The Columbian

Churches & Religion

Pope John Paul II holds his arm around Mother Teresa in February 1986 as they ride in the Popemobile outside the Home of the Dying in Kolkata, India. Mother Teresa, the tiny stooped nun who cared for the poorest of the poor in the slums of India and beyond, will be declared a saint next year after Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to her intercession.

Mother Teresa to be made a saint after pope OKs miracle

December 18, 2015, 10:32am Churches & Religion

VATICAN CITY -- Mother Teresa, the tiny, stooped nun who cared for the poorest of the poor in the slums of India and beyond, will be declared a saint next year after Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to her intercession. Read story

Adam Kravitz, left, founder of Outsiders Inn, strolls with Bill Ritchie of the Clark County Commission on Aging on Dec. 3 outside Safe Harbor Church of the Nazarene in Vancouver, where the Council for the Homeless had planned to build a village of 40 tiny houses for the homeless. Wednesday, the church backed out of the project, and organizers are looking for a new site.

Vancouver church backs out of homeless village

December 16, 2015, 7:21pm Churches & Religion

A Vancouver church that had agreed to host a village of 40 tiny houses for the homeless has pulled out of the project, leaving organizers searching for a new location. Read story

Members of Congregation Kol Ami, including Lauren Trexler, at right, light candles on menorahs Sunday evening to celebrate Hanukkah.

Lights and latkes

December 13, 2015, 9:42pm Churches & Religion

BARBERTON -- Hanukkah is usually a "do-it-at-home holiday," Congregation Kol Ami Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker said Sunday, but her congregation has its own tradition. Read story

Memory boxes created recently by clients at a grief healing workshop led by Margaret Hartsook, art therapist.

Support during the Longest Night

December 13, 2015, 6:09am Churches & Religion

It starts right after Halloween: The shimmering notes of Christmas music, the green and red-dominated print ads and grocery store end caps loaded down with assorted nuts and glace fruits. Read story

Suehaila Amen, coordinator of International Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Michigan Dearborn, is seen on campus Thursday in Dearborn, Mich. Amid the high level of harassment, threats and vandalism directed at American Muslims and at mosques, Muslim women are intensely debating the duty and risks related to wearing their head-coverings as usual.

U.S. Muslim women debate safety of wearing hijab

December 12, 2015, 5:58am Churches & Religion

On the night of the California shootings, Asifa Quraishi-Landes sat on her couch, her face in her hands, and thought about what was ahead for her and other Muslim women who wear a scarf or veil in public. Read story

DawnChere Wilkerson and Rich Wilkerson in the "Gator Nuggets" episode in season 1 of "Rich in Faith." (Matthew Burke/Oxygen)

‘Rich in Faith’ turns TV spotlight on young pastors

December 11, 2015, 6:00am Churches & Religion

LOS ANGELES -- As an MTV executive, Rod Aissa helped develop "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," the reality series that peered into the lives of Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. Read story

Muslim exclusion idea inflames GOP fears of Trump

December 8, 2015, 11:18pm Churches & Religion

WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States is shoving the Republican Party to the edge of chaos, abruptly pitting GOP leaders against their own presidential front-runner and jeopardizing the party's longtime drive to attract minorities. Read story

Pope Francis pushes open the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday at the Vatican, formally launching the Holy Year of Mercy.

Mercy trumps judgment for Holy Year

December 8, 2015, 5:09pm Churches & Religion

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. Read story

Cardinal: If climate talks stall, pope may gently intervene

December 8, 2015, 5:08pm Churches & Religion

LE BOURGET, France -- If international climate talks really stall, don't be surprised if there might be an ever-so-slight intervention by Pope Francis. Read story

North Image: Staff members and family from Thrivent Financial met at St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Nov.

Financial organization spreads gratitude

December 6, 2015, 10:45pm Business Briefs

North Image -- Thrivent Financial staff, family and other community members teamed up on Nov. 25 for an Attitude of Gratitude Day, where 50-plus people broke up into smaller groups and committed acts of kindness around Vancouver. The group met at St. Andrew Lutheran Church and then spread out around… Read story