Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland cites the Gospels for an Old Testament jeremiad against Mitt Romney’s offshore wealth. The GOP likes "God" more. 

NEW YORK (RNS) The Rev. Benedict Groeschel, a popular Franciscan friar who defended priests who sexually abuse children and blamed some victims for “seducing” them, has apologized for the controversial remarks. By David Gibson.

(RNS) Read the text of Cardinal Timothy Dolan's closing benediction to the Republican convention in Tampa, a prayer that had something to cheer and challenge everyone -- if they were listening.

(RNS) The Rev. Benedict Groeschel on Thursday evening apologized for comments he made defending clergy abusers and blaming victims. The remarks by the popular priest sparked a firestorm of controversy.

NEW YORK (RNS) The Rev. Benedict Groeschel, a prominent author and speaker who is especially popular with conservative Catholics and bishops, has sparked outrage by saying that priests who sexually abuse children "on their first offense" should not go to jail. He added that in “a lot of cases” the child is “the seducer.” By David Gibson and Daniel Burke.

NEW YORK (RNS) In a move that could recast the reigning political narrative about the bishops and the election, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has accepted an invitation to deliver the closing benediction at the Democratic National Convention, a week after he gives a similar blessing to the Republicans in Tampa. By David Gibson. 

NEW YORK (RNS) Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who sparked controversy by agreeing to deliver the closing blessing at the Republican convention in Tampa this week, on Monday raised more questions about his political role by asking both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama to sign a “civility pledge” promoted by a leading conservative Catholic activist. By David Gibson.

Will Isaac spare Mitt? Spiritualists in Florida are making no predictions, an Israeli rabbi prays for Iran's end, and the Vatican defeats porcupines.

(RNS) The news that New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the nation’s most prominent Catholic prelate, will deliver the closing blessing to the Republican National Convention in Florida next week was seen as a huge coup for Mitt Romney, the presumptive nominee. But the move has promoted a sharp debate within the church over the increasingly close ties between leading bishops and the GOP. By David Gibson.

But Dolan won't play the Values Voter Summit. ChiSox third baseman Kevin Youklis will play for Israel. And old-fashioned nuns make a comeback.

(RNS) The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious comprises convents with a total of about 10,000 nuns, and you probably won't be reading about any Vatican investigation of their practices. By David Gibson.

ST. LOUIS (RNS) American nuns facing a Vatican takeover of their leadership organization on Friday (Aug. 10) rejected Rome’s plans to recast the group in a more conservative mold but declined – for now – to respond with an ultimatum that could have created an unprecedented schism between the sisters and the hierarchy. By David Gibson.

(RNS) News that Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan would appear together on a panel on faith and humor next month was greeted with widespread anticipation, but now organizers say that the event will be restricted to Fordham University students and will not be broadcast or videotaped. By David Gibson.

ST. LOUIS (RNS) Catholic sisters gathered at their annual assembly intensified discussions on Thursday (Aug. 9) aimed at thwarting a Vatican takeover of their group, but hanging over the meeting was an even larger, existential question: Do the nuns have a future? By David Gibson.