More gay marriage news: The federal judge who overturned California’s ban on same-sex marriage lifted his stay yesterday and said couples can start marrying next Wednesday. Opponents filed an immediate appeal with the 9th Circuit asking for a more permanent stay. Judge Vaughn Walker hinted, however, that he’s not sure the opponents have legal standing to challenge his ruling since they’re not directly impacted by it. Utah, meanwhile, keeps an interested eye on the goings-on in California.

Florida Attorney General (and gubernatorial candidate) Bill McCollum thinks gays shouldn’t be foster parents because “that’s not what God intended.” Tea Party fav Glenn Beck, meanwhile, says gay marriage is “no threat” to America. “Eat, Pray, Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert plans to lobby Congress on behalf of transnational same-sex couples who aren’t protected by federal immigration laws the same way straight couples are.

In Louisiana, a federal judge has put a hold on part of a state law that requires women to get an ultrasound before getting an abortion, and Catholic monks are suing state officials over the right to sell hand-made caskets even though they’re not licensed funeral directors. Up in Indiana, Fort Wayne officials facing the threat of a lawsuit have pulled the plug on Bible classes held on school grounds.

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori finished her tour of six Anglican provinces where she defended her church’s stance on accepting gay bishops and same-sex unions.

An Illinois atheist is suing to recover a $20,000 state grant to help restore the wonderfully named Bald Knob Cross of Peace in southern Illinois. Meanwhile, in Poland, church and state leaders are trying to calm passions over the disputed memorial cross that was erected in front of the presidential palace.

The other day we told you about researchers in Hong Kong who said St. Peter‘s mother-in-law who was healed by Jesus had a bad flu; journal editors have now retracted the article. Souvenirs are ready for purchase in advance of the Pope‘s visit to Britain, and Bulgarian officials hope recently discovered relics believed to be the bones of John the Baptist will help drive tourism dollars.

Two young Muslims are taking Ramadan on the road, breaking their fast in 30 states in 30 days. Some U.S. Muslims are keeping a wary eye on the end of Ramadan, which this year falls on or around Sept. 11. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah says only clerics that he appoints have the authority to issue fatwas on various religious subjects.

A council of 50 influential Canadian imams is issuing a declaration today, “The Canadian Council of Imams Declaration,” that it says represents the world’s first nationwide condemnation of radical Islam by the faith’s religious leaders. Cairo‘s prestigious Al-Azhar Islamic seminary has condemned plans by a Florida church to burn Qurans on 9/11.

A New Hampshire woman is accused of lying about her role in Rwanda‘s 1994 genocide and could lose her U.S. citizenship if convicted. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. is “deeply concerned” about the Baha’i leaders in Iran who were sentenced to 20 years in prison. A top political leader in Nigeria is having second thoughts about the informal agreement that alternates the presidency between a Muslim and a Christian.

A judge in Paraguay is giving President Fernando Lugo (a former Catholic bishop) until Aug. 24 to prove he’s not the baby daddy to a 2-year-old boy; he already admitted to another son out of wedlock. A Russian dairy company says it will fire any employee who doesn’t get married in the Russian Orthodox Church, or female employees who have had abortions. Why did the Vatican refuse to accept the resignation of those two Irish bishops? Fear of a domino effect, says the Irish Times.

NPR looks at the fine line Christian aid groups are forced to walk when working in the Muslim world, and the NYT looks at the fine line transit officials in New York have to walk when mulling whether to accept controversial ads, like the new bus ads against the so-called Ground Zero mosque. CNN gets to the bottom of the force behind the ads opposing the center.