Author Archives: Editor - Religion News

Rhode Island school panel to consider appeal of prayer banner (Reuters)

CRANSTON, Rhode Island (Reuters) – A school committee geared up on Thursday for boisterous crowds expected at its meeting on a federal court order to remove a prayer banner that has hung for decades inside a local public school. The … Continue reading

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Catholic Monti moves to end Italy Church tax breaks (Reuters)

ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Mario Monti, a Catholic crusading to put Italy’s economy in order by ending entrenched privileges such as tax breaks, is striking against an unlikely target – his own Church. Monti’s government issued a statement on … Continue reading

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AP Interview: Cardinal wants to be bridge to China (AP)

ROME – The new cardinal from Hong Kong said Thursday that he wants to “keep the door open” between the Vatican and the Chinese government while acknowledging there are “lots of battles” ahead for the Catholic church. Bishop John Tong … Continue reading

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Catholic bishops fight for authority over U.S. flock (Reuters)

(Reuters) – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is a powerful institution, at least on paper. But a recent debate over contraception coverage has exposed a deep divide between the 271 active bishops and the rank-and-file U.S. Catholics who are … Continue reading

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China open to U.S. religious envoy visit: White House (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Chinese officials have told the White House they are working on dates for a U.S. envoy for religious freedoms to visit China, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Wednesday. The Washington Post reported that Suzan … Continue reading

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Contraception battle looms in Mass. Senate race (AP)

BOSTON – The debate over the line between religious freedom and federal health care mandates has made its way into Massachusetts’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, with Republican Sen. Scott Brown accusing his chief Democratic rival of wanting to “dictate … Continue reading

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Mormon church apologizes for posthumous baptism of Jews (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Mormon church apologized on Tuesday for the posthumous baptism by its members of the parents of famed Nazi hunter and Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal. The posthumous baptisms were performed in Mormon churches in Utah, Arizona, … Continue reading

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Mormons apologize for posthumous Jewish baptism (AP)

SALT LAKE CITY – Mormon church leaders have apologized to the family of Holocaust survivor and Jewish rights advocate Simon Wiesenthal after his parents were posthumously baptized in a Mormon temple ritual last month. Salt Lake City researcher Helen Radkey … Continue reading

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UK government minister slams ‘militant secularism’ (AP)

LONDON – A British Cabinet minister says Europe is threatened by a wave of “militant secularism” and religion should play a bigger role in public life. Sayeeda Warsi says Europe should “become more confident and more comfortable in its Christianity.” … Continue reading

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Whitney Houston: a singing sensation silenced too soon (The Christian Science Monitor)

Los Angeles – Sunday’s Grammy Awards opened with heads bowed in prayer for singer Whitney Houston, whose sudden death on Saturday at a Los Angeles hotel rocked the music world. “We had a death in the family.” intoned Grammy host … Continue reading

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