Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Satanist group tees up efforts to blunt abortion laws in Texas, Ohio
A "non-theistic" organization of Satanists has launched efforts to blunt abortion restrictions in Texas, Ohio and other states, including a Utah measure that would outlaw most abortions should the Supreme Court overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing the procedure. Published September 22, 2021
Pope Francis’ remarks seen as rebuke of critical U.S. Catholic media
Pope Francis recently delivered an apparent rebuke to an American Catholic cable-and-satellite network EWTN for having "no hesitation" in attacking his eight-year-old pontificate, slamming what he termed attacks on the Roman Catholic Church from such critics as "the work of the devil." Published September 21, 2021
Whites backing Trump ‘more likely’ to become evangelicals between 2016 and 2020: Pew study
White Americans who supported Donald Trump but didn't identify as evangelicals in 2016 were "much more likely" to begin identifying as such by the time of the 2020 elections, a Pew Research Center study shows. Published September 21, 2021
Little-known British Muslim WWII spy story comes to film
Noor Inayat Khan, a British Muslim woman who was the first female radio espionage operator infiltrated into Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War, is about to get her 17 minutes of fame. Published September 19, 2021
‘Binding promises in God’s presence’ bars abdication for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, biographer says
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, won't step down to give either her 70-year-old son or 39-year-old grandson the throne, the author of a new biography says, because of "binding promises in God's presence" undertaken during her June 1953 coronation in Westminster Abbey. Published September 19, 2021
Two decades after 9/11, America’s Sikhs on guard over attacks
Two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks by Islamic terrorists, a religious group not at all connected to Islam remains on guard for violence against its members. Published September 18, 2021
Christian aid groups ask U.N. panel to eliminate overseas orphanages and institutionalization
A coalition of Christian nonprofit groups is asking the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to end support for "institutional" orphanages and emphasize family-based care for orphans, whose ranks have grown by 1.5 million during the coronavirus pandemic. Published September 16, 2021
First transgender Lutheran bishop hopes election promotes ‘safe lives’ for peers
Bishop Megan Rohrer is happy about breaking a barrier as the nation's first transgender bishop, but looks toward the day when sexual identity is a non-issue. Published September 15, 2021
Rising antisemitism motivates security measures at America’s synagogues
After a string of antisemitic attacks in recent years, including shootings and deaths at synagogues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Poway, California; the stabbing of a Chabad rabbi outside a Jewish school in Boston; and -- just days ago -- threats at a Minnesota synagogue that forced the cancellation of in-person weekly services, security has become a priority for the Jewish community. Published September 14, 2021
Survey finds support for balance between gay rights, religious freedom
A group of faith leaders Monday said a new survey supports the ideas behind the Fairness For All Act, a bill pending in Congress that would guarantee the rights of LGBTQ individuals while protecting the religious freedoms of schools, social service agencies and congregations. Published September 13, 2021
John Shelby Spong, liberal Episcopal bishop, dies at age 90
Bishop John Shelby Spong, an Episcopal Church prelate whose liberal views rankled orthodox Episcopalians and others, died in his sleep Sunday morning, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Morris Plains, New Jersey, announced. Published September 12, 2021
Bishops’ group urges Catholics to ‘Civilize It’ in political discussions
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wants the nation's 70 million Roman Catholics to "lower the temperature" when the subject of politics comes up at church and elsewhere. Published September 12, 2021
Arizona to divest all Unilever holdings over Ben & Jerry’s Israel boycott, state treasurer says
The State of Arizona will scoop out the last of its holdings in British conglomerate Unilever PLC by Sept. 21, state treasurer Kimberly Yee announced this week. Published September 10, 2021
Muslim advocacy group decries ‘guilt by association’ on 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
Almost 70% of Muslim Americans say they have "personally experienced one or more incidents of anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11," a report released by a Muslim advocacy group Friday found. Published September 10, 2021
Preaching ‘true Islam,’ Ahmadiyya Muslims promote peace on 9/11
Harris Zafar, an Ahmadiyya Muslim author and speaker who often sports a "Talk to a Muslim" T-shirt, is thinking about the image of his faith as the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Published September 9, 2021
Cardinal Gregory: Biden ‘not demonstrating Catholic teaching’ on life
President Biden "is not demonstrating Catholic teaching" on life when the chief executive denies that life begins at conception, Archbishop Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the District told a National Press Club audience Wednesday. Published September 8, 2021
Can heaven wait? Best-selling author says ‘no’
Former newspaper reporter Lee Strobel hopes to see his dog -- and have a byline -- in heaven. Published September 8, 2021
Virus concerns temper celebrations of Jewish New Year
The new Jewish year of 5782 begins Monday at sunset, and America's Jews anticipate a cautious return to in-person celebrations of Rosh Hashana, Hebrew for "Head of the Year," one leader said last week. Published September 5, 2021
Religious broadcasting group’s board members back CEO on controversial firing of spokesman
One week after abruptly terminating their top spokesman over his pro-vaccination comments on MSNBC, an executive committee of the National Religious Broadcasters' board of directors said Friday it "affirms in every detail" the August 27 firing of pastor Daniel Darling. Published September 3, 2021
Parents sue California over mandated ‘chants to Aztec gods’ in ethnic studies classes
A group of parents in California sued the State Board of Education Friday over a proposed new "Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum" that would have public school students chanting affirmations to Aztec gods and invoking an ancient Nigerian Yoruba religious prayer. Published September 3, 2021