Leading U.S. Catholic Bishop Denounces Gay Group (RNS) The top U.S. Catholic bishop has denounced a Maryland-based gay ministry that has advocated on behalf of same-sex marriage. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Pope Deplores Church's Violation of Children VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI condemned the fact that members of the Catholic Church had, at times, violated the “dignity and rights of minors.” Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Chicago Man Could Face Prosecution for Taking Child to Church (RNS) A Chicago man could face prosecution for violating a restraining order by taking his 3-year-old daughter to church. Read More ... Jackie Walker

Kenyan Church Leaders Worried over Abortion, Islamic Courts NAIROBI (RNS/ENI) Roman Catholic bishops in Kenya are worried that a new clause in the country’s draft constitution could make abortion lega. Read More ... Fredrick Nzwili

Pastor Angry After Torched Church Denied Loan SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) The pastor of a black church that was torched says the bank that initially made a building loan has declined to issue another one. Read More ... Michael McAuliffe and Dan Ring and The Republican

Vatican Drops Condoms-AIDS Study VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican said that it had stopped work on a long-expected study of condoms and AIDS. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Clinton Bemoans 'Unfortunate' U.S. Missions Mishap in Haiti WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called U.S. missionaries’ efforts to rescue undocumented children from Haiti “unfortunate.” Read More ... Kimberlee Hauss

Japan's Top Court Rules Against Shrine on Public Land TOKYO (RNS/ENI) A Christian man has won a lawsuit against a local mayor who had allowed the free use of government land for a Shinto shrine. Read More ... Hisashi Yukimoto

Mothers Police Tape Swayed Jury in Faith-healing Death OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) As jurors agonized through two days of deliberations they kept coming back to what the mother told police hours after her son died. Read More ... Yuxing Zheng

Clergy Blast Supreme Court Ruling on Election Spending WASHINGTON (RNS) A coalition of religious leaders blasted the Supreme Court’s ruling that allows unlimited financial support of candidates. Read More ... Kimberlee Hauss

Pastors File Challenge to Hate-Crimes Law (RNS) Three Michigan pastors have filed a legal challenge to the federal hate crime law that includes sexual orientation. Read More ... LaNia Coleman

Haitian Bishop Warns Against 'Militarization' of U.S. Aid VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Haitian Catholic bishop said the United States “can do much more” to help his earthquake-stricken country. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Last of Burned Ala. Churches Rebuilds (RNS) As the congregation sang “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”, Pastor Eddie Hughes slipped quietly outside the sanctuary of Ashby Baptist Church to cough and clear his throat. Read More ... Greg Garrison

Judge Says Man's Will Can't Dictate Homebuyers' Religion TORONTO (RNS/ENI) A Canadian judge has ruled that a Nova Scotia man’s will could not legally stipulate the religion of purchasers of his home. Read More ... Leanne Larmondin

Graham Tops List of Most Influential Preachers (RNS) The Rev. Billy Graham was named by U.S. pastors as the country’s most influential living preacher, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research. Read More ... Kimberlee Hauss

N.Y. Catholic Charities Office to Offer Free Needles to Drug Addicts (RNS) Catholic Charities of Albany, N.Y., has launched a new program to provide free syringes to intravenous drug users. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Germany Proposes Formal Education for Imams, Islamic Scholars BERLIN (RNS) German political and religious leaders appear mostly supportive of a proposal to provide training for imams. Read More ... Niels Sorrells

Rwandan Bishop Who Promoted Reconciliation Resigns VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Rwandan Catholic bishop known for his efforts to reconcile victims and perpetrators of the 1994 genocide has resigned. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Pope Tells Church Judges to Limit Marriage Annulments VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI urged church judges to limit the number of marriage annulments they grant. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Air Force Builds Worship Space for Wiccans (RNS) The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado will set aside a worship space for followers of “Earth-centered” religions such as Wicca and Druidism, according to an Air Force news release. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Canadian Supreme Court Declines Jehovah's Witness Death Case OTTAWA (RNS) The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear a wrongful death lawsuit brought by a man whose daughter was a Jehovah’s Witness. Read More ... Ron Csillag

Mennonite College Opts to Play National Anthem (RNS) A Mennonite college in Indiana will play an instrumental version of the national anthem before athletic events.  Read More ... Daniel Burke

Judge Grants Political Asylum to German Home-schoolers (RNS) A U.S. immigration judge has granted political asylum to a Christian family from Germany that wants to home-school its children. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks

Church Says Three Accused Irish Priests Served in Boston BOSTON (RNS) The Archdiocese of Boston acknowledged that three clerics on a list of 70 alleged abusers had in fact served in the Boston area. Read More ... G. Jeffrey MacDonald

Church of England Loses $78 Million in N.Y. Real Estate Deal (RNS) The Church of England will lose about $78 million in a New York real estate investment gone sour, according to Episcopal News Service. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Custodian Indicted in Stabbing Death of Priest MORRISTOWN, N.J. (RNS) A former custodian of St. Patrick Church in Chatham, N.J., was indicted on charges of murdering the parish priest. Read More ... Jim Lockwood

Child-welfare Worker Disputes Parents' Faith-healing Claims OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) A state child-welfare worker has denied he told two parents of a 16-year-old son the boy had the right to refuse medical care. Read More ... Steve Mayes and Nicole Dungca

Doctor Testifies for Parents in Faith-healing Death OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) Jeffrey and Marci Beagley were confronted by several symptoms that would concern any reasonable parent but gave no indication that death was imminent. Read More ... Steve Mayes

French Panel Recommends Partial Ban on Islamic Veils PARIS (RNS)  French lawmakers appear close to a measure to ban women from wearing face-covering veils in some public spaces. Read More ... Elizabeth Bryant

Polish Bishop, Under Fire from Jews, Steps Back from Statement VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Polish Catholic bishop who has been denounced for calling the Holocaust a “Jewish invention” distanced himself from the statement. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Court Says French Cathedral Belongs to Russia (RNS/ENI) A French court has ruled that the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Nice, France, belongs to Russia and must be handed over. Read More ... Sophia Kishkovsky

Landmarking Battle Between City, Church Heats Up CLEVELAND (RNS) The city’s Landmarks Commission is recommending that six more Catholic churches be designated as historical city landmarks. Read More ... Michael O'Malley

Mother Found guilty in starvation case NEWTON, N.J. (RNS) A woman who made no effort to feed her four starving children was found guilty of child endangerment charges on Jan. 22. Read More ... Joe Moszczynski, Mark Mueller and Jim Lockwood

Online Archive Opens the Reformers' Works GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS) Some surprises started unfolding when a team recently launched the Post-Reformation Digital Library. Read More ... Paul R. Kopenkoskey

Boy in Faith-healing Death Had Obvious Symptoms, Doctor Says OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) A 16-year-old boy whose parents believe in faith healing had lifelong health problems a medical examiner testified Thursday (Jan. 21). Read More ... Steven Mayes

'Avatar' Leads the Pack in Web Site's Most 'Spiritual' Movies RNS) Movies about aliens, air travel, cooking, and the war in Iraq were all among the most “spiritually literate” films of 2009. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Scruggs Installed as National Baptist President (RNS) The Rev. Julius R. Scruggs was formally inaugurated as president of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Read More ... Kay Campbell

Accused Woman Is Religious but Not Crazy, Doctor Says NEWTON, N.J. (RNS) A woman accused of starving her four children may be a deeply devout Christian, but her strong beliefs don’t mean she suffers from a mental illness. Read More ... Joe Moszczynski

Muslim Cops Say Anti-terror Policies Fuel 'Islamophobia' LONDON (RNS) An organization of Muslim police officers claims the government’s anti-terrorism policies are contributing to an upsurge in Islamophobia. Read More ... Al Webb

Trial Opens in Oregon Faith-healing Death OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) As Neil Beagley lay dying on his grandmother’s bed, his parents did not take him to a hospital or call 9-1-1 or make any lifesaving efforts, a prosecutor told jurors (Jan. 19). Read More ... Steven Mayes

Poll: Majority of U.S. Disapproves of Marriage to Atheists (RNS) Many people of faith say they would be troubled by a family member’s decision to marry an atheist, the Pew Research Center reports. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks

Canadian Polygamist Sues Over 'Unlawful'’ Prosecution TORONTO (RNS/ENI) A Canadian man is suing the government of British Columbia for “unlawful” prosecution after it charged him with practicing polygamy. Read More ... Leanne Larmondin

Middle East Bishops Lament Exodus of Christians VATICAN CITY (RNS) Lamenting the dwindling number of Christians in the Middle East, the region’s Catholic bishops called for greater religious freedom in Muslim countries. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

No Female Bishop for Scottish Episcopal Church (RNS/ENI) It is disappointing that a female candidate was not elected Britain’s first female Anglican bishop said a group that advocates for women’s rights. Read More ... Trevor Grundy

Civil Rights Icon Says King's Dream Has Been Hijacked AUBURN, Ala. (RNS) The Rev. Joseph Lowery cautioned an Auburn University audience not to “sanitize” the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s achievements. Read More ... Bob Lowry

An Anxious Wait for Word from Haiti NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) “I’m ok. Can’t call. I’m OK. Start the list.” Read More ... Jeff Diamant and Rohan Mascarenhas

Is There Any Common Ground on Abortion? WASHINGTON (RNS) Anti-abortion activists prepare for the annual March for Life and their counterparts plan religious services to pray for the safety of abortion providers. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks

Obama Tells Church Faith 'Keeps Me Calm' WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama addressed how his faith guides him as he marked the birthday of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at a Washington church on Jan. 17. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks

Pope Defends Outreach to Anglicans VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI defended his plan to make it easier for Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Court Says Ky. Courthouse Can Keep 10 Commandments (RNS) A federal appeals court ruled on Jan. 14 that a Kentucky county courthouse can keep its Ten Commandments display. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks

Pope Calls on Turkey to Give Church Legal Recognition Rome (RNS/ENI) Pope Benedict XVI has called on Turkey to give legal recognition to the Roman Catholic Church. Read More ... Luigi Sandri

Sydney Bishop Gives Clergy a Dressing Down Melbourne, Australia (RNS/ENI) An Anglican bishop in Australia’s largest city has dressed down his clergy, saying they “dress worse than the lay people.” Read More ... Kim Cain

NYC Mom's Religion Cited in Starvation of Children (RNS) New Jersey prosecutors say a New York City woman is using her religious beliefs as an excuse for failing to get help for her family. Read More ... Joe Moszczynski

Pope Meets with Woman who Attacked Him on Christmas Eve VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI met the woman who toppled him inside St. Peter’s Basilica, accepting her apology and offering his forgiveness for the Christmas Eve incident. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

Pastor Surrenders in Fraudulent Green-card Scheme (RNS) He told them he was a messenger from God who could save them from deportation, but he turned out to be nothing more than a smooth-talking scam artist. Read More ... Julie O'Connor

U.S. Groups Mobilize to Assist after Haiti Earthquake (RNS) U.S. religious groups are mobilizing relief efforts for Haitians devastated by Tuesday’s massive earthquake. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Jordan Files Complaint over Dead Sea Scrolls TORONTO (RNS/ENI) Jordan has complained to a United Nations agency after Canada refused to seize the Dead Sea Scrolls at a recent exhibit in Toronto. Read More ... Leanne Larmondin

New WCC Head Says Churches Must Bring Message of Peace, Hope GENEVA (RNS/ENI) The global ecumenical movement must bring the hope of peace and justice to a suffering and divided world. Read More ... Stephen Brown

U.S. Blasts Iran Over Baha'i Trial WASHINGTON (RNS) The U.S. State Department lambasted Iran on Jan. 11 for deciding to try seven members of the Baha’i Faith on charges of spying for Israel. Read More ... Daniel Burke

'Davey and Goliath' Creator Art Clokey Dies at 88 (RNS) Art Clokey, the creator of the animated icon Gumby and his clay Christian counterparts “Davey and Goliath,” died Friday (Jan. 8) at his home in California. Read More ... Daniel Burke

Pope Laments Slow Pace in Tackling Climate Change VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI called on the world’s nations to reach an agreement on climate change by the end of 2010. Read More ... Francis X. Rocca

ISNA Taps Educator for Executive's Job (RNS) The Islamic Society of North America has appointed Safaa Zarzour as its next secretary general. Read More ... Omar Sacirbey

N.J. Senate Rejects Same-sex Marriage Bill TRENTON, N.J. (RNS) The New Jersey state Senate on Thursday (Jan. 7) voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Read More ... Mark Mueller

Hume Says Anti-Christian Bias Fueled Tiger Woods Backlash WASHINGTON (RNS) Fox News analyst Brit Hume said he fell victim to widespread media bias against Christianity. Read More ... Kevin Eckstrom

EEOC: Charges of Religion-related Job Bias Hits Record WASHINGTON (RNS) Incidents of alleged religion-based workplace discrimination hit record highs in fiscal year 2009 according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission. Read More ... Adelle M. Banks