Washington Times

Southern Baptists say giving, baptisms up in 2021, but attendance, number of churches down

The nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, saw an increase in the number of baptisms last year along with a rise in donations. Congregations affiliated with the ...
America Magazine

Vatican yearbook counts 1.3 billion Catholics—17.7% of the global population

Pope Francis baptizes a baby during a Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in this file photo from Jan. 8, 2023. According to the Vatican's Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2021, the Catholic ...
The Denver Post

Horse troughs, hot tubs and hashtags: Baptism is getting wild

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Ruth Graham, The New York Times Company Russell Moore’s baptism in 1983 was a decorous occasion, or at least as decorous as possible when the main event ...
Washington Times

Southern Baptists report increase in baptisms, but not enough to reverse downward trend

A version of this story appeared in the Higher Ground newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Higher Ground delivered directly to your inbox each Sunday. The Southern Baptist ...
New York Post

Godfather whack! Sicilian church leaders ban godparents at baptisms

Catholic Church leaders ban baptismal godparents in one Italian diocese amid concern the role is more unsavory than sacred — and can be exploited by the Mafia. Religious leaders in Catania issued a ...
The Salt Lake Tribune

LDS Church withholds membership data from Utah for first time in decades. Here’s why.

Pandemic prompted delays in baptisms and baby blessings. COVID-19′s effect on growth won’t be known for at least another year.
The New York Times

Horse Troughs, Hot Tubs and Hashtags: Baptism Is Getting Wild

In some evangelical churches, a once-staid ritual is returning to its informal roots — and things sometimes get “a little rowdy” along the way. Waves crashing over Paul Allen and Jimmy Scroggins of ...