WASHINGTON (RNS) Most Americans who file income tax returns won't be affected by proposed changes in how charitable contributions are deducted, but that hasn't stopped charitable groups from lobbying Congress to fight any change in deductions as part of the "fiscal cliff'' negotiations. By Jackie Kucinich / USA Today.

(RNS) A special commission created by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has called for clearer IRS guidance and greater involvement among donors to address “outliers” among congregations and other nonprofits that are not being financially accountable. By Adelle M. Banks.

NEW YORK (RNS) I played the New York lottery for the first time last week. My $2 ticket didn't win the $588 million payout. In the end, I liked the idea of financial security, but saw little to be gained from sudden wealth. By Tom Ehrich.

(RNS) An atheist student group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has scored nearly $70,000 in funding, a national record for a campus atheist group. By Kimberly Winston.

(RNS) The recession continued to affect how much Americans gave to charity last year, and the triple whammy of Superstorm Sandy, a national election and the looming fiscal cliff may cut how much we donate in the crucial final month of 2012, experts say. By Elizabeth Weise / USA Today.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (RNS) In the days following Thanksgiving, there's already Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday shopping season. Now, a group of charities and corporate sponsors is urging Americans to make the Tuesday after Thanksgiving just as powerful a day of giving to those in need. By John Ostendorff / USA Today.

(RNS) Nothing will get better in our troubled and divided nation until we take to heart three lessons about what it means to be a decent person. First, give back to God. Second, help the unfortunate. Third, tell the truth. By Tom Ehrich.

(RNS) The economy continues to weigh on pastors, with a new survey showing that nearly two-thirds say it has affected their churches negatively. By Adelle M. Banks.

(RNS/ENInews) The Church of England has sold its $3 million worth of shares in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp due to concerns about the company's ethics.

(RNS) A group of Orthodox rabbis has designed a popular course to inject more morality into economics -- from the household budget to the stock market. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) Instead of turning on each other, as the wealthy and powerful want us to do, let's name the bad and incompetent behavior of the wealthy and powerful - and hold them accountable. By Tom Ehrich.

(RNS) The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights group that has frequently drawn fire from conservatives, has regained its tax-exempt status. By Bob Smietana. 

(RNS) The privileged see only the prizes they think they earned. Soon, to protect their delusions, they buy politicians and demand that they chase wealth for the greedy by turning the frightened against the vulnerable. By Tom Ehrich.

WASHINGTON (RNS) The National Philanthropic Trust's annual report on philanthropy shows that while charitable giving is increasing, donations to religious organizations decreased for the second year in a row. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) "Speaking truth to power" sounds like a noble calling until power pushes back. When big givers say "Jump!" it is the rare leader who says anything other than "How high?" It's time for that to change. What a noble service to America it would be if faith communities led the way. By Tom Ehrich.