Yahoo! News: Religion News

Pope, in Brazil, asks young to change unfair, corrupt world
Rio's Copacabana stages show for pope
Pope's slum visit: Impressive but little impact
Obamacare contraception: Could religious exemption be headed to Supreme Court?
Despite rapturous reception, pope faces challenges in Latin America
Pope shows off spiritual side with solemn rite
Pope urges care for the elderly as part of justice focus with World Youth Day pilgrims
Historic SF church plans memorial space for pets
Pope tells young in Rio to treasure the elderly
Church: Va. woman among Spain train crash victims
Pope calls for social change in Brazil but are politicians listening?
Photographic Evidence That Brazilians Love Pope Francis
The Church of England Can Invest in Porn
Pope to youth: Treasure the elderly
Pope Francis hears confessions in Rio
Archbishop embarrassed by link to payday loan firm
Pope Francis urges Catholics to shake up dioceses
UK archbishop 'embarrassed' by church's links to payday loan firm
With Pope in town, ribald Rio a land of outdoor confessionals
Pope Francis tells pilgrims in Rio to shake up church, says he wants 'trouble in the dioceses'
Pope Francis shows his rebel side in Rio, telling pilgrims to shake up the church
Rebel pope urges Catholics to shake up dioceses
Pope Francis' killer pace wearing out his aides

Pope, in Brazil, asks young to change unfair, corrupt world

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 04:38 PM PDT

By Philip Pullella and Anthony Boadle RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged young people on Friday to change a world where food is discarded while millions go hungry, where racism and violence still affront human dignity and where politics is more associated with corruption than service. Francis, on the fifth day of his first trip abroad since his election in March, went to Rio's Copacabana beach to preside at a "Way of the Cross" service commemorating Jesus' final hours as part of an international jamboree of Catholic youth, known as World Youth Day. ...

Rio's Copacabana stages show for pope

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 04:11 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis presided over one of the most solemn rites of the Catholic Church on Friday, a procession re-enacting Christ's crucifixion that received a Broadway-like treatment befitting its improbable location, Rio's hedonistic Copacabana beach.

Pope's slum visit: Impressive but little impact

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 03:53 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The day before Pope Francis visited Marizete Marques' slum, the 62-year-old retired maid cleaned her humble home until her hands hurt.

Obamacare contraception: Could religious exemption be headed to Supreme Court?

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 03:22 PM PDT

For-profit, secular corporations may not claim a religious exemption from providing employees with certain methods of contraception as required under President Obama's health-care mandate, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Despite rapturous reception, pope faces challenges in Latin America

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 02:34 PM PDT

By Anthony Boadle and Philip Pullella RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilians have given Pope Francis a superstar's welcome on his first return to his home continent but the big question is whether the trip can help stop the hemorrhaging of the Catholic Church in Latin America. The first Latin American pope is clearly relishing the enthusiasm at a time when the Church, which once was an unrivalled religious bastion on the continent, is grappling to hold onto faithful. ...

Pope shows off spiritual side with solemn rite

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 02:31 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis presided over one of the most solemn rites of the Catholic Church on Friday, a procession re-enacting Christ's crucifixion in the improbable location of Rio's hedonistic Copacabana beach, as he headed into the home stretch of his first international trip for World Youth Day.

Pope urges care for the elderly as part of justice focus with World Youth Day pilgrims

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 01:28 PM PDT

Pope Francis has introduced a surprising theme during an event dedicated to inspiring young people: He has repeatedly praised the elderly as valued contributors to the church's future.

Historic SF church plans memorial space for pets

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 01:04 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A historic Roman Catholic church in San Francisco is planning to build a repository where pet owners will be able to keep the ashes of cats, dogs, and other dearly departed animals.

Pope tells young in Rio to treasure the elderly

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 01:02 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis praised the elderly during the Catholic Church's festival of youth Friday, saying grandparents are critical for passing on wisdom and religious heritage and are a "treasure to be preserved and strengthened."

Church: Va. woman among Spain train crash victims

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 01:00 PM PDT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — A Virginia woman on her way to see her son, who had completed a Catholic pilgrimage, was among the 78 people who died in the wreck of a train in Spain this week, said Catholic Church officials from the diocese where she worked.

Pope calls for social change in Brazil but are politicians listening?

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 12:28 PM PDT

Pope Francis's first international trip to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro is causing a stir as he challenges a range of the social and political issues facing Brazil.

Photographic Evidence That Brazilians Love Pope Francis

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 11:06 AM PDT

South America's first pope made his first trip back to South America and it sure looks like everyone had a lot of fun. Pope Francis's first overseas trip since being elected earlier this year was a visit to the Catholic Church's annual World Youth Day is Rio de Janeiro, which is also gearing up to host both the World Cup and the Summer Olympics in the next three years. Even though he is from neighboring Argentina, the Brazilians welcomed him with open arms and plenty of fanfare.

The Church of England Can Invest in Porn

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 08:12 AM PDT

As U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron pushes to ban online porn, the Church of England has made a curious admission: it can invest in it.

Pope to youth: Treasure the elderly

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 08:09 AM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis is praising the importance of the elderly during the Catholic Church's festival of youth, saying grandparents are critical for passing on wisdom, family and religious heritage and are a "treasure to be preserved and strengthened."

Pope Francis hears confessions in Rio

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 08:01 AM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis celebrated Mass with his fellow Jesuits and heard confessions from young pilgrims in a Rio de Janeiro park on Friday ahead of one of the most solemn events of World Youth Day, a re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion held at ground zero of Rio's hedonistic life, Copacabana Beach.

Archbishop embarrassed by link to payday loan firm

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 04:04 AM PDT

The relationship between Christianity and capitalism is complicated, the archbishop of Canterbury said Friday, admitting he was embarrassed by revelations that the Church of England indirectly invested ...

Pope Francis urges Catholics to shake up dioceses

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 03:45 AM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis has shown the world his rebellious side, urging young Catholics to shake up the church and make a "mess" in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith. It's a message he put into practice by visiting one of Rio's most violent slums and opening the church's World Youth Day on a rain-soaked Copacabana Beach.

UK archbishop 'embarrassed' by church's links to payday loan firm

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 01:52 AM PDT

LONDON - The archbishop of Canterbury says the Church of England will examine indirect links to a payday loan firm he had criticized.

With Pope in town, ribald Rio a land of outdoor confessionals

Posted: 26 Jul 2013 12:51 AM PDT

By Paulo Prada RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Ah, Rio. The sun. The sand. The absolution. Often, tourists and travelers leave this hedonist hotspot with a feeling of guilt. This week, however, thousands of young visitors are dropping to their knees and asking for forgiveness. Never mind that they might still fall prey to the temptations of the famous nightclubs, bars and beaches of the coastal metropolis, let alone the allure of the many other young pilgrims gathered here for a week long visit by Pope Francis. ...

Pope Francis tells pilgrims in Rio to shake up church, says he wants 'trouble in the dioceses'

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 11:16 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO - Pope Francis has shown the world his rebellious side, urging young Catholics to shake up the church and make a "mess" in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith. It's a message he put into practice by visiting one of Rio's most violent slums and opening the church's World Youth Day on a rain-soaked Copacabana Beach.

Pope Francis shows his rebel side in Rio, telling pilgrims to shake up the church

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 09:21 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO - Pope Francis showed his rebel side Thursday, urging young Catholics to shake up the church and make a "mess" in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith. It's a message he put into practice by visiting one of Rio's most violent slums and opening the church's World Youth Day on a rain-soaked Copacabana Beach.

Rebel pope urges Catholics to shake up dioceses

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 09:15 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis showed his rebel side Thursday, urging young Catholics to shake up the church and make a "mess" in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith. It's a message he put into practice by visiting one of Rio's most violent slums and opening the church's World Youth Day on a rain-soaked Copacabana Beach.