Inspiration Faith & Prayer Health & Wellness Entertainment Love & Family
Newsletters Special Offers

Beliefnet News

SYDNEY – In those bleak moments when the lost souls stood atop the cliff, wondering whether to jump, the sound of the wind and the waves was broken by a soft voice. “Why don’t you come and have a cup of tea?” the stranger would ask. And when they turned to him, his smile was…

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (RNS) A historic change in the way Roman Catholics participate in Mass will likely begin Nov. 27, 2011, according to an Illinois bishop who’s been active in preparing for the changes. Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, Ill., a former member of the U.S. bishops’ liturgy committee, said the official date for the…

WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious organizations reported a 0.7 percent decrease in donations last year, according to a study by Giving USA Foundation, a marked contrast from the 5.5 percent increase in giving reported in 2008. Religious congregations accounted for 33 percent of the total $303 billion in contributions in 2009. This is the third year in…

Scientology and abortion. The Church of Scientology does not take a position on abortion. However, the subject comes up in the writings of church founder L.Ron Hubbard, which the church regards as sacred scripture. Scientology counseling seeks to rid the mind of “mental image pictures” or “engrams” created during painful moments in one’s past including…

Editors’ note: This is a corrected version of a story that first appeared on Beliefnet June 9. AMESBURY, Mass. (RNS) When the Anglican Church in North America launched last year, founders were clear on what they didn’t want to be: the Episcopal Church. But as the ACNA marks its first anniversary with a meeting here…

(RNS) In many religious circles, the repeal of a military ban on openly gay members is considered practically a done deal. But Southern Baptists, who have many more active-duty military chaplains than any other denomination, are not giving up without a fight. The Southern Baptist Convention is battling the expected repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell…

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI hailed priests on Sunday as gifts to the world for their generous and courageous work, in a speech that didn’t mention the clergy sex abuse scandal. “Dear friends, the priest is a gift from the heart of Christ, a gift for the church and the world,” Benedict told faithful…

(RNS) Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the largest Jewish congregational body in North America, has announced that he will retire in two years. Yoffie, 63, has helmed the Union for Reform Judaism since 1996, presiding over about 900 synagogues with an estimated 1.5 million members. His efforts have included working on interfaith relations, speaking before…

LONDON (RNS) Prince Charles, heir to the British throne and next in line as titular head of the Church of England, says Western society should learn from Islamic principles to save the environment. Charles told an audience at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies on Wednesday (June 9) that “the Islamic world is the custodian…

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Twice a day, precisely at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., alarms ring on dozens of cell phones, alerting those participating in the Rev. Jim Woodard’s week-old Internet prayer initiative to spend one minute praying for relief from the BP Gulf oil spill. In Meraux, Cesar Lopez rises each morning at 4:30 a.m.…
archives most recent
search this blog
More from Beliefnet and our partners