(RNS) Paul Ryan has been taking a lot of heat over the factual accuracy of claims he made in his prime time address at the Republican convention last week, but Wednesday night at the Democratic confab the GOP vice-presidential candidate – and practicing Catholic – was schooled by a popular nun on the moral shortcomings of his budget proposals.

(RNS) The GOP blasted the Democrats for initially removing references to "God" from their national party platform, and for failing to endorse Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. By Lauren Markoe.

CHARLOTTE (RNS) On the night the Democrats became the first major U.S. political party to endorse gay marriage, some convention delegates remembered how it used to be — back in high school, back in the closet, back in the days when, as one said, "you're scared because it's not OK to be who you are." By Rick Hampson.

(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) Americans are almost evenly divided in how they view Muslims, but their views are sharply split by age and political party, according to the Arab American Institute survey. By Omar Sacirbey.

WASHINGTON (RNS) A new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Service finds that Americans are generally divided about gun control, but certain religious groups are far from ambivalent. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) The Republican Jewish Coalition has launched a $6.5 million ad campaign, titled “My Buyer’s Remorse,” targeting Jewish voters in battleground states who have changed their minds about Obama. By Steve Strunsky.

(RNS) Most Americans who know that Mitt Romney is Mormon say the presumptive GOP nominee’s faith doesn’t concern them. But a new poll indicates there may be an “enthusiasm gap” for Romney among white evangelicals. By Daniel Burke.