In The News

A suicide bomber attacked after a pop concert in Manchester, England, killing 22 and injuring 60. The Ariana Grande concert was largely attended by young girls and women. The attacker, Salman Abedi, 22, was born to Libyan parents in England, and the Islamic State claimed credit for inspiring the attack. Analysts warn of more random attacks as the war in Syria shrinks ISIS territory, fighters...

In February, the Bishop of Hong Kong announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pope Francis have negotiated a compromise in the selection of Chinese bishops, a critical religious disagreement that has festered since the 1950s. Although Chinese state and religious authorities will “recommend episcopal candidates,” the pope has veto power and hence “final authority,” reports Victor Gaetan for...

Supporters of secularism criticize government leaders who prioritize personal religious beliefs over government policies. In 2014, Steve Bannon, now chief strategist in the White House, urged cross-border religious partnerships in opposing Islamic extremism. Religious traditionalists also join forces to battle for other causes including opposition to marriage equality or women’s reproductive...