(RNS) The Roman Catholic Church has sent a letter to its parishes across Scotland protesting a political race to legalize same-sex marriages in the province. By Al Webb.

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (RNS) The parents of Tyler Clementi have left their longtime evangelical church due to its views on homosexuality. By Dan Ivers. 

(RNS)  Like many villages, Lily Dale has a post office, volunteer fire department, library and a playground. But for 133 years, Lily Dale has also been home to the Lily Dale Assembly, a religious organization of mediums and healers who claim to communicate messages from those who have passed on to those still living on the Earthly plane. By Kathleen Poliquin.

Will Isaac spare Mitt? Spiritualists in Florida are making no predictions, an Israeli rabbi prays for Iran's end, and the Vatican defeats porcupines.

(RNS) Americans are almost evenly divided in how they view Muslims, but their views are sharply split by age and political party, according to the Arab American Institute survey. By Omar Sacirbey.

Is Cardinal Timothy Dolan's benediction at next week's RNC an endorsement? A Norwegian court declares Anders Breivik sane and sentences him to jail. Tropical Storm Isaac may be a chance for Mormons to showcase emergency preparedness.

WASHINGTON (RNS) One year after an earthquake caused extensive damage to the Washington National Cathedral, church officials received a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment to help restore the structure. By Chris Lisee.

(RNS) The news that New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the nation’s most prominent Catholic prelate, will deliver the closing blessing to the Republican National Convention in Florida next week was seen as a huge coup for Mitt Romney, the presumptive nominee. But the move has promoted a sharp debate within the church over the increasingly close ties between leading bishops and the GOP. By David Gibson.

(RNS) Mitt Romney says in a new interview that one of the reasons he’s distressed about disclosing his tax returns is that everyone sees how much money he and his wife, Ann, have donated to the LDS church, and that’s a number he wants to keep private. By Thomas Burr.

(RNS) The world’s best-selling book has made it to the small screen in what is thought to be the first religiously themed game show on a secular network. “The American Bible Challenge” represents a bid to tap the religious market – particularly evangelicals. By Chris Lisee.

(RNS) Mars Hill Bible Church has appointed a new teaching pastor, months after founding pastor and well-known author Rob Bell departed for California. Church leaders announced Kent Dobson had accepted the lead position. By Heidi Fenton.

But Dolan won't play the Values Voter Summit. ChiSox third baseman Kevin Youklis will play for Israel. And old-fashioned nuns make a comeback.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Spike Lee’s not about to give up filmmaking but – at least for a moment or two – he sounded a bit like an expert on the challenges facing the church as he promoted his new movie “Red Hook Summer.” By Adelle M. Banks.

(RNS) Tampa is not known to be a particularly religious city. But those in town for the Republican National Convention won't have to look too hard to find a spiritual experience. By Lauren Markoe.