Faith & Family
Montgomery County’s only charter school vows to stay open after board votes to begin closure
Montgomery County's only charter school said it's staying open despite education board officials' plans to close it for failing to document special education needs.
Buddhist monks rally in Sri Lanka to pressure the government for a wider role in affairs of state
Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in the capital of Sri Lanka on Friday to protest alleged government disrespect of their religion and disregard for a long-standing tradition that they be consulted in matters of state.
First Ramadan Friday prayers held at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque since ceasefire
Tens of thousands of Muslims gathered under heavy security at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan, among them Palestinians who crossed into Israel from the West Bank.
Social media companies face legal reckoning over mental health harms to children
For years, social media companies have disputed allegations that they harm children's mental health through deliberate design choices that addict kids to their platforms and fail to protect them from sexual predators and dangerous content. Now, these tech giants are getting a chance to make their case in courtrooms around the country, including before a jury for the first time.
Pro-life group warns Republicans: Ditch abortion pill fight and pay at the polls
A leading pro-life group is warning Republicans that they could pay a political price in the midterms if the administration doesn't get tougher on abortion pills sent through the mail.
Wisconsin poised to leave Arkansas as only state without expanded Medicaid for new moms
Wisconsin Republicans who long blocked a bipartisan measure to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage planned to pass the measure on Thursday, which would leave Arkansas as the only state yet to expand Medicaid coverage for women a year after giving birth.
New Jersey Catholic diocese agrees to $180 million settlement of clergy sexual abuse allegations
A New Jersey Catholic diocese this week agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, a figure far exceeding agreements in some large dioceses but still dwarfed by other massive settlements.
Pope laments ‘ashes of international law’ left by today’s conflicts in Ash Wednesday liturgy
Pope Leo XIV opened the church's penitential Lenten season by presiding over Ash Wednesday and lamenting the "ashes of international law and justice" that have been left by today's wars and conflicts.
A look at the largest clergy abuse settlements reached by Catholic organizations in the U.S.
A New Jersey Catholic diocese outside Philadelphia has agreed to pay $180 million in a clergy sexual abuse settlement, the latest in a church scandal set off more than two decades ago.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg set to testify in watershed social media trial
Mark Zuckerberg will testify in an unprecedented social media trial that questions whether Meta's platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
Ash Wednesday 2026: What it means and why Christians observe it
Ash Wednesday, which falls on Feb. 18 this year, marks the beginning of Lent -- the most penitential season on the Christian calendar.
Vatican won’t join Trump’s Board of Peace, says it undermines U.N.
The Vatican said it won't accept an invitation to the Board of Peace, contending that it butts up against the United Nations.
Pro-life group says abortion-pill reversal saved 8,000 pregnancies
Democrats insist that it's impossible to reverse the abortion-pill process, but pro-life advocates say the thing that never happens has now happened more than 8,000 times.
Belgium summons U.S. ambassador over tweet accusing kingdom of antisemitism
Belgium summoned the U.S. ambassador on Tuesday over a social media post where he accused the country of antisemitic prosecution of Jewish Belgians, the kingdom's foreign minister said.
Feds investigate charge transgender athlete sexually assaulted opponent in girls’ wrestling match
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is investigating allegations that a transgender wrestler tried to sexually assault a female rival during a girls' high school wrestling match in Puyallup, Washington.
Catholic Democrats say ICE is violating God’s will with deportation surge
Catholic Democrats in Congress say ICE is violating God's precepts in carrying out President Trump's mass deportation mission.
A look at Ramadan and how Muslims observe the holy month
Observant Muslims the world over will soon be united in a ritual of daily fasting from dawn to sunset as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan starts. For Muslims, it's a time for increased worship, religious reflection and charity.
Vatican expands visitor experience at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark 400th anniversary
The Vatican is marking the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica with a host of visitor-friendly initiatives, including expanding access to its spectacular terrace and its snack bar in the shadow of Michelangelo's great dome.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a period of fasting, reflection — and fish fries
This is the week of Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Lent, the most penitential season of the church calendar for Catholics and many other Christians.
During the Winter Games, some Milan churches are teaching Olympic values to thousands of kids
Olympic podiums are where the world's best athletes win gold. But beyond the spotlight of the 2026 Winter Olympics, dozens of children on Feb. 9 received snowflake-shaped medals of their own in a Milan church - a reminder that they, too, are champions in life.
