NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) Anyone who knew Whitney Houston understands that her talent came from one place, the God she served at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. This is where it all started for its daughter, where she was the darling of the choir as a child who left people speechless, belting outgospel songs and hymns. By Barry Carter.

SANFORD, Fla. (RNS) Comfortable is a theme that's becoming common as  churches are springing up in unexpected locations: movie theaters, skating rinks, strip malls and old warehouses, among others. By Elizabeth Crisp.

SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) Gov. Christine Gregoire was scheduled Monday to sign legislation to make Washington the seventh state to allow same-sex marriage, although opponents promised a high-stakes fight at the ballot box. By Tracy Simmons.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) A prominent U.S. attorney has dropped his abuse lawsuit against the Vatican, the second time a high-stakes attempt to hold the pope personally responsible for abusive priests has failed. By Alessandro Speciale.

While challenges to President Obama's contraception rule could take the form of legal and legislative assaults, the White House and the Obama re-election campaign are comfortable with the revised rule, believing most Americans -- and particularly most women -- are on their side.

Oh America, you are so weird.

At the Grammys last night, LL Cool J opened with a pretty nice prayer for the late Whitney Houston, the addled pop star who got her start in a New Jersey Baptist church choir. 

(Israel's Black Hebrew community said it is also mourning the loss of Whitney Houston, whom their leader called "his spiritual daughter.")

President Obama today said that all insurers -- not all religious institutions -- will be required to offer free contraceptive services to women. Here's what people are saying about it.

DES PERES, Mo. (RNS) In a time when disdain for other faiths is commonplace, even blessed in some religious circles, how does a Bible study instructor contrast the teachings and doctrines of another tradition and his own without seeming intolerant? Tim Townsend reports.

A quick drive-thru tour of the contraception debate, on your way to a drive-thru funeral home (!!!!) where you may find the former archbishop of Philadelphia but hopefully not the pope.