Archive
Father Mussie Zerai: The Migrant Priest
Father Mussie Zerai (born in Asmara, 1975) is an Eritrean Roman Catholic priest and refugees’ rights advocate. Referred to as “the migrant priest,” “guardian angel of the refugees,” and “refugees’ first responder,” …
Passing on the Kindness: A Conversation on Faith and Social Entrepreneurship
The Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard hosted a conversation with Ida Puliwa, a social entrepreneur and community organizer from Malawi and a “Spiritual Exemplar,” profiled as part of the Center for Religion and …
Stones that Have Weathered Many Storms: A Reporter’s Notebook from a Human Rights Defender’s Place of Solace
In the rugged landscape of the Kotayk Province of Armenia, Geghard Monastery rises from an amphitheater of steep cliffs like a revelation. Even the long trek to the monastery complex, surrounded by …
Lara Aharonian: Advocating for Armenia’s Vulnerable Women
This article was originally published by Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. YEREVAN, Armenia (RNS) — Home for Lara Aharonian is this capital city whose architecture …
Caroline Bundy: Finding Grace for Homeless Youth and LGBTQ+ in Alabama
This article was originally published by Alabama Political Reporter, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Alabama’s governor recently signed a pair of bills—one criminalizing gender-affirming care for transgender youth and …
Teresa Forcades: A Catholic Nun who Complicates the Abortion Conversation
This article was originally published by The Independent, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It’s time to reimagine the debate around abortion. We are trapped in the tyranny of …
Ruth Messinger: The New York City Politician’s Long Second Act Honors ‘an Obligation to Respond’
This article was originally published by Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. (RNS) — New Yorkers of a certain age remember Ruth Messinger as a city …
Zannah Mustapha: Teaching Boko Haram’s kids
This article was originally published in The Christian Science Monitor, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — One morning in May, Zina Mustapha stood before her 20 …
Zannah Mustapha: How One Man Has ‘Fathered’ More Than 2,000 Kids Orphaned By Boko Haram
This article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. MAIDUGURI, Nigeria— When Zannah Mustapha worked as a Shariah court lawyer in the mid-2000s, he …
Fouzia Azizi: Refugee to Refugee, Afghan Resettlement Worker Draws from Faith and Experience
This article was originally published by Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. CONCORD, Calif. (RNS) — Sayed Hashmi, an Afghan citizen, did not want to leave his …
Tom Catena: Choosing Joy Over Happiness
This article was originally published by Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. GIDEL, Sudan — The media is filled with articles on how to achieve happiness, including in …
Kumu Hina and Walter Ritte: ‘A very Hawaiian place’
This article was originally published by Indian Country Today, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. HONOLULU, Hawai’i — It’s a weekday evening rush-hour in Honolulu, and Hina Wong-Kalu is driving us …
Communality: A Possible Solution to Environmental Protection
“An individual does not exist,” Jaime Martínez Luna, a Zapotec intellectual (pictured in yellow jacket), told me as we shared coffee in his kitchen in the small mountain village of San Pablo …
Munther Isaac: What Would Jesus Do at an Israeli Military Checkpoint?
This article was originally published by Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. BETHLEHEM— In the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, a stained glass window depicting …
Student Reflection: Researching Healing Justice with Dignity and Power Now
By Addison Baker Addison Baker is an undergraduate student at The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Addison spent time researching the Black Lives Matter movement, along with healing modalities and …
Taizé: A Musical Monastic Community, Formed in Response to a Global Crisis, Faces New Ones
This article was originally published by America Magazine, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. “Iedere nacht verlang ik naar u, o God” (My spirit yearns for you in the …
Ethnographic Journalism on Engaged Spirituality: Reflections and Lessons Learned
As part of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s project on Engaged Spirituality, I have been able to work on four in-depth profiles of “spiritual exemplars,” people who work to …
Carmen Santiago Alonso: In Oaxaca, Indigenous Farmers Mourn Catholic Activist
This article was originally published by Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. OAXACA, Mexico (RNS) — At Carmen Santiago Alonso’s funeral on Feb. 7, the …
Mônica Francisco: Two women of opposing faiths unite to protect sacred Candomblé space
This story was originally published by Christian Science Monitor, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Mônica Francisco and Mãe Seci Caxi do not see eye to eye about God. Ms. Francisco, …
Tom Goldtooth: From Indian bar bouncer to humanitarian
This article was originally published by Indian Country Today, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. BEMIDJI, Minnesota — The offices of the Indigenous Environmental Network are located in the corner …