ArcaMax

Q: I am a Catholic woman who is engaged to be married this summer. My fiancé, who is divorced, does consider himself Catholic but is not practicing and never attends services with me. Several months ago, I approached one of the priests in my parish about our wedding and asked to have our services at a catering hall and to have it performed by a...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I am taking a seminary class about the history of the Bible. The professor said that students were to treat the Bible like all other history books. Seems to me it is much more than just a history book. – B.H.

A: Simply put, the Bible is the source of all knowledge. It says, “People do not live ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky and Reverend Adam Hearlson seem like they've been friends forever.

Witkovsky, 41, is the senior rabbi at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El (TBH-BE), a Conservative movement synagogue in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Hearlson, 44, is the pastor at Overbrook Presbyterian Church (OPC), in Philadelphia.

Sitting in the ...Read more

CHICAGO — Moody Bible Institute is suing the Chicago Board of Education for alleged religious discrimination after the college was barred from the district’s student teaching program.

The Christian college alleges Chicago Public Schools will not allow it to participate in the program unless it signs the district’s non-discrimination ...Read more

Q: I read your column and enjoy and reflect upon your wise words. Could you please define and elaborate upon what the expression "God-fearing" means? My husband and I are Roman Catholics and disagree on its meaning. Please help! – (from J)

A: A wonderful question, dear J. One of the ...Read more

Pope Leo XIV urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to respect the spiritual rights of individuals in ICE detention after Catholic clergy members said they were prohibited from giving Communion to immigrants at a Chicago-area facility.

On Nov. 1, ICE officials refused to let a group of clergy members led by Bishop José María Garcia-...Read more

MIAMI — Miami’s top Catholic leader Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who turned 75 this month, will be submitting a retirement letter to the Vatican.

But that doesn’t mean he plans to go anywhere — at least just yet.

Sending the letter of intent to retire is “regular protocol” for all Catholic bishops and archbishops when they turn 75, ...Read more

Holidays are not all of the same rank.

Some holidays come to us with outstanding spiritual resumes. There is no question that Easter and Passover and Ramadan arrive in the sacred calendar with the highest religious credentials. They tell the story of our faiths. They are decorated with rituals that both inform and ...Read more

A federal bankruptcy judge Thursday granted a request by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland to dismiss its bankruptcy case, setting the stage for hundreds of sexual assault victims to take their long-running lawsuits against the church to trial in the coming months and years.

Judge William J. Lafferty said his decision would not be official ...Read more

Q: I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors who both recently passed. I was brought up in a very conservative home where we went to synagogue every Saturday. We kept kosher and observed all the holidays. As an adult, I have become much less religious but maintained all of the Jewish traditions with my children. Although I maintain ...Read more

Q: Dear Rabbi Gellman, several weeks ago, you had a column in our Patriot News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Lilith. I accidentally threw out the paper without cutting that article out. Several times I have tried to access it, but I cannot remember the date and also tried to Google your column on Lilith, to no avail. Could you please send ...Read more

Q: I just read your column about Heaven, and loved it. I, too, believe our souls are reunited with those we have lost. My question is, when you said the concept of Heaven began in the rabbinic times, do we know what caused them to think this after never having believed in Heaven before? Thank you for your columns. I find them enjoyable and ...Read more

We are in a Heaven mode here at the God Squad and I can tell you absolutely that one of the most frequent questions I am asked by my dear Christian readers is whether Jews believe in Heaven. Here is an example:

Q: As an evangelical Christian, I am still puzzled: do Jews believe there is a physical Heaven, or not. I admit that I am most ...Read more

Every year I offer a brutally condensed version of my Jewish High Holiday sermon along with my wishes for a happy and healthy new year to all my readers, Jewish and not, because such wishes are needed by us all. Shana Tova!

One of the very best questions I ever heard was from a young Jewish woman. She asked this question, “Who will shelter us...Read more