- A local Baptist pastor who often boats the Scioto River photographed a group wading there and now believes it may be the last image of the five people who later drowned — he’s been grappling with regret about not warning them.
- Authorities say the group got into trouble in a known treacherous stretch where one person began struggling and others went to help, and all five were swept under and died.
- Honduran officials confirmed four victims were Honduran; two children were orphaned and are being placed with relatives as Honduras coordinates repatriation.
Latest stories in Religion & Spirituality.
- The Vatican says no final ruling has been issued yet in the canonical trial of Slovenian priest and artist Marko Rupnik, contradicting reports of an acquittal.
- The case — with allegations from more than 20 women and Rupnik’s 2023 expulsion from the Jesuits — is being watched as a test of the Vatican’s accountability for clergy abuse.
- Rupnik is a high-profile religious artist whose mosaics appear in about 200 churches (including in the Vatican), and the trial’s secrecy has prompted criticism from victims’ lawyers.
- Jewish Americans are divided over Israel’s actions in Gaza — religiously affiliated respondents were more likely to view the immediate response as justified, but support for ongoing operations falls sharply and unaffiliated Jews are much less supportive.
- Many report rising antisemitism and insecurity: about 6 in 10 say prejudice is a very/very serious problem, roughly 3 in 10 say they or someone in their household experienced assault, harassment or property damage, and only about one-third feel very/somewhat safe.
- Generational split on Jewish identity: older religious Jews are more likely to say supporting Israel is central to their identity, while younger Jews emphasize celebrating holidays and cultural ties.
- The Vatican excommunicated leaders of the breakaway Society of St. Pius X after unauthorized bishop consecrations and warned Catholics to avoid its services.
- Despite the sanctions, SSPX churches are still holding the old Latin Mass, baptisms, camps and other activities, and many members say they’ll keep attending.
- Local bishops are urging worshippers to "come home" to diocesan parishes, but deep social ties and long-standing disputes make personal decisions complicated.
- A majority of Jewish adults say they feel less safe in the U.S. since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, with only about a third saying they feel safe.
- Roughly 3 in 10 report that they or someone in their household experienced assault, harassment, online abuse or property damage because they are Jewish in the past year.
- About 4 in 10 are now less likely to wear or display visible Jewish symbols, and the community is divided over whether anti‑Israel protests or criticism count as antisemitism.
- The coffin of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in Najaf today, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and senior officials received it.
- Najaf — one of Shi'ite Islam’s most sacred cities — is hosting mass public mourning and a large procession after the funeral ceremonies that began in Iran.
- Ceremonies, with tightened security and big crowds, are part of a state-organized sequence of processions from Tehran to Qom, Najaf and Karbala before the coffin returns to Mashhad for burial.
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