Several Christian and pro-life groups in the United States have alleged they were unlawfully targeted by the Inland Revenue Service in an apparent effort to curtail their activities. One of them, the Christian pro-life group Cherish Life Ministries, said it was told by an IRS agent that the organisation did not qualify for non-profit status Read more
Young Americans of Spanish descent are turning away from the traditional Catholic faith of their parents and moving to Protestant churches, according to a Gallup poll. “A majority of Hispanics in America continue to identify as Catholic, although the Catholic percentage among Hispanics appears to be decreasing and the youngest Hispanics in America today are Read more
A United Nations committee has taken the United States to task for failing to pursue and prosecute clerical sex abusers. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged the US to “take all necessary measures to investigate all cases of sexual abuse of children whether single or on a massive and long-term scale, Read more
Representatives of the Catholic Church and four Protestant churches in the United States have begun to discuss the Church’s mission and identity after formally agreeing to recognise each other’s baptisms. The discussion will include “unity and diversity in the Church, and the origins and current interpretations of ministry and ordination, and the nature and role Read more
Less than a week before Super Bowl XLVII, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they are very (44%) or somewhat (22%) likely to watch the game this year. There are few divisions on this question by religious affiliation, age, or political affiliation; however, there are significant differences by race and gender. Black (78%) and white (69%) Read more
When it comes to tonight’s Super Bowl, 3 in 10 Americans are betting on God. A new study by the Public Religion Research Institute found that one-third of the country believes God plays a role in determining which team wins. And Americans are even more certain about the players themselves. A majority believe God rewards individual Read more
The University of Notre Dame in the United States has launched a pastoral plan for gay students — “for the support, holistic development and formation of students who identify as GLBTQ [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning], as well as their heterosexual friends and allies”. Though the announcement follows years of petitions for an official “gay-straight Read more
The United States Supreme Court has a history of playing a pivotal role in emotive cultural debates including, for example, abortion (Roe v Wade), racial segregation (Brown v Board of Education) and the death penalty (Roper v Simmons). Marriage equality will now join this list. In a much anticipated move, the US Supreme Court announced Read more
Less than a year after it was established, the ordinariate for former Anglicans seeking to join the Catholic Church in the United States has grown to include 1500 individuals, 35 communities and 24 priests. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter has also had a five-acre property, worth $NZ6 million, donated to it Read more
A warning from Pope Benedict XVI about lack of faith among Catholics in France has coincided with new research revealing a decline in fervour among Catholics in the United States and a weakening of belief among Catholics in Ireland. Speaking to visiting French bishops, the Pope described ignorance of religion, even “among the Catholic faithful”, Read more