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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

A protest sign from 2018 reads “Your religion doesn’t trump my rights!” Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst worries Christianity has become too closely intertwined with conservative politics, degrading the true purpose of the religion as well as America’s fundamental values. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Remove religion from politics

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | December 2, 2024

I was raised in a Christian family, surrounded by people who believe in and adhere to the teachings of Christ and authority of the Ten Commandments. Yet, I worry that Christianity will lose its way if it becomes excessively involved in politics. History...

A chalk drawing from the NIU CRU Christian Ministry at MLK Commons spells out “Explore faith in Jesus.” Opinion Columnist Will Thiel identifies as Christian and inspires his politics from religious values. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Everything will be OK

By Will Thiel, Opinion Columnist | September 5, 2024

I am the by-product of sin, a man forged from lust into a world of frailty and imperfection. But that is not my fault.  There is an excuse to forgive myself for everything that has happened or will happen to me, regardless of the circumstances. For...

Justices to hear Philly dispute over same-sex foster parents

By MARK SHERMAN | February 24, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a dispute over a Philadelphia Catholic agency that won't place foster children with same-sex couples, a big test of religious rights on a more conservative court.The justices will review an...

Rio Carnival schools make plea for end of religious abuse

By DAVID BILLER and MARCELO DE SOUSA | February 24, 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As the Grande Rio Samba school rolled its Carnival float onto Rio de Janeiro's parade grounds, people aboard unfurled a massive fan-shaped banner reading “RESPECT MY AXÉ” to the roaring crowd.Axé is the vital cosmic force...

Justices throw out seizure of church assets in Puerto Rico

February 24, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday threw out a court order to seize assets belonging to the Roman Catholic archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to pay pension benefits for Catholic school teachers.The justices said in an unsigned opinion...

The Latest: Bloomberg delays town hall to prepare for debate

February 23, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on presidential campaign developments (all times local):10:15 p.m.Mike Bloomberg’s campaign has delayed a scheduled CNN town hall so that he can spend more time preparing for Tuesday’s debate.Bloomberg was scheduled...

Bishop shakeup: West Virginia Catholic diocese issues audit

By JOHN RABY | February 23, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The net assets of West Virginia's Roman Catholic Diocese dropped by $4.8 million during a fiscal year that coincided with the resignation of its bishop amid allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, an audit shows.The...

Pope OKs beatification for Rutilio Grande, Salvadoran martyr

By NICOLE WINFIELD | February 22, 2020

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has moved the Rev. Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest who inspired St. Oscar Romero and was himself a victim of El Salvador’s right-wing death squads, a step closer to possible sainthood.Francis approved a decree Friday...

Man guilty of killing 2 who tried to stop his slurs on train

February 21, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man accused of fatally stabbing two people who prosecutors say tried to stop his racist tirade against two young black women on a Portland, Oregon, commuter train was convicted of murder Friday after an emotional trial that featured...

NFL Saints backed by church in effort to keep emails secret

By JIM MUSTIAN | February 20, 2020

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An attorney for New Orleans' Roman Catholic archdiocese Thursday strongly defended the New Orleans Saints' behind-the-scenes help in dealing with the clergy sex abuse crisis, saying the legal effort to release hundreds of confidential...

Abuse survivors seek more progress 1 year after papal summit

By NICOLE WINFIELD | February 20, 2020

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Survivors of church sex abuse have descended on Rome this week, marking the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ summit of church leaders on preventing abuse with calls for more accountability and acknowledgment of their pain.On...

Vatican sees intense interest in opening of Pius XII archive

By NICOLE WINFIELD | February 20, 2020

VATICAN CITY (AP) — More than 150 historians and researchers have signed up to access the soon-to-open Vatican archives of Pope Pius XII, evidence of the intense scholarly interest into the World War II-era pope and his record during the Holocaust,...