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African cardinals denounced the “cultural imperialism” of wealthy countries in their aid, trade and health care policies for Africa, saying Wednesday that the West’s promotion of abortion rights and condoms is destroying the continent’s moral fabric. African prelates attending the three-week meeting on the role of the Catholic Church in Africa said their countries needed…

(RNS) First there was Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy torn between two nations. Then there was Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman torn between two families. Now comes Rifqa Bary, the teenage runaway torn between two faiths. If you’re involved in a high-stakes custody fight, Florida, it seems, is the place to be. Could Rifqa’s father…

(RNS) California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed as “unnecessary” a bill that would require law enforcement officials to learn about Sikhs, specifically a ceremonial dagger called a kirpan considered a central article of faith. “The veto message makes no sense to us,” said Neha Singh, Western regional director of the Sikh Coalition. “The community is…

(RNS) Cohabitation, divorce, contraception and same-sex unions are undermining the traditional meaning and purposes of marriage, the nation’s Catholic bishops warn in an upcoming statement. “We are troubled by the fact that far too many people do not understand what it means to say that marriage — both as a natural institution and a Christian…

The anti-Mormon backlash after California voters overturned gay marriage last fall is similar to the intimidation of Southern blacks during the civil rights movement, a high-ranking Mormon says in a speech to be delivered Tuesday. Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to gay marriage as an “alleged civil right” in remarks prepared for delivery at Brigham…

(RNS) Tens of thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies rallied at the foot of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday (Oct. 11) to push for federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Rainbow-colored outfits and flags adorned many marchers, who held signs calling for equality, an end to bigotry and “segreGAYtion.” After starting…

(AP) VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints Sunday, including a 19th-century priest whose work with leprosy patients on a Hawaiian island has been hailed by U.S. President Barack Obama as inspiring those helping AIDS sufferers in today’s world. Among the pilgrims packing St. Peter’s Basilica was Hawaii resident Audrey Toguchi, an…

Associated Press – A 38-year-old New York woman who died after sitting in a sauna-like sweat lodge at a scenic Arizona resort was an avid surfer and hiker who was “in top shape,” took self-improvement seriously and had a passion for art, a family spokesman said. Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y., was one of two…

(RNS) Religious leaders, from the National Association of Evangelicals to Vatican officials, praised Friday’s (Oct. 9) selection of President Obama as the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee specifically cited Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” particularly his goal of ridding the world of…

WASHINGTON (RNS) United Jewish Communities, one of the largest American Jewish organizations, has changed its name to the Jewish Federations of North America to more closely align itself with local chapters across the country. “Our new name makes a clear and bold statement that we embody the Jewish Federation system,” said Jerry Silverman, the group’s…
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