WASHINGTON (RNS) A new poll finds that Catholics who are aware of their bishops' concerns about religious liberty generally agree with them, but the all-important Catholic vote is still up for grabs on Election Day. By Lauren Markoe.

A Dutch man has a dream and builds a replica of Noah's ark. The Democrats may put a pro-gay marriage plank in their national platform. And a Jewish pool party gets shut down.

(RNS) Compared to Hispanic Americans, black Americans are far more likely to believe abortion should be legal in most circumstances, even when they personally reject the procedure as immoral. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) The liberal Jewish organization Bend the Arc has broken new ground with a lobbying arm and a political action committee. By Lauren Markoe.

Monsignor Willam Lynn's sentencing day. Ramadan in Finland. Mike Hucakbee feasts on Chik-fil-A.

(RNS) A new report examines the religious beliefs of Asian-Americans, and unlike past reports on this group and religion, focuses on their religious affiliations rather than their country of origin. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) Amid a battle with President Obama over a new contraception mandate, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops are promoting natural family planning -- but will their flock take heed? By Lauren Markoe.

A Boston Presbyterian pastor is freed by his kidnappers in Egypt's Sinai. Old Mormon families step up to the plate for Mitt Romney. And finally, there's an app for those who would ordain thyselves.

(RNS) Ongoing violence in Nigeria has exacerbated tensions between the country's Muslims and Christians. Here are five things to know about the context behind the killings. By Lauren Markoe. 

(RNS) A new prayer mat lights up when facing Mecca, helping Muslims to pray properly. By Lauren Markoe.

Some pastors care so much they damage their health. Rabbis wonder what to do about the German circumcision ban. And Mormons opens a mega mall.

Mitt Romney is public about his upcoming trip to Israel, and more private about his efforts to court evangelicals. A Neo-Nazi decides to quit being hateful, and to become a Baptist. And fewer Brazilians are calling themselves Catholic.

(RNS) When Israel's most prominent Holocaust memorial was vandalized earlier this month with anti-Israel and anti-Semitic graffiti, many were shocked that those charged with the crime were observant Jews. But many Israelis were not surprised. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) A new survey finds that overall more than 4-in-10 Americans (43 percent) oppose a move by the Supreme Court to overturn the recent health care law, while 35 percent favor it. By Lauren Markoe.

WASHINGTON (RNS) The spiritual leader of the Ahmadi Muslims, a persecuted group who are seen as heretics by many mainstream Muslims, made a rare visit to Capitol Hill. By Lauren Markoe.