(RNS) For the fifth year in a row, the Southern Baptist Convention has seen a drop in its total membership, dipping below the 16 million figure to 15.9 million in 2011. By Adelle M. Banks.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The leader of the traditionalist Catholic movement that's been at odds with the Vatican for decades received the final draft of Pope Benedict XVI's reconciliation offer on Wednesday. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) Most international adoptions are arranged through licensed agencies. Becky Morlock's situation was different; her son was given to her directly by his biological mother, and the case left her stranded in India as a missionary-turned-mom for almost four years. By Adriana Janovich

RANDALLSTOWN, Md. (RNS) As the Southern Baptist Convention is poised to elect its first black president, the mostly African-American flock at Colonial Baptist Church is equal parts excited and astonished. "The denomination has come from 180 degrees,'' said Vernon T. Gaskins, 83. "I am quite shocked to see it but I’m glad to see it.'' By Adelle M. Banks.

(RNS) Assessing a decade of efforts by the Catholic hierarchy to defuse the clergy abuse scandal, the leader of a lay review board on Wednesday (June 13) warned the bishops that they must start to follow their own policies against child sexual abuse if they are to have any hope of restoring their fragile credibility. By David Gibson.

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Jerry DeWitt is beginning to develop a national profile in the small universe of organized unbelievers as a former Pentecostal preacher who little by little lost his faith right there in the pulpit. Now DeWitt is out of the pulpit, and public about his nonbelief. By Bruce Nolan.

Vatican officials met with American nuns over doctrinal disputes. Tony Perkins wonders why we don't celebrate Adultery Pride Month. Mormon missionaries endure a "refiner's fire." No highway for the KKK in Georgia. 

(RNS) The night my daughter told me she is gay, I felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. I had been an evangelical Christian for over 30 years and thought that this was the worst thing that could happen. By Shari Johnson.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Evangelical activists are pressing Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform plan -- a tricky election-year issue that conservatives' GOP allies have been reluctant to take up. By Chris Lisee.

(RNS) A coalition of nearly 150 religious leaders, led by conservative Protestants, have petitioned the Obama administration to broaden the exemption that allows churches and some religious organizations to avoid the controversial policy mandating that all health care insurers provide free contraception coverage. By David Gibson.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Leaders of an umbrella group that represents the majority of U.S. nuns met with top Vatican doctrinal officials on Tuesday (June 12) in an atmosphere of “openness and cordiality,” according to a Vatican statement. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) Mitt Romney was a lukewarm Mormon before leaving for a 30-month missionary stint in France at age 19. He came back on fire for his faith and a budding leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney's experience is common among Mormons, where the most ardent converts are often the missionaries themselves. By Daniel Burke.

WASHINGTON (RNS) An appeal over Christmas sweets turned bitter yesterday (June 11) when the Supreme Court declined to hear the so-called “candy cane” case. The case is a rallying point for conservative Christians concerned about free religious expression. By Chris Lisee.

NEW YORK (RNS) Ours has become a culture of whining. People bristle at the slightest discomfort or shortcoming. Do we all feel that helpless? Is our addiction to control so granular that we cannot tolerate anything out of order? By Tom Ehrich.

Christian Candy Canes, Hebrew Graffiti, Super Saints and with History of the American Nuns vs. the Vatican