(RNS) At 5:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday (Dec. 12), Pope Benedict XVI reached out to the world of digital seekers — 140 characters at a time. He began with a blessing: "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart." By Cathy Lynn Grossman / USA Today.

Mainline Protestantism and Catholicism in America rise together, hold steady together, and decline together. The reasons for the decline may vary, from group to group, but few in church life have it easy today. “Decline,” it turns out, is contagious.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday promoted his personal secretary to head of the papal household, giving Monsignor Georg Gaenswein even larger influence in organizing the aging pontiff's schedule and meetings. By Alessandro Speciale.

PASADENA, Calif. (RNS) Leaders of a flagship progressive Episcopal church are defending themselves against charges of sympathy for terrorists in their decision to host the annual Muslim Public Affairs Council convention. By Megan Sweas.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) After more than seven years as pope, Benedict XVI is still known as much for the public relations nightmares that have occurred on his watch as for the battle against secularism and relativism that he wants to wage. Now the pontiff has a Twitter feed and the Vatican has a plan to overhaul its antiquated communications apparatus. By David Gibson.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI has directed bishops around the world to exercise tighter controls on Catholic charities, issuing a new set of rules that also aims to strengthen the organizations' Catholic identity. By Alessandro Speciale.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has unveiled Pope Benedict XVI's official Twitter account and announced plans to launch an official papal app for smartphones. By Alessandro Speciale

VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Vatican computer expert who was convicted of aiding and abetting the pope's former butler in the Vatileaks scandal has dropped his appeal. By Alessandro Speciale.

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) Jewish and Christian leaders are trying to revive a decade-old roundtable on Israel that's now in danger of falling apart after 15 Christian clergy asked Congress to investigate U.S. aid to Israel. By Lauren Markoe.

(RNS) Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller failed to get most of the $5 million he requested in a bankruptcy case against the Southern California megachurch he started 57 years ago. By Adelle M. Banks.

(RNS) There are more Muslims from America than any other country on this year’s “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims,” compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, a respected think tank in Jordan, including two in the top 50. By Omar Sacirbey.

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The Church of England is facing a grave constitutional crisis as a result of last week’s failure to allow women bishops. Church leaders are urging a suspension of the rules to allow a second vote, as members of Parliament say they'll move to force the church to abide by civil anti-discrimination laws. By Trevor Grundy.