Where are Africa's saints?
Catholics in Africa long for recognition from Pope Leo XIV
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Of the thousands of saints canonized in the Catholic Church in the 21st century, only a handful have been African.
In today’s top story, contributor Joseph Maina writes that this is a disappointment to many devout African Catholics, who have been hopeful for greater recognition for decades.
“African Catholics want to see themselves reflected in the universal story of the church,” he writes. “They want saints who walked where they walk, spoke their languages and lived their struggles. Saints who show that holiness doesn’t only come from the cathedrals of Europe, but also from African classrooms, clinics, villages and homes.”
Read more to find out why Pope Leo XIV is a source of hope for these Catholics.
A Church Grows In Africa, But Where Are Its Saints?
(ANALYSIS) Compared to Europe, where many sainthood causes benefit from institutional support, funding and access to the Vatican, Africa faces unique challenges. Canonization is a complex and costly process. It requires documentation, verification of miracles and years of advocacy. Local dioceses may lack the resources to keep these causes moving forward. In the end, many African Catholics feel like their voices and stories have been left on the margins. by Joseph Maina
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(ANALYSIS) The central government’s gazette notification for India’s upcoming 2027 census omits the word “caste.” This, despite earlier public assurances that caste data would be collected. The absence of explicit mention has triggered accusations of deliberate evasion. Is the reluctance tied to the disruptive potential of a full caste enumeration—one that could unsettle the ideological foundations of Hindu nationalist politics? by Vishal Arora
Rise And Reckoning: New Biography Confronts The Myths And Realities Of Joseph Smith
(ANALYSIS) All that and more underscores the significance of a long-awaited and definitive new biography, out now: “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet” (Yale University Press) by historian John G. Turner of George Mason University. It is the first biography to benefit from official publication of the 27-volume Joseph Smith Papers. by Richard Ostling
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Finding chaplains on-site at a National Trust heritage property is not something visitors usually expect. But at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, in the north of England, it has become a regular occurrence. The Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII marked the end of Fountains Abbey as a Cistercian monastery. by Angela Youngman
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While only 20% of U.S. adults currently identify as Catholic by religion, millions more hold cultural, familial or historical ties to the church. Among those who identify as Catholic by religion, levels of observance differ. Only 13% reported never or rarely engaging in any of the faith’s core practices. The vast majority — 74% — fall somewhere in between, the report said. by Clemente Lisi
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After a half-decade marked by upheaval, many Christian communities across the United States are showing signs not only of recovery but of renewed vitality, a new study released on Monday revealed. The report looks at a large and diverse sample of American churchgoers say their faith is stronger, their churches more vibrant and their involvement more consistent than at any point. by Clemente Lisi
Your Pastor Now Accepts Bitcoin: Why That Should Worry You
(ANALYSIS) This is not about rejecting technology. This is about resisting moral drift. It’s about remembering that not every innovation is an acceptable invitation. The church should be discerning enough to see that just because crypto is legal doesn’t make it righteous. If God’s messengers hope to offer moral clarity, they can’t do so while pocketing digital currencies that may be soaked in sin. by John Mac Ghlionn
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(OPINION) As a historian of Christianity, I have studied how religion has been manipulated to bless empires. In the year 325, Constantine declared himself Christian and forged the Christian Empire. In 800, the Pope crowned Charlemagne, merging the power of church and state. During colonial expansion, Christianity was exported alongside conquest and commerce. by Michael J. Christensen
Sri Lanka’s New Mass Grave Reveals Failure Of ‘Peace’ Through Violence
(ANALYSIS) To this day, there are no national memorials for the victims. Instead, triumphalist military monuments, many of them built in Tamil-majority areas, celebrate a victory in a war whose collateral damage amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity. by Surabhi Singh
How Trump’s Executive Orders Threaten Faith-Based Institutions’ Public Witness
(ANALYSIS) This is not a moment for faith-based institutions to retreat or sanitize their convictions. It is a moment to reclaim their voice and affirm their rightful in shaping a public life capacious enough to hold true difference, including sacred difference. Religious freedom — grounded in conscience, practice and institutional distinctiveness — must remain a cornerstone of our shared civic life. by Chelsea Langston Bombino
My Father Survived WWII, And (Thanks Be To God) That’s Why I’m Here
(OPINION) I’m sure I am not the first person to think along these lines, but did you ever consider that you might not exist if certain things had happened or not happened? by Matt Sieger
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(ANALYSIS) Trump has praised the Gilded Age as a time of national prosperity thanks to tariffs, no income tax and few regulations. Similar to today, the late 19th century was a time where a small group of men enjoyed immense wealth, privilege and power to shape the nation. It was a time of immense inequality, as factory and housing conditions crushed the lives of the poor. by Christina Littlefield
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(ANALYSIS) Once again, I need to apologize to the unknown — and search-engine invisible — person who created a quote that I want to share. I admit that there is some chance that I created the quote, but it sounds way too literate to have been created by yours truly. by Terry Mattingly
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“Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta” is on display at the Stanley Spencer Gallery, in the former Wesleyan chapel on Cookham High Street, where the artist worshipped as a child. But, for the first time, this exhibition brings together drawings, studies and related paintings from his Regatta series that give insight into how he planned and painted it. by David Trigg
Sanctuaries Of Identity: African Christians Thrive Amid Growing Diaspora Challenges
As African migration — driven largely by economic hardship and the search for better opportunities — continues to grow, churches are becoming more than just places of worship. In fact, churches have evolved into spiritual lifelines and vital community hubs that help preserve cultural identity, reinforce moral values and provide a sense of belonging far from home. by Calvin Manika
💒 5 Takeaways From Dallas: SBC Seeks Same-Sex Marriage Reversal And More 🔌
At its annual meeting in the Dallas, the nation’s largest Protestant nomination tackled social issues such as same-sex marriage, online porn and sports betting. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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