Religion – Page 16 –

FILE – Television evangelist Jim Bakker poses in front of the Water Park in Columbia, SC, one of the attractions at his Heritage USA, March 19, 1987. (AP Photo/Lou Krasky, File)

Jim Bakker, who lost his ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire in sex and money scandals, dies at 86

By Jim Salter

October 6, 2026 at 6:16 a.m.

Jim Bakker, who along with his first wife Tammy Faye built an evangelical empire around...

President Jimmy Carter and Pope John Paul II are shown at the White House Saturday, Oct. 6, 1979. (AP Photo)

Today in History: Pope John Paul II visits the White House

By Associated Press

October 6, 2026 at 3:30 a.m.

On Oct. 6, 1979, Pope John Paul II, on a weeklong U.S. tour, became the...

Pope John Paul II in Grant Park in Chicago in October 1979. (baiduhai historical photo)

Today in Chicago History: Pope John Paul II conducts sermon by the shore in Grant Park

By Kori Rumore

October 5, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 5, according...

Pope Leo XIV meets the Algerian Community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, Monday, April 13, 2026, on the first day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV in Algeria to walk in footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine

By Nicole Winfield

April 14, 2026 at 6:36 a.m.

Pope Leo XIV is following in the footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine, making...

Pope Leo XIV meets the Algerian community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers on April 13, 2026, on the first day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Local Catholic leaders express support for Chicago native Pope Leo after Trump calls him ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’

By Angie Leventis Lourgos

April 13, 2026 at 4:51 p.m.

Local Catholic leaders expressed support for Chicago native Pope Leo XIV after President Donald Trump...

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo defended by NWI Christians

By Carole Carlson

April 13, 2026 at 4:32 p.m.

President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Pope Leo XIV are drawing harsh backlash from Christian...

The Rev. Kenneth J. Anderson, pastor of St. John Henry Newman Parish in Evanston, has resigned after the Archdiocese of Chicago found discrepancies in parish finances. The archdiocese had previously merged St. Athanasius and St. Joan of Arc into a combined Catholic parish with the designation of St. John Henry Newman. (Claire Murphy/Pioneer Press)

Evanston pastor resigns after archdiocese finds he siphoned church funds for personal use

By Claire Murphy

April 14, 2026 at 11:59 a.m.

Rev. Kenneth Anderson of Evanston's St. John Henry Newman Parish resigned after Archdiocese found he...

President Donald Trump is facing harsh criticism after he posted a picture in a Truth Social post where he portrayed himself as Jesus Christ. (TRUTH SOCIAL)

President Donald Trump faces backlash for posting a picture of himself as Jesus Christ

By Charlotte Hazard

April 13, 2026 at 11:41 a.m.

President Donald Trump is facing harsh criticism after he posted a picture in Truth Social...

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sunday, April 12, 2026, after he returned from Miami. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump says he won’t apologize to Pope Leo and explains his reason for posting much-criticized meme

By Will Weissert

April 13, 2026 at 3:32 p.m.

U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over...

Pope Leo XIV holds a rosary as he leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV denounces the ‘delusion of omnipotence’ he says fuels the US-Israeli war in Iran

By Nicole Winfield

April 11, 2026 at 2:27 p.m.

Pope Leo XIV has denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war...

Cardinal Blase Cupich helps lead a procession through the streets around Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park following an outdoor Ash Wednesday Mass on Feb. 18, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Archdiocese accuses CPS of ending disability support funding in Catholic schools

By Kate Armanini

April 10, 2026 at 7:27 p.m.

The Archdiocese of Chicago accused Chicago Public Schools on Friday of abruptly ending instructional support...

In this image from video provided by Just Like Me in April 2026, the company’s co-founder and investor Jeff Tinsley, bottom right, interacts with an AI-generated Jesus. (Just Like Me via AP)

The faith-based tech boom is here, from ‘BuddhaBot’ to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus

By Krysta Fauria

April 10, 2026 at 1:35 p.m.

As religious AI tools become increasingly common, many people are reckoning with how these technologies...

Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Philadelphia Flyers fans have faith as run at playoff spot follows family’s jersey gift to Pope Leo XIV

By Dan Gelston

April 10, 2026 at 10:57 a.m.

Philadelphia Flyers fan Mike Culin took a unique approach to support his team by gifting...