Rick Santorum takes and gives criticism on religious issues ahead of today's Michigan primary, but pulls even with Mitt Romney. The "ad-libbing" Catholic priest rescinds his resignation, Cuba gets ready for the pope, the pope's brother writes a "tell-all" of sorts, and the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has too many seminarians and not enough churches. A Jewish hoops team has to forfeit a playoff game because it's on the Sabbath.

(RNS) Conventional wisdom in advertising and marketing agrees that as tempting as it is for the Southern Baptists to try to solve a missionary slump with a marketing campaign, religious groups -- like commercial businesses -- should think twice before undergoing a brand overhaul. By David Gibson.

No one sported ashes at last night’s Republican debate. But everyone did penance. Mitt and Rick pounded each other, and Newt had to watch. Then they all got to criticize Obama for promoting policies on contraception that they used to support themselves. Except for Ron Paul: "You don’t blame the pills.”

Lent starts early for an ESPN editor who wrote that regrettable Jeremy Lin headline. Lent can't start soon enough for Cardinal Dolan. Glenn Beck is feeling Catholicky. Rick Santorum is feeling heat for his "phony theology" comments. But check out his spokeswoman's gaffe. And Southern Baptists will stick with their name.

No joke, he was asked to leave. And he was sober. But a nun is going to the Oscars. Jesuits want bishops to tone down the "war on religion" chatter. China may invite religious freedom envoy. And Richard Dawkins needs to Google Darwin.

Jeremy Lin does it again, and Tim Tebow may need a new nickname. Tim Dolan also (hearts) NY, and will tell pope why. China snubs Washington's religious freedom envoy, Oliver Stone becomes a Muslim -- sorta. Hutaree militia was hunting the antichrist, not the Feds.

(RNS) Some critics of President Obama's compromise on contraception have called it a "game of let's pretend." Yet that "game" is actually a venerable tradition in Catholic moral theology that for centuries has provided a way for Christians to think about acting virtuously in a fallen world. By David Gibson.

The so-called "Hawaii option" is the White House's preferred way out of the contraception mandate mess. But some Catholics want blood, and the bishops want the entire mandate trashed. Rick Santorum's Hanukkah card quotes Jesus -- really.

(RNS) Given that birth control use is almost universal – even among Catholics – many wonder why the Obama administration could wind up retreating on its pledge to mandate insurance coverage of contraception among religious institutions. David Gibson offers five reasons that may help explain the political dynamic the president is facing

Rick Santorum may be up...again. Thanks to evangelicals. Rabbi Boteach may run for Congress. Rick Warren is slimming. Prop 8 is hanging fire. More women priests in the C of E than men. But as bishops? Usury is still a sin, and The Onion is still satire.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we will have more Newt and Trump, and the "very poor" will have Mitt. Obama has the National Prayer Breakfast, the 99 percent have their own prayer breakfast, and George Beverly Shea is 103.

NEW YORK (RNS) A 67-year-old woman with a criminal record for theft has been charged with siphoning $1 million in donations while working in the finance office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. By David Gibson.