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Scientology and abortion. The Church of Scientology does not take a position on abortion. However, the subject comes up in the writings of church founder L.Ron Hubbard, which the church regards as sacred scripture. Scientology counseling seeks to rid the mind of “mental image pictures” or “engrams” created during painful moments in one’s past including…

Editors’ note: This is a corrected version of a story that first appeared on Beliefnet June 9. AMESBURY, Mass. (RNS) When the Anglican Church in North America launched last year, founders were clear on what they didn’t want to be: the Episcopal Church. But as the ACNA marks its first anniversary with a meeting here…

(RNS) In many religious circles, the repeal of a military ban on openly gay members is considered practically a done deal. But Southern Baptists, who have many more active-duty military chaplains than any other denomination, are not giving up without a fight. The Southern Baptist Convention is battling the expected repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell…

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI hailed priests on Sunday as gifts to the world for their generous and courageous work, in a speech that didn’t mention the clergy sex abuse scandal. “Dear friends, the priest is a gift from the heart of Christ, a gift for the church and the world,” Benedict told faithful…

(RNS) Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the largest Jewish congregational body in North America, has announced that he will retire in two years. Yoffie, 63, has helmed the Union for Reform Judaism since 1996, presiding over about 900 synagogues with an estimated 1.5 million members. His efforts have included working on interfaith relations, speaking before…

LONDON (RNS) Prince Charles, heir to the British throne and next in line as titular head of the Church of England, says Western society should learn from Islamic principles to save the environment. Charles told an audience at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies on Wednesday (June 9) that “the Islamic world is the custodian…

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Twice a day, precisely at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., alarms ring on dozens of cell phones, alerting those participating in the Rev. Jim Woodard’s week-old Internet prayer initiative to spend one minute praying for relief from the BP Gulf oil spill. In Meraux, Cesar Lopez rises each morning at 4:30 a.m.…

Associated Press – June 11, 2010 VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI begged forgiveness Friday from clerical abuse victims for the sins of priests and promised to “do everything possible” to ensure that prelates don’t rape or molest children ever again. Benedict’s pledge was similar to comments he has made in the past. But it…

(RNS) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will pay a $5,000 fine for not reporting non-monetary contributions in support of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. The California Fair Political Practices Commission concluded the church “failed to timely report making late non-monetary contributions totaling $36,928” during the November 2008 election. It…

A new Broadway play that has been nominated for a couple of Tony awards features a character that might seem rarer than a unicorn: a gay evangelical. “Next Fall,” by Geoffrey Nauffts, has already won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New American Play on Broadway, and is up for Best Play and Best…

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