Faith-Based Activism on Climate; Rebuilding Neighborhoods

The Catholic Church's stand on marriage, divorce, and contraceptives can seem out of step with the modern world—even to Catholics. Those who want to see reforms, such as making the process for obtaining an annulment easier, have been encouraged by recent statements of Pope Francis. But unhappy Catholics are still leaving the Church, and bishops will have to decide at a meeting in Rome next month o

Rev. Troy Lawrence Sr. of Reaping the Harvest, a Full Gospel Baptist Church on Dauphine Street in the Lower Ninth Ward, talks about gun violence last summer at a peace festival sponsored by the city.

Professor Omid Safi, director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center at Duke University in Durham, NC, says the Paris terror attacks were a “harbinger” of more attacks to come. He urges faith communities to build relationships of trust and begin a global conversation about religion so they can be ready to begin the healing process when the next attack occurs.

As the city of Baltimore continues to heal from the racial violence and turmoil that arose last year, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly visits one church that is drawing young people to its ministry with a boxing gym that teaches discipline, respect, and a sense of pride.