Churches & Religion

Americans say religion losing influence

November 22, 2014, 12:00am Churches & Religion

WASHINGTON --Six years into a Democratic administration widely seen as pushing a secular agenda, nearly three-quarters of Americans say religion is losing influence in American life, and about half say churches and other religious institutions should express their views on political issues. Read story

Holy Ark doors find a new home in Chicago suburb

November 22, 2014, 12:00am Churches & Religion

CHICAGO -- Standing sentry in a quiet corner of Sukkat Shalom synagogue in north suburban Wilmette, the cherubim on a pair of historic and artistically significant Holy Ark doors have found a new home. Read story

Student suing Everett district over religion

November 20, 2014, 12:00am Churches & Religion

EVERETT -- An Everett high school student who was suspended for preaching and handing out Christian booklets is suing the school district. Read story

Supporters of controversial Indian guru Sant Rampal displaying his photographs, chant slogans praising him as they gather to show support at a protest venue near the Indian Parliament in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday.

Police arrest guru ending India standoff

November 19, 2014, 12:00am Churches & Religion

NEW DELHI -- Police on Wednesday arrested a controversial religious leader at his sprawling ashram in northern India, ending a days-long standoff in which six people died and hundreds were injured. Read story

Pope Francis to meet with autistic children

November 19, 2014, 12:00am Churches & Religion

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will meet with autistic children and their families in a bid to help raise awareness and end the stigma and isolation of people living with autism spectrum disorders. Read story

Right-to-die advocate’s mom blasts Vatican remarks

Brittany Maynard, left, hugs her mother Debbie Ziegler next to a helicopter at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on Oct.

PORTLAND -- Brittany Maynard's mother is responding angrily to the Vatican's criticism of Maynard's decision to end her life early under an Oregon law written to let terminally ill patients die on their own terms. Read story

Pope Francis confirms trip to the United States

A Catholic school student holds up a sign ahead of a news conference Monday at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA -- A pontiff who has long championed humble acts -- sneaking off to break bread with the homeless as an archbishop and washing the feet of young prisoners early in his papacy -- is coming to the City of Brotherly Love. Read story

Mormon church admits founder Joseph Smith was polygamist

Joseph Smith, Mormon church founder and prophet, took as many as 40 wives, at least one as young as 14, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have acknowledged in a series of essays posted as guideposts for the faithful. Read story

Pastor earns world record for longest speech

The Cross Mount Dora
Zach Zehnder, pastor for Cross Mount Dora Church, celebrates Nov. 9 in Mount Dora, Fla., as he breaks the Guinness World Record for the longest speech marathon, after he preached for 53 hours and 18 minutes.

ORLANDO -- A 31-year-old Mount Dora, Fla., pastor pored over more than 200 pages of notes and 600 Power Point slides as a cheerleading squad chanted and a handful of onlookers equipped with water guns squirted the exhausted man on stage. Read story