Next Stop Rio, Holocaust Controversy, Ex-Gay Fraud Case

July 19, 2013 Subscribe · Forward Pope Francis To Make First Major International Appearance NEW YORK -- At St. Joseph's church, a small but bustling Catholic congregation near downtown Brooklyn that draws a mix of Hispanic and Caribbean families, the youth group has spent two years chasing an ambitious goal. Between prayers and pleas for their dreams to be realized, they've sold homemade tacos and enchiladas after Sunday Mass, deejayed dance parties on Valentine's Day and Cinco de Mayo, hawked chocolate bars in the winter and washed cars during the muggy summer. The result: nearly $30,000 raised to send 10 Catholics in their late teens and 20s to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend what's expected to be one of this year's largest Christian pilgrimages. World Youth Day is a nearly weeklong Catholic celebration of faith that begins July 24 and, for many attendees, is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Pope Francis during his first major international appearance.  Continue reading... Statehouse Holocaust Memorial Under Fire For Using Star Of David Religion And The Wikipedia Edit Wars Orthodox Jews Denied Benefits For Refusing To Work Saturdays Church's Sign Makes Furious Accusation Of Zimmerman Jury Sex Bloggers Behind Bars For Photo That Offends Religious Jet-Setting Buddhist Monk Shocks Country With Scandal Get Out Of Purgatory By Following This Event On Twitter Sex Bloggers Behind Bars For Photo That Offends Religious Sex Bloggers Behind Bars For Photo That Offends Religious Ivy League Professor: Zimmerman Verdict Shows 'American God' Is A 'White Racist' LOOK: This Photo Of The Kaaba Gives Hajj A Shocking Perspective REV. GABRIEL SALGUERO Why We Can't Wait: The Future of the US Democracy Our nation is an "inescapable network of mutuality," and laws that marginalize or disenfranchise any of us hurt all of us. Our communities of faith call for a fix to the Voting Rights Act and for common-sense comprehensive immigration reform now. Continue reading... ASMA JAMIL SADIQ, MD 10 Tips for Fasting This Ramadan in New York I hope this Ramadan, my sharing of practical tips, plus the inspiration from scripture, poems and reflections, are a beneficial source of guidance, understanding and nourishment. Continue reading... NAFTALI BRAWER Feasting and Fasting: Insights Into Ramadan and Tisha B'Av Philosophically speaking fasting and food present a dialectic in which one is forever vacillating between two points. This is particularly true for Judaism and Islam which also prescribe many ritual feasts. And so it's a dialectic of feasting and fasting. Continue reading... REV. DEBRA HAFFNER Show Pat Love! The Religious Institute decided that we'd show Pat Robertson what same-sex love looks like. We launched a Tumblr campaign, Show Pat Love, and asked same sex couples to post their wedding photos. Continue reading... HEATHER KOPP When Sin Is a 5-Letter Word The original meaning of the word "sin" is to fall short of an ideal or to "miss the mark." That's all of us. Every day. But these days, we're more likely to equate sin with evil and immorality. We imbue the word with a dark and loathsome intent. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here. Huffington Post, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003