Religion - CDE News - The Dispatch

Arab countries are adapting Ramadan traditions to pandemic

The month of Ramadan begins on Monday for some countries in the Americas and on Tuesday for most of the rest of the world. The exact starting time depends on…

Read More Here

After 54 years, first Mass on the site of the Baptism of Jesus

St. John the Baptist Chapel, on the West Bank, has announced that it will reopen for Mass in January 2021. For over 50 years, the site has been unapproachable because…

Read More Here

Russia to investigate Jehovah’s Witnesses

Russia on Tuesday opened a new criminal case into Jehovah's Witnesses, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Tuesday, adding that the religion's management centre had illegally resumed working. Russian investigators said searches…

Read More Here

Alex Zanardi in serious condition following a road accident during a Paralympic relay race stage

Alex Zanardi was seriously injured and in a reportedly grave condition following a road accident in the province of Siena, during one of the stages of the relay of Obiettivo…

Read More Here

Muslims celebrate one of their biggest holidays under the shadow of the coronavirus

Muslims worldwide will celebrate one of their biggest holidays under the long shadow of the coronavirus, with millions confined to their homes and others gripped by economic concerns during what…

Read More Here

Pope says Thursday will be day of prayer for all religions for end to pandemic

Thursday will be a day of prayer for all religions, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience on Wednesday. He said he had agreed to a request from the…

Read More Here

UN head appeals to ‘common humanity’ across all faiths, in tackling the coronavirus

Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, the UN chief said on Tuesday during an online meeting with religious leaders on the important role they can…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Fatima Sanctuary without pilgrims for the first time in its history

Fatima Sanctuary is seen without pilgrims for the first time in its history during the May International Anniversary Pilgrimage in Fatima, Portugal, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 13th May…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Birth of Buddha commemorated

Buddhist monks wear protective face mask as they pray in front of a statue of Lord Buddha on the eve of his 2564th birth anniversary at a monastery in Bhopal,…

Read More Here

Muslims mark Ramadan with unprecedented virus lockdowns

Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries has sparked fears…

Read More Here

Irish Catholic Church records on baptisms and other sacraments may be inspected over GDPR concerns

The State’s data watchdog in Ireland may have to inspect Catholic Church records in its investigation into whether the church is legally obliged to delete records of people seeking to…

Read More Here

Relic believed to come from Christ’s manger arrives in Bethlehem

A tiny wooden relic which some believe to come from Christ's manger has arrived in Bethlehem ahead of Christmas. The relic was first sent to the Vatican 1,400 years ago…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Westminster Cathedral lit red in homage to persecuted Christians

The Westminster cathedral is lit in red in London, Britain, 27 November 2019. This is part of an initiative by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need called #RedWednesday…

Read More Here

Archbishop Scicluna speaks at Notre Dame University about the Vatican’s fight against clergy abuse

University of Notre Dame students and members of the community listened to Malta Archbishop Charles Scicluna talk about the Vatican's fight against sex abuse. It took place at the Duncan…

Read More Here

High-tech rosary bracelet promoted by the Vatican

The Vatican promoted the launch of a ‘smart rosary’ bracelet Tuesday compatible with an iOS and Android app. The “eRosary” bracelet is activated by making the sign of the cross,…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Thadinkyut Lighting Festival

A Buddhist monk lights up an earthen lamp while worshiping at the Botataung Pagoda on the Thadinkyut full moon day on Sunday in Yangon, Myanmar. The Thadinkyut festival, also…

Read More Here

Row in Italy over pork-free tortellini

In Italy there is an ongoing polemic regarding Muslim-friendly pork-free tortellini that were ordered by the diocese of Bologna. The diocese of Bologna, which had ordered Muslim-friendly pork-free tortellini for…

Read More Here

Italian Education minister considering removing crucifixes from schools

Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti this week considered removing crucifixes from schoolrooms to underline their secular nature, sparking a huge row. "I believe in a secular school, I think that schools…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Mother Teresa’s death is remembered in Kolkata

Sister Prema (R), superior-general of the Mother House, speaks during a mass to mark the 22nd anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, at The Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Mother Teresa remembered on the anniversary of her birth

A series of photos of nuns and visitors taking part in a mass prayer during a service celebrating Mother Teresa's 109th birth anniversary at the Mother House of the Missionaries…

Read More Here

Polemic between exorcists and Jesuit head over existence of the Devil

The Devil really exists, the International Association of Exorcists (AIE) insisted after the head of the Jesuit order said Satan was just a symbol. Jesuit Superior General Arturo Sosa Abascal…

Read More Here

World must stamp out persecution of religious groups, Guterres declares on new UN Day

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the persecution of religious groups on Thursday, the first ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on…

Read More Here

Photo Story: The Janmashtami Festival in Mumbai

Indian college girls dressed as Lord Krishna pose for photograph during Janamashtami festival celebrations at Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) college in Mumbai, India. Janamashtmi is celebrated as the birth…

Read More Here

Photo Story: The Parsi New Year in Mumbai

An Indian Zoroastrian family takes selfies near the knights reliefs in a fire temple on 'Nowruz', the Parsi New Year Day, in Mumbai, India, 17 August 2019. Nowruz is the…

Read More Here

Photo Story: The procession of the feast of the Assumption in Paris

Clergymen carry the statue of Mary with Child during a procession near Notre-Dame cathedral for the Assumption in Paris, France. The procession route has been modified this year, further…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Preparations for Virgin of La Paloma festivities in Madrid

Local policemen and faithful move a float for the Virgin of Paloma's procession before the mass and procession to mark the Virgin of Paloma day in Madrid, Spain, 15 August…

Read More Here

Clashes break out on Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Clashes broke out between Muslim protesters and Israeli police forces on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount holy site, known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif and the Al Aqsa Compound, on Sunday,…

Read More Here

Photo Story: The Eid al-Adha celebrations

Indonesian Muslims look at balloons during an Eid al-Adha prayer service in Depok, Indonesia, 11 August 2019. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year,…

Read More Here

1.8 million pilgrims arrive for Hajj Pilgrimage

More than 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia amid final preparations for the most sacred week in the Islamic calendar. Saudi Passport officials said that this year…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Eid al-Adha 2019 preparations in Yemen

A Yemeni boy displays toys for sale at a bazaar ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, in Sana'a, Yemen. Millions of Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Adha,…

Read More Here

First day of Hajj confirmed as Aug. 9

The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed Thursday that the crescent moon of Dhu Al-Hijjah had been sighted. Hajj will therefore begin on Friday August 9, pilgrims will spend the day on…

Read More Here

Arabic, Muslim symbols ordered to be taken down in Beijing

Authorities in the Chinese capital have ordered halal restaurants and food stalls to remove Arabic script and symbols associated with Islam from their signs, part of an expanding national effort…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Facial coverings banned in the Netherlands

A niqab veiled woman pulls her shopping bag along a street in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Facial coverings will be banned in the Netherlands, from public transport, schools, hospitals and government buildings…

Read More Here

Photo Story: India criminalizes Muslim instant divorce

Indian Muslim women show victory sign as they pose for a photograph during a gathering organized by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to celebrate passing a law outlawing instant divorce practice…

Read More Here

German daycares under police protection after plans to stop serving pork

Plans to no longer serve children pork or gelatin-containing products like gummy bears at two daycare centers in the eastern German city of Leipzig prompted a wave of criticism online…

Read More Here

German churches lose 430,000 Catholic and Protestant members in 2018

DW quotes data published on Friday by the German Bishops' Conference and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) that states that Germany's Catholic Church lost 216,078 members and Protestant churches lost some 220,000…

Read More Here

Religious harassment worsening across world

Government restrictions on religion have increased in many places around the world -- not only under authoritarian countries but also in democracies, most notably in Europe, according to a report…

Read More Here

Photo Story: The aquatic pilgrimage of the Virgin of Carmen in Panama

Residents transport a statue of the Virgin of Carmen, patron saint of navigators and ports, on a fishing boat during an aquatic pilgrimage on the day of fishermen and…

Read More Here

UK backs stronger protection for Christians worldwide

There needs to be a "sea-change" in how the UK treats worldwide anti-Christian persecution, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. Hunt had ordered a review into the issue. He said…

Read More Here

One in five churches in the Netherlands are no longer used for religious purposes

One in five churches in the Netherlands are no longer used as a place of worship and most have been turned into homes or cultural centres, according to research…

Read More Here

Muslim world prepares for the end of Ramadan

The Saudi Supreme Court has called on all Muslims throughout Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Shawwal on Monday evening. This will signal the end…

Read More Here

Church in Ireland urges parents not to buy smartphones as Holy Communion gifts

Archbishop Eamon Martin, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has advised parents against buying smartphones for their children as a Holy Communion present, saying there are "an…

Read More Here

Use of human remains as compost legalised in Washington

Washington has become the first state in the US to legalise human composting. Under the new law, people there can now choose to have their body turned into soil…

Read More Here

Four Catholics killed during a procession in Burkina Faso

Armed assailants killed four Catholics and destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary in northern Burkina Faso, Catholic church officials revealed, the third deadly attack against Christians in the West…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Religious tension escalates in Sri Lanka, social media networks blocked

Police have imposed a curfew in the Sri Lankan town Chilaw after a dispute between Christians and Muslims, that began on Facebook, turned violent. In the meantime, Sri Lankan…

Read More Here

Month of Ramadan fasting for many Muslims begins Monday

Muslims in Southeast Asia and much of the Middle East will start their Ramadan fasts on Monday while those in places like India, Pakistan and Iran will likely start…

Read More Here

Christian persecution in the world near “genocide” levels

The persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near "genocide" levels, according to a report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The review, led by the Bishop…

Read More Here

New website gives a close look at the Shroud of Turin

A new website aims to make available to all a collection of photographs of the Shroud of Turin by a scientific photographer who was part of a research project that…

Read More Here

Photostory: Orthodox Christians prepare for Easter

Hand decorated Easter eggs at a farmers market in Belgrade, Serbia as Orthodox Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, also called Pascha, on 28 April 2019, according to the Julian calendar. For…

Read More Here

Man stabbed in Rome for wearing a crucifix

Italian Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini revealed on Tuesday that a Moroccan national stabbed a man for wearing a crucifix at Rome's central Termini train station. The…

Read More Here

Slideshow: Easter celebrations around the world

Easter is the most important and oldest Christian festival and marks the death and resurrection Jesus Christ. The feast is fixed onto the first Sunday after the first full moon…

Read More Here

A Quick Look: Easter and it’s Traditions

In the Christian tradition, Easter is the most important and oldest festival and marks the death and resurrection Jesus Christ. The feast is fixed onto the first Sunday after…

Read More Here

Pope’s Easter vigil Mass calls on worshipers to live for God not material things

Pope Francis led Catholics into Easter at a vigil Mass on Saturday night and called on worshippers to live for God, not fleeting things such as wealth or success. The…

Read More Here

Slideshow: Good Friday traditions from around the world

A series of photos from around the world of the various traditions that are organised on Good Friday. Good Friday is meant to be a day of reflection for Christians,…

Read More Here

Slideshow: Good Friday in the Philippines

Penitents during Good Friday in San Juan village, San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. Thousands of Catholic devotees witnessed dozens of men who were nailed to wooden crosses or flogged themselves…

Read More Here

Polish priest apologizes for burning of ‘Harry Potter’ books

A priest in northern Poland who led a public burning of books that included titles from the "Harry Potter" series and other items has apologized, saying the ritual was not…

Read More Here

Spanish Catholic Church caught in a controversy over ‘gay conversion’ courses

A Roman Catholic diocese near Madrid is being investigated after a Spanish newspaper reported that it was running courses to "cure" gay men of homosexuality. The deputy head of the…

Read More Here