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 From left, Tony Hall, Ritu Sharma, David Beckman and Jim Wallis at the announcement of their hunger strike.
April 28th, 2011
09:09 AM ET
As faith coalition for the poor grows, so does conservative oppositionBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Washington (CNN) - A coalition of Christian groups opposing budget cuts for the poor is growing - and so is the conservative media’s backlash against the group. It began a few weeks ago when a group of Christians took out a full-page advertisement in Politico asking, “What would Jesus cut” as it relates to the federal budget. The movement grew to include a hunger strike during Lent spearheaded by Jim Wallis of Sojourners, David Beckmann of Bread for the World, Women Thrive Worldwide co-founder Ritu Sharma and former congressman Tony Hall.  Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez congratulates Pope John Paul II after his election on October 16, 1978.
April 28th, 2011
01:00 AM ET
An insider remembers shocking election of Pope John Paul IIBy Richard Allen Greene, CNN (CNN) - John Paul II reigned as pope for so long, travelled so widely, spoke so many languages and stamped his personality and theology so firmly on the throne of St. Peter that it takes a very long memory to remember just what a shock it was when a secretive group of men in red robes selected the Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, to replace the short-lived Pope John Paul I. Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez has such a memory. Now 89 years old, the archbishop emeritus of San Juan de Puerto Rico is one of only five men still living from the 1978 meeting of cardinals in Rome that elected John Paul II. Looking back as the Vatican prepares to declare John Paul II "Blessed" on Sunday - the last step before sainthood - Aponte is certain he and his fellow cardinals made the right choice. "I always thought he was a genius, a man who could speak 10 or more languages, a poet, a theologian, a philosopher, a great sportsman," Aponte told CNN.  J. Wilson (right) drank only beer for Lent. Brewmaster Eric Sorensen (left) helped make the beer.
April 27th, 2011
04:20 PM ET
Beer-only fast ends with bacon smoothieBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - J. Wilson has survived his 46-day beer-only fast and found some unexpected spiritual insights. Wilson, who lives outside Des Moines, Iowa, was emulating a Lenten tradition carried out by German monks hundreds of years ago. In keeping with tradition he ate his last solid food on Ash Wednesday and broke his fast on Easter Sunday. “I made a bacon smoothie and that’s what I broke the fast with,” Wilson said.
April 27th, 2011
03:28 PM ET
Baptism in Missouri flood watersiReporter candy91 was on her way to church on Easter Sunday, and when she saw the high flood waters at Mount Calvary Powerhouse Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, she almost turned around and went home. A church van was shuttling people through the water and she helped transport a few people in her car as well. She had no idea that one of the young men in her car was planning to be baptized that day. Marcus Pegues was baptized in the flood waters. "He got baptized in the water that God provided for us. … We trudged on and had our Easter service. We didn’t let the water stop us," she said.
April 27th, 2011
01:39 PM ET
Religion will play leading role in royal weddingWith the Archbishop of Canterbury presiding over Friday's wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and with William in line to become supreme head of the Church of England, the royal nuptials will be steeped in religion. Watch CNN's Max Foster's story above to learn more.
April 27th, 2011
11:39 AM ET
Nun stuck in elevator for four daysWhen a nun got stuck in an elevator for four days she survived on a diet of celery sticks, water and prayer. Read the full story on WBFF's web site
April 27th, 2011
11:10 AM ET
Abuse crisis fuels debate over John Paul II’s legacyBy John L. Allen, Jr., CNN Senior Vatican Analyst Rome (CNN) - John Paul II was a rock star of a pope, arguably the most effective ambassador of religious belief in a highly secular age. Yet in the years since his death in April 2005 an undercurrent of doubt and concern has emerged related to his handling of the problem of priestly sex abuse, the most serious crisis to rock Catholicism in centuries. New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd recently articulated the verdict among some detractors of the late pope: “How can you be a saint if you fail to protect innocent children?” While ambivalence about his record on the abuse crisis may not call into question his personal holiness or his towering accomplishments, it’s become an unavoidable chapter of the John Paul story, representing probably the single biggest question mark as his Sunday beatification - the final step before formal sainthood - approaches. 
April 27th, 2011
10:44 AM ET
Gingrich blasts secular 'fanaticism' at prayer breakfastFormer House Speaker Newt Gingrich condemned the growth of American secularism in harsh terms Wednesday at a Catholic prayer breakfast in Washington. It's a pet topic for Gingrich, who converted to Catholicism two years ago. His 2006 book "Rediscovering God in America" opened with the blistering line: "There is no attack on American life more destructive and more historically dishonest than the secular Left's relentless effort to drive God out of America's public square." Read the full story on the Political Ticker
April 27th, 2011
06:58 AM ET
Pope John Paul II's blood to be shown at beatificationBy Hada Messia and Richard Allen Greene, CNN (CNN) - Blood taken from the late Pope John Paul II will be used Sunday as the Vatican declares him "blessed," the last step before sainthood, the Catholic Church announced. The blood will be on display as a relic for Catholic faithful to venerate at the beatification ceremony, the Vatican said this week. Special relic holders have been made for two small glass bottles of John Paul's blood, the church said. Pope Benedict XVI will preside Sunday over the beatification at St. Peter's, an event expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful to Rome.  Pope John Paul II in Berlin, Germany, in 1996. He will be beatified in Rome on Sunday.
April 26th, 2011
10:41 AM ET
Sainthood explained: Understanding John Paul II's beatificationBy John L. Allen, Jr., CNN Senior Vatican Analyst Rome (CNN) - The beatification of Pope John Paul II this Sunday will probably be the biggest event in Rome since his death in April 2005, with at least 300,000 people expected to turn out for the ceremony and more than 2 million to take part in beatification-related activities in Rome, including a vigil service on Saturday in Rome’s Circus Maximus and visits to John Paul’s tomb. Beatification is the next-to-last step in the sainthood process. It means the candidate can be referred to as “blessed,” and that one miracle has been confirmed in his or her name. Another miracle is required for canonization, the formal act of declaring someone a saint. Here are more questions and answers about the process – and about John Paul II: |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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