Jewish leaders mark first Sabbath since Texas synagogue hostage siege

Jewish leaders marked the first Sabbath since last weekend's hostage-taking at Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, with a show of defiance against it and other acts of antisemitism.

Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, dies at 95

Thich Nhat Hanh, the revered Zen Buddhist monk who helped spread the practice of mindfulness in the West and socially engaged Buddhism in the East, has died. He was 95.

Pope Francis baptizes 16 babies in Sistine Chapel after pandemic break

Pope Francis baptized 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel Sunday, resuming a decades-old Vatican tradition that had been interrupted last year by the pandemic.

Pope criticizes couples who adopt pets instead of children: 'a form of selfishness'

Pope Francis on Wednesday branded couples who adopt pets instead of children as "selfish" as part of a call to resolve the "demographic winter" that the West faces.

Pope Francis starts new year with call to protect women, focus on the good

Pope Francis has used his New Year's Day appearances to encourage people to focus on the good which unites them and to decry violence against women.

Pope Francis prays for pandemic's end in Christmas Day address

Pope Francis' Christmas Day speech gives him an opportunity to draw a global audience's attention to conflicts big and small. This year was no different.

Jewish house of worship in San Jose goes up in flames, Torahs spared

The Chabad house, a Jewish place of study and worship, went up in flames this week, but fortunately, the Torahs were spared.

Missionaries freed from captivity in Haiti last week made daring overnight escape to elude kidnappers

Captive missionaries in Haiti found freedom last week by making a daring overnight escape, eluding their kidnappers and walking for miles over difficult, moonlit terrain with an infant and other children in tow, according to the agency they work for, officials said Monday.

Pope Francis celebrates 85th birthday as reform hits stride

Pope Francis turns 85 on Dec. 17, a milestone as he continues efforts to make the Catholic Church more attuned to the laity.

Haiti kidnapping: All Christian Aid Ministries hostages freed, police say

The Christian Aid Ministries hostages in Haiti have all been freed, according to the group and police. The group of 17 was kidnapped on Oct. 16.

Arson suspected after playground equipment burns at Haralson County church

The Haralson County Sheriff's Office said a boat structure costing about $10,000 burned down overnight. Investigators believe it was intentionally set.

Pope Francis addresses nun abuse detailed in investigative expose

During an audience with members of the Vatican’s congregation for religious orders, Pope Francis cited a new investigative expose of the problem written by a reporter for the Holy See’s media, Salvatore Cernuzio.

Lakewood Church money: Plumber who found cash, checks in wall to get $20K

Crime Stoppers of Houston is gifting $20,000 to the plumber who found a large amount of money inside of a wall at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church last month. Police believe the money is connected to a theft case from 2014.

Marcus Lamb, CEO of anti-vaccine Daystar Christian network, dies of COVID-19

“It’s with a heavy heart we announce that Marcus Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with the Lord this morning,” the network said a tweet Tuesday.

‘Chanukah Sameach’ : Biden recognizes Hanukkah  2021 with well wishes

“From our family to yours, and from the People’s House to your own homes, Jill and I wish you and your loved ones a Chanukah Sameach, a Happy Hanukkah!” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Phil Saviano, Catholic church sex abuse survivor and whistleblower, dies

Saviano played a central role in illuminating the scandal, which led to the resignation of Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law and church settlements with hundreds of victims.

Survey: Few Americans blame God for COVID-19 pandemic, other tragedies

A large majority of U.S. adults believe that most of the suffering in the world comes from people rather than from God, according to surveys from the Pew Research Center.