Christopher Vondracek

Black churches in Georgia say ‘stay at home’

A coalition of African-American faith and civil rights leaders is telling Georgia residents to stay home to fight the coronavirus as Gov. Brian Kemp reopens some businesses.

April 24, 2020

U.S. religious commission calls for China to release Panchen Lama

A boy believed to be holy and imprisoned a quarter-century ago at the age of 6 by Chinese authorities should be released, if he is still alive, said the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on Friday.

April 24, 2020

Coronavirus drains donations to churches

Churches across the country are seeing larger declines in donations amid coronavirus stay-at-home orders than they did during the Great Recession more than a decade ago, according to a leading church finances pollster.

April 23, 2020

Universities across U.S. lowering tuition for fall semester

When Franciscan University of Steubenville announced it would cover tuition for new students this fall, incoming freshman Alan Wood was thrilled.

April 22, 2020

Churches creatively maintain unity of congregation with online services

The upside of the coronavirus, says Jami Wermers, is that she's attending so many daily Masses (at least, digitally).

April 21, 2020

Over 20 million Americans lack broadband, says Sen. Mark Warner

More than 20 million Americans lack "meaningful broadband service" as people turn to the internet for school and work during the coronavirus crisis, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner warned federal regulators.

April 17, 2020

Sam Brownback calls on Russia to release Jehovah’s Witnesses

The State Department's point person on religious liberty is calling for the Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned in Russia to be released.

April 17, 2020

Religious leaders skeptical of Paycheck Protection Program, which provides coronavirus relief funds

San Antonio attorney John Litzler says he has worked with more than 100 Texas churches interested in applying for the Paycheck Protection Program intended to prop up employers ravaged by the coronavirus.

April 16, 2020

Coronavirus crisis exposes weak links in food supply chain

Before trucker Kevin Steichen could drop off hogs Tuesday night at a Tennessee processing facility, he had to be tested with a laser thermometer on his forehead.

April 15, 2020

Parents Television Council wants ‘family hour’ restored on networks’ schedules

The Parents Television Council wrote a letter to the heads of CBS, Fox, NBCUniversal, Disney Television & ABC Entertainment, and The CW Television Network calling on them to "consider the immediate restoration of the 'Family Hour'" to their nightly schedules.

April 14, 2020

Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, praised by pro-life groups for limiting abortion during pandemic

Pro-life groups on Monday issued statements of support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order to halt abortions as non-essential during the coronavirus pandemic, a directive that appears headed for the Supreme Court.

April 13, 2020

Christians improvise Easter observations, activities

Across the country and around the world, Christians improvised Easter observations and activities Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ while adhering to stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of the deadly respiratory disease.

April 12, 2020

For-profit colleges get a cut of stimulus

For-profit colleges such as Grand Canyon College and Florida Career College received $1.1 billion in aid from the recent $2.2 trillion stimulus package, according to new data from the Department of Education.

April 10, 2020

Virginia can shutter churches during coronavirus pandemic, judge rules

A state judge denied a Virginia man's legal attempt to open churches ahead of Easter Sunday, ruling in favor of Gov. Ralph Northam's stay-at-home ordinance during the coronavirus pandemic.

April 10, 2020

Betsy DeVos wants expansion of remote learning tools

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told reporters Thursday that her department aims to expand and improve remote learning tools and strategies via new funds from the $2.2 trillion economic recovery package passed last month.

April 9, 2020

U.S. Catholics wary of panel that will study idea of women as deacons

Some American Catholics are wary of Pope Francis' call for a commission to study the idea of female deacons, saying the panel likely will be mostly conservative theologians.

April 8, 2020

Child rape charges against megachurch ‘apostle’ dropped

A California appellate court has dropped child rape charges against a self-proclaimed apostle of a pentecostal Christian community based in Mexico, citing prosecutorial error.

April 8, 2020

Coronavirus outbreak may be last straw for small-town weekly newspapers

Small-town weekly newspapers across the country are writing their own obituaries as the coronavirus pandemic shutters businesses that provide advertising revenue.

April 7, 2020

Christians turn to Zoom, Facebook to save Easter from the coronavirus crisis

Christian brethren are improvising Holy Week observances and practices as the novel coronavirus transforms worship, whether it's delivering palm fronds by car, streaming Good Friday prayers or celebrating Jesus' empty tomb before empty pews.

April 6, 2020

Georgia Tech unconstitutionally banned funding for pro-life speech, says lawsuit

Student government associations at Georgia Tech unconstitutionally declined to fund a speech last fall by pro-life advocate Alveda King, says a new lawsuit filed in Atlanta.

April 3, 2020