(RNS) The 25-member council advising the White House on faith-based issues has voted on two contentious issues for religious charities that receive government funds. By a vote of 13-12, the council members said the government should require houses of worship to form separate corporations in order to receive direct federal funding for social services. Separately,…

A senior Vatican official called on Monday (Feb. 8) for “an ecumenical catechism” setting forth the common beliefs of the Catholic and major Protestant churches. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, announced the proposal at a Vatican symposium with representatives of the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches. Citing…

(RNS) Southern Baptist leaders have appealed to President Obama to assist in the release of 10 American missionaries charged with kidnapping children in Haiti. “We do not know all of the facts of this case, but we are concerned that the continued detainment and possible conviction of these Baptist mission volunteers will distract the world’s…

(RNS) The top U.S. Catholic bishop has denounced a Maryland-based gay ministry that has advocated on behalf of same-sex marriage, saying the group “confuses the faithful” and does not speak on behalf of the church. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement on Friday (Feb.…

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