(RNS) With Mitt Romney on the verge of becoming the first Mormon to head a major party presidential ticket, is it as pivotal as John F. Kennedy's win as the first Catholic president? Or is he more like Al Smith? By David Gibson.

(RNS) Thomas Kinkade, a commercially successful painter of pastoral settings and a special favorite of his fellow evangelicals, died Friday (April 6) at the age of 54. Questions remain, however, about his behavior in recent years, including financial scandals as well as suspicions of alcohol abuse and reports of bizarre public incidents. By David Gibson.

As Mitt Romney pivots to a general election campaign against President Obama, nothing will be more critical to his success than winning the hearts and minds of social conservatives. That task, however, won't be easy. By David Gibson.

(RNS) Is it okay to ask God to do harm to another person? The theology of such “imprecatory prayer” may be a matter of debate, but a Dallas judge has ruled it is legal, at least as long as no one is actually threatened or harmed. By David Gibson.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop says the Obama adminstration's revised definition of which religious groups are exempt from proving birth control coverage is still too narrow and remains “radically flawed” and “unconstitutional.”

(RNS) The Southern Baptist Convention's top public policy official called activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton "racial ambulance chasers" who are fomenting a "mob mentality" over the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. By David Gibson.

(RNS) A small Catholic college in Massachusetts has been pressured by the local bishop into cancelling an invitation to Sen. Ted Kennedy's widow to deliver the school's commencement address because of her support of abortion rights and gay marriage. By David Gibson.