Faith & Family
Is empathy a sin? Some conservative Christians argue it can be
Empathy is usually regarded as a virtue, a key to human decency and kindness. And yet, with increasing momentum, voices on the Christian right are preaching that it has become a vice.
‘Flagrant violation’: Paxton threatens companies mailing abortion pills to Texas
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told abortion pill providers to stop sending the drug to his state, saying in cease-and-desist letters that the mailing of the abortion pill violates state and federal law.
James Dobson, influential Christian family psychologist, dies at 89
James C. Dobson, a bestselling Christian author and psychologist whose views on families influenced several presidents, died Thursday morning of unspecified causes in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was 89.
Pope Leo’s first international trip could be to Lebanon, cardinal says
Pope Leo XIV is planning to visit Lebanon this year on his first foreign visit, the country's Catholic cardinal said, a trip that would give history's first American pope a chance to speak in broad terms about peace in the Middle East and the plight of Christians there.
Federal judge blocks Texas law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms
Another state law aiming to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms has been blocked, making it the third time a court has pushed back in recent months on red states looking to promote the historical doctrine.
Trump administration opens antisemitism investigation into Haverford College
The Trump administration continued its siege on campus antisemitism by launching Wednesday an investigation into Haverford College, citing concerns about the Pennsylvania school's reportedly lackluster response to incidents of discrimination against Jewish students.
Texas school districts can’t put the Ten Commandments in every classroom, judge says
Texas cannot require public schools in Houston, Austin and other select districts to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a judge said Wednesday in a temporary ruling against the state's new requirement.
A historic Swedish church embraces inclusion with minority languages
The members of Kiruna Church primarily worship in Swedish, their country's main language.
Pope calls for fasting and prayer for peace in Middle East and Ukraine as he returns to Vatican
Pope Leo XIV asked people to fast on Friday to pray for peace and justice in the Middle East and Ukraine, issuing a special appeal as he returned to the Vatican from summer vacation.
Loudoun County boys who complained about girl in locker room hit with 10-day suspensions
Two teenage boys who objected to sharing a locker room with a biological female were hit with suspensions after being found responsible for sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination by Virginia's Loudoun County Public Schools.
This Swedish church is being moved down the road before a mine swallows its town
How do you move one of Sweden's most beloved wooden churches down the road? With a little engineering, a lot of prayer - and some Eurovision for good luck.
Moving to a new home or school can stress kids out. How to make it more manageable
Summer can be a time of big transitions for kids. It's often the season for moving to a new home or preparing for a different school. And that brings worry and stress.
U.S. archbishop’s meeting with Putin denounced as ‘betrayal of Christian witness’
An American Orthodox archbishop's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, in which they exchanged warm greetings and gifts of holy icons - is drawing a denunciation by Ukrainian Orthodox bishops in the U.S. They called it a "betrayal of Christian witness" in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Texas declares measles outbreak over
The Texas measles outbreak that sickened 762 people since late January is over, state health officials said Monday.
Federal Trade Commission drops Grand Canyon University lawsuit, ending Biden-era probes
The Federal Trade Commission has dropped a lawsuit against Grand Canyon University, ending the last of several Biden administration probes that accused the Christian campus of deceiving students about doctoral program costs.
From apps to matchmaking: the diverse ways American Muslims navigate finding marriage partners
Nura Maznavi got a kick out of learning that New York City Muslim mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani met his wife on Hinge.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa
Pope Leo XIV spent the last Sunday of his summer vacation with several dozen refugees, homeless and poor people and the church volunteers who help them, celebrating a special Mass for them and inviting them into the Vatican's lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal.
100 days of Pope Leo XIV: A calm papacy that avoids polemics is coming into focus
When Pope Leo XIV surprised tens of thousands of young people at a recent Holy Year celebration with an impromptu popemobile romp around St. Peter's Square, it almost seemed as if some of the informal spontaneity that characterized Pope Francis' 12-year papacy had returned to the Vatican.
Orthodox Christians in Alaska pray for peace ahead of Trump-Putin summit
Orthodox Christians across Alaska have been taking part in three days of prayer for peace ahead of Friday's summit there between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will focus on the war in Ukraine.
Post-pandemic hooky worsens in public schools, says Rand Corp. report
The number of students constantly absent from public K-12 campuses worsened during the 2024-25 school year, the Rand Corp. said Thursday.
