Religion News Service

Signs of the Times: Other than hiding in the basement, what can parishioners ask their pastors to do to keep their parishes from turning into partisan war zones?

Signs of the Times: Fratelli Tutti, the new papal encyclical on fraternity and social friendship, is an important teaching document that must be read by anyone who wants to know where Pope Francis is coming from.

Signs of the Times: Even under Pope Francis, who is all about compassion and forgiveness, the literalists appear to be alive and well in the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 

At least two people in addition to President Donald Trump who attended a ceremony Sept. 26 at the White House to present Judge Amy Coney Barrett as Trump's Supreme Court nominee have been infected with the coronavirus. 

Thousands of hospitality workers are urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill ensuring that those laid off due to the pandemic will be able to return to their jobs when the positions become available. The workers are organizing with the help of Unite Here Local 11, a union that represents 30,000 workers in Southern California and Arizona.

Signs of the Times: Some who oppose Amy Coney Barrett's appointment argue that her beliefs will influence how she decides cases before the court. 

To Andrés Chong-Qui Torres, growing up in an evangelical Pentecostal household and studying at a Jesuit prep school led him to not only develop "an intense love for the Word of God," but to embrace public service and social justice.

Federal appellate Judge Amy Coney Barrett is emerging as a likely nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, reawakening a debate over Barrett's views on law and religion.

Signs of the Times: Prayer breakfasts are generally not controversial events in the Catholic world, except when they are stages for giving awards to people like Attorney General William Barr.

The head of the Federal Election Commission chastised Catholic bishops during a pair of interviews this week, accusing church hierarchy of "hiding behind" their nonprofit status and declaring that this year's U.S. election amounts to a "spiritual war" that threatens the country's "Christian moral principles."

The sexual abuse trial of Piero Alfio Capuana, the lay leader of the 5,000-member Catholic Culture and Environment Association, began in this small Sicilian city on Sept. 15, three years after the abuse allegedly took place. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden addressed the faith-based anti-poverty group the Poor People's Campaign at a virtual event on Sept. 14, telling its members, "I want to be part of your movement."

Three months after police shoved him to the ground during a protest over the death of George Floyd, Martin Gugino, the Catholic peace activist, has quietly moved back to his home in Buffalo, New York.

Galli's journey to Catholicism is notable, in part because of the nation's political climate.  A former Presbyterian pastor, Galli spent seven years as editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, the premier publication for evangelicals whose founder was the legendary evangelist Billy Graham

The U.S. Navy will retain contracts with civilian Catholic priests at naval bases in California for at least another year, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, said.

Signs of the Times: President Donald Trump's supporters are trying to paint Kamala Harris as being anti-Catholic, a fantastical accusation considering that her running mate, Joe Biden, is a Catholic.

A group of Catholic theologians, activists and nuns has signed an open letter to Catholic voters urging them to oppose President Donald Trump, who they argue “flouts core values at the heart of Catholic social teaching.”

Signs of the Times: I can see the headlines now: "Papal encyclical condemned as sexist." Groan!

Signs of the Times: American Catholics are fighting over whether Joe Biden can be called a Catholic politician. Connected to this question is another: "Can a Catholic vote for Biden?"

Signs of the Times: Since COVID-19 first began to spread, Pope Francis has been challenging Catholics and the world about the response to the pandemic. As a pastor, he's also offered us hope.