Salem-News.com Religion articles

Fortieth Anniversary of Jonestown Tragedy

There isn't anything extraordinary about Jones’ power. It was pure politics.

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - November 2018 marks the fortieth anniversary of the mass murder and suicide of 918 in Jonestown, Guyana, by religious cult leader Jim Jones. About two-thirds of the victims were African-Americans.

Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, established in 1971.

Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on Pedophile Priests follow up

One source claims “about two percent” (or 1 in 50) Roman Catholic Church priests are pedophiles.

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - far too little is said about the victims of these pedophile priests. Pedophile priests acted criminally by taking advantage of the intimate trust of their youngest and most vulnerable parishioners.

But it is also apparent that the Roman Catholic Church itself, rather than acting decisively to end the victimizations and facilitate prosecutions, engaged in a systematic effort to shield predator priests dating back several decades.

Open Letter to Pope Francis About Sexual Abuse in the Church

I am standing in solidarity with the victims in Pennsylvania.

(DALLAS/FORT WORTH) - The thousands of voices raised is only a small fraction of what I am guessing are the MILLIONS who have suffered this fate, yet remain quiet for personal reasons or out of shame. Wearing robes, burning incense, genuflecting and absolving people of sins does not make it "open season" on gentle young souls trying to create a spiritual connection with God.

It is not ok, was not ok, and never will be ok for the strong to take advantage of the humble.

Merkley Statement on Anti-Rohingya Persecution in Burma

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley calls on the Government of Burma (Myanmar) to cease its persecution of the Rohingya ethnic minority

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - "There are significant ties between Oregon and the Rohingya community, and I share Oregonians’ concern about the escalating violence in Burma, which has led to the recent displacement of nearly 400,000 Rohingya and horrific death and suffering.

"The persecution of vulnerable Rohingya minorities, who are at risk of statelessness due to having been denied citizenship by the Government of Burma, bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing..."

Remains of Kennewick Man The Ancient One Laid to Rest

Since the discovery, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has curated the remains at the Burke Museum under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, and followed the Native Americans Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division (Corps) transferred the human remains known as the Kennewick Man, or the Ancient One, to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington) on Friday, Feb. 17 on the condition that the Department then repatriate the human remains to the five Columbia River Plateau tribes.

The transfer took place at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington where the remains have been curated since 1998.

Two Brothers Sue Archdiocese of Portland for Childhood Sex Abuse

Two brothers allegedly abused by Father James Harris, one also by Father Maurice Grammond, filed a lawsuit.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - In two lawsuits filed today in U.S. District Court in Portland, two brothers, now adults, allege that their Catholic priest sexually abused them when they were children living in St. Paul, Oregon.

Father James Harris served as a Catholic priest in the St. Paul Parish in Silverton, Oregon in the mid to late 1960s when he abused the brothers and one of their childhood friends.

Myanmar`s Reward for Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya

ISIL threatens Asian country with retaliation for its brutal treatment and extermination of Rohingya Muslims.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Myanmar's problems with ISIS are a microcosm of the worldwide picture, literally a snapshot of what is to come from years of nations persecuting people for being Muslim when political leaders themselves do not possess even the smallest understanding of Islam or the people who comprise the world's newest monotheistic religion.

Now the government of Myanmar is threatened by one of the world's largest terrorist networks.

Da Vinci: The Man Behind the Shroud

The face found on this digital shroud is more vivid than the one scientists and scholars are studying.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The mysterious and controversial Shroud of Turin has been in the Cathedral of Turin since the 16th century. It has been examined, photographed, threatened by fire, and disputed about for centuries.

Some believe it to be the work of Leonardo da Vinci or at least to have some symbolic connection with several of his famous paintings with their hidden symbols.

Pakistani Christians with False Hopes of Refugee Status

Religious minorities in Pakistan are persecuted under stringent blasphemy law.

(ISLAMABAD) - Religious extremism has gone to its peak since Afghan refugees entered Pakistan.

Due to terrorism, Pakistan has lost thousands of its precious lives and properties. Religious-banned outfits have attacked schools, worship places, parks and even law enforcement agencies and their places.

We`ve Always Occupied the Prairie and We`re Not Going Anywhere

Stand with Standing Rock and Stop the Billionaire's Water Grab

(CANONBALL RIVER, ND) - In Occupying the Prairie: Tensions Rise as Tribes Move to Block a Pipeline by Jack Healy, New York Times, Aug. 23, 2016 we see and hear about Indians in paint on horseback, in "procession" out of their "tepee-dotted camp." Who writes like that?

While the almost 500 Nations of our indigenous brothers and sisters (over 80 are represented in the Sacred Stones Camp) are proud of the heritage of our peoples, it's important to keep the focus on today and why we are here.