Churches seek unique solutions to ban on public gatherings

Women in the Philippines have been coming to this small clinic in a Manila slum for years to get affordable birth control, something frowned upon in this largely conservative Catholic country.

Human trafficking is a rampant problem throughout the world, but the signs can often be difficult to spot. A collaboration between Catholic churches and police officers to fight the issue together takes shape.

Partnerships between police officers and clergy are being credited with dramatically reducing the rate of homicide in Boston, particularly among teens. And it is drawing the attention of officials in larger cities across the United States, all of whom are looking at adopting some portion of the Boston model.

The private Catholic schools in East Harlem and the South Bronx experienced the plummeting of enrollment, funds lacking for upgrading facilities and technology, while still charging high tuition. Now these six Catholic schools comprise a charter school network and serve low-income children. The results of the new system have enabled teachers to devote more time to academics, students to become disciplined for character development, and technology has improved.

Homelessness has been a consistent problem in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. While churches can offer a form of sanctuary, some homeless persons cannot maintain the composure for a long mass. S.F. Night Ministry offers open cathedrals, which are services outside the church but offer comfort, prayer, and friendship.

San Francisco’s chronically homeless population remains staggeringly high. Salt Lake City has managed to eradicate much of their chronically homeless by geographically placing supportive housing distant from the city’s center and receiving financial assistance from the Mormon Church. The housing is attractive, modern, and offers a good ratio between counselors and homeless clients—all of which helps make the homeless want to stay off the streets.

Benebikira 'Sister Listeners' offer informal counseling to both victims and perpetrators of violence during the Rwanda genocide, seeking to forge a bridge of understanding. Their roles as listeners are especially important during the annual anniversary of the genocide.

In many parts of the United States, people struggle with economic mobility and achieving the American Dream. Salt Lake City’s rate of economic mobility is at the highest in the country. An investigative journalist explores the Mormon-influenced structure of charitable giving and various social factors that have created this socio-economic anomaly, and discovers that compassionate conservatism and some government welfare programs have contributed to the state being a unique case.

Across the globe, there are nearly 60 million students studying in Catholic institutions. In the United States, however, those numbers have been falling in recent years, forcing schools to come up with new ways to collaborate.

The best way to lose weight is to join a small group. This article looks at the case study of Saddleback Church in southern California that mixed faith and peer support to help congregates lose weight, including the pastor. Surveys found that 72% of participants lost weight as a result of the program.