Worldwide Religious News

WorldWide Religious News (wwrn.org) is a non-profit service providing the international academic and legal community with up-to-date religious news from around the world.

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Petition to change Mormon bishops’ interviews of kids tops 11,000 signatures; activists call for practice to end ‘immediately,
sltrib.com - By Bob Mims
A petition campaign demanding a halt to the LDS Church’s practice of closed-door, one-on-one interviews by bishops with children — sometimes …
Muslim Americans Sue FBI for Being Put on a Terror Watch List for No Reason
newsweek.com - Cristina Maza
Five American Muslims filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Christopher Wray and other members of the government because they believe they were put on …
Study finds low levels of religious practice among initial teacher education applicants
irishexaminer.com - Niall Murray, Education Correspondent
Future primary teachers are only taking on the role of religion teaching to get into jobs despite a lack of significant enthusiasm, new research …
‘Mormon Land’: Historian discusses the new LDS leadership and the question everyone is buzzing about: ‘What about women?’
sltrib.com - By The Salt Lake Tribune
In the latest edition of “Mormon Land,” we examine the new First Presidency’s answers — which set off a debate inside and outside of the faith that …
Author of books on presidents’ faith says Trump misunderstands evangelicals
religionnews.com
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Author Stephen Mansfield, who has written about the faith of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, says the current …
Longtime evangelist Luis Palau announces cancer diagnosis
religionnews.com
(RNS) — Christian evangelist Luis Palau, who has preached across the globe for five decades, says he has late-stage lung cancer. “Everything is ready …
Aum trials seen near completion as top court upholds life term for Katsuya Takahashi
japantimes.co.jp - No Author
The trials related to Aum Shinrikyo, the doomsday cult that executed the deadly sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, are close to ending …
'They ensure each twin baby dies': the secret killings in central Nigeria
The Guardian - Orji Sunday
A shelter in Abuja is devoted to rescuing twins from death within remote communities convinced of their evil powers The room is filled with the cries of 30 or more babies. Steven Olusola visits each cradle,
Pope to indigenous: Amazon is 'heart of the church'
religionnews.com
PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru (AP) — Pope Francis traveled deep into the Amazon rainforest demanding an end to the relentless exploitation of its timber, …
In Israel, a rabbinical plan to hide Africans facing deportation
religionnews.com
JERUSALEM (RNS) – Inspired by sanctuary movements throughout history, a prominent rabbi in Israel has asked her peers to provide a safe haven for …
How a Brisbane Artist Became a Priest for a UFO Pleasure Cult - VICE
VICE - Julian Morgans
Luke Roberts is a Raelian: "the only religion with female, gay, and transgender priests." The man in the photo above is an artist named Luke Roberts. He’s standing beneath a piece of public artwork he
HHS is targeting health workers’ religious objections. Here’s why.
The Washington Post - By Sarah Pulliam Bailey
This story has been updated since it was first published on Jan. 18. The Trump administration has announced new regulations and a new division responsible for handling complaints from health-care workers
Donald Trump
A word too far? Some evangelicals may have reached the breaking point with Trump.
The Washington Post - By Erick Erickson
The vulgarity President Trump reportedly used last week to describe certain countries in the developing world has gotten a lot of attention. Trump held a private, frank, blunt conversation with congressional
Where are mainline Protestants on abortion?
religionnews.com
(RNS) — On Friday (Jan. 19), nearly 45 years after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, hundreds of thousands will rally in the streets of …
Crystals, potions and tarot cards: the mystical rise of new age businesses
The Guardian - Emma Featherstone
Consumer appetite for spiritualism has sparked a rise in companies offering everything from AI-powered astrology apps to subscription boxes for white witches Harmony Nice is a 20-year old vlogger from
Anti-abortion Democrats navigate divide between March for Life and the Women’s March
religionnews.com
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In 2017, Kristen Day was one of relatively few women to attend both the record-breaking Women’s March, whose organizers voiced …
Science Is Giving the Pro-Life Movement a Boost
The Atlantic - Emma Green
Advocates are tracking new developments in neonatal research and technology—and transforming one of America's most contentious debates. The first time Ashley McGuire had a baby, she and her husband had
Two reports show fewer incidents of Muslim extremism in 2017
religionnews.com
(RNS) — To hear it from the Trump administration, Muslim extremists pose the greatest risk to Americans today. Shortly after a judge blocked his ban …
World News
Pope angers Chile after backing bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse
The Washington Post - By Rick Noack
It was supposed to be an apology tour, but the pope’s Chile visit drew unexpected ire Thursday after the head of the Catholic Church came to the support of Juan Barros, a bishop accused of covering up
A Presbyterian pastor languishes in a Turkish prison
religionnews.com
(RNS) — For most pastors, the beginning of a new year is filled with the promise of youth programs, baptisms, and marriages. Instead, Pastor Andrew …
Evangelical chaplain’s suspension intensifies denomination’s gay marriage debate
religionnews.com
(RNS) — The suspension of a popular evangelical university chaplain has highlighted tensions over same-sex marriage in a growing Protestant …
Asia Pacific
'Beyond comprehension': Myanmar admits killing Rohingya
Al Jazeera
Rights group calls for independent investigation as army acknowledges soldiers killed 10 Rohingya. Amnesty International has reiterated a call for an independent investigation into rights abuses in Myanmar's
Ex-Mormons launch FaithLeaks to root out abuse and corruption in churches
religionnews.com
(RNS) — Call it the WikiLeaks of the religion world. A new website called FaithLeaks aims to bring transparency to the workings of religious …
teleSUR English
telesurtv.net
The Top 50 Countries Where It’s Most Dangerous to Follow Jesus
christianitytoday.com
If trends continue, North Korea will no longer be the world’s worst persecutor of Christians. For decades, North Korea has clearly been the world’s …
'Double persecution': The untold plight of Christian women worldwide
religionnews.com
America is currently experiencing a reckoning in terms of gender violence and harassment. Countless women have begun speaking out about the abuse …
How California’s megachurches changed Christian culture
religionnews.com
(The Conversation) — The popular view of California is of a liberal, godless region, a land of possibilities that is open to experimentation in all …
Chinese priest missing after ‘brief chat’ with authorities
worldwatchmonitor.org
A Chinese priest has been missing from his home town in China’s eastern Zhejiang province since government officials took him away just after …
Pope to meet with victims of Chile's dictatorship on trip
Associated Press - By NICOLE WINFIELD
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will meet with two victims of Chile’s military dictatorship during his upcoming trip, and isn’t ruling out a private encounter with victims of clerical sex abuse, the said
An American Muslim Preacher Faces His Own Mortality
NPR - Leila Fadel
On a recent night in Chicago, a Muslim preacher sits on the floor in the center of an ethnically mixed and mostly young group of men and women. Around him, a drum circle sings praises of the Islamic prophet,