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Baghdad–Bombs hit Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad and a central Iraqi city Thursday, killing at least 26 people and wounding dozens more, in the latest attack in the lead-up to Ashoura, the sect’s most solemn annual rite. The blasts raised fears of more bloodshed as hundreds of thousands of Shiites head to the holy city of…

Bethlehem, West Bank–Thousands of pilgrims from around the world descended on the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday, greeted by choruses, scout troops and rock bands for the most upbeat Christmas celebrations this Palestinian town has seen in years. But the Holy Land’s top Roman Catholic clergyman reminded followers that peace remains elusive, while the…

NAZARETH, Israel – Just in time for Christmas, archaeologists on Monday unveiled what may have been the home of one of Jesus’ childhood neighbors. The humble dwelling is the first dating to the era of Jesus to be discovered in Nazareth, then a hamlet of around 50 impoverished Jewish families where Jesus spent his boyhood.…

ATLANTA – Former President Jimmy Carter is offering the Jewish community an apology for any of his “words and deeds” that may have upset them. Carter writes in an open letter to the Jewish community this week that he hopes the new year will bring peace between Israel and its neighbors. He says “we must…

WASHINGTON – The way abortions are covered under health care reform is a major obstacle to finalizing the legislation, even though the House and Senate both agree that no federal money should be used. The stumbling block is whether insurance plans that get federal money are completely barred from covering abortions, or whether they can…

(RNS) The final draft of a document aimed at mediating disputes between liberals and conservatives in the global Anglican Communion was sent on Friday (Dec. 18) to its 38 provinces for approval. The Anglican Communion, which is the world’s third-largest body of Christians with 77 million members, has been bitterly divided over homosexuality since the…

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – California’s Sonoma County has ordered officials to remove angels, stars and other religious symbols from Christmas trees in county buildings over concerns they violate the Constitution. County Administrator Chris Thomas issued the order Monday to managers of all 26 county departments, saying it is not the government’s role to endorse religion.…

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI on Monday described a visit to Israel’s Holocaust memorial as a disturbing encounter with hatred, days after his decision to move the controversial World War II-era pope closer to sainthood angered Jewish groups. The German-born Benedict signed a decree Saturday on the virtues of Pope Pius XII, who has…

GENEVA (RNS/ENI) Faith groups have expressed disappointment and anger over the outcome of the United Nations talks on climate change that have ended in Copenhagen, pledging to continue to press for climate justice. “With a lack of transparency, the agreement reached this past week by some countries was negotiated without consensus but rather in secret…

TULSA, Okla. – Evangelist Oral Roberts was remembered Monday as a charismatic leader who deftly used television to spread the message of Christianity throughout the world. Thousands packed an arena at Oral Roberts University for the memorial service for the man who founded the evangelical liberal arts school. Roberts died of complications from pneumonia at…
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