Rappler's latest stories on religion
[OPINION] Why did priests and religious vote for Duterte?
'My classmate who told me that he voted for Duterte after a process of discernment was most likely influenced by regionalism rather than the Holy Spirit'
Israel orders evangelical GOD TV off air
Israel's media watchdog accuses the network of seeking to target Jews with Christian content
[OPINION] When religion blames the victim
'In congregations around the Philippines, women are enjoined to be submissive to their husbands. The Filipino translation is more forceful: magpasakop sa asawa.'
[OPINION] Activism as a call from Christianity
'Calling our aid charity posits a hierarchy between you and the ones you choose to help'
Cavite churches prepare for resumption of public masses
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of the Diocese of Imus says all parish priests are putting in place all the necessary precautionary measures in their churches to protect mass-goers once Cavite is under MGCQ
[PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: I can be transgender and Catholic at the same time
We speak with Mela Habijan, who is both a trans woman and a Catholic. How does she reconcile the two?
Trump angers American religious leaders with Bible photo op
'It was traumatic and deeply offensive, in the sense that something sacred was being misused for a political gesture,' Washington's Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde says
[OPINION] Christians can do more than protest
'It is easy for anyone to call on protest if he has the social safety nets when social unrest arises. But what about the poor?'
[OPINION] Laudato Si', 5 years later
Laudato Si' has become one of the most influential social encyclicals that has been released by a pope
Basagan ng Trip with Leloy Claudio: Why Christians should protest
This discussion may shake your faith or make it stronger. Historian Leloy Claudio questions the tenets of some religions with Jayeel Cornelio and Rico Villanueva.
[OPINION] Remembering Pope John Paul II: A centenary homage
'There was in Pope John Paul II a natural ability to recognize the person behind the veneer of social status, physical ailment, religious membership, ethnicity, or economic class and see her as someone worthy of respect'
[OPINION] Should Christians protest?
'Some Christians today say that Jesus had nothing to do with politics. He criticized religious leaders but not the political ones, they reason. But this is a distorted reading of the Bible.'
Finding God in the quarantine
'The Church remains to be the Body of Christ always called to respond to greater charity; as such, it finds and dwells on these spaces where grace is found'
[OPINION] I was an atheist, then a Christian, and now an agnostic
'No matter which side you're on, it's wrong to make people feel unsafe for believing in the things they do, or feel that they are lesser than you for not believing in what you believe'
Vietnamese dissident monk who was a Nobel Prize nominee dies at 93
Head of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Thich Quang Do has spent most of his life advocating for religious freedom and human rights in communist-run Vietnam
[OPINION] Walking away from the golden calf
'I could no longer claim membership in the Catholic Church in good faith – not just because of the hypocrites in her, but because of the inherent hypocrisy in her system'
Maria Ressa among 2020 Four Freedoms Awards laureates
Maria Ressa joins the United Nations, the Religions for Peace International, Dutch journalist Sander de Kramer, and Palermo, Sicily Mayor Leoluca Orlando as awardees
[PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: I don't believe in god
What led our podcast guest David Ong to his atheism? What values does he hold? Would he raise his child godless or marry a staunch Catholic? Let's find out!
[OPINION] National Baptist Day: Laughing instead of mourning
On social media, Kristoffer Pasion, a Filipino historian, minces no words: 'As a Baptist, I denounce this and the disgusting hypocrisy of these church leaders who invited Duterte and laughed at his curse-laden speech'
[OPINION] Something is wrong with Filipino faith
Why do we rank as a corrupt country despite being the only Christian nation in Asia? What happened to the faith that teaches us to love God and our neighbors?
[OPINION] Apollo Quiboloy, stop!
There’s nothing funny about Pastor Quiboloy. Nothing is funny when religious work perpetuates people’s ignorance.
[OPINION] How Carlos Celdran made me a decisive Catholic
'Provocative criticisms from skeptics, agnostics, and atheists should in fact be welcomed as a means for us Catholics to let our faith grow deeper and perhaps evolve'
[OPINYON] Ikinasal ako sa isang atheist
Akala ko noong una 'pag atheist, barumbado, matapang, siga, pero nagkamali ako. Sila pa 'yung mas nakakaunawa, sila pa 'yung mas gumagalang ng paniniwala ng iba.
[OPINION] A young Muslim's notes from Manila
Moving to predominantly Christian Manila was daunting for Earl, a practicing Muslim from Zamboanga. What challenges did he face?
[OPINION] Constructing a Muslim identity in a predominantly Christian society
'My first years as a new Muslim were definitely tough. I was previously unaware of how difficult life was as a Muslim, because it was a struggle that I could not relate to as a Christian.'
[OPINION] 'Ikaw ang unang Muslim na nakilala ko'
I am positive that we can become a nation that can rise beyond the idea that we should all be similar, and that we need to change those who do not fit our standards
[OPINION] One woman's journey from Christianity to agnosticism
My departure from Christianity does not mean that I will cling to the arms of blasphemy
[OPINYON] Hindi ko kailangan ng relihiyon upang maging mabuting tao
Ayaw kong mabuhay sa takot. Ayaw kong isipin na dapat ganito, ganiyan ang gawin ko upang 'maligtas' ako sa kung anong katapusang mangyayari.
In rare U.S. criticism, Pence urges Saudis to free blogger Badawi
US Vice President Mike Pence says, in 'Saudi Arabia, blogger Raif Badawi is still in prison for the alleged crime of criticizing Islam through electronic means'
Iraq's minority Yazidis, brutalized by ISIS
5 years after the Islamic State swept across the Yazidis' hometown of Sinjar, here is what you need to know about the religious minority
India rejects critical U.S. religious freedom report
'Despite Indian government statistics indicating that communal violence has increased sharply over the past two years, the Modi administration has not addressed the problem,' the US report international religious freedom finds
Iraq officially invites Pope to visit
'I am honored to officially extend an invitation to Your Holiness to visit Iraq – the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of Abraham, the father of the faithful and messenger of the divine religions,' says President Barham Saleh
7 in 10 Filipinos choose religion over science – global study
According to the Wellcome Global Monitor 2018, the Philippines is among 19 countries 'where people most likely have high trust' in scientists
Sri Lanka extends emergency a month after suicide bombings
Sri Lanka's president issues a proclamation saying that the emergency will continue for another 30 days, citing 'public security'
South Korean megachurch leader's rape term extended
A Seoul appeals court has sentenced Pastor Lee Jaerock to 16 years behind bars
Sri Lanka Muslims pray at vandalized mosques
Police say security will remain tight over the weekend for a major Buddhist festival as well as the 10th anniversary of the ending of the country's decades-long Tamil separatist war
U.S. says Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi 'safely reunited' with family
(UPDATED) It is not clear when Bibi may have left or where she may have gone, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declines to confirm whether she has arrived in Canada
Dalai Lama discharged from hospital
'I received the necessary medical treatments and now feel kind of normal,' the 83-year-old tells reporters in a video posted on his official Twitter account
Priest stabbed during mass at Canada's biggest church
The suspect is arrested at the Roman Catholic basilica shortly after the attack in front of 50 people and a television audience, while priest Claude Grou is taken to hospital
Malaysian jailed for more than 10 years for insulting Islam
The person found guilty, known only as Facebook user 'Ayea Yea,' will be jailed for 10 years and 10 months after pleading guilty to 10 charges of anti-religious activity and the misuse of communications networks
France urges Vatican to act after envoy charged with sex abuse
'I am waiting for the Holy See to assume its responsibilities,' French European Minister Nathalie Loiseau says when asked if Luigi Ventura should see his diplomatic immunity lifted
Vatican to open probe into Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse
The investigation could result in a canonical trial and George Pell's eventual expulsion from the priesthood
Vatican has 'utmost respect' for justice after Pell conviction
Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis' closest advisers, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys, becoming the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes
Cardinal calls for global recognition of sex abuse in Catholic Church
'The entire Church must take an honest look, undertake rigorous discernment, and then act decisively,' says Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias
'Concrete measures' on sex abuse needed, pope tells Vatican summit
(UPDATED) 'We humbly and sorrowfully admit that wounds have been inflicted by us bishops on the victims and in fact the entire body of Christ,' Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle tells the assembly
Pope admits priests, bishops sexually abused nuns
Pope Francis says the problem can be found 'anywhere' but is prevalent in 'some new congregations and in some regions'
55 million devotees for busiest days of Hindu megafestival
The Mauni Amavasya – or new moon day – is the most auspicious day of the 48-day Kumbh Mela festival
Pope Francis makes history with Muslim dialogue in UAE
The pope's highly publicized 48-hour visit to the United Arab Emirates will also include an open-air Mass on Tuesday, February 5, for 135,000 of the Muslim country's million Catholic residents
Pakistan rejects challenge against Asia Bibi acquittal
'She should now be free to reunite with her family and seek safety in a country of her choice,' Amnesty International says in a statement
Pope Francis announces Japan visit in November
The pope has made two trips to Asia since his election 5 years ago, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017
