Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II, clearing the way for the late pontiff’s beatification, the final step before sainthood.

A day after mourning a 9-year-old slain during the attempted assassination of a congresswoman, residents will gather Friday at the same Tucson Roman Catholic church to remember the life of a federal judge. The Forward traces Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ journey towards Judaism.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders pleaded with Congress to reject vitriolic and rancorous rhetoric in light of the massacre in Tucson.

A new poll shows Americans are not convinced the country is moving closer to achieving Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial equality, the AP reports. But the number Americans who say they will honor King on Monday has risen from 23 percent five years ago, to 30 percent this year.

Islamists rallied in support of the confessed killer of a Pakistani governor and protested Pope Benedict for urging that the country’s blasphemy laws be scrapped. Also in Pakistan, police are searching for two Muslim clerics who allegedly inspired man who murdered Gov. Salman Taseer, according to CNN.

Mimicking Oklahoma, a Texas state lawmaker has proposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting courts from enforcing, considering or applying religious law. A Tennessee man is suing his county over his rejected request to post a display on church-state separation in a courthouse where a Ten Commandments plaque hangs. Hawaii’s Senate is considering ending religious invocations before floor sessions.

A Pennsylvania school district is seeking an injunction to prevent a street preacher from proselytizing students at a school bus stop. Vanderbilt University modified its nurse residency program in response to a Christian group’s complaint that the hospital was asking applicants to agree to participate in abortions.

Four retired Lutheran pastors are suing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, alleging that it has “drastically reduced” guaranteed lifetime annuity payments.

About a third of the Jewish babies born last year in Israel are Haredi, setting up potential future conflicts between the insular community and rest of the increasingly modern country.

Satan made an appearance at the Supreme Court this week. A Michigan woman made a lint replica of “The Last Supper” (pic at top left).