TRENTON, N.J. (RNS) In the midst of a heated battle over gay rights, Gov. Chris Christie defended his recent remarks on civil rights, calling one his New Jersey critics "numbnuts." By Matt Friedman and Jenna Portnoy. 250.

(RNS) Humanist and secularist organizations have accused the European Union of denying them equal treatment with the continent's Christian churches. By Jonathan Luxmoore. 250

 (RNS) When asked whether they thought American courts should apply Shariah to non-Muslims in the legal system, all of the respondents answered no. Just three of the 41 imams said they wanted parallel Shariah tribunals where Muslims could handle civil issues like marriage, divorce, and inheritance. By Omar Sacirbey.

(RNS) Until 1978, African-Americans were denied full membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has refused to say whether he thinks his church's racial policies before then were misguided. Daniel Burke explores Mormons' troubled history with race.

(RNS) On the eve of the 203rd anniversary of Charles Darwin's birthday, six bills in four states would hinder the teaching of evolution in public schools, and another two are poised to do the same without naming evolution outright. By Kimberly Winston.

(RNS) I don't think any enterprise has done more huffing, more blocking, bickering and begging for time than Christianity. We are the case study for trying to stand still in a rapidly moving stream, getting swept away, and still claiming the moral high ground while we drown. By Tom Ehrich.

(RNS) Just three years after George W. Bush left the White House, compassionate conservatives are an endangered species. Is this just a case of the Republican Party wanting to distance itself from the Bush years -- or is compassionate conservatism gone for good? By Amy Sullivan.

CLEVELAND (RNS) Shuttered churches might be the biggest challenge facing the preservation community. Shrinking congregations and migration to the suburbs have left churches empty, or with fewer members. Preservationists lobby to save them, but no one can afford to open them. By  Michelle Jarboe McFee.

NEW YORK (RNS) A 67-year-old woman with a criminal record for theft has been charged with siphoning $1 million in donations while working in the finance office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. By David Gibson.

 (RNS) From Maine to Phoenix to southern Louisiana, Catholic churches across the country echoed with scorn for a new federal rule requiring faith-based employers to include birth control and other reproductive services in their health care coverage. By Rick Jervis. 650.

Newt Gingrich wants a ban on embryonic stem cell research, Romney doesn't. Santorum's daughter makes "miraculous" recovery, he looks for political miracle in Florida. Obama, birth control, and the Catholic vote. Andrew Sullivan's fan in the Vatican. And more...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (RNS) "In totalitarian governments, they would love our system," Bishop Joseph McFadden said. "This is what Hitler and Mussolini and all those tried to establish: a monolith so all the children would be educated in one set of beliefs and one way of doing things." By Diana Fishlock.