The price of the economic recession for U.S. churches? At least $1.2 billion in 2010, according to the new Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.
The anti-Shariah movement in state legislatures appears to be losing steam after bills were withdrawn or died in at least a dozen states.
Conservative opponents to President Obama's contraception mandate are set to rally today outside federal buildings across the U.S. And tomorrow atheists and a whole panoply of nonbelievers will have a giant coming-out party on the National Mall in Washington for the Reason Rally.
Rick Santorum is facing some heat for accepting $6,000 to speak to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America in 2010.
What's the only thing worth keeping you from your Passover cleaning prep? The Pillsbury Bake-Off, although we're not sure about those strawberry swirl-peanut-butter-brownie cupcakes.
B16 left Italy today, bound for Mexico and later, Cuba. The AP says he won't be overshadowed by the legacy of his predecessor, JP2. The pope, 84, used a cane to approach the plane; aides say he started using it two months ago to help him feel more “secure,” not because he needs it.
Wondering who might succeed Rowan Williams as the next archbishop of Canterbury? The Church Time profiles the contenders.
Jews and Arabs are going at each other again — this time over soccer. The Forward says ultra-Orthodox men are trying to switch seats with women on El-Al flights to help enforce gender segregation.
— Kevin Eckstrom
(Photo of Pope Benedict XVI via AP)