A vandal badly damaged a statue outside US cathedral, police say

St Louis, US AP A man used construction equipment to drop a heavy boom lift onto a sculpture that has stood for 25 years outside St Louis’ Cathedral Basilica, badly damaging it, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Angel of Harmony, which stood 4.3 metres tall and depicts a Black angel protecting three […]
Offering succour: Spiritual advisers offering final comfort in execution rooms

JIM SALTER, of Associated Press, reports from St Louis in the US…
In the US, clergy file suit over Missouri abortion ban, arguing it establishes a religion

United States RNS An interfaith group of clergy has filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s strict abortion ban, arguing the statute violates the state’s constitution by imposing one set of religious values on all residents. Advocates announced the lawsuit on Thursday from the sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral, an Episcopal church in St Louis. Traci Blackmon […]
Repeat COVID is riskier than first infection, study finds

Reuters The risk of death, hospitalization and serious health issues from COVID-19 jumps significantly with reinfection compared with a first bout with the virus, regardless of vaccination status, according to a study published on Thursday. “Reinfection with COVID-19 increases the risk of both acute outcomes and long COVID,” said Dr Ziyad Al-Aly of Washington University […]
“A common goal”: How St Louis churches are revealing the disparities in the air we breathe

BRITNY CORDERA, of Religion News Service, reports on how congregations in St Louis are working with local scientists to monitor the air quality in communities affected by industrial pollution…
Private bill seeks freedom for man living in church in US state of Missouri

O’Fallon, Missouri, US AP US Representative Cori Bush introduced legislation to Congress on Monday to grant permanent residency to Alex Garcia, a Honduran immigrant who has spent more than three years inside a Missouri church to avoid deportation. Bush, a freshman Democrat from St Louis, announced a private bill that would allow the married father of […]
Updated: Five police shot during US protests, Trump says he could bring in military

Last updated 10.45pm (AEST) Washington DC/Minneapolis, US Reuters At least five US police were hit by gunfire during violent protests over the death of a black man in police custody, police and media said, hours after President Donald Trump said he would deploy the military if unrest does not stop. Trump deepened outrage on Monday […]
Friends mourn Darrin Patrick, US megachurch pastor and author, who died of apparent “self-inflicted gunshot wound”

RNS Darrin Patrick, a megachurch pastor, author and speaker, has died. Patrick was a teaching pastor at Seacoast Church, a multi-site megachurch based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and the founding pastor of the Journey Church in St Louis, where he lived. He died of what appears to be a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” according to […]
CHURCH BUILDINGS: IN ST LOUIS, FORMER HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE RETOOLED TO MEET THE CITY’S NEED

BILL MOTCHAN, in an article first published on Religion News Service, looks at how former churches and synagogues in the US city of St Louis are being repurposed…
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: IN THE US CITY OF ST LOUIS, ‘GRILL TO GLORY’ DEPLOYS CHURCHES (AND HOT DOGS) FOR RENEWAL

ERIC BERGER, writing for Religion News Service, reports on an initiative that’s all about getting to know the neighbours…