By Marnita ColemanSpecial to the AFRO On Easter morning, April 20, the Reverend William Edward Ray, beloved founder of Save Another Youth, Inc. and the Baltimore Coalition to Stop the Killing, took his final flight and entered eternal rest. After more than 50 years of tireless ministry, fierce advocacy, and unwavering love for his community, […]
Category: Religion
Posted inReligion
‘Do not mock us’: Catholic critics decry US president’s publishing of an AI image of himself as pontiff amid mourning for Pope Francis
The 47th president sparked outrage by posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope during the official mourning period for Pope Francis, drawing rebukes from Catholic leaders and international media just days before the papal conclave begins. Critics, including Italian officials and U.S. Catholic groups, called the act offensive and disrespectful, accusing the president of politicizing a sacred moment for global Catholics.
Posted inWord In Black
Hoodoo vs. Holy Ghost: The ‘Sinners’ controversy
The film “Sinners” has become a box office hit while igniting debate over whether its portrayal of Hoodoo and evil in the Jim Crow South is anti-Christian or a deeper cultural and spiritual exploration. While some critics call it demonic, many argue it respectfully presents African traditions and challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about faith, race and history.
Posted inReligion
Obituary: Trailblazing AME Bishop Carolyn Guidry dead at 87
The Right Rev. Carolyn Guidry, a pioneering bishop and the first woman to lead several major roles within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, died May 3 at age 87 after a distinguished life of ministry, leadership, and community service.
Posted inReligion
What is a conclave? What to know about the secretive process to elect the next pope
The papal conclave, beginning May 7, is a secretive, centuries-old Vatican process in which cardinals under age 80 vote—sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel—to elect a new pope by a two-thirds majority, with white smoke and bells signaling the decision.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Rev. William Barber decries GOP budget in ‘Moral Monday’ protest at the U.S. Capitol
The Rev. William Barber traveled to the U.S. Capitol to protest proposed $1.5 trillion Republican budget cuts—targeting Medicaid, food aid, and housing—framing them as economic injustice that threatens vulnerable Americans.
Posted inReligion
Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget
By Jack Jenkins Prominent pastor and anti-poverty activist the Rev. William Barber and two others were arrested while praying in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on April 28, an action he said would be part of a recurring series of demonstrations aimed at challenging the Republican-led budget bill. The arrests occurred roughly 15 minutes after Barber, […]
Posted inReligion
Black churches back embattled Smithsonian African-American history museum after White House order
African-American churches are showing solidarity with the National Museum of African American History and Culture amid backlash against an Oval Office executive order criticizing the museum’s portrayal of U.S. history. Several ministers are urging their congregants to support the museum financially via memberships among other signs of support.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Millions mourn Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the first pope from South America, was known for his humble and non-traditional gestures, and his passing has prompted reflection on his powerful legacy and the unfinished hopes of Black Catholics seeking recognition for African-American sainthood.
Posted inReligion
A Black pope? Francis made it a possibility
Pope Francis, who died at age 88, leaves behind a legacy of advocacy for marginalized communities, including Black people, through actions like appointing the first African-American cardinal and condemning racism as a sin. His inclusive leadership reshaped the Catholic Church’s global power dynamics and opened the possibility for the election of the first Black pope.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88
Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, died on April 21 at age 88, leaving behind a transformative yet polarizing legacy marked by his humility, compassion for the marginalized, and progressive reforms that challenged conservative Catholic traditions. While he inspired many with his focus on social justice, interfaith dialogue, and a “poor church for the poor,” his papacy also stirred controversy over his approach to sexual abuse scandals, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and church doctrine.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
A Pentecostal church in South Africa holds mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous
A Pentecostal church in South Africa celebrated Easter Sunday with a mass wedding ceremony for about 3,000 people, many entering into polygamous marriages as part of the church’s traditions. The International Pentecost Holiness Church, which blends Pentecostal beliefs with African customs, held its largest wedding event yet at its 60,000-seat headquarters near Johannesburg.