets caught up in Spain’s great debates over soccer and language
Pope Leo XIV found himself in the midst of two of Spain's greatest rivalries - over soccer and language - as he landed in Barcelona on Tuesday during his weeklong visit to the country.
Southern Baptist Convention weighs stricter ban on churches with women pastors
Southern Baptists are beginning their annual meeting Tuesday morning, where church representatives in the staunchly conservative evangelical denomination are expected to vote on a constitutional amendment that would formally ban churches with women pastors.
Pope meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain, hopes to improve response
Pope Leo XIV met Monday with six survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Madrid and vowed to consider their suggestions for how the Catholic Church can improve its response to the crisis, the Vatican said.
Terror anniversary in Boulder, Colo., marked by observance for victims, ‘vile’ praise for attacker
The first anniversary of the deadly antisemitic firebombing in Boulder, Colorado, featured a community observance to honor the victims -- and a chilling reminder that not everyone believes violence against Jews is a bad thing.
Pope’s historic speech to Spain’s parliament demands respect for migrants and gets 7-minute ovation
Spanish lawmakers gave Pope Leo XIV a standing ovation on Monday after he called for respect for migrants' rights and international law in a historic address to parliament that signaled a new level of acceptance of the Catholic Church in the overwhelmingly secular country.