Religion

An American Muslim organization severed ties with its founder over allegations of abuse. It reignited a conversation among American Muslims about how to hold faith leaders accountable.

Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, N.Y., has resigned in the wake of allegations that he failed to deal properly with abusive priests under his charge.

Richard Malone had faced scrutiny for allegedly mishandling sexual abuse claims against the priests in his diocese. He announced Wednesday that the pope had accepted his request to "retire early."

A popular Muslim preacher was accused of spiritual abuse. It's reignited a debate about how to hold accountable American Muslim faith and community leaders who abuse their positions.

On World AIDS Day, NPR's Lulu Garcia Navarro speaks with Michael O'Loughlin, host of the podcast Plague, which examines the church's roles in caring for AIDS patients and campaigning against condoms.

At the start of Christmas season, Pope Francis has sent a small piece of wooden relic reputed to be part of Jesus' manger after he was born to Bethlehem, traditionally known as Jesus' birthplace.

Pope Francis recently opened the door to the possibility of women as deacons in the Catholic Church. Some women have sought official recognition for the ministries they already perform.

After a grand jury implicated more than 300 priests in a statewide sex scandal, nearly every case was too old to be prosecuted. Legislators say that problem inspired these new laws.

Health care sharing ministries offer consumers an alternative to traditional insurance, and people are drawn to their lower premiums. But one company is accused of selling illegal insurance products.

The nuclear arms race wastes resources that could instead improve people's lives and protect the environment, the pontiff said. His tour marks the first papal visit to Japan in nearly 40 years.

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Huffington Post reporter Rowaida Abdelaziz about her report about the challenges Muslim women face as survivors of domestic violence.