Religion

The headquarters of the Archdiocese of Chicago is of Gothic Revival architecture, with many elements pointing upward and a large round ornate window above the main entrance.

Religion

Cardinal Blase Cupich turns 75, sends mandatory resignation letter to Vatican

The cardinal, a close adviser to Pope Francis, is now at the church’s mandatory retirement age. He submitted his resignation letter, the Archdiocese of Chicago said, but the pope could refuse to accept it.

By Cindy Hernandez

News

Anti-Defamation League accuses Chicago Palestinian advocate groups of fueling antisemitism

The ADL says in a new report that pro-Palestinian groups are stoking a rise in anti-Jewish hate through weekly protests, organizing on campuses and social media posts. Students for Justice in Palestine calls the allegation “baseless.”

By David Struett

Religion

Black Catholics at Joliet's Sacred Heart Church worry what its closing will mean

“When you shut down Sacred Heart, the fear is: Are they shutting down Black Catholics?” one member says. For decades, the church preserved an identity as a home for Black Catholics that some fear will be lost under the Diocese of Joliet’s church consolidation plans.

By Elvia Malagón

Columnists

Give Scientology a break!

The opening of a new Chicago center occasions rehashing of serious accusations against the organization.

By Neil Steinberg

Religion

Muslim organizations emphasize interfaith connection, community and healing during Ramadan

Ramadan begins Sunday night. Chicago organizations have planned interfaith gatherings during the month to foster community and cross-cultural understanding.

By Audrey Hettleman

The Tolton Peace Center of the Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Chicago

News

Catholic Charities to cut 300 jobs in shift from government contracts

The contracts, which fund 12% of its budget, cover services such as child care, youth programs, behavioral health counseling, senior care, adult protection, veteran services and call centers.

By David Struett

Religion

Church of Scientology expands in Chicago

The Printers Row location — which is next to a Columbia College dorm — had a grand opening last weekend, with help from Cook County state’s attorney candidate Bob Fioretti.

By Mariah Rush and Robert Herguth

St. Frances of Rome School at 1401 S Austin Blvd. is now staying open for the next five years thanks to donors.

News

Donors save 100-year-old Catholic school in Cicero from closure

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced Wednesday that St. Frances will stay open at least the next five years after groups and individuals pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars — though the exact figure will depend on enrollment per year.

By Phyllis Cha

Pope Francis appoints new cardinal Archbishop of Chicago Blase J. Cupich during the Ordinary Public Consistory at St. Peter’s Basilica. | Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Columnists

Archbishop or AARP card? When Cardinal Blase Cupich turns 75, will Pope Francis keep him on?

Although Sneed is told Cardinal Cupich has yet to officially tender his mandatory resignation, do not place a bet on the pope accepting it. Cupich is one the pope’s key leadership people.

By Michael Sneed

The Watchdogs

Chicago-based Catholic order is keeping secrets about child-molesting clergy around the United States

The Servites has had numerous priests and brothers accused of sexual abuse and faces an onslaught of new lawsuits. Unlike many dioceses and orders, the group has no public list of members deemed to have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. And other church lists are incomplete.

By Robert Herguth

East Garfield Park

West Side church hosts Valentine's ‘Loveday Celebration’ for people experiencing homelessness

Good Hope Free Will Church provided meals to hundreds of individuals in need. The church is located in East Garfield Park, a community that lacks widespread access to fresh food.

By Audrey Hettleman

Religion

PHOTOS: Ash Wednesday in Chicago

Commuters were able to receive ashes Wednesday at some train stations, platforms and at O’Hare and Midway airports.

By Sun-Times staff

Religion

With Valentine’s Day falling on Ash Wednesday, Catholics might have to enjoy romantic scrambled egg dinner

The Archdiocese of Chicago is not offering dispensations, a spokesperson with the archdiocese confirmed to the Sun-Times. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of reflection, praying, fasting and donating to the needy.

By Mohammad Samra

Father Michael Pfleger points to the sign outside the Faith Community of St. Sabina Catholic Church bearing his simple message for the Democratic National Committee.

Columnists

Pfleger demands DNC fund homes for Chicago’s unhoused before Democratic National Convention — or stay home

The legendary peace priest plans to lead a protest Feb. 15 demanding the Democratic National Committee set aside funds to house Chicago’s homeless residents. “Our message is simple: ‘No money put aside for the homeless: No convention,’ ” said Pfleger.

By Michael Sneed

Elon, boychik, welcome to the tribe!

By Neil Steinberg

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa wears green vestments and a white mitre headdress while presiding over Mass at at Our Lady of the Ridge.

Religion

Catholic cardinal from Jerusalem visits Chicago area, calls for a ceasefire in Gaza

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of the Holy Land, led Mass at Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge. Attendees included hundreds of Arab Catholics.

By Mary Norkol

Institute of Islamic Education and an adjacent mosque are seen partly blocked by leafless trees at twilight with snow on the ground and the building’s rooftops.

The Watchdogs

Muslim scholar who’s a convicted child sex offender helps oversee Islamic boarding school in Elgin

The school’s president says Mohammad Saleem isn’t violating a court order that bars him from being “at or in” the institution. He lives next door with a judge’s OK and attended a graduation ceremony at the mosque.

By Robert Herguth

Religion

Cash-strapped Joliet diocese announces closure of Catholic churches, schools

Bishop Ron Hicks’ office has blamed declining mass attendance and “budgetary issues” but refuses to divulge the financial impact of the decades-old priest sex abuse crisis on his decisions.

By Robert Herguth

St. Odilo School, 6617 23rd St. in Berwyn, which is set to shut down in June, at the end of the school year.

Religion

Two west suburban Catholic schools to close in June

St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero and St. Odilo School in Berwyn will shut down at the end of the school year.

By Isabel Funk

Chicago Rabbi Barry Axler, 77, (from left) and his wife, Morene Dunn, 80, and their friends Shosh and Jason Mitzkin pose on a terrace in Tel Aviv last month. Axler and Dunn are wearing sweatshirts calling for the release of the hostages, bearing the plea “Bring Them Home” in Hebrew.

Columnists

Grilling 700 burgers and hot dogs ‘exhausting but exhilarating’ — when done to feed Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border

Chicago Rabbi Barry Axler, 77, and his wife, Morene Dunn, 80, joined volunteers at an Air Force Base near Gaza last month, helping feed frontline soldiers serving in the Israel-Hamas War.

By Michael Sneed

Chicago

Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast discusses labor, faith and the future

The 38th annual event honored Romel Ferguson, a minister and the Chicago Teachers Union operations manager.

By Mariah Rush

Suburban Chicago

Ex-police officer settles discrimination suit over Muslim faith against suburban department for $475,000

Ramtin Sabet sued the city of North Chicago and its former and current police chiefs in March 2017 — a month after he was fired from the department.

By Cindy Hernandez

A woman lights a candle as she prays before Christmas mass at St. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukrainian Village, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. This is the first year Ukrainian’s are celebrating Christmas in December as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church distances itself with the Russian Orthodox Church as the war in Ukraine enters its second year. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Religion

Ukrainians in Chicago celebrate December Christmas: ‘We want to be united with the rest of the world’

Until this year, Ukrainians celebrated the holiday on Jan. 7, in line with the Russian calendar. Now, for the first time, they’re celebrating in December. For many it’s a symbol of unification with the West.

By Michael Loria

St. Sabina parishioners Michael Thiry and Nathaniel Washington kiss each other.

LGBTQIA+

The Rev. Pfleger plans to bless same-sex couple following pope’s declaration

For the people upset with the change in Vatican policy, the pastor at St. Sabina on the South Side said blessings for same-sex couples are a recognition of people’s humanity.

By David Struett

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, left, is shown with two of the 13 Jewish college students taking part in a talk at the Jewish Community Center in Northbrook.

Education

US Rep. Schneider, college students talk antisemitism on campuses

Most of the students described how strong the Jewish communities are at their universities. But they all shared stories about antisemitic incidents at school.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Rick Garcia the founder of Equality Illinois stands inside St. Peter’s Catholic Church in The Loop, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Garcia says that it’s a “new day” after hearing news of Pope Francis formally approving allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.

Religion

Chicago Catholics praise pope’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples: ‘This is such a huge shift’

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy.

By David Struett

Rev. Raymond Goedert at Holy Name Cathedral in March 2013.

Obituaries

Rev. Raymond Goedert, Chicago Archdiocese official who admitted knowing of clergy sexual abuse, dead at 96

Rev. Goedert, a survivor of the Andrea Doria shipwreck, said in a 2007 deposition that he knew 25 priests had broken the law over the years by abusing children but never alerted police.

By Kade Heather

The menorah in Daley Plaza in the Loop is 31 feet tall and 18 feet wide. Since 1987, the city has celebrated Hanukkah with a lighting ceremony.

Religion

Chicago celebrates Hanukkah, lighting 31-foot-tall Daley Plaza menorah

On the fifth night of Hanukkah, a crowd gathered in the Loop for a menorah lighting and to celebrate light and life.

By Violet Miller

The Lubavitch Chabad of the Loop, Gold Coast and Lincoln Park celebrated the first night of Hanukkah by lighting the first candle on a 30-foot menorah at Daley Plaza, at 50 W. Washington St., on the first night of Hanukkah, Nov. 27.

Religion

Hanukkah celebrations begin as Chicago area prepares for 8 days of lights

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day commemoration that begins Thursday.

By Violet Miller

Education

Notre Dame trustees select Robert Dowd as university’s 18th president

The Rev. Robert Dowd will take over July 1. He succeeds the Rev. John Jenkins, who led the university for 19 years.

By Associated Press