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Religion

Churches wipe out millions in medical debt for others

The leaders of Pathway Church on the outskirts of Wichita, Kan., had no clue that the $22,000 they already had on hand for Easter would have such impact.

Jun 16, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Archbishop Jose H. Lopez, left, of Los Angeles and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, conduct the morning meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Nov. 14, 2018, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Jose F. Moreno/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
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Religion

Bishops OK anti-abuse steps, but skeptics seek tougher moves

Under intense public pressure, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops approved new steps this week to deal more strongly with the clergy sex-abuse crisis.

Jun 16, 2019 at 9:00 AM
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Religion

Mich. Methodists debate LBGTQIA people in the church

In the midst of the global debate on the future direction of the United Methodist Church, members to the Annual Conference in Michigan tested the waters on decisions made during the General Conference in February.

Jun 9, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Saeda Sulieman, 18, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College, started wearing a hijab in seventh grade.
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Religion

Prejudice and progress: Women with hijabs talk about what it’s like to wear the Muslim headscarf

Wrapped tightly around her head, with no softly draping fabric to distract her during meetings at her tech startup, Dilara Sayeed’s hijab is American in more ways than one.

Jun 2, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Six years ago, artist Sam Robertson started illustrating the Old Testament. He's not a religious guy, but the good book turned out to be inspiring fodder. Here, Robertson is photographed May 10 in his basement studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Religion

Agnostic painter gives Old Testament a colorful, surreal new look

Until he decided to illustrate the Bible, Samuel Robertson had never read the Bible. But Robertson, 30, connected with the odd, antiquated language of the King James Version.

May 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM
In most states, residents are allowed to opt out of immunization because of religious beliefs, said Rita Swan, a former Christian Scientist who advocates on behalf of children's rights to medical care.
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Public Health

With measles cases still rising, what religion has to say about vaccination

Nationwide in the current scourge, 764 cases have been reported this year through May 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

May 19, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Pope Francis attends a closing Mass of "The Protection of Minors in the Church" meeting at the Regia Hall at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican, on Feb. 24, 2019. It was a global child protection summit for reflections on the sex abuse and paedophilia crisis within the Catholic Church.
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Religion

5 highlights of pope's reforms for handling clergy sex abuse

Pope Francis has issued a sweeping set of new Catholic Church laws aimed at better policing how the hierarchy investigates claims of clergy sex abuse and cover-up.

May 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM
The Rev. Doug Bytwerk, shown with his wife, Kay, retired late last year as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Spring Lake.
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Community Columnist

PAINTER: Pastor says long career was an enjoyable one

The Rev. Doug Bytwerk is in select company. He is among the 10 percent who began their careers as a pastor and retired as a pastor.

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Tara and Pierce Reed with their 17-month-old son, Jacob Reed, in their New Jersey home on April 3, 2019.
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Religion

From drugs, prison to the Lord's work

Identical twins Pierce and Jacob Reed played South Jersey high school football, got hooked on prescription painkillers, held up local drugstores, went to prison, and found God.

Apr 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings "America the Beautiful" during the Inauguration Ceremony of President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2017.
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Religion

Mormon leaders talk spirituality, not changes, at conference

Leaders with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered spiritual guidance aimed at strengthening members' faith amid a world of temptation and immorality during a church conference last week in Utah.

Apr 14, 2019 at 8:00 AM
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Community Columnist

KOEDYKER: Waiting for spring can produce some heavenward thoughts

One thing I have learned about living along the Lake Michigan shoreline is that spring comes a bit later here than places farther inland. I have learned to ignore the enthusiastic weather forecasters.

Apr 10, 2019 at 3:00 PM
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Religion

Living Last Supper brings iconic scene, apostles to life

The event debuts at Traverse City’s Bethlehem Lutheran Church on April 12, and then runs at St. Ann Church in Cadillac on April 13, and at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Traverse City on April 14.

Apr 7, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Worshippers at a service at the Short North Church line up to sign a statement saying the church will not comply with the United Methodist Church's recently upheld bans on same-sex marriages and gay clergy members. [Doral Chenoweth III/Dispatch]
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Community Columnist

CRAMER: Looking for light in the dark places of the Church

These are dark days for American Christianity.

Apr 3, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Tim Baudler, center left, reacts after gifting the Rev. Denyse Barnes, right, a rainbow-colored umbrella March 5 during Spirit Pub, a small gathering of people from the Hollywood United Methodist Church who meet to discuss their community at Micky's, a gay bar in West Hollywood, California.
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Religion

United Methodist churches struggle with LGBTQ ban

At a gathering last month in St. Louis, Missouri, the General Conference, the church’s top policymaking body, voted to tighten its ban on gay clergy and same-sex marriage and to increase the punishment for violations.

Mar 31, 2019 at 8:00 AM
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Community Columnist

HAGER: Thoughts and prayers are not enough to keep us safe

Junior Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez drew fire yet again after a social media post following the massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand, last week. She asked what good your thoughts and prayers are when your church folk are gunned down in their pews.

Mar 28, 2019 at 3:00 PM
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