Religion – Page 7 –

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...

Argentina players celebrate their third goal against Cape Verde during a World Cup Round of 32 match Friday, July 3, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

Column: World Cup fever, Leo XIV’s pope cave, LeBron’s decision and other takeaways from the sports world

By Paul Sullivan

July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Takeaways from the sports week, including World Cup fever, all-time Cardinals-hating Cubs and a new...

A Saturday Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Kaskaskia, Illinois, on May 23, 2026. The parish was founded by Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette in 1675. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

In Kaskaskia, first capital of Illinois, all that’s left is a church and the congregation keeping it alive

By Andrew Carter

July 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Believers persevere to honor Kaskaskia's role as explorer outpost, Revolution battleground, state capital and Mississippi...

Surviving family members and loved ones affected by suicide visit the 20-foot Ascending Doves sculpture in the “At Peace” memorial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery on June 26, 2026, in Hillside. The memorial was organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago. They are the first archdiocese in the United States to create a memorial in a Catholic cemetery for survivors and lives lost to suicide. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

‘Sense of peace’: Archdiocese cemetery unveils memorial for suicide loss survivors, the first Catholic tribute of its kind in the nation

By Angie Leventis Lourgos

July 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The memorial at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery serves as a physical testament to church’s...

A pair of Abraham Lincolns stand for the national anthem on March 25, 2026, during a ceremony marking Navy Pier as a symbolic starting point of Route 66. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Illinois 250: Meet the state’s most influential people, from architects to a pope and future presidents

By Kori Rumore

July 5, 2026 at 10:52 p.m.

Chicago is where everyone from architects to a pope and future presidents have made a...

Newly consecrated Bishops, from left, Marc Hanappier, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, Michael Goldade and Pascal Schreiber wearing their miters and holding their pastoral staffs, stand at the end of their consecration ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Vatican excommunicates schismatic bishops and priests, and warns their followers

By Nicole Winfield

July 2, 2026 at 9:52 a.m.

The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist group that consecrated bishops without the pope’s...

Andi Borucke, of Orland Park, prays during the veneration of the St. Francis of Assisi relic on June 28 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orland Park. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Relic of St. Francis visits Orland Park church 800 years after his death

By Jeff Vorva

June 29, 2026 at 12:24 p.m.

A first-class relic of St. Francis of Assisi, a fragment of his bone, was on...

US fans react after a World Cup Group D match against Australia on June 19, 2026, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Column: 12 takeaways from the summer of love … and soccer, from a Cubs history lesson to gifting the pope

By Paul Sullivan

June 28, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Jed Hoyer needs a history lesson, America feels the love from World Cup fans, Caitlin...

Former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski gifts a baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series to Pope Leo XIV during a visit to the Vatican on June 24, 2026. (Instagram)

‘The most special moment’: A.J. Pierzynski recounts gifting White Sox’s World Series baseball to Pope Leo XIV

By Tess Kenny

June 28, 2026 at 10:07 a.m.

Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski gifted Pope Leo XIV the baseball from the final...

Pope Leo XIV speaks during a meeting with the employees of the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV warns wars are ‘fed’ faster than people as aid money dries up

By Giada Zampano

June 22, 2026 at 3:48 p.m.

Pope Leo XIV said Monday that wars are being sustained more easily than people are...

The Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of Live Free Illinois, speaks alongside other faith leaders and activists at a press conference at Chicago City Hall on June 22, 2026, to call for a gun violence prevention office. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Chicago faith leaders call for new Department of Gun Violence Prevention

By Jake Sheridan

June 22, 2026 at 6:09 p.m.

A coalition of Chicago faith leaders and activists wants the city to create a new...