Tens of thousands of people flocked to St. Peter’s Square to hear the Argentine pope deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing and message, marking the second Christmas since his election last year.
Religion
The commercialism of Christmas can overpower the biblical story of Jesus’ birth to those susceptible to its noise. However, local pastors find ways for their flocks to keep to the message while still having a little fun with the season.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, has said he thinks his traditional religious role should cease with his death rather than a “stupid” successor replace him and disgrace himself.
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.
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.