Jan. 14–VIRGINIA BEACH — Broadcaster Pat Robertson offered an explanation Wednesday for the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti: a purported pact with the devil. “Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon III and…

(RNS) A recent report from Duke University praised U.S. and Canadian Muslim leaders for fighting to keep Islamic radicalism out of their communities by condemning terrorism, self-policing, and becoming active in politics. Within days, in what seemed to confirm the “Anti-Terror Lessons of Muslim Americans” report from Duke, a group of 20 imams — 19…

(RNS) U.S. religious groups are mobilizing relief efforts for Haitians devastated by Tuesday’s (Jan. 12) massive earthquake, even as they assess the damage to their local partners and congregations. With many power and phone lines destroyed, U.S.-based aid workers said it is difficult to determine the scope of destruction left by the earthquake and aftershocks…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI met the woman who toppled him inside St. Peter’s Basilica, accepting her apology and offering his forgiveness for the Christmas Eve incident. Susanna Maiolo, 25, and members of her family met briefly with the pope following his weekly public audience at the Vatican on Wednesday (Jan. 13). According to…

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