society

Rachel Goldberg-Polin on her Jewish faith and her slain son’s spiritual quest

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW: RNS national reporter Yonat Shimron in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin http://religionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/042926.yonat_mixdown.mp3 (RNS) — Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli, became the public face for the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, largely because of his mother’s fevered efforts to win his release. Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a native…

2 NCR writers win Religion News Association awards

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago02 mins

Two National Catholic Reporter journalists won awards for their work at the 2026 Religion News Association Awards. The RNA Excellence in Religion Reporting Contest winners were announced April 25 during the organization’s 77th annual conference in Atlanta. NCR staff reporter Camillo Barone won the Renner Award for Excellence in In-Depth and Continuing Coverage category, placing…

'Mother Mary' film may have uncredited inspiration — and it's not the Mother of God

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago04 mins

A24’s psychological thriller “Mother Mary” premiered in U.S. theaters last weekend to mixed reviews. Directed by David Lowery, the film explores the strained creative — and, it is implied, romantic — relationship between an aging pop star (Anne Hathaway) and her former costume designer (Michaela Coel). Hathaway’s titular character draws aesthetically and lyrically from religious imagery,…

Leasehold ban in England and Wales unlikely before next general election, minister says

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago03 mins

A ban on new leasehold properties in England and Wales is unlikely to come into force until after the next election, the housing minister has said, as he defended the government’s piecemeal attempts to dismantle the system. The long-promised end would take years to “switch on”, Matthew Pennycook said, even though the ban of leaseholds…

London police say stabbing of 2 Jewish men is declared a terrorist incident

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago03 mins

LONDON (AP) — Two Jewish men were stabbed and injured in a London street on Wednesday, in what police called an act of terrorism. Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in the city’s latest antisemitic attack. The Metropolitan Police said the attack in the Golders Green area left two men, aged 34…

Officials Distorted Facts to Justify Deporting Haitians, Internal Emails Show

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago05 mins

As the Trump administration prepared to remove protections from deportation for more than 350,000 Haitians living in the United States, a government researcher privately complained that she was being ordered to manipulate evidence to support the move, internal emails show. Ashley Holland, who worked at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, wrote in a September 2025…

Players from the Afghan Women United team, half standing and half seated, pose for a post-match photo, smiling and with fists raised

Afghanistan women footballers can return to competition after FIFA rule changes

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago02 mins

It means Afghan players will be able to represent their country in official matches with full recognition. “Our team has always been known as an activist team,” Popal told Reuters. “But this opportunity, with the right support from Fifa, will be the time for us to also show some skills and develop the youth talent…

The 7 deadly sins offer a warning to religious influencers — and their followers

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago08 mins

The challenges the church faces in dealing with social media influencers are not new. In fact, the Gospels suggest they extend back before the roots of Christianity. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus condemns religious figures who “on the outside look righteous to others, but inside … are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28). The…

Stress from racism may help explain why black women more likely to die in childbirth, study finds

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago03 mins

Stress from racism and deprivation could explain why black women are more likely to die during childbirth, a study has found. Researchers reviewed 44 existing studies that examined three physiological pathways associated with worse pregnancy outcomes: oxidative stress, inflammation, and uteroplacental vascular resistance, and found black women had higher levels of the three metrics. Such…

Should Jimmy Kimmel be fired for telling a joke?

The Editorial Team2 weeks ago01 mins

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has defended a joke in which he called First Lady Melania Trump an “expectant widow”, just days before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. After the White House urged his network, ABC, to fire the comedian, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is now ordering an early review…

Gaza: The United Arab Emirates Continues Major Humanitarian Efforts Amid Regional Chaos

Health Officials Race to Track Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak but Predict ‘Limited’ Spread

Book Review: ‘From Life Itself,’ by Suzy Hansen

Men's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: New No. 1; …

Wedbush raises Datadog stock price target to $220 on strong results

Rubio visits Vatican amid escalating tensions between Trump and Pope Leo

Whoever wins today’s elections, democracy is the loser under first past the post | Polly Toynbee

Chopard Gala to Host Godmother Isabelle Huppert and Honorees Odessa A’zion and Connor Swindells

Players not getting the respect they deserve – Sinner

'I'll collect the trash' – Dubois on Wardley's bin-man jibe

Rachel Goldberg-Polin on her Jewish faith and her slain son’s spiritual quest

2 NCR writers win Religion News Association awards

'Mother Mary' film may have uncredited inspiration — and it's not the Mother of God

Leasehold ban in England and Wales unlikely before next general election, minister says

London police say stabbing of 2 Jewish men is declared a terrorist incident

Officials Distorted Facts to Justify Deporting Haitians, Internal Emails Show

Afghanistan women footballers can return to competition after FIFA rule changes

The 7 deadly sins offer a warning to religious influencers — and their followers

Stress from racism may help explain why black women more likely to die in childbirth, study finds

Should Jimmy Kimmel be fired for telling a joke?