religion

A number of Catholic priests are gathering in Racine this week, not only to discuss religious matters, but also to reflect upon their experiences as gay men of the cloth.

When asked about gay priests, Pope Francis famously said in 2013, “who am I to judge?” But the Catholic Church still has a difficult relationship with gay priests and even parishoners who are gay. 

June marked the one-year anniversary of the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Many religious leaders and laypeople alike came together in the wake of the shooting to provide support, and mourn the loss of the victims killed in the LGBT nightclub.

The devastating fire that destroyed Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church got us thinking about the many historic churches that call Milwaukee home -- from the Basilica of St. Josaphat on the city's south side to Old Saint Mary downtown.

What role did these churches play in the lives of early Milwaukeeans? How have these 100-year-old buildings withstood the test of time? What can these structures tell us about the city's history?

Milwaukee area photographer Kipp Friedman has shot thousands of images of other people’s joyous occasions - weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other parties and observances.  But it was his own vacation, far from the banquet rooms of Shorewood or Oak Creek, that inspired him to compile a photo book.

There are still a few candles yet to be lit for Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. And even when the last menorah candle is out for the season, there will be plenty of Christmas trees and Christmas lights to illuminate the darkness.  Both lighting traditions add up to a bigger picture for writer and Lake Effect essayist Myles Hopper.  He offers his “Five-Step Guide to Surviving December.”

Step I. Complain.

The recent beating of a Milwaukee Muslim woman outraged many people, including members of the Islamic and the interfaith community. The woman says her attacker made a point of ripping off her head scarf, or hijab. The incident follows a series of threats against a Jewish community center. Religious groups have been working for years to prevent such attacks. The shared strategy is to promote understanding and tolerance.

Nine former members of a religious sect have decided to put down roots in Wisconsin.  The tradition they left may not be well-known here, but their experience speaks to a more basic human issue – freedom to choose one’s own destiny.

The Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend is an amazing place for people to learn about and see creations made by notable Wisconsin artists. But the museum is also a tremendous resource for people making art.

Last year, the museum provided an opportunity for its first artist-in-residence abroad, thanks to a partnership with the Ansay Development Corporation. Milwaukee photographer Lois Bielefeld traveled to Luxembourg for the program.

Some might think that dressing modestly in a hijab or abaya, might preclude being fashionable. But don’t tell that to the Samara sisters.

Aateka and Marwa Samara are fashion-bloggers from Franklin, Wisconsin. Their Instagram blog is aptly named “The Samaras” and since it’s launch last August, it’s gained more than 19,000 followers. It features photos of the women in everyday life; going to museums or having brunch in their unique fashions.

Tonight’s debate between Democratic contenders may well include a conversation about the upturn in global terror, especially as carried out by ISIS. The recent attacks in Paris and on a social service center in San Bernadino, California has thrust the issue of America’s response to terror attacks by religious extremists back into the forefront.