Church
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World
Vatican Defends Gay Blessings, but Offers Critics Some Leeway
The clarification on a declaration issued in December seemed designed to soothe critics while also showing that this is the…
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World
Pope Raises Concerns About Church in Nicaragua
Speaking at his traditional New Year’s Day message, Francis highlighted the arrests and expulsion of clergy.
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World
Christmas Comes Early in Ukraine, but Not a Moment Too Soon
Christmas lights flickered on ahead of schedule. Families sang carols a little sooner. And the first presents of the season…
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World
‘God Is Under the Rubble in Gaza’: Bethlehem’s Subdued Christmas
The war in Gaza has prompted the city, traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus, to tone down its Christmas…
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News
The Church, Living in Christmas Past
My mom loved Christmas so much, she would sometimes leave the tree up until April. She dyed a sheet blue…
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News
It’s Christmas, and England’s Priests Have Had Enough
On a blustery December morning, the Rev. Nicky Skipworth is leading her congregation in prayer. But the word of God…
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News
No Better Time to Be a Catholic
When I began writing a column for this newspaper, I was by no means its first Catholic columnist, but I…
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World
For Archbishop of Canterbury, Heading Anglican Church Is ‘High-Wire Act’
Serving as the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans in an increasingly secular world is just one of the challenges…
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World
Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Relationships
A church official said the blessings amounted to “a real development” that nevertheless did not amend “the traditional doctrine of…
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World
With a Deadline Looming, the United Methodist Church Breaks Up
A quarter of the denomination’s churches have left, as the faith divides over L.G.B.T.Q. policies.