pewforum.org Religion News on the Web

Religion News on the Web

Selected religion-related news from around the Web
AP: Egypt’s Coptic pope blasts Islamist president over handling of recent sectarian violence
The leader of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church on Tuesday blasted the country’s Islamist president over his handling of recent deadly sectarian violence, including an attack on the main cathedral in Cairo.
Moscow Times: Duma approves 'blasphemy bill' in first reading
The State Duma on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed in a first reading a contentious bill that would radically toughen penalties for those who offend believers' feelings or desecrate relics and places of worship.
WSJ: Evangelicals push immigration path
Senior pastor Kenton Beshore said the first sermons on the plight of illegal immigrants didn't go over well with many members of his evangelical church, which sits on a 50-acre campus in Orange County and has a 3,400-seat sanctuary, sports facilities, restaurant and a man-made lake.
AP: Jesuits ponder impact of first pope in their order; a post-Francis bump in queries to join
For decades, the Society of Jesus has faced the same struggles to find priests that have plagued the wider Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. Chuck Frederico, one of the priests who evaluate Jesuit applicants, says he usually heard from five a week, or fewer.
AP: Israeli researchers see surge in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide in 2012 after 2-year decline
Israeli researchers warned Sunday of a sudden upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks, topped by a deadly school shooting in France, noting a link to the rise of extremist parties in Europe.
AP: Anti-Muslim campaign causes fears of a new wave of ethnic violence in war-torn Sri Lanka
A red-robed Buddhist monk calmly picked up stones and hurled them at a security camera. Then, as police looked on, his followers smashed up a popular, Muslim-owned clothing store.
Reuters: Kosovo too high a price to pay for EU, Serbian church says
Serbia's Orthodox Church warned on Saturday against a 'betrayal' of Kosovo, piling pressure on the ruling coalition as it weighs whether to cede the country's last foothold in its former province in exchange for talks on joining the European Union.
AP: Hardline Muslims rally in Bangladesh seeking anti-blasphemy law amid nationwide shutdown
Hundreds of thousands of members of a hardline Muslim group rallied in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday to demand authorities enact anti-blasphemy laws to punish people who insult Islam.
Globe and Mail: Religious leaders join forces against Toronto casino proposal
Talk of a new casino in Toronto is moving from the political arena to the pulpit, with a coalition of faith leaders urging city council to reject plans to expand gambling.
WSJ: Pakistani candidates face religious vetting
Pakistan's election authorities have begun forcing candidates for parliament to prove their Islamic credentials, often in front of TV cameras, in a test of whether any space remains for secularism in the country's politics.
Boston Globe: Mormon feminists raise their voices and unite in social media in quest for change
Danielle Miller Mooney traces her awakening as a Mormon feminist to the day in 2007 when she was sitting in her dorm room at Wellesley College, watching a live speech being given by a high-ranking woman in her church.
AP: Pakistani youth prefer Islamic or military rule to democracy, survey finds
A larger number of young Pakistanis believe the country should be governed by Islamic law or military rule rather than democracy, according to a survey released Wednesday, weeks before historic national elections.
Globe and Mail: Volunteers crisscross borders as Islamist extremism goes global
Here in the heartland of Libyan extremism, Islamist militia leaders solemnly portray themselves as peaceful guardians of security and stability. But ask them about Syria, and their eyes light up.
Houston Chronicle: Evangelicals push reform in immigration law
Entrepreneurs and evangelicals from across the state are stepping up pressure on Texas legislators they fear could stand in the way of comprehensive immigration reform.
NPR: Pakistan's ambitious program to re-educate militants
A Pakistani army officer named Col. Zeshan is giving a tour of a jihadi rehabilitation center secreted in the hills of northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley.
Chicago Tribune: Buddhism in the Midwest
Inside the main hall of the Drepung Gomang Institute, gilded statues of Buddha and brilliantly colored images of fierce deities adorn the altar. As the smell of incense wafts through the air, a Tibetan monk chants a sutra, his low tones weaving a soothing, meditative melody.
Economist: Catholicism and economics: The poor pope
Pity the pontiff. Not only does he face the urgent task of sorting out sordid power struggles in the heart of the Vatican; in the wider world of Catholicism, rival political camps are eagerly looking forward to his first pronouncements on social and economic questions.
Economist: Communal violence in Myanmar: When the lid blows off
When Myanmar’s newly installed president and former soldier, Thein Sein, kick-started the country’s political transition two years ago, he hoped to usher in a clean and steady advance towards some sort of orderly democracy. Now, however, things are starting to turn out rather differently.
AP: Hugo Chavez’s legacy gains religious glow; he’s declared ‘Christ of the Americas’ in Venezuela
Holding a Bible in her arms at the start of Holy Week, seamstress Maria Munoz waited patiently to visit the tomb of the man she considers another savior of humanity.
Reuters: Ex-Anglican leader says Britain's PM alienating Christians
British Prime Minister David Cameron is alienating Christians by promoting gay marriage, an influential former leader of the world's 80 million Anglicans said on Saturday.
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