Religion

Some St. Louis Catholics are dismayed by an Archdiocese of St. Louis plan to fundamentally reorganize its parishes. The plan would consolidate 178 parishes into 88 groups that church leaders are calling pastorates.

The National Women’s Law Center and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed suit Thursday in St. Louis Circuit Court on behalf of 13 faith leaders in Missouri. The lawsuit claims Missouri’s so-called trigger ban and other laws restricting abortion access violate residents’ religious freedom.

SLU medical students each year conduct a memorial service to honor those who donated themselves to the school’s gift body program, which uses cadavers for research and instruction. This year, 372 people donated their bodies to the school so students learning to be doctors, physical therapists, physician assistants and other health professionals can study them.

What is mindfulness? Zen priest Daigaku Rumme, of the Confluence Zen Center in Maplewood, has a few ideas.

With a shortage of priests and low Mass attendance, closures and consolidations are likely. Church leaders are hoping to get input from the faithful.

Bishop Deon Johnson is the first Black bishop and openly gay leader of the eastern Missouri diocese.

The military is taking a hard line on troops seeking religious exemptions to the COVID vaccine mandate. Lawyers say that could have consequences for others who seek different kinds of religious accommodations.

For nearly 20 years, Greg Johnson has served as a pastor to the congregation of Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, which is part of the Presbyterian Church in America. Last year, the PCA attempted to ban clergy for identifying as gay.

Gov. Mike Parson’s comments on Don Kauerauf triggered civil rights complaints from at least one rabbi and several Muslims.

For the Rev. Michelle Higgins, pastoral work shares deep ties with social justice activism. The self-described “protester who has become a pastor” is the first Black woman to permanently lead the congregation at Saint John’s Church (the Beloved Community) in north St. Louis.