Religion News Headlines

The Vatican has reportedly "approved" a second miracle that can be attributed to the memory of Pope John Paul II, opening the door for him to become a full saint faster than anyone in recent history. The Vatican won't reveal the details of the miracle just yet, but it allegedly concerns the "extraordinary healing" of a …

PARIS (Reuters) - Heavy flooding in southwestern France killed a woman and forced the closure of the Roman Catholic pilgrimage site at Lourdes on Wednesday, less than a year after flash floods caused millions of euros of damage to the shrine. Video footage showed frothy water a meter (3 feet) deep swirling around the Lourdes …

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A Utah man shot in the head during a Father's Day Mass was upgraded to fair condition Tuesday — just a few hours after his son-in-law was charged with attempted homicide in the shooting.

NEW YORK (AP) — A Roman Catholic religious order released an unusually candid report Tuesday outlining how its leaders failed for decades to stop sex abuse in its schools and other ministries.

After years of moving in a more socially liberal direction along with the rest of western Europe, the Spanish government is now doing an about face, seeking to clamp down on abortion and return the Roman Catholic Church to a prominent role in the country's school system.

OGDEN, Utah - It was a quiet part of the Father's Day Mass as about 300 people stood up in preparation for communion. A parishioner, known by many at the church as Ricky Jennings, entered through the glass doors in back, holding his wife Cheryl's hand.

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — It was a quiet part of the Father's Day Mass as about 300 people stood up in preparation for communion. A parishioner, known by many at the church as Ricky Jennings, entered through the glass doors in back, holding his wife Cheryl's hand.

A judge on Monday declared New Hampshire's new scholarship program unconstitutional but allowed it to continue as long as none of the money goes to religious schools. Under the program created last summer, ...

By Environment Correspondent Alister Doyle OSLO (Reuters) - Few religious communities have gone as far in fighting climate change as a church in Queensland, Australia, which has 24 solar panels bolted to the roof in the shape of a Christian cross. "It's very effective. It's inspired some members of our congregation to install …

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A Utah man is expected to survive after his son-in-law walked into Father's Day Catholic Mass and shot him in the head in front of a congregation of 300 people, many of whom hit the floor, then helped try to stop the bleeding and chase after the suspect.

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Authorities in Utah plan to offer details about a man accused of walking into a Catholic church and shooting another man in the back of the head during Mass in Ogden.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday for the first time since Maduro won a narrow and disputed election victory to succeed late Socialist leader Hugo Chavez. The men discussed poverty, the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, and regional issues including …

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of walking into a Catholic church and shooting his father-in-law in the back of the head during Mass.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Pope Francis should pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to focus on promoting democracy and peaceful coexistence to ease tensions with the socialist government's opponents, the Catholic Church's top representative in the country said Sunday.

By Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - Hundreds of bikers took a break from hell-raising on Sunday to be blessed by Pope Francis. Wearing black boots, jackets and vests, the tattooed Harley-Davidson riders stuck out among the nuns, priests, school children and shorts-wearing tourists at an open-air Mass in St. Peter's square. …

CAIRO (AP) — A hard-line Muslim cleric received an 11-year suspended sentence Sunday for tearing up and burning a Bible, Egypt's official news agency said.

Sometimes being the Pope takes you to strange places and requires you to bless strange things. Like Sunday, for instance, when Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley Davidson motorcycles and their riders visiting the Vatican for the bike's 110th anniversary. Motors roared and leather reigned during the Pope's usual Sunday …

CAIRO (Reuters) - A Cairo court sentenced an Egyptian Muslim preacher to 11 years in jail for blasphemy on Sunday for burning a Bible during a protest last year outside the U.S. embassy. Convictions for insulting Islam are common in Egypt, ruled by Islamists after the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, but more …

VATICAN CITY - Biker culture came to the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders celebrating the manufacturer's 110th anniversary with a loud parade and plenty of leather.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Biker culture came to the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders celebrating the manufacturer's 110th anniversary with a loud parade and plenty of leather.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing lingering tensions in his party, the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP's plans to expand.

By Steve Scherer VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged a delegation of French lawmakers on Saturday to avoid following only "fashions and ideas of the moment", when legislating, in an apparent reference to the country's legalization of gay marriage last month. The law granting gay men and lesbians equality in marriage …

By Steve Scherer VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis made a key appointment to the Vatican bank on Saturday, part of a clean-up of the institution which has a history of murky financial dealings and is being closely watched by the European money-laundering watchdog. Francis backed the naming of Monsignor Mario Salvatore …