Church leaders have backed government restrictions, but defiance by hard-liners and a commitment to the sacrament of communion, taken with a shared spoon, may undercut good intentions.
Tag: Clergy
South Africa and Malawi Quarrel Over Fate of Shepherd Bushiri, a Fugitive Preacher
Shepherd Bushiri, the founder of a megachurch in South Africa, fled to his home country, Malawi, amid fraud and money laundering charges, leaving the two nations to argue over his fate.
A Radical Cleric Ignites an Islamist Resistance in Afghanistan
The cleric’s supporters in Herat are enforcing harsh Shariah law reminiscent of the Taliban’s. Women are alarmed, and the government has been able to do little.
Poor and Desperate, Pakistani Hindus Accept Islam to Get By
Drawn by jobs or land offered by Muslim groups, some Hindus, facing discrimination and a virus-ravaged economy, are essentially converting to survive.
Cardinal George Pell Knew of Clergy Sex Abuse, Australian Report Finds
The cardinal, whose sexual abuse conviction was overturned last month, knew decades ago that priests had victimized children but failed to take action, a government inquiry concluded.
Pakistan Coronavirus Lockdown Is Thwarted by Imams as Ramadan Nears
The government gave in to clerics’ demands that mosques be allowed to stay open during the Islamic holy month. Now critics are asking who’s in charge.
As They Console Coronavirus’s Victims, Italy’s Priests Are Dying, Too
Doctors and nurses on the front line have become symbols of sacrifice, but priests and nuns have also joined the fight, often at great risk.
Ex-Priest in France Is Convicted of Abusing Dozens of Scouts
Bernard Preynat, 75, received a five-year sentence after admitting to assaulting boys over a 20-year period, a scandal that embroiled a top cardinal.
In Africa, Pope Francis Comes Face to Face With the Future of the Church
The Roman Catholic Church continues to expand in Africa, even as it faces competition from increasingly popular Pentecostal and evangelical movements.
As Pope Francis Champions Migrants, Some Cardinals Court the Far Right
Clerics who see the pontiff as dangerously inclusive have been lending public support — and the church’s imprimatur — to anti-migration politicians like Italy’s Matteo Salvini.