MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (RNS) — The men burst into the church classroom and ordered the 15 teens in the youth group to the floor. They covered the teens’ heads with pillowcases and bound their hands. One man waved an unloaded gun, and…

TRENTON, N.J. (RNS) — As part of a survey to understand why they have stopped attending Mass, a few hundred Catholics were asked what issues they would raise if they could speak to the bishop for five minutes. The bishop would…

(RNS) — A new movie confronts a controversial topic by highlighting two words that don’t typically go together: “abortion” and “survivor.” “We didn’t know there was such a thing,” said Jon Erwin, who wrote and co-directed “October Baby” with his brother,…

By Kim Plummer Krull “People are anxious to help.” Although the Rev. Larry Courson, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, Mich., was talking about response to the March 15 tornado that damaged more than 200 homes in the suburb of Dexter,…

The spring 2012 issue of Higher Things magazine is a first in two respects.  For the first time, its online version at http://higherthings.org is cost-free and its focus on apologetics marks the first completely topical edition of the quarterly magazine…

By Annalisa Musarra  WASHINGTON (RNS) — Even as membership remains relatively stable in U.S. churches, the effects of the recession have caused contributions to drop by $1.2 billion.   According to the 2012 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, the almost $29…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Aaron Likens has come a long way since he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome some nine years ago, at age 20. Since then, he’s started a blog, written a book and become a spokesman for TouchPoint…

The modification of the LCMS cross logo from burgundy to blue is one of the most notable changes in the Synod’s refreshed branding that is being introduced in April, according to Vicki Biggs, director of Integrated Communications for the Synod. “Our…