Religion News Service on EthicsDaily.com

Anglican Priest Gets Four Years in Prison
LONDON (RNS) An Anglican vicar has been sentenced to four years in prison for conducting hundreds of fake marriages. Read More ...
Al Webb

Prominent Faith Leaders Denounce Islamophobia
WASHINGTON (RNS) Three dozen faith leaders issued a declaration denouncing anti-Muslim bigotry. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Recession Prompts Plans to Lower High Costs of High Holidays
(RNS) Within a short drive from her suburban New York home, Lisa Sharp has her pick of synagogues. Read More ...
Nicole Neroulias

As Ramadan Ends, Muslims Seek School Holiday
NEW YORK (RNS) For Nikhat Choudhury, the Muslim holidays mean spending lots of money. Read More ...
Nicole Neroulias

Three Years On, Creation Museum Is Evolving
PETERSBURG, Ky. (RNS) Ken Ham looks around the throng of guests and notes that “for a Tuesday, this is not a bad crowd.” Read More ...
Dennis O'Connor

Anglican Head Rebuts Famous Scientist on God’s Role in Big Bang
LONDON (RNS) Williams has flatly dismissed Hawking’s claim that gravity was responsible for creating the universe. Read More ...
Al Webb

Catholic School Official Says She Was Ousted Over lesbian Marriage
SPRINGFIELD (RNS) A Catholic high school official says she was pressured to leave her job after marrying her female partner. Read More ...
Peter Goonan and The Republican

Court: University Should Have Funded Student Group’s Worship
(RNS) The University of Wisconsin should not have prohibited the use of student funds. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Pope Meets with Israeli President, Calls for Peace and Clarity
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI met with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday (Sept. 2). Read More ...
Francis X. Rocca

Army Chaplain First to Die in Combat since Vietnam
(RNS) A Baptist minister from Oregon who was killed in Afghanistan is the first Army chaplain to die in combat since Vietnam. Read More ...
Julie Sullivan and The Oregonian

Mormon and Jews Reach Agreement on Baptism Dispute
(RNS) Jewish and Mormon church leaders announced the agreement Wednesday. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Patriarch unveils Kremlin icon hidden after Russian Revolution
MOSCOW (RNS/ENInews) A fresco of Christ on the Kremlin Wall in Moscow plastered over after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution has been rediscovered. Read More ...
Sophia Kishkovsky

Muslim Group Releases Ads to Counter Wave of Bigotry
WASHINGTON (RNS) A Muslim advocacy organization has released public service announcements as part of an ad campaign. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Former United Church of Christ President Admits Affair
(RNS) The former president of the UCC is divorcing his wife and is in a committed relationship with a former co-worker. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Christian Women Prefer Sunday Services to Shopping, Study Says
(RNS) Protestant and Catholic women in the United States have grown unhappier since stores have stayed open on Sunday. Read More ...
Nicole Neroulias

German Catholic Bishops Release New Sex Abuse Guidelines
BERLIN (RNS) Officials of Germany’s Roman Catholic Church will be required to immediately report suspicions of child abuse. Read More ...
Niels Sorrells

Faith-healing Family Pleads not Guilty to Manslaughter
OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) Two members of an Oregon church pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges. Read More ...
Steve Mayes

New Orleans Marks Katrina Anniversary with Grief, Hope
(RNS) Hundreds of New Orleanians gathered at St. Louis Cathedral to remember Hurricane Katrina. Read More ...
Bruce Nolan and The Times-Picayune

Ex-leader of Belgian Catholics Urged Victim to Keep Silent
(RNS) Secret recordings show the church leader asking a sex abuse victim not to expose the crimes of his assailant. Read More ...
Francis X. Rocca

Presbyterian Pastor to Appeal Gay-marriage Verdict
(RNS/ENInews) A retired Presbyterian pastor who was formally rebuked by a church court will appeal the ruling. Read More ...
Chris Herlinger

Man Sues Mormon Church over Baptism Back Injuries
(RNS) A Las Vegas man is suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after he injured his back. Read More ...
Jason Bergreen and The Salt Lake Tribune

Poll: Muslims Give Obama Highest Approval Ratings
WASHINGTON (RNS) More than three-quarters of U.S. Muslims support President Obama. Read More ...
Kevin Eckstrom

Church Court Convicts Pastor on Gay Marriage Charges
(RNS) A Presbyterian court found a retired California pastor guilty of violating church rules and her ordination vows. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Irish Catholics Deny Cover-up of Paramilitary Priest
DUBLIN (RNS/ENInews) The Church in Ireland has denied engaging in a cover-up of a priest who was allegedly involved in a bombing. Read More ...
Ray McMenamin

Conservative Groups Push Against Hiring Rules in Federal Funding
WASHINGTON (RNS) A coalition of religious organizations is urging Congress to amend a proposed bill. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Western Wall to Feature New One-way Partition Between Men, Women
JERUSALEM (RNS) Jewish authorities hope to replace the existing partition that separates the men’s and women’s prayer areas. Read More ...
Michele Chabin

Scottish Church Official Supports Release of Libyan Bomber
EDINBURGH, Scotland (RNS/ENInews) It was right to release the Libyan man convicted of the bombing of PanAm flight 103, church officials said. Read More ...
Trevor Grundy

Conservative Lutherans to Form New Church Body
(RNS/ENInews) Conservative Lutherans are forming a new church body they say will “uphold confessional principles.” Read More ...
Chris Herlinger

Seton Hall to Proceed with Class on Gay Marriage
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (RNS) It appears Seton Hall University will offer a controversial course on gay marriage. Read More ...
Jeff Diamant and Kelly Heyboer and The Star-Ledger

World Vision Wins Right to Hire, Fire Based on Religion
(RNS) World Vision can fire employees who disagree with its theological tenets, a federal appeals court ruled. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

WCC to Meet in Cleveland to Tackle Racism
CLEVELAND (RNS) Members of the World Council of Churches will gather to discuss how to expose and combat racism. Read More ...
Michael O'Malley and The Plain Dealer

Conservatives Claim Victory as Judge Halts Stem Cell Funding
WASHINGTON (RNS) Conservative Christian groups won a victory when a judge halted federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Read More ...
Kevin Eckstrom

Future of Destroyed Ground Zero Orthodox Church in Doubt
NEW YORK (RNS) After 9/11 all that remained of the tiny St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church were some candles, two icons and a bell clapper. Read More ...
Nicole Neroulias

Boston Archdiocese Blocks Employee Access to Critical Blog
(RNS) The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has blocked a conservative website from employees’ computers. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Pope Chides France after Gypsies Are Deported
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI urged French-speaking Catholics to “accept legitimate human diversity.” Read More ...
Francis X. Rocca

New Catholic Mass Approved for 2011 Roll-out
WASHINGTON (RNS) The most sweeping changes to the Catholic Mass in 40 years will be rolled out in 2011. Read More ...
Kevin Eckstrom

Catholic Adoption Agency Loses Fight over Gay Parents
LONDON (RNS) A Catholic adoption agency has lost its fight for the right to continue its policy of refusing to place children with same-sex couples. Read More ...
Al Webb

Ruling Could Prompt More Suits Against Highway Crosses
WASHINGTON (RNS) A court ruling that said highway crosses are unconstitutional could prompt additional challenges. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Polls: One in four Americans Thinks Obama’s a Muslim
WASHINGTON (RNS) Two new polls say as many as one in four Americans mistakenly believe President Obama is a Muslim. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Church Vows to Burn Qurans Without Fire Permit
(RNS) Fire officials in Gainesville, Fla., have denied a permit to a church that wants to burn Qurans on Sept. 11. Read More ...
Kevin Eckstrom

Volunteers Flock to Rebuild Church Torched by Arson
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) The Rev. Hillary Chrisley has traveled throughout the South, helping to rebuild churches torched by arson. Read More ...
Stephanie Barry and The Republican

Baha’i Community Stunned by Harsh Sentences in Iran
(RNS/ENInews) The Baha’i followers said the sentences against Iranian Baha’i leaders are an unjust punishment. Read More ...
Peter Kenny

Hispanic Leaders Warn GOP on Repealing Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON (RNS) Hispanic evangelical leaders said Republican proposals could erode support from Hispanic voters. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Episcopal Bishop, Back in Office, Vows to Stay
(RNS) The embattled Episcopal bishop of Philadelphia brushed aside calls for his resignation. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Cleveland Bishop Seeks Meeting with Breakaway Catholics
CLEVELAND (RNS) Bishop Richard Lennon wants to meet with the priest and lay leaders of a breakaway congregation. Read More ...
Michael O'Malley and The Plain Dealer

Religious Groups Push Action on Prison Rape
WASHINGTON (RNS) Marilyn Shirley was raped in 2000 by a guard at the Texas prison where she was serving time. Read More ...
Maggie Hyde

Atheist Group to Raise Funds for Religious Charity
(RNS) An atheist foundation that seeks to foster charitable giving among nonbelievers is encouraging members to donate to a religious charity. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Fight over N.Y. Mosque Becomes a Partisan Wedge issue for Obama, GOP
WASHINGTON (RNS) What started as a local zoning debate about an Islamic center has now turned into an election-year political brawl. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Study Says Religious Hospitals more Efficient, Provide Better Care
(RNS) Church-run health care systems are more efficient and provide higher quality care than their secular counterparts. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Atheists Campaign for Right to Blaspheme Religion
(RNS) The CFI has changed the name of its International Blasphemy Day to International Blasphemy Rights Day. Read More ...
Alfredo Garcia

Financial Woes Lead to President’s Resignation at Methodist College
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) Trustees at Birmingham-Southern College accepted the resignation of President David Pollick. Read More ...
Greg Garrison and The Birmingham News

Christian Leaders Praise Taize Community on 70th Anniversary
GENEVA (RNS/ENInews) World Christian leaders are paying tribute to the ecumenical Taize community in eastern France. Read More ...
Stephen Brown

Study: Orthodox Jews More Open to Counseling
NEW YORK (RNS) Most Orthodox Jews who seek professional counseling do so for marriage problems. Read More ...
Nicole Neroulias

Russians Pray for Rain as Churches Collect Aid
MOSCOW (RNS/ENInews) The Russian Orthodox Church is praying for relief from the heat and drought that has gripped Russia. Read More ...
Sophia Kishkovsky

Muslim Men Try to Mark Ramadan in 30 States in 30 Days
NEW YORK (RNS) Two Muslims are hitting the road for Ramadan, determined to break the holy month’s daily fast in a different state each evening. Read More ...
Solange De Santis

Calif. Judge Lifts Stay, Permits Gays to Marry Aug. 18
(RNS) Same-sex couples can begin marrying in California again on Aug. 18 pending another appeal. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

American Buddhist Godfather Robert Aitken Dies at 93
(RNS) Robert Aitken Roshi, pioneer in bringing Zen Buddhism to the West, died at age 93. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

Religious Leaders Blast Gingrich, Palin on New York Mosque
WASHINGTON (RNS) More than 40 Christian leaders say they are deeply troubled by the opposition to a proposed mosque. Read More ...
Alfredo Garcia

Study Finds Prayer Aids Relationships
(RNS) The old adage “couples who pray together stay together” may be true, especially for African-Americans. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Kenyan Church Leaders Defend Opposition to Constitution
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS/ENInews) Kenyan church leaders have rejected calls for an apology after they campaigned against a new constitution. Read More ...
Fredrick Nzwili

Ky. Men Drop Abuse Suit Against the Vatican
(RNS) Three Kentucky men have dropped their six-year effort to sue the Vatican over sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

SNAP Blasts Episcopalians on Reinstated Bishop
(RNS) SNAP blasted the Episcopal Church for reinstating the bishop of Philadelphia. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Baha'i Leaders Sentenced to 20 Years in Iran
(RNS) Seven top leaders of the Baha’i faith have received jail sentences of 20 years. Read More ...
Alfredo Garcia

Aid Group Wants to stay' in Afghanistan Despite Killings
(RNS/ENInews) The IAM has rejected Taliban claims that 10 aid workers killed in Afghanistan had been trying to convert Muslims. Read More ...
Anto Akkara

Church of God Says Women Can Be Leaders but Not Bishops
(RNS) The Church of God has decided to permit women to serve on local church councils but they cannot be ordained as bishops. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

Why the Prop 8 Ruling Scares Religious Conservatives
(RNS) When U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down California’s Proposition 8 he said voters’ motivation for outlawing gay marriage was clear. Read More ...
Daniel Burke

British Officials Help Churches Spot Sham Marriages
CANTERBURY, England (ENI) The British border protection agency says it is helping clerics spot “sham” marriages. Read More ...
Trevor Gundy

Episcopal Bishop Reinstated after Abuse Case Overturned
(RNS) The Episcopal bishop was reinstated after a church court dismissed the charges. Read More ...
Adelle M. Banks

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