Orthodox priest who worked with Muslims gunned down
By Sophia Kishkovsky
A Russian Orthodox priest who was known for seeking to convert Muslims has been killed by a masked gunman at his church in Moscow.
UAE to allow female muftis
By Omar Sacirbey
The United Arab Emirates has become the third Islamic country to appoint female muftis -- religious scholars who have the power to issue fatwas and other religious decisions.
New archbishop meets with disaffected Catholics
By Bruce Nolan
Newly installed Archbishop Gregory Aymond is in talks with disaffected New Orleans Catholics over a plan to close several parishes that turned ugly last summer.
Conservatives vow resistance on abortion, gay marriage
By Adelle M. Banks
WASHINGTON (RNS) Facing what they consider "threats" from American culture, prominent Catholic, evangelical and Orthodox leaders have released a new "Manhattan Declaration" that vows unspecified civil disobedience against abortion, same-sex marriage and threats to religious liberty. By Adelle M. Banks. About 500.
Christian colleges get into the swing
By Angela Abbamonte
(RNS) Swing dancing is the hottest thing on Christian college campuses these days, even at schools that have long looked down, or even banned, "social dancing." Angela Abbamonte explores why young evangelicals are turning to 80-year-old music, and what makes them want to swing in a 750-word story that will include photos.
Anglican leader, in Rome, optimistic on ecumenical strains
By Francis X. Rocca
Speaking in Rome a month after the Vatican unveiled plans tofacilitate the conversion of conservative Anglicans to Catholicism, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion offered a moderately hopeful assessment of ecumenical relations between the two churches.
Paper denies editor’s complaint about attending Unification wedding
By Angela Abbamonte
The acting publisher of The Washington Times is rejecting claims by a former editor that he was forced to attend a mass wedding of the Unification Church, which owns the newspaper.
Hand-written Bible up for sale on eBay
By Brian McVicar
One of two copies of the Bible that was handwritten by more than 31,000 Americans is up for sale on the online auction site eBay.
Lutheran dissidents say new church body in the works
By Daniel Burke
In late September, Lutheran dissidents said they would hunker down for a year and study whether to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and create a new church body.
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As Haggard returns, questions linger
By Adelle M. Banks
(RNS) Adelle M. Banks reports on reaction from advisers and ethicists to disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's decision to start holding prayer meetings within miles of the Colorado megachurch that dismissed him three years ago. About 700. File photos.