By David Masci, Pew Research Center The Presbyterian Church (USA) joined other religious groups Tuesday in a vote that formally sanctions same-sex marriage. The 1.7 million-member church voted to amend its constitution to allow gay marriage ceremonies, a move widely anticipated after a step the church took last summer to allow its clergy to marry…
By Christina Ng A number of churches that previously sponsored Boy Scout troops have said they plan to sever ties to the organization following its decision to lift a longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts. Openly gay adults will still be barred from leadership roles in the organization. “I think I can say…
By Allesandro Speciale VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis issued a powerful call for the protection of the environment and of society’s most vulnerable during his formal installation Mass at the Vatican, while qualifying his papal power as a “service” to the church and to humanity. The pope on Tuesday (March 19) celebrated a solemn Mass…
By Alex Murashko The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) congratulated Pope Francis for being elected the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church and said it hopes to continue positive dialogue together. The Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general of WEA, which represents more than 600 million evangelical Christians, extended his “warmest congratulations” to the newly…
By David Gibson VATICAN CITY – A hierarchy looking to make a clear statement about where the troubled church is headed chose on Wednesday (March 13) the first member of the influential Jesuit order to be the next pope. Yet they also chose Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a humble man who lives simply and took…
By Nicole Winfield VATICAN CITY (AP) — Argentine Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope Wednesday and chose the papal name Francis, becoming first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. A stunned-looking Bergoglio shyly waved to the crowd of tens of thousands of people who gathered in St….
By John Waage The Roman Catholic cardinals who will elect a new pope to succeed Benedict XVI are arriving at the Vatican and have held their first meeting since the pope officially left office on Friday. Benedict became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign rather than die in office. One 21st Century reflection…
By Allesandro Speciale VATICAN CITY – In his final public address, Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday (Feb. 27) forcefully defended his decision to resign while trying to reassure Catholics still reeling from the shock of his unprecedented move. For the first time since his stunning announcement on Feb. 11, the 85-year old pope explained…