Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI marked the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II with a memorial Mass on Thursday and new prayers for the Polish pontiff’s beatification. Benedict presided over an evening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in which he recalled how beloved John Paul was, particularly among young Catholics.…

NEW ORLEANS – A Santeria priest who sued a Texas city for denying him permission to sacrifice a goat as part of a religious ceremony asked a federal appeals court Wednesday to let him resume the ritual in his home. Jose Merced, 46, accused the city of Euless, Texas, of trampling on his constitutional right…

WASHINGTON (RNS) The president of the National Association of Evangelicals took a rare step into the immigration debate Tuesday (March 31), saying that the long waiting period for citizenship must be shortened. “There are inconsistencies and many outdated aspects of immigration laws, and I think they are therefore unjust and unfair,” said Leith Anderson, president…

NEW YORK (RNS) Responding to increasing reports of sex abuse in Orthodox Jewish communities, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes on Wednesday launched a new outreach program aimed at helping victims come forward. Kol Tzedek, which translates to “Voice of Justice,” includes a phone number where victims can reach a social worker familiar with their…

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