Pope Benedict XVI unveiled the new Vatican office dedicated to fighting secularism and reviving Christianity in Europe, one of the top priorities of his papacy.

Also, B16 denounced “terrorist ideologies” at a synod in Rome with bishops from the Middle East; the synod, which the AP somewhat hyperbolically calls a “crisis summit,” aims to provide a forum to discuss the future of Christians in a region beset by violence and religious intolerance.

Gay rights activist say they have collected more than 150,000 letters asking a top Mormon church leader to recant recent statements calling homosexuality unnatural and arguing that gays can change their sexual attractions. A counter campaign was launched on Facebook, where supporters of Elder Boyd Packer have posted nice things about the 86 year old. Even LDS leaders seemed a little uncomfortable with Packer’s remarks, however, as they edited portions of his speech to mirror more closely the church’s stance on the cause of same-sex attractions, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Roman Catholic bishops of Minnesota issued a brief statement saying that there is no “right” to same-sex marriage. While the bishops say their intention is simply educational, observers have noted that marriage is an issue in the statewide elections next month. A Mennonite pastor in San Francisco who officiated at a gay marriage was sanctioned by her regional conference.

A 9/11 first responder is suing the developers of the planned Islamic community center near Ground Zero for intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault. He wants – no joke – $350 million. The Washington Post pulled a cartoon last Sunday that included a satirical reference to the furor over depicting the Prophet Muhammad in cartoons. Al-Qaida’s North African branch says it will release hostages if France lifts its burqa ban. A judge in England forced a Muslim woman to unveil while testifying in court, but allowed her to testify behind a screen around which only the judge could see.

The largest organization of American atheists met in Los Angeles, where they heaped some scorn on believers but disagreed about how much scorn to heap. Atheists in Malawi want the government to release dozens of women held on witchcraft charges. A former pastor is on trial for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that bilked Christians out of $120 million.

More than half of the Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago have employed priests accused of sexually abusing children, according to a new study co-conducted by a church reform group. The archdiocese called the study “questionable.”

Israel’s cabinet approved an amendment requiring new citizens to vow loyalty to a “Jewish and democratic state.” A 14-year-old Israeli boy is suing to overturn the age requirement (22) to enter the rabbinate.

Continuing the back and forth, the religious congregation co-founded by the Australian nun headed for canonization says she was so excommunicated for blowing the whistle on an abusive priest.

A Vermont ban on religious vanity plates is unconstitutional, says the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If I ever got a vanity plate, it would say ECCL319.