Copyright (c) 2007 USTINET Corporation. All rights reserved.http://news.usti.net/Religious politics, issues, religious newsen-usTue, 07 Oct 2008 00:33:07 GMT288012336http://news.usti.net/http://rss.usti.net/xml_news.gif http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dp/Uitaly-pope.R8ed_IO6.htmlwed/dp/Uitaly-pope.R8ed_IO6.html1223339089Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:24:49 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dp/Uitaly-pope.R8ed_IO6.html"></a>VATICAN CITY, Italy, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The collapse of banks shows the international monetary system is as shaky as if it were built on sand, Pope Benedict XVI said Monday.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dp/Uitaly-pope.R8ed_IO6.html">Pope: Financial system built on sand</a><br />VATICAN CITY, Italy, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The collapse of banks shows the international monetary system is as shaky as if it were built on sand, Pope Benedict XVI said Monday.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bz/Uindia-dalailama.Rnl-_IO5.htmlwed/bz/Uindia-dalailama.Rnl-_IO5.html1223231695Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:34:55 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bz/Uindia-dalailama.Rnl-_IO5.html"></a>DHARAMSALA, India, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The Dalai Lama is to have a routine medical examination in New Delhi, a spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader says.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bz/Uindia-dalailama.Rnl-_IO5.html">Dalai Lama to have checkup</a><br />DHARAMSALA, India, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The Dalai Lama is to have a routine medical examination in New Delhi, a spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader says.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uvietnam-catholics.Rx06_IO4.htmlwed/dd/Uvietnam-catholics.Rx06_IO4.html1223148895Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:34:55 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uvietnam-catholics.Rx06_IO4.html"></a>NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The Human Rights Watch in New York said Saturday the Vietnamese government should release a group of imprisoned Roman Catholics.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uvietnam-catholics.Rx06_IO4.html">Group: Vietnam should release Catholics</a><br />NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The Human Rights Watch in New York said Saturday the Vietnamese government should release a group of imprisoned Roman Catholics.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/di/Uus-politics-pastors.ReEw_IST.htmlwed/di/Uus-politics-pastors.ReEw_IST.html1222735487Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:44:47 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/di/Uus-politics-pastors.ReEw_IST.html"></a>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- An organization that promotes separation of church and state has filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about political sermons in U.S. pulpits.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/di/Uus-politics-pastors.ReEw_IST.html">IRS gets complaints about pulpit politics</a><br />SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- An organization that promotes separation of church and state has filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about political sermons in U.S. pulpits.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-lector.RQTU_ISO.htmlwed/ck/Uus-lector.RQTU_ISO.html1222285488Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:44:48 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-lector.RQTU_ISO.html"></a>BOSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A Roman Catholic shrine in Boston has stripped an openly gay man of leadership positions following the publication of a memoir.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-lector.RQTU_ISO.html">Gay memoir too racy for Catholic shrine</a><br />BOSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A Roman Catholic shrine in Boston has stripped an openly gay man of leadership positions following the publication of a memoir.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bh/Usaudi-oprah.Ry2j_ISM.htmlwed/bh/Usaudi-oprah.Ry2j_ISM.html1222117512Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:05:12 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bh/Usaudi-oprah.Ry2j_ISM.html"></a>DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A spokesman for MBC Group, the Dubai-based network that broadcasts "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Saudi Arabia, says many Saudi women identify with Winfrey.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/bh/Usaudi-oprah.Ry2j_ISM.html">Report: Saudi women look up to Oprah</a><br />DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A spokesman for MBC Group, the Dubai-based network that broadcasts "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Saudi Arabia, says many Saudi women identify with Winfrey.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/by/Uus-politics-catholics.RNS1_ISH.htmlwed/by/Uus-politics-catholics.RNS1_ISH.html1221656089Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:54:49 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/by/Uus-politics-catholics.RNS1_ISH.html"></a>SCRANTON, Pa., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The votes of U.S. Roman Catholics, once a reliable Democratic bloc, are up for grabs because of splits over candidates' stands on abortion, churchgoers say.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/by/Uus-politics-catholics.RNS1_ISH.html">Abortion politics key in Catholic vote</a><br />SCRANTON, Pa., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The votes of U.S. Roman Catholics, once a reliable Democratic bloc, are up for grabs because of splits over candidates' stands on abortion, churchgoers say.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/db/Uus-swift-ramadan.RJfk_ISB.htmlwed/db/Uus-swift-ramadan.RJfk_ISB.html1221170706Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:05:06 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/db/Uus-swift-ramadan.RJfk_ISB.html"></a>GREELEY, Colo., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Giant slaughterhouse JBS Swift &amp; Co. fired 100 Muslim workers in Greeley, Colo., for protesting the company's stance over a prayer ritual, union leaders said.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/db/Uus-swift-ramadan.RJfk_ISB.html">100 fired over Ramadan prayer protest</a><br />GREELEY, Colo., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Giant slaughterhouse JBS Swift &amp; Co. fired 100 Muslim workers in Greeley, Colo., for protesting the company's stance over a prayer ritual, union leaders said.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ac/Uus-politics-clergy.R42i_IS8.htmlwed/ac/Uus-politics-clergy.R42i_IS8.html1220854489Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:14:49 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ac/Uus-politics-clergy.R42i_IS8.html"></a>CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A conservative advocacy group plans to test a U.S. legal prohibition on clergy endorsing candidates from the pulpit, The Washington Post reported Monday.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ac/Uus-politics-clergy.R42i_IS8.html">Challenge set for pulpit endorsement ban</a><br />CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A conservative advocacy group plans to test a U.S. legal prohibition on clergy endorsing candidates from the pulpit, The Washington Post reported Monday.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uus-politics-rnc.ROqg_IaV.htmlwed/dd/Uus-politics-rnc.ROqg_IaV.html1220302488Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:54:48 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uus-politics-rnc.ROqg_IaV.html"></a>ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., began with a prayer for Gulf Coast citizens affected by Hurricane Gustav.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dd/Uus-politics-rnc.ROqg_IaV.html">RNC opens with prayer for Gustav victims</a><br />ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The abbreviated first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., began with a prayer for Gulf Coast citizens affected by Hurricane Gustav.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cq/Uus-politics-obama-pastor.RXmx_IaR.htmlwed/cq/Uus-politics-obama-pastor.RXmx_IaR.html1219856702Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:05:02 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cq/Uus-politics-obama-pastor.RXmx_IaR.html"></a>SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor has resigned from an Illinois education commission that deals with the history of slavery in America.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cq/Uus-politics-obama-pastor.RXmx_IaR.html">Former Obama pastor resigns from ed panel</a><br />SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor has resigned from an Illinois education commission that deals with the history of slavery in America.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/aq/Uus-abortion.RP2H_IaL.htmlwed/aq/Uus-abortion.RP2H_IaL.html1219377287Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:54:47 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/aq/Uus-abortion.RP2H_IaL.html"></a>WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Bush administration has proposed a new rule intended to allow healthcare workers to refuse to deliver medical services that violate their personal faith.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/aq/Uus-abortion.RP2H_IaL.html">Bush proposes controversial abortion rule</a><br />WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Bush administration has proposed a new rule intended to allow healthcare workers to refuse to deliver medical services that violate their personal faith.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/al/Uus-politics-dnc-prayer.RjrW_IaL.htmlwed/al/Uus-politics-dnc-prayer.RjrW_IaL.html1219365889Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:44:49 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/al/Uus-politics-dnc-prayer.RjrW_IaL.html"></a>WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A Florida anti-abortion minister who is a registered Republican will deliver the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention, organizers announced.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/al/Uus-politics-dnc-prayer.RjrW_IaL.html">Anti-abortion pastor set for Dem prayer</a><br />WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A Florida anti-abortion minister who is a registered Republican will deliver the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention, organizers announced.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cl/Uus-schoolrent.R8qM_IaC.htmlwed/cl/Uus-schoolrent.R8qM_IaC.html1218594892Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:34:52 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cl/Uus-schoolrent.R8qM_IaC.html"></a>NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ruled a Virginia school district must stop charging a Christian group rent for meeting on school property while its suit is being heard.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cl/Uus-schoolrent.R8qM_IaC.html">Judge: No rent for church group</a><br />NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ruled a Virginia school district must stop charging a Christian group rent for meeting on school property while its suit is being heard.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ch/Uus-commandments.RlNV_Ia7.htmlwed/ch/Uus-commandments.RlNV_Ia7.html1218141295Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:34:55 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ch/Uus-commandments.RlNV_Ia7.html"></a>LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A federal judge has agreed to allow two Kentucky counties to argue that courthouse displays including the Ten Commandments are secular, not religious.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ch/Uus-commandments.RlNV_Ia7.html">Judge sets hearing on Ten Commandments</a><br />LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A federal judge has agreed to allow two Kentucky counties to argue that courthouse displays including the Ten Commandments are secular, not religious.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dh/Uus-cross.RdEm_IlU.htmlwed/dh/Uus-cross.RdEm_IlU.html1217433897Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:04:57 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dh/Uus-cross.RdEm_IlU.html"></a>SAN DIEGO, July 30 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ended nearly 20 years of litigation by ruling that a giant cross can remain atop Mount Soledad in California.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/dh/Uus-cross.RdEm_IlU.html">Judge rules in favor of giant Calif. cross</a><br />SAN DIEGO, July 30 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ended nearly 20 years of litigation by ruling that a giant cross can remain atop Mount Soledad in California.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama-wall.RXzU_IlS.htmlwed/af/Uisrael-obama-wall.RXzU_IlS.html1217292288Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:44:48 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama-wall.RXzU_IlS.html"></a>JERUSALEM, July 28 (UPI) -- An Israeli student has confessed to taking Barack Obama's prayer note from the Western Wall and giving the item to the media.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama-wall.RXzU_IlS.html">Student apologizes for taking Obama prayer</a><br />JERUSALEM, July 28 (UPI) -- An Israeli student has confessed to taking Barack Obama's prayer note from the Western Wall and giving the item to the media.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama.Rq3v_IlR.htmlwed/af/Uisrael-obama.Rq3v_IlR.html1217199915Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:05:15 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama.Rq3v_IlR.html"></a>JERUSALEM, July 27 (UPI) -- A Jewish seminarian apologized Sunday for taking Barack Obama's prayer note from Jerusalem's Western Wall.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/af/Uisrael-obama.Rq3v_IlR.html">Man apologizes for taking prayer note</a><br />JERUSALEM, July 27 (UPI) -- A Jewish seminarian apologized Sunday for taking Barack Obama's prayer note from Jerusalem's Western Wall.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cz/Usudan-darfur.RrsO_IlQ.htmlwed/cz/Usudan-darfur.RrsO_IlQ.html1217084718Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:05:18 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cz/Usudan-darfur.RrsO_IlQ.html"></a>KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 26 (UPI) -- As Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was touring Darfur on a peace mission this week, government planes were bombing a village there, a military source says.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cz/Usudan-darfur.RrsO_IlQ.html">Sudan bombs Darfur amid talk of peace</a><br />KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 26 (UPI) -- As Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was touring Darfur on a peace mission this week, government planes were bombing a village there, a military source says.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ax/Uus-monk.RTBn_IlL.htmlwed/ax/Uus-monk.RTBn_IlL.html1216641916Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:05:16 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ax/Uus-monk.RTBn_IlL.html"></a>LOS ANGELES, July 21 (UPI) -- Eric McCormack, Howie Mandel, Sarah Silverman, Sharon Lawrence and Angela Kinsey are to appear in the 100th episode of "Monk," USA Network has announced.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ax/Uus-monk.RTBn_IlL.html">Stars line up for 'Monk' milestone</a><br />LOS ANGELES, July 21 (UPI) -- Eric McCormack, Howie Mandel, Sarah Silverman, Sharon Lawrence and Angela Kinsey are to appear in the 100th episode of "Monk," USA Network has announced.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cy/Uturkey-coup.Rdir_IlF.htmlwed/cy/Uturkey-coup.Rdir_IlF.html1216163114Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:05:14 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cy/Uturkey-coup.Rdir_IlF.html"></a>ANKARA, Turkey, July 15 (UPI) -- A general once in charge of security at Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan's prison reportedly is among those suspected of being in a Turkish terrorist group.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/cy/Uturkey-coup.Rdir_IlF.html">Kurdish leader allegedly met plotters</a><br />ANKARA, Turkey, July 15 (UPI) -- A general once in charge of security at Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan's prison reportedly is among those suspected of being in a Turkish terrorist group.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/at/Uaustralia-worldyouthday-pope.R77D_IlC.htmlwed/at/Uaustralia-worldyouthday-pope.R77D_IlC.html1215894893Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:34:53 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/at/Uaustralia-worldyouthday-pope.R77D_IlC.html"></a>SYDNEY, July 12 (UPI) -- The Catholic Church is sorry for the sexual abuse endured by individuals in Australia at the hands of Catholic priests, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/at/Uaustralia-worldyouthday-pope.R77D_IlC.html">Pope issues apology to clergy victims</a><br />SYDNEY, July 12 (UPI) -- The Catholic Church is sorry for the sexual abuse endured by individuals in Australia at the hands of Catholic priests, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-politics-obama.RUvA_Il3.htmlwed/ck/Uus-politics-obama.RUvA_Il3.html1215159362Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:02 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-politics-obama.RUvA_Il3.html"></a>COLORADO SPRINGS, July 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama urged his audience "to do your part" and volunteer for national service, pledging to expand opportunities for those who heed his call.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ck/Uus-politics-obama.RUvA_Il3.html">Obama promotes large-scale volunteerism</a><br />COLORADO SPRINGS, July 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama urged his audience "to do your part" and volunteer for national service, pledging to expand opportunities for those who heed his call.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ak/Uvatican-marcinkus.RWWL_IuO.htmlwed/ak/Uvatican-marcinkus.RWWL_IuO.html1214359498Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:04:58 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ak/Uvatican-marcinkus.RWWL_IuO.html"></a>VATICAN CITY, June 24 (UPI) -- The Vatican says claims that the former head of the Vatican bank was involved in kidnapping a teenage girl in 1985 are "infamous."</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ak/Uvatican-marcinkus.RWWL_IuO.html">Vatican defends reputation of ex-banker</a><br />VATICAN CITY, June 24 (UPI) -- The Vatican says claims that the former head of the Vatican bank was involved in kidnapping a teenage girl in 1985 are "infamous."</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI) http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ap/Uus-bishop.R660_IuM.htmlwed/ap/Uus-bishop.R660_IuM.html1214295396Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:16:36 GMT<p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ap/Uus-bishop.R660_IuM.html"></a>NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- The late New York Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr. had clandestine relationships with other men despite being married with children, a new book alleges.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.usti.net/newsstory/news.religion/2/wed/ap/Uus-bishop.R660_IuM.html">Book: N.Y. bishop Moore had gay lovers</a><br />NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- The late New York Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr. had clandestine relationships with other men despite being married with children, a new book alleges.</p><br clear="all"/>(UPI)