Religion News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Church of England unveils plan for women bishops in 2015

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:08:55 -0400

By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor (Reuters) - The Church of England published a plan on Friday to approve the ordination of women bishops by 2015, a widely supported reform it just missed passing last November after two decades of divisive debate. It said the new plan, outlined in a document signed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York John Sentamu, would be presented to the General Synod, the Church legislature, in July to begin the approval process. ...

Madrid's Catholic Church says it needs exorcists

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:20:41 -0400

MADRID (AP) — The Catholic archdiocese in Madrid says it needs more exorcists to help some of its faithful cope with the devil.

In deeply religious Oklahoma, prayer brings solace after tornado

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:58:06 -0400

By Alice Mannette MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - In deeply religious Moore, Oklahoma, God and prayer are frequently mentioned as sources of strength for residents reeling from the fourth damaging tornado in 15 years. "My family and God is what's helping us through this," said Vickie Myers, 39, whose husband Brent, a disabled military veteran, is now recovering after he was pulled unconscious from the rubble of their home on Monday. ...

Catholic order to pay $16.5 million to more than 400 claiming sex abuse

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:19:43 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An order of the Roman Catholic Church has agreed to pay $16.5 million to more than 400 adults who said they were sexually abused as children by religious leaders, the parties announced on Thursday in separate statements. The victims claimed abuse at schools and child-care facilities belonging to the Christian Brothers and the Christian Brothers of Ireland, Inc, in 17 U.S. states and Canada from the late 1940s or early 1950s until the 1980s, said James Stang, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs. The settlement agreement reached in U.S. ...

Christian Brothers reach deal in US abuse claims

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:50:17 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) — The Christian Brothers have agreed to pay more than $16 million to people who were molested as children by members of the U.S. religious order.

With youth pounding at kingdom's gates, Saudi Arabia begins religious police reform

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:24:47 -0400

You may have heard about the case last month of three young men from the United Arab Emirates deported from Saudi Arabia for being “too handsome.”

Pope, Salvador president, discuss beatification of slain archbishop

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:14:55 -0400

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The president of El Salvador met Pope Francis on Thursday to urge his fellow Latin American to put Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was murdered by a right-wing death squad in 1980, on the road to Roman Catholic sainthood. The sainthood process for Romero was effectively stalled under former popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI because they saw him as too close to Liberation Theology, a radical movement which emphasized helping the poor and opposing injustice. ...

Court to hear case on whether Obamacare violates religious liberties

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:41:52 -0400

A federal appeals court in Denver is set to hear argument on Thursday in a lawsuit charging that the Obama administration’s requirement that employers provide contraceptive services in all mandated health plans violates religious liberty.

Is the Vatican Bank finally fighting money laundering for real?

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:45:00 -0400

The Holy See's new financial watchdog just announced six incidents of possible monetary malfeasance from last year

Boston church official faces racketeering charges

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:22:38 -0400

BOSTON (AP) — A Boston church official who claimed in an autobiography he was a leg-breaker for reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger faces accusations that he looted the church's assets for personal financial gain.

Arizona House non-prayer sparks Christian re-do

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:35:21 -0400

PHOENIX (AP) — An atheist lawmaker's decision to give the daily prayer at the Arizona House of Representatives triggered a do-over from a Christian lawmaker who said the previous day's prayer didn't pass muster.

Vatican releases 1st report of financial watchdog

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:33:30 -0400

The Vatican took another step Wednesday to show greater financial transparency by publishing the first annual report from its financial watchdog agency and announcing new regulations to fight money laundering ...

News Summary: Vatican publishes financial report

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:25:57 -0400

ACCOUNTABILITY: The Vatican published the first annual report from its financial watchdog agency and announced new regulations to fight money laundering and terror financing. DETAILS: The report from the ...

Vatican financial body investigating possible money laundering

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:18:05 -0400

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican's new financial watchdog said on Wednesday it had detected six possible attempts to use the Holy See to launder money last year, citing this as proof of its commitment to transparency. The head of the Vatican's Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), presenting its first annual report, also said it would soon have stronger supervisory powers over the Vatican's scandal-plagued bank, the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), dubbed the world's most secretive bank by Forbes magazine. ...

Quebec government polls public on 'problem' of religious accommodation

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:16:34 -0400

QUEBEC - The Quebec government is turning to public opinion as it seeks to set guidelines for minority rights.

Pope and the devil: Francis' fascination with Satan leads to suspicion he performed exorcism

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:08:33 -0400

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' fascination with the devil took on remarkable new twists Tuesday, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man possessed by four different demons despite the Vatican's insistence that no such papal exorcism took place.

Pope issues first appeal for Chinese Catholics

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:41:06 -0400

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has issued his first appeal directed at Catholics in China, long the source of concern for his predecessor Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis urges China's Catholics to stay loyal to Rome

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:25:49 -0400

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged Catholics in China to remain loyal to the Vatican, whose authority is challenged by China's Communist rulers. China's Catholics number between 8 and 12 million and are divided between the state-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association, which has installed bishops without Vatican approval, and an "underground" wing loyal to the Vatican that rejects state control. Francis's predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, made May 24 a day dedicated to prayer for China's Catholics. Francis said at his weekly audience in St. ...

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:31:11 -0400

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis' fascination with the devil took on remarkable new twists Tuesday, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man possessed by four different demons despite the Vatican's insistence that no such papal exorcism took place.

Russia moves closer to jail terms for offending religion

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:59:48 -0400

By Maria Tsvetkova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers on Tuesday took a step toward imposing jail terms for offending religious feelings, approving legislation proposed after punk band Pussy Riot performed a raucous protest song in Moscow's main Orthodox Christian cathedral. Critics say the bill will give government-approved religious groups protection others lack and blur the line between church and state under President Vladimir Putin, who has advocated a strong societal role for the Russian Orthodox Church. ...

Christian singer Patty to deliver Indy 500 anthem

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:13:27 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Christian music singer Sandi Patty will perform the national anthem at Sunday's Indianapolis 500 for a record sixth time.

Pope criticizes 'savage capitalism' on visit to food kitchen

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:03:30 -0400

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis criticized what he called "savage capitalism" on a visit to a food kitchen on Tuesday, in an address in which he called for the values of generosity and charity to be revived. "A savage capitalism has taught the logic of profit at any cost, of giving in order to get, of exploitation without thinking of people... and we see the results in the crisis we are experiencing," the pope said. Francis greeted the men and women coming to the 'Gift of Maria' food kitchen, located at the walls of the Vatican. ...

Pope expresses solidarity with tornado survivors

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:53:06 -0400

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has expressed his "closeness to the families of all who died in the Oklahoma tornado," with special concern for "those who lost young children."

Police: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris evacuated after suicide inside the landmark church

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:02:05 -0400

PARIS - Paris police say Notre Dame Cathedral has been evacuated after a man committed suicide in the 850-year-old monument and tourist site.

Paris police say Notre Dame Cathedral evacuated after suicide inside the famed church

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:54:57 -0400

Paris police say Notre Dame Cathedral evacuated after suicide inside the famed church.

Vatican marks anniversary of 1972 attack on Michelangelo's Pieta

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:46:03 -0400

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Forty-one years ago, a crazed Hungarian named Laszlo Toth jumped an altar railing in St. Peter's Basilica and dealt 12 hammer blows to Michelangelo's Pieta, severely damaging the Renaissance masterpiece. To mark the attack on May 21, 1972, the Vatican Museums held a day-long seminar on Tuesday on the statue, the incident, and what subsequently became one of the most delicate and controversial art restorations in history. ...

The pope and the devil: Francis' obsession with Satan leads to suspicion he performed exorcism

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:31:05 -0400

VATICAN CITY - Is Pope Francis an exorcist?

Church of Scotland takes step to allow gay clergy

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:03:06 -0400

LONDON (AP) — Senior members of the Church of Scotland voted Monday to let some congregations choose ministers who are in same-sex relationships — an important compromise that must still pass further hurdles before it can become church law.

Church of Scotland votes to allow gay ministers

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:06:40 -0400

LONDON (AP) — Senior members of the Church of Scotland have voted to let some congregations have openly gay ministers, a compromise first step that could lead to the church allowing gay clergy.

Rosie Pope helps navigate exotic baby gear

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:40:33 -0400

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the purveyors of belly casts and placenta pills, sonogram art and cord banks at a recent baby gear extravaganza stood a smiling Rosie Pope, pregnancy advice guru, mommy concierge to the rich and, with any luck, the Martha Stewart of maternity.