Religion
Kennedy Says Bishop Banned Him From Communion()
November 22, 2009 Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving the central sacrament of the church because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
Strange News
Woman Says She Left $40K At Shrine For Safekeeping()
November 18, 2009 A groundskeeper at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes near Emmitsburg, Md., found two plastic freezer bags filled with gold and silver coins while he was raking leaves. A woman said she wanted the Virgin Mary to watch over the money while she was out of town.
Politics
Catholic Bishops' Lobby A Force On The Hill()
November 13, 2009 Democrats recently came to terms with a lobbying force of unexpected influence in the health care debate: the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Though the group has nary a lobbyist on its payroll, it successfully pushed for an anti-abortion amendment to be added to the House health overhaul bill.
The Shootings At Fort Hood
For Muslims, Fort Hood Case Sparks Fresh Fears()
November 12, 2009 Thousands of Muslims are in the U.S. military, and many more work for the federal government. After the shootings at Fort Hood, many of these individuals fear they're in for some unpleasant scrutiny.
U.S.
Mormon Church Backs Salt Lake City's Gay Rights Law()
November 11, 2009 The move marked the first time the Utah-based church has supported gay rights legislation, and helped secure passage for Salt Lake City laws banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment. The church drew strong reactions last year after backing Proposition 8 in California.
Vatican Scientists Seek Evidence Of Alien Life()

November 10, 2009 Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its implication for the Catholic Church.

