Picking A Pope? Try The 'Sweet Sistine' Bracket Challenge
by Mark Memmott
"March madness" is around the corner. So is the selection of a new pope. Religion News Service is bringing the two together.
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The Two-Way posts about Religion
Sometimes 'The Lord Seemed To Sleep,' Pope Says In Farewell
by Mark Memmott
A huge crowd gathered Wednesday for Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience before his resignation takes effect on Thursday. In his remarks, the pope indirectly acknowledged that his nearly 8 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church have not always been easy.
'Pope Emeritus' Benedict XVI Will Wear White, But Trade In Red Shoes
by Scott Neuman
Outgoing Benedict XVI will be referred to as "His Holiness" and carry the title of "pope emeritus," the Vatican says.
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Pope Moves Up Start Of Conclave; British Cardinal Resigns Amid Allegations
by Mark Memmott
The church's cardinals can start the process of choosing a new pope right after Benedict's resignation takes effect later this week — rather than wait the 15 days that rules had required. One cardinal, Keith O'Brien of Britain, has stepped down after being accused of inappropriate behavior.
Pope Benedict XVI Delivers Final Sunday Blessing At Vatican
by Krishnadev Calamur
Some 100,000 people packed St. Peter's Square to hear the pope's last blessing. They interrupted him several times with applause and cheers. Benedict has one more scheduled public event: a general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday.
Tebow Won't Attend Controversial Megachurch Opening
by Scott Neuman
The Jets quarterback reversed a decision to attend the opening of a new facility for the First Baptist Church in Dallas, whose pastor has disparaged other religions and homosexuals.
Pope Blesses Faithful At Vatican For First Time Since Resignation Announcement
by Krishnadev Calamur
Pope Benedict XVI asked those gathered in St. Peter's Square to continue praying for him and the next pope. He steps down as pope Feb. 28.
Pope Hurt Head Last Year On Trip To Mexico
by Krishnadev Calamur
A Vatican spokesman denied that had anything to do with Benedict XVI's decision to step down. But the revelation came just two days after the spokesman said the pope underwent a secret operation late last year to replace the battery for a pacemaker.
Pope Benedict Leaves Behind A Mixed Legacy
by Scott Neuman
The Pope gets credit for strengthening the core values of the Catholic Church but also for some prominent gaffes and his poor handling of the sexual abuse scandal.
Knights Of Malta Celebrates 900th Anniversary At Vatican
Pilgrims and tourists who visit the Vatican Saturday will have a special treat, as the Knights of Malta march in procession to the tomb of St. Peter. The last of the great chivalrous orders is celebrating the 900th anniversary of its official recognition by Pope Paschal II.
L.A. Archbishop Relieves Retired Cardinal Mahony Of Duties, Releases Abuse Files
by Krishnadev Calamur
Archbishop Jose Gomez said Mahony will no longer have any administrative or public duties, and that Thomas Curry, a former aide to Mahony, had stepped down from his post as regional bishop of Santa Barbara. The files amount to thousands of pages related to the abuse of children by priests.
Losing Our Religion: The Growth Of The 'Nones'
by Heidi Glenn
As religious as this country may be, many Americans are not religious at all. The group of religiously unaffiliated – dubbed "nones"— has been growing. One-fifth of Americans say they're nones, as are one in three under 30. They're socially liberal and aren't looking for an organized religion.
Pope Benedict: A Hip 'Pontifex' Tweets Blessings
Pope Benedict XVI writes and sends his first tweet on a new personal account, which has attracted over 1 million followers.
Hanukkah Begins, With A Beat
The Maccabeats, Yeshiva University's student vocal group, serve up latkes, Jewish history and a side of hip hop with 'Candelight' on the first day of Hanukkah.
Man Behind Anti-Islamic Film Sentenced To Year In Prison
by Krishnadev Calamur
Mark Basseley Youssef admitted to violating four of eight conditions of his probation. He'd previously served 21 months in prison for bank fraud. His film, Innocence of Muslims, which depicted Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, sparked violence in the Muslim world.
New Yorkers Rush By As Embattled Anti-Jihad Ads Hit The Subway
by April Fehling
New York's transit authority posted controversial ads condemning Islamic Jihad in the city's subway system Monday, after losing a legal battle to withhold the posters. The campaign's sponsor says the ads target radicalism, not "peaceful Muslims."
How Are American Muslims Responding To The Anti-Islam Film?
by Reema Khrais
Muslims in the U.S. have not been protesting as groups have chosen to remain mostly on the sidelines during the controversy.
More Protests In Muslim Nations; Some Violence And Deaths
by Mark Memmott
Tens of thousands of anti-American protesters have taken to the streets again. In Pakistan. There are reports of at least six deaths.
Actress: Anti-Islam Filmmaker Lied And Made Me Look Like A 'Religious Bigot'
by Mark Memmott
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a.k.a. Sam Bacile, dubbed vile words over her performance and turned it into "a hateful anti-Islamic production," Cindy Lee Garcia says in a court filing. She wants YouTube to take down the video.
France On Alert After Publication Of Muhammad Cartoons
by Mark Memmott
The weekly Charlie Hebdo has courted such controversy before. Its offices were firebombed last November after another issue that satirized the prophet. The new cartoons come amid high tensions over an anti-Islam video.
