Lead story
Editor's note:
A church in Nigeria's megacity of Lagos has become a community for people who are deaf. Its energetic pastor preaches in sign language, and the vibrations of drums signal when to pray or kneel. An estimated 10 million of Nigeria’s 220 million people are deaf or have difficulty hearing. But advocates struggle to ensure more infrastructure for deaf people and blame a lack of political will. Members call the church a haven, and its sign language lessons open the door to the wider world. It’s a well-reported story by AP correspondent Ope Adetayo, with lively photos by Sunday Alamba.
Religion News
'This is domestic terror': Shaken by ICE raids, pastors rethink ministries
The fear of raids has pushed some congregations back to pandemic-era worship strategies. By Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service
‘Just a jumble of bones.’ How a baby grave discovery has grown to haunt Ireland
In the 1970s, two boys in Ireland discovered a pile of bones at a former mother and baby home run by Catholic nuns. Now, excavation has begun at the mass grave, which could contain the remains of nearly 800 infants. By Brian Melley/The Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV tells more than a million Catholic youths at a closing Mass for a weeklong encounter with the next generation of faithful that they are “the sign that a different world is possible” where conflicts can be resolved with dialogue, not weapons. By Colleen Barry and Paolo Santalucia/The Associated Press
Pope Leo is focused on AI. What should his guidance offer the world?
Pope Leo XIV has addressed the opportunities and challenges of AI often, leading many to think he will write in an encyclical about its implications. By Claire Giangravé/Religion News Service
Gullah Geechee elders work to preserve sacred songs passed down by enslaved ancestors
A group of singers travel across the U.S. singing Gullah spirituals that have been passed down from their enslaved ancestors. The singers, in their 70s and 80s, are among a growing group of artists on a mission to preserve their Gullah Geechee culture for future generations. By Luis Andres Henao/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. By Arie Perliger for The Conversation
Lebanon has a long history of sectarian violence, and the recent events in Syria are causing alarm among its religious minorities, including the Druze. By Said Abou Zaki and Mireille Rebeiz for The Conversation
Christians who believe God requires them to spank wave away ethical concerns and research that robustly demonstrates the harm. By Marissa Franks Burt/Religion News Service
School lawyers are petitioning the Supreme Court to hear Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association. By Charles J. Russo for The Conversation
People gather on La Cumbre, a mountain considered sacred, to burn offerings in observance of the month of Pachamama, or Mother Earth, performing an ancient tradition to ask for a good harvest, on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
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