(RNS) At its heartwarming core, Christmas is the story of a tender relationship between a new mother and her newborn child. Yet all the familiar images associated with the holy family are missing one obvious element: a breast-feeding infant. And therein lies a tale. By David Gibson.

(RNS) The traditional Christmas image of the Virgin Mary -- silent, obedient, observant -- has cemented a potent ideal in the Western imagination. Now the masterful Irish writer Colm Toibin puts a jackhammer to the cozy, safe, Christmas-card version in "The Testament of Mary.'' By Karen Long.

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday (Dec. 4) urged Uganda to scrap a controversial draft law that would send gays and lesbians to jail and, some say, put them at risk of the death penalty. By Fredrick Nzwili.

I've heard the most appalling -- and the most beautiful -- messages about sex in the church. Too often, the church is silent and bashful about sex, and when the church has spoken out about sex, many messages I heard have either been shaming or repressive.

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A key panel within the Church of England has said church leaders must find a way to hold a second vote next summer to allow women to serve as bishops. By Trevor Grundy.

(RNS) New research shows that Catholics report the lowest proportion of strongly affiliated followers among major American religious traditions. Evangelicals, on the other hand, are increasingly devout and committed to their faith. By David Gibson.

(RNS) The teenage star of "Two and a Half Men'' apologized Tuesday for calling his show unbiblical “filth'' and encouraging people not to watch it during a videotaped testimony about his conversion to Seventh-day Adventism. By Daniel Burke. 

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Just in time for Christmas, the Vatican on Tuesday (Nov. 20) released a new book by Pope Benedict XVI focused on Jesus' birth and childhood, the final installment of his trilogy on the life of Jesus. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) The release of the new Steven Spielberg movie "Lincoln" has resurrected more than the physical presence of America's 16th president. It has also brought to the fore again questions about his faith. Was he a Christian? Was he an atheist? By Kimberly Winston.

(RNS) A federal judge on Monday (Nov. 19) denied a bid by churches to force city officials in Santa Monica, Calif., to reopen spaces in a city park to private displays, including life-sized Christmas Nativity scenes. By Doug Stanglin.

(RNS) Three Buddhists, a Hindu and a “none” will walk into the 113th Congress, and it’s no joke. Rather, it’s a series of “firsts” that reflect the growing religious diversity of the country. By David Gibson.

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Kenyan church leaders are lining up in opposition to proposed new marriage bills, which they say will weaken marriage by allowing cohabitating couples to register as married. By Fredrick Nzwili.

 WASHINGTON (RNS) From this election forward, candidates won't be able to win the White House by relying on the white Christian vote, according to a new report. By Lauren Markoe. 

(RNS) A First Amendment watchdog group is suing the Internal Revenue Service for not challenging the tax-exempt status of churches whose pastors engage in partisan politicking from the pulpit. By Kimberly Winston.