News & Views

News and Views

March 1, 2024

Religious Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu was a star, even mentioned as a potential future pope. He is now an accused criminal. Vatican magistrates alleged Becciu had embezzled more than $100,000 through a nonprofit group run by his brother. Since the summer of 2021, the 75-year-old Becciu has been on trial for embezzlement, abuse of office and witness tampering. He is the first cardinal to be tried in Vatican City’s criminal court. Nine others face charges concerning the alleged theft of money intended […]

News and Views

January 1, 2024

Religious U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is developing a national strategy to combat Islam fear as the White House faces skepticism from many Muslim Americans for its staunch support of Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza. The White House originally was expected to announce its plans to develop the strategy when Biden met with Muslim leaders, but that was delayed, according to three people familiar with the matter. — AP, 10/31/2023 A spokesperson for Russia’s Chief Rabbinate in Dagestan said that […]

News and Views

November 1, 2023

Religious Russian authorities continue their campaign of religious persecution in occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that Russian security services searched the homes of an unspecified number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armyansk, Simferopol, Saky, and Dzhankoi (cities north and northeast of Sevastopol) in occupied Crimea. Lubinets reported that Russian forces have initiated more than 100 criminal cases based on religious discrimination and persecution against citizens in occupied Crimea. — ISW, 8/22/23 When several hundred Lutherans in […]

News and Views

September 1, 2023

PBI News Pastoral Bible Institute (PBI) Annual Report for year ended April 30, 2023. Since its beginning in 1918, the main activities of the PBI have been reconnecting Bible students with each other and the dissemination of Bible truths through our publication, The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom. By God’s grace, we have been able to complete another year of activity, with the bimonthly issues reaching an international audience through the dedication of many workers worldwide. Special mention should be made of those […]

News and Views

July 1, 2023

Religious The embattled Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany became the eighth diocese in New York to seek bankruptcy protection as it faces hundreds of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. The Albany diocese, like others in the state, is dealing with a deluge of lawsuits dating to when New York temporarily suspended the statute of limitations to give victims of childhood abuse the ability to pursue even decades-old allegations against clergy members, teachers, Boy Scout leaders and others. — Religious News Service, 3/17/2023 Thirty-nine […]