Beliefnet News

CourtTV / YouTube | Inset: Laken Riley / Facebook
The mother of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student murdered by an illegal immigrant earlier this year, wept as she begged the judge to sentence the killer to life in prison, asking that he not receive mercy when he showed none to her daughter or the family he destroyed. Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was found…

Gage Skidmore / Flickr
  As President-elect Donald Trump reveals his picks for top government positions, some face criticism for their backgrounds. Other than Trump’s pick of Florida senator Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, no pick has been more controversial than his pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a former Army National Guard infantry officer, has served in…

Adobe Stock | Inset: Lisa Domski / Facebook
A former employee for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) has been awarded $12 million by the courts after being fired for refusing the COVID vaccine in 2021. Lisa Domski had worked at the company for 30 years as an IT specialist when the company required its employees to receive the COVID vaccine in…

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM_Benedikt von Loebell / Flickr
The head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned as the church faces a series of sexual abuse allegations. A 253-page report found that Welby had failed to inform the proper authorities after he became aware of sexual and physical abuse allegations against a camp volunteer. A 2017 documentary…

Fox Sports | Inset: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock.com
Former football star and current sports analyst Michael Strahan has finally responded to criticism he received for the way he stood during a rendition of the National Anthem. The controversy began on November 10 during a Veterans Day special broadcast from Naval Base San Diego. As the Anthem is played during the broadcast, Strahan can…

Adobe Stock | Inset: @Franklin_Graham / X
After Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, Franklin Graham offered his thanks to God. “I thank God that @realDonaldTrump won this election!” he wrote on X. “This win is historic in many ways. Millions and millions of people were praying, and I believe God heard their prayers.” He declared the president’s win a win…

Adobe Stock | Inset: Micah Chiang / Flickr
Evangelicals continue to grapple with the results of the 2024 election, with many celebrating President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding win. John Piper, however, was not one of them. Taking to X after Trump was declared the winner, Piper wrote, “Presidential election results. Having delivered us from one evil, God now tests us with another. ‘The Lord…

Adobe Stock
An LA gynecologist has surrendered his license to practice after patients accused her of unwanted “religious counseling.” Dr. Lucien Cox had practiced for 46 years when a state oversight agency accused him of “unprofessional conduct” based on two complaints by two separate clients that had seen him once. One complainant, a 63-year-old woman, accused the…

Adobe Stock
A new study is revealing that a surprising number of American adults are struggling with developing friendships. The survey, conducted by Talker Research for CheapCaribbean Vacations, interviewed 2,000 US adults who had ever traveled with a friend in the past. The study found that respondents put a strong value on friendship, with 8 in 10…

Adobe Stock
Allen Jackson is on a prayer-filled mission to help Christians navigate the complexities of an ever-contentious election cycle, offering advice on how to respond if one’s chosen candidate loses. Jackson, pastor of World Outreach Church in Nashville, Tennessee, saw his church organize a 48-hour prayer event over the weekend, encouraging believers to lift America up…

More from Beliefnet and our partners