An unprecedented Vatican investigation of U.S. women’s religious orders that alarmed Roman Catholic sisters when the inquiry began years ago ended Tuesday with a report signaling a softer approach under Pope Francis.
Religion
The Fremont Street Experience will celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah on Tuesday with this year’s edition of downtown Las Vegas’ Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony.
Celebrations of marriage equality seem least likely to be found in a church, given the resistance much of Christianity has to the concept. But Christ Church Episcopal did just that Thursday evening, pointing to what it considers progress while acknowledging a long path ahead to greater acceptance in the Christian community.
Christian and Jewish couples often find this time of year challenging as they celebrate and respect each other’s religious traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah.
“It’s not often that you can say the first non-Native American to pass through a state was a Catholic priest, so that’s one reason for my passion,” said Monsignor Gregory Gordon, pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church, who spearheaded a drive to replace a historical state marker honoring the priest’s place in Nevada history, which went MIA 15 years ago.
The Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada’s Thanksgiving Observance on Nov. 23 took place at Congregation Ner Tamid. Representatives from several faith groups participated with the hope of building bridges of respect.
Residents of the Philadelphia area are being asked to show some brotherly love to those traveling to the city to see Pope Francis next year. With hotel rooms filling up fast, organizers hope to find more than 10,000 households willing to host guests in their spare bedrooms for a modest fee.
One of the most familiar and moving works of the holiday season is George Friedrich Handel’s “The Messiah.” Green Valley Presbyterian Church is presenting the music in concert Dec. 3 with help from the harpsichord and a rousing chorus that includes the audience.
Pope Francis confirmed Monday that he will make his first papal visit to the United States with a trip to Philadelphia next September for the World Meeting of Families, a conference held every three years in a different city to celebrate the importance of family.
As difficult as it is for most Americans kids to imagine, there are children in the world who have never received a gift, not for their birthday, a holiday or any other occasion. Operation Christmas Child works to fill that void.
Maryland’s biggest school district has stripped references to religious holidays from next year’s calendar, removing Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah from the lineup of days off.
The Mormon church has admitted that founder Joseph Smith married about 40 women including a 14-year-old and others who were already the wives of his followers, having maintained for nearly 200 years that he was monogamous.
A Mormon bishop in Los Angeles apologized Sunday for the tone of a blog saying Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was unworthy to enter the faith’s temples, but stood by his criticism of Reid’s stands on some issues.
The march from the “old” Unity Baptist Church at 545 Marion Drive to its new building on Oct. 31 was about a stone’s throw. The new church is right next door, at 543 Marion Drive. But the journey to get there has been long.
Violent crimes can be traumatic for neighbors as well as victims. To comfort and reach out to those who may be suffering, local police created PEACE Shield, which involves religious leaders going into such neighborhoods and talking to people face to face.