Faith Wire
Supreme Court refuses to halt morning-after pill rule
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has denied a request to block part of the federal health care law that requires employers to provide employee insurance coverage that includes emergency... Read more »
Iraq: New protests break out in Sunni stronghold
Large, noisy demonstrations against Iraq's government flared for the third time in less than a week Wednesday in Iraq's western Anbar province, raising the prospect of a fresh bout of unrest in a... Read more »
Egypt constitution passes, economic crunch looms
The official approval of Egypt's disputed, Islamist-backed constitution Tuesday held out little hope of stabilizing the country after two years of turmoil and Islamist President Mohammed Morsi may... Read more »
Pope's Christmas message focuses on Mideast, China
In his Christmas message to the world Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the slaughter in Syria and for more meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, while... Read more »
Thousands enjoy merry Christmas in Bethlehem
Christians from the world over packed Manger Square in Bethlehem Monday to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the ancient West Bank town where he was born. Read more »
New female mayor gears Bethlehem up for Christmas
Bethlehem's first female mayor, Vera Baboun, can't walk through the main square of the biblical town without being stopped by admirers. Read more »
Pope stresses family values, emphasizes opposition to gay marriage
The pope pressed his opposition to gay marriage Friday, denouncing what he described as people manipulating their God-given identities to suit their sexual choices — and destroying the very... Read more »
Christmas comes to Vatican with tree lighting
The Christmas season kicked off Friday at the Vatican with the traditional lighting of the tree in St. Peter's Square — and a reminder from the pope about what happened when the "lights" of... Read more »
Hundreds pack Conn. church for vigil after rampage
Hundreds of people are packing a church and spilling outside in Connecticut to remember the victims of a shooting that killed 26 people at an elementary school. Read more »
Cadet quits, cites overt religion at West Point
A cadet quitting West Point less than six months before graduation says he could no longer be part of a culture that promotes prayers and religious activities and disrespects nonreligious cadets. Read more »
Pakistani Hindus protest destruction of temple
Pakistani Hindus Sunday protested the destruction of a Hindu temple in the southern port city of Karachi. The temple was razed, along with some nearby homes, by a builder. Read more »
Christian actor of CBS comedy 'Two and a Half Men' calls the show 'filth'
The teenage actor who plays the half in the hit CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men" says it's "filth" and through a video posted by a Christian church has urged viewers not to watch it. Read more »
Egypt's political foes dig in their heels
Supporters and opponents of Egypt's president on Sunday grew more entrenched in their potentially destabilizing battle over the Islamist leader's move to assume near absolute powers, with neither... Read more »
At renovated Iraq shrine, Shiites mark a holy day
It is the most impassioned day of the year for Shiite Muslims — Ashoura, when one of the faith's most revered figures, Imam Hussein, was martyred in battle. Hundreds of thousands of Shiites... Read more »
Cease-fire begins between Israel and Hamas
A cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers took effect Wednesday night, bringing an end to eight days of the fiercest fighting in years and possibly signaling a new era... Read more »
At public meetings, fights over prayer drag on
It happens every week at meetings in towns, counties and cities nationwide. A lawmaker or religious leader leads a prayer before officials begin the business of zoning changes, contract approvals... Read more »
Church of England says no to female bishops
The Church of England's governing body blocked a move Tuesday to permit women to serve as bishops in a vote so close it failed to settle the question of female leadership and likely condemned the... Read more »
Israel strike kills 11 in Gaza, including children
An Israeli missile ripped through a two-story home in a residential area of Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least 11 civilians, including four young children and an 81-year-old woman, in the single... Read more »
Gazans watch with pride as Hamas strikes Israel
Israel's new offensive against the Gaza Strip has turned into a political bonanza for the territory's Hamas rulers, while sidelining Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, their Western-backed rival... Read more »
And the winner in the 2012 presidential election is ... the Mormon church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has entered a new era after Romney's run for president. His candidacy illuminated a changing landscape for the religion, where Americans are growing... Read more »
Ex-oilman Welby named archbishop of Canterbury
How will Justin Welby lead the world's Anglicans and heal their deep divisions? Even he is not sure yet. Read more »
Federal court upholds sale of FLDS assets
A federal appeals court has ruled that a polygamist sect on the Utah/Arizona border waited too long to challenge a court-ordered takeover of its community finances. Read more »
Iraqi Shiites brace for violence amid Syria fears
Iraqi Shiites increasingly fear the Muslim sect and its holy sites could be targeted in neighboring Syria as the civil war there takes on increasingly sectarian overtones, and Iranian-backed... Read more »
Muslims begin hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
Hours before sunrise Thursday, thousands of Muslims from around the world stood in the dark on a rocky desert hill, preparing for prayers on the first day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a central... Read more »
Qatar's emir to head to Hamas-ruled Gaza
The ruler of Qatar is expected in the Gaza Strip this week, in what would be a major stamp of legitimacy for the territory's Islamic militant Hamas rulers. Read more »
- Dick Harmon: Van Noy comfortable with choice...
- MWC source says conference wants BYU back...
- Why did most of Utah delegation vote no on...
- Utah State football: Former BYU walk-on QB...
- Ex-bishop of Mormon singles ward charged with...
- Why 2012 was 'more than a Mormon moment'
- Show will go on after Herriman High receives...
- 'Joseph Smith's First Vision' thoughtfully...
- Hobby Lobby to defy Obamacare... 57
- Defending the Faith: Secularism offers... 20
- 'Joseph Smith's First Vision'... 17
- Why 2012 was 'more than a Mormon moment' 15
- New York Times: Following Newtown... 12
- 'Exploring the First Vision' contains... 5
- Judge halts contraceptive mandate for... 1
- Writer shares little-known stories... 1