Mark A. Kellner

Moscow’s chief rabbi leaves Russia, family cites ‘pressure by authorities’ to support Ukraine war

Moscow's chief rabbi has fled the country, his family said Tuesday, after being "put under pressure by authorities" to back Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

June 7, 2022

Baylor professor in op-ed calls for criminal probes of Southern Baptist sex abuse

A Baylor University professor has penned an op-ed calling on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate the hundreds of cases of sexual abuse in the state's Southern Baptist churches.

June 7, 2022

Russia ordered to pay $67 million to Jehovah’s Witnesses over illegal ban, human rights court says

Russia must drop its ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses, release the 91 members of the group in its jails, and stop prosecuting citizens for belonging to the movement, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday.

June 7, 2022

Nancy Reagan praised by Jill Biden as difference-maker at commemorative stamp unveiling

A commemorative U.S. postage stamp honoring the late Nancy Reagan had its design unveiled at The White House Monday, drawing praise from family members, a former Reagan aide, as well as first lady Jill Biden, a Democrat.

June 6, 2022

Abuse survivors call for more action than proposed by Southern Baptists’ task force

The Southern Baptist Convention must do more to aid survivors of sexual abuse by Baptist pastors and laypeople than its Sexual Abuse Task Force recently proposed, a group of survivors said Sunday.

June 5, 2022

Pope Francis asks world leaders ‘do not lead humanity to ruin’ in Pentecost remarks

Pope Francis on Pentecost Sunday called on world leaders to end the war in Ukraine, issuing the urgent plea "Do not lead humanity into ruin, please! Do not lead humanity into ruin, please!"

June 5, 2022

Pride Month Rainbow flag displayed at American Vatican embassy in Rome

The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome is displaying a Rainbow Flag in honor of Pride Month, which the diplomatic mission to the Vatican State displayed this week on Twitter.

June 3, 2022

Blinken vows U.S. will ‘stand up’ for religious freedom around globe

Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed Thursday the United States "will continue to stand up for religious freedom around the world" as the agency released a more than 2,000-page report on the state of religious tolerance in countries around the world.

June 2, 2022

Hungary balks at EU sanctions on Patriarch Kirill, blocking overall package

Objections by Hungary to European Union sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, are holding up enactment of stricter measures against Russian oil imports.

June 1, 2022

Southern Baptist panel buries compensation demands in recommendations to June business session

A Southern Baptist Convention sexual abuse task force buried calls for victim compensation on Wednesday as it suggested reforms for church delegates to approve at this month's business session in Anaheim, California.

June 1, 2022

Student sues university over ‘no-contact’ orders after Christian statements

A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate student sued the school Tuesday for civil rights violations after she was issued three "no-contact" orders involving peers who disagreed with her conservative and Christian beliefs.

May 31, 2022

First transgender Lutheran bishop gets council backing against resignation nudge

The transgender bishop at the center of a racially tinged spat received the backing of the church district's council Tuesday in the face of the denomination's presiding bishop's resignation demand.

May 31, 2022

Poll: Americans want to limit abortion, especially early in pregnancy

Americans generally support greater limits on abortion and it's not just religious voters, according to a new survey from a Southern Baptist seminary revealed Tuesday.

May 31, 2022

Mormon elder says church backs gay rights with religious protections

Elder David A. Bednar of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Thursday the church supports the civil rights of LGBTQ people and is working to advance legislation that also protects "the freedom of belief that we hold so dear."

May 26, 2022

Palestinians, Israelis both gain in Americans’ esteem, survey finds

U.S. public opinion of the Palestinian and Israeli people is warming, but Americans' view of both governments improved even more, a new survey from the Pew Research Center revealed Thursday.

May 26, 2022

Lamborn, Rubio among sponsors of bill to protect unvaccinated USAF cadets

Ten senators Wednesday introduced legislation to protect what they said were the free conscience rights of cadets at U.S. military academies who refuse vaccinations because of their beliefs. A companion measure is expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives.

May 25, 2022

Advocacy group seeks to elevate profile of Christians in Middle East region

A nonprofit that advocates for Christian engagement in the Middle East is planning to hold three summit meetings with Christian leaders in the region to promote religious pluralism and assist in the development of their societies.

May 24, 2022

Southern Baptists to release list of known sex predators

Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee vowed Tuesday to release a list of known sexual predators that a former attorney for the nation's largest Protestant denomination had kept secret over liability concerns.

May 24, 2022

Lawsuit to continue as ‘overwhelming’ McLean Bible Church vote affirms new election rules

A yearlong dispute over the election of church leaders at McLean Bible Church in Virginia moved closer towards resolution Monday -- at least for the church's side -- when the megachurch announced an overwhelming vote in favor of new voting rules for the elders council.

May 23, 2022

Survey: American Airlines most faith-friendly among Fortune 500

American Airlines is the most faith-friendly among the Fortune 500 companies, according to a religious freedom survey released Monday.

May 23, 2022