Great American State Fair spends a day focused on faith on National Mall

Why is it so hard to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner?’

(RNS) — Our patriotic songs are sacred texts — even in the way that we try to sing them.

‘God commands us not to kill’: Faith leaders protest 50 years of executions

WASHINGTON (RNS) — On the anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling reinstating the US death penalty, faith leaders, those affected by murder and activists organize to call for an end to the death penalty. But religion has also been present in support for capital punishment.

Reeling from Venezuela's earthquakes, churches rush to inspect buildings, distribute supplies

(RNS) — Despite the fact that many Venezuelan faith leaders have been themselves impacted by the ongoing disaster, they’ve sprung into action to provide food, psychological support and other basic needs to the large population of victims.

After 50 years of death row, resistance has never been stronger

(RNS) — There is a powerful movement working tirelessly to abolish the death penalty. 

The man America forgot to invite to its 250th birthday party

(RNS) — This man didn’t set foot in North America. He never signed a founding document. But there is a compelling case that our country’s great story would look very different without him.