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Religion

Swedish court sentences far-right politician for insulting Muslims

A Swedish court sentenced a far-right politician to four months in jail for two counts of “incitement against an ethnic group” after making hateful comments at political rallies two years ago.

Movie Review: ‘Heretic’ is a fascinating mix of high discourse, gore and a shifty Hugh Grant

★★★★

Trial opens in France in the beheading of a teacher over prophet cartoons

A leader of Mexican folk saint cult ‘La Santa Muerte’ is killed at an altar to the skeletal figure

Pope Francis prays in front of graves of unborn children ahead of All Souls’ Day Mass

NYC trio charged with hate crimes linked to pro-Palestinian vandalism of museum officials’ homes

Three New York residents have been indicted on hate crimes charges in connection with red paint smeared on the homes of Brooklyn Museum leaders during a wave of pro-Palestinian protests this summer.

After exiting the Christian music industry, these artists engage religion on their terms

When former Christian artist Michael Gungor first hosted a new spiritual community in Los Angeles this year, worship began not with an organ blast or sermon series video promo, but with blowing bubbles.

Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh rally to demand protection from attacks

Tens of thousands of minority Hindus have rallied to demand that the interim government in Muslim-majority Bangladesh protect them from a wave of attacks and harassment and to drop sedition cases against Hindu community leaders.

Spiritual, not spooky. After Halloween, Christians observe All Saints’ Day

Christians in many countries around the world are celebrating All Saints’ Day, a somber and spiritual day in the church’s liturgical calendar that shares pagan roots with Halloween.

We are what we celebrate: America’s holiday calendar is increasingly diverse

For the first time, New York City’s public school students have the day off to mark the holiday of Diwali, celebrated in India and among the global Indian diaspora as the victory of light over darkness.

From the steppes with shamanism: The Hu makes hits with praises to the sky deity

(RNS) — An eight-man heavy metal band from Mongolia known as The Hu has done what few thought could happen in the 21st century: Create a new genre of folk-metal music.

Then & Now: How immigration reshaped the look of a Minnesota farm town

Immigration from around the world has transformed the rural Minnesota town of Worthington. Historical photos and snapshots from today show the changes downtown and beyond.

In Amharic, Karen and Spanish, worship is like home for migrants in heartland town

At noon on Sundays in Worthington, Minnesota, an overflow crowd is still swaying to the Guatemalan band at Spanish-language Catholic Mass, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are wrapping up their six-hour-long service, and at town’s edge among the cornfields, refugees from Southeast Asia gather to pray a

Takeaways from AP’s report on how immigration transformed a Minnesota farm town

Immigration is a core issue for voters. Some of the 2024 campaign’s most charged political vitriol has swirled around its effects.

Minnesota farm town reshaped by migrants wrestles with real changes beyond the political vitriol

Immigration is a core issue for voters. Some of the 2024 campaign’s most charged political vitriol has swirled around its effects.

Some US Muslims struggle to find a candidate they can tolerate supporting for president

Just four years ago, most U.S. Muslim voters supported Democratic President Joe Biden. But with his administration’s support for Israel and handling of the wars in the Middle East leaving many of them feeling outraged and ignored, some are seeking a rebuff of the Democrats through the ballot box, in

Ayodhya in northern India celebrates the night before Diwali with pomp and pageantry

AYODHYA, India (AP) — A priest stands with folded hands praying toward the rising sun on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Use of smoke-emitting firecrackers renews air pollution debate in India’s capital ahead of Diwali

As India gears up for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, people are divided over whether they should celebrate by setting off firecrackers, which worsen the country’s chronic air pollution.

Man who killed eagles on a Native American reservation gets nearly 4 years in prison

A Washington state man who authorities say led a wildlife trafficking ring on a Native American reservation in Montana that killed thousands of eagles and hawks was sentenced to nearly four years in prison.

Vatican tribunal explains conviction of cardinal and others in ‘trial of the century’

The Vatican tribunal says it convicted a cardinal of aggravated fraud and other charges because of his “objectively inexplicable behavior” in paying a self-styled intelligence analyst more than a half-million euros (dollars) in Vatican money.

What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights?

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India and for Hindus in particular. It is celebrated across faiths in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora.

Catholic hospital agrees to provide abortions after California sues over miscarriage care

Providence St. Joseph Hospital and the California Attorney General’s office have reached a temporary agreement in a case alleging the Catholic-owned hospital in Humboldt County violated multiple state laws by denying emergency abortion care to pregnant patients.

Longtime music director at Michigan church fired for same-sex marriage

The longtime music director at a northern Michigan church says he was fired just a few months before retirement.

Indians celebrate Diwali by lighting a record number of clay lamps

Indians are celebrating the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, by symbolically lighting a record 2.51 million clay oil lamps at dusk on the banks of the river Saryu in a city they believe to be the birthplace of the deity Lord Ram.

Hundreds of Jews murdered at a little known Nazi labor camp are remembered

The son of a Holocaust survivor has fulfilled a yearslong personal mission with the unveiling of memorials to hundreds of Jews murdered by German forces during World War II.

Liberty University sued by former IT staffer fired after disclosing she’s a transgender woman

The nationwide debate over transgender rights is playing out on a personal level in a federal court lawsuit filed by a former Liberty University employee fired by the Christian school after disclosing her identity as a transgender woman.

Latino evangelical voters torn between their faith and harsh rhetoric around immigration

Latinos are the fastest-growing group of American evangelicals. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 15% of Latinos identify as evangelical Protestants.

Church near Pennsylvania Capitol becomes peace hub hoping to protect democracy in divisive election

Pennsylvania’s State Capitol could be a crucial venue if the upcoming election leads to worsening political divisions in the most pivotal of swing states.

Afghan women cannot pray loudly or recite in front of other women, says Taliban minister

A Taliban government minister says Afghan women are forbidden from praying loudly or reciting the Quran in front of other women.

‘Not an act of God.’ How the Rev. Richard Joyner became a farmer, then a climate activist

CONETOE, N.C. (RNS) — Congregants at Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church thought their pastor was crazy when he suggested his rural community take up farming as a way to improve their health and become more self-sufficient.

A former principal at a Missouri Christian boarding school is accused of abusing a student

A former principal at a Christian boarding school in Missouri that closed in March amid abuse allegations has been charged with sex crimes involving a former student.

Care for a sweet treat during Mexico’s Day of the Dead? Have a bite of ‘pan de muerto’

“Pan de muerto,” or “bread of the dead,” is freshly baked in Mexico ahead of Day of the Dead celebrations.

Candidates’ supporters seek Pennsylvania’s Catholic voters, whose votes may be crucial

Nationally, Catholic voters have been closely divided in recent presidential elections. This year, in the vital state of Pennsylvania, they’ll likely comprise at least a quarter of the electorate — and thus play a pivotal role in deciding the overall outcome.

Pope’s child protection board urges transparency from Vatican sex abuse office and compensation

Pope Francis’ child protection board has issued its first-ever global assessment of the Catholic Church’s efforts to address the clergy sex abuse crisis.

As Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon, fear rises in communities where the displaced took refuge

Israel has concentrated its bombardment of Lebanon mostly in the country’s south and east and in Beirut’s southern suburbs.