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Associated Press Oswiecim, Poland – Around 10,000 young Jews, Poles and World War II survivors took part in the March of the Living on Thursday, an annual event at the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau that honors the memory of some 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. This year’s march, the 17th,…

By Daniel Burke Religion News Service Fort Worth, Texas — The United Methodist Church held to its traditional rules on homosexuality Wednesday (April 30), refusing to support or celebrate same-sex unions and maintaining language that calls homosexual activity “incompatible with Christian teaching.” While many Methodists gathered here acknowledged sharp disagreement within their church on sexuality…

Associated Press – April 30, 2008 AUSTIN, Texas – Texas officials told legislators Wednesday that they are investigating the possible sexual abuse of some young boys taken from a polygamist sect’s ranch, as well as broken bones among other children. The disclosures are the first suggestions that anyone other than teenage girls may have been…

Associated Press – April 30, 2008 VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI met Wednesday with a group of Islamic scholars from Iran following their talks with a Catholic delegation on issues apparently related to recent tensions between Muslims and Christians. The Vatican said the pope received the Iranians after his weekly public audience, describing Benedict…

By Adelle M. Banks and Nicole Neroulias Religion News Service (RNS) A Muslim advocacy group is partnering with a Jewish online organization that has called for “inclusive” observances of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday (May 1). “Contact your governor and other elected representatives to ask them to make sure any National Prayer Day…

Associated Press Winston-Salem, N.C. – Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged by the latest assertion by his former pastor that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church. The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten…

Associated Press New York – Rudy Giuliani should not have received Holy Communion during the pope’s visit because the former presidential candidate supports abortion rights, New York Cardinal Edward Egan said Monday. Egan says he had “an understanding” with Giuliani that he is not to receive the Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches “that abortion is…

Associated Press Weston, Wis. – Two parents who prayed as their 11-year-old daughter died of untreated diabetes were charged Monday with second-degree reckless homicide. Family and friends had urged Dale and Leilani Neumann to get help for their daughter, but the father considered the illness “a test of faith” and the mother never considered taking…

By MATTHEW STREIB c. 2008 Religion News Service BALTIMORE — When his partner died in 2004, Kevin-Douglas Olive reached a crossroads in his faith. Even though he had been a Quaker for almost two decades and put his trust in Jesus, he began to explore other ways of tapping into the divine. “I had this…

Associated Press – April 26, 2008 DHARMSALA, India – The Dalai Lama welcomed China’s offer to meet his envoy but said the two sides needed a meaningful discussion about how to resolve the problems that triggered riots in the Tibetan capital last month. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader warned Saturday it would be futile if…

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