Lead story
Editor's note:
Back in March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in much of the United States, the Jehovah’s Witnesses called a halt to their time-honored practice of door-to-door ministry. Two and a half years later – on Sept. 1 – the practice was resumed, to the joy and relief of many Witnesses. From coast to coast, members of the Christian denomination fanned out in cities and towns to share literature and converse about God. The AP Religion Team’s Deepa Bharath, for her article about the resumption, spoke to several of the Day One participants. They were elated to be engaging in face-to-face conversations, after a long stretch where the ministry was limited to letter writing and phone calls. The denomination is not mandating masks or social distancing, leaving those decisions to each individual making the house calls.
Religion News
California congressman demands more transparency from health care sharing ministries
‘These are businesses … masquerading as health plans that somehow follow biblical principles,’ said U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman. By Alejandra Molina/Religion News Service
World Cup beer policy finally agreed by Qatari organizers
Organizers of the World Cup in Qatar have finalized a policy to serve beer with alcohol to soccer fans at stadiums and fan zones in the Muslim-majority country. By Graham Dunbar/The Associated Press
On Saturday (Sept. 3), 56 pilgrims from four countries will gather in Mexico City to celebrate St. Phoebe’s feast day and consider how they might urge the church to reclaim the diaconate for women. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service
Jesuits remain in Mexican mountains after priests’ killings
Two months after a pair of Jesuit priests were killed in a remote mountain community in northern Mexico, the suspected killer remains on the loose and townspeople are frightened, but the religious order says it is not leaving. By Fabiola Sanchez/The Associated Press
On Colombia’s San Andres island, a historic church’s roots run deep
The roots of First Baptist Church on Colombia's San Andres Island run deep. The church is so crucial to the island's history that a detailed record of births and deaths are kept here in dusty, crumbling books that date back nearly two centuries. By Luis Andres Henao/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
In 1972, justices handed down a decision that attacked discriminatory and capricious death sentences. But it left the door ajar for states to continue the practice. By Austin Sarat for The Conversation
Throughout the film and especially in the final scene, today’s Black church sees itself in all of its conflicting glory. By Candice Marie Benbow/Religion News Service
Effects of violence and forced migration on survivors' mental health have not been acknowledged, despite the trauma being passed down generations. By Sanjeev Jain for The Conversation
Whether it is the war in Ukraine or other devastating news, people find it hard to sustain their attention. A scholar who studies crisis fatigue explains why that is so and what we can do. By Rebecca Rozelle-Stone for The Conversation
Pope Francis prays in front of new Cardinals during consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. Pope Francis has chosen 20 men to become the Catholic Church's newest cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
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