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All rights reservedTue, 16 Jul 2013 14:30:01 -04005http://news.yahoo.com/religion/ http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gif<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nsa-faces-threat-religious-gun-pot-groups-183001198.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Kh8KPdBKxURv4ULMryfF3g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/theatlanticwire/The_NSA_Faces_a_New-d9cd17ecb07263371926ab08366b9744" width="130" height="86" alt="The NSA Faces a New Threat: Religious, Gun, and Pot Groups" align="left" title="The NSA Faces a New Threat: Religious, Gun, and Pot Groups" border="0" /></a>A coalition of activist and advocacy groups have joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation in a lawsuit against the National Security Agency and FBI, alleging that the government&#039;s collection of phone metadata is a violation of their First Amendment rights. The most pervasive, technologically advanced surveillance system in the world could end up hobbled by a Los Angeles church, some gunsellers, and a few marijuana advocates. As was prophesied.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/nsa-faces-threat-religious-gun-pot-groups-183001198.htmlTue, 16 Jul 2013 14:30:01 -0400The Atlantic Wirensa-faces-threat-religious-gun-pot-groups-183001198<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nsa-faces-threat-religious-gun-pot-groups-183001198.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Kh8KPdBKxURv4ULMryfF3g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/theatlanticwire/The_NSA_Faces_a_New-d9cd17ecb07263371926ab08366b9744" width="130" height="86" alt="The NSA Faces a New Threat: Religious, Gun, and Pot Groups" align="left" title="The NSA Faces a New Threat: Religious, Gun, and Pot Groups" border="0" /></a>A coalition of activist and advocacy groups have joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation in a lawsuit against the National Security Agency and FBI, alleging that the government&#039;s collection of phone metadata is a violation of their First Amendment rights. The most pervasive, technologically advanced surveillance system in the world could end up hobbled by a Los Angeles church, some gunsellers, and a few marijuana advocates. As was prophesied.</p><br clear="all"/>PARIS - American actress Halle Berry has married her fianc?, French actor Olivier Martinez, at a weekend ceremony in a church near a chateau in France's Burgundy region.http://news.yahoo.com/halle-berry-marries-french-fianc-weekend-ceremony-village-164311965.htmlSun, 14 Jul 2013 12:43:11 -0400Associated Presshalle-berry-marries-french-fianc-weekend-ceremony-village-164311965<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-spends-day-hill-town-jokes-residents-105525102.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/DuoKqUNz4vVnd9fx2N30cg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/c79509088bd38b17370f6a7067006e4f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Pope Francis blesses a faithful after he delivered the Angelus prayer at the Pontiff&#039;s residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Sunday July 14, 2013. For a day, Pope Francis has abandoned his traditional Sunday greeting at the Vatican, opting for an informal front-door encounter in a hill town outside Rome which hosts the papal summer residence. Unlike his predecessors, Francis isn&#039;t staying in Castel Gandolfo for the summer, but came for the day. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" align="left" title="Pope Francis blesses a faithful after he delivered the Angelus prayer at the Pontiff&#039;s residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Sunday July 14, 2013. For a day, Pope Francis has abandoned his traditional Sunday greeting at the Vatican, opting for an informal front-door encounter in a hill town outside Rome which hosts the papal summer residence. Unlike his predecessors, Francis isn&#039;t staying in Castel Gandolfo for the summer, but came for the day. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" border="0" /></a>CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) ? Abandoning the traditional Sunday greeting to crowds in St. Peter&#039;s Square for a day, Pope Francis opted for an informal front-door encounter with residents in a hill town outside Rome that hosts the papal summer palace.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pope-spends-day-hill-town-jokes-residents-105525102.htmlSun, 14 Jul 2013 09:29:27 -0400Associated Presspope-spends-day-hill-town-jokes-residents-105525102<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-spends-day-hill-town-jokes-residents-105525102.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/DuoKqUNz4vVnd9fx2N30cg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/c79509088bd38b17370f6a7067006e4f.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Pope Francis blesses a faithful after he delivered the Angelus prayer at the Pontiff&#039;s residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Sunday July 14, 2013. For a day, Pope Francis has abandoned his traditional Sunday greeting at the Vatican, opting for an informal front-door encounter in a hill town outside Rome which hosts the papal summer residence. Unlike his predecessors, Francis isn&#039;t staying in Castel Gandolfo for the summer, but came for the day. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" align="left" title="Pope Francis blesses a faithful after he delivered the Angelus prayer at the Pontiff&#039;s residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Sunday July 14, 2013. For a day, Pope Francis has abandoned his traditional Sunday greeting at the Vatican, opting for an informal front-door encounter in a hill town outside Rome which hosts the papal summer residence. Unlike his predecessors, Francis isn&#039;t staying in Castel Gandolfo for the summer, but came for the day. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" border="0" /></a>CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) ? Abandoning the traditional Sunday greeting to crowds in St. Peter&#039;s Square for a day, Pope Francis opted for an informal front-door encounter with residents in a hill town outside Rome that hosts the papal summer palace.</p><br clear="all"/>LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. - A week ago, the pealing of church bells in Lac-Megantic meant a call to worship. Today, it will be to honour the dead and missing in one of Canada's most horrific train derailments.http://news.yahoo.com/church-bells-ring-honour-lac-megantic-dead-one-082801227.htmlSat, 13 Jul 2013 04:28:01 -0400Associated Presschurch-bells-ring-honour-lac-megantic-dead-one-082801227By Harriet McLeod CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - A South Carolina man said he was "mad at God" when he took out his frustration on 17 churches in dozens of acts of vandalism over the past five years, according to a local newspaper. Blake Hiscox, 56, was released from jail on Friday on a$20,000 bond. He faces 43 charges of malicious injury on a place of worship, charges that carry a sentence of six months to 10 years in prison for each offense, as well as possible fines. ...http://news.yahoo.com/accused-south-carolina-church-vandal-says-mad-god-221045178.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 18:10:45 -0400Reutersaccused-south-carolina-church-vandal-says-mad-god-221045178LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. - A Quebec town mourning dozens of deaths has begun its formal grieving process, as the Lac-Megantic church opened its doors Friday for anyone wanting to pray, lay flowers or reflect on the tragedy.http://news.yahoo.com/lac-megantic-church-opens-mourners-213717221.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 17:37:17 -0400Associated Presslac-megantic-church-opens-mourners-213717221<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-freezes-funds-cleric-accused-over-cash-transfers-110547929.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/fmrzp9ZJ3oV_3GIuR35yXw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-12T124246Z_2_CBRE96B0UTS00_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A man sheltering under an umbrella is reflected in a puddle at Saint Peter&#039;s Square as the conclave begins in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict" align="left" title="A man sheltering under an umbrella is reflected in a puddle at Saint Peter&#039;s Square as the conclave begins in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict" border="0" /></a>By James Mackenzie ROME (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Friday it had frozen funds belonging to a senior cleric at the center of a suspected money smuggling operation, and could open investigations into other individuals. Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, who has close links to the Vatican bank, was arrested last month, accused of plotting to bring millions of euros in cash into Italy from Switzerland for rich friends. Scarano&#039;s lawyer said his client, who is currently being held in Rome&#039;s Queen of Heaven jail, was prepared to cooperate fully with investigators. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-freezes-funds-cleric-accused-over-cash-transfers-110547929.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 11:48:41 -0400Reutersvatican-freezes-funds-cleric-accused-over-cash-transfers-110547929<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-freezes-funds-cleric-accused-over-cash-transfers-110547929.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/fmrzp9ZJ3oV_3GIuR35yXw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-12T124246Z_2_CBRE96B0UTS00_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A man sheltering under an umbrella is reflected in a puddle at Saint Peter&#039;s Square as the conclave begins in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict" align="left" title="A man sheltering under an umbrella is reflected in a puddle at Saint Peter&#039;s Square as the conclave begins in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict" border="0" /></a>By James Mackenzie ROME (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Friday it had frozen funds belonging to a senior cleric at the center of a suspected money smuggling operation, and could open investigations into other individuals. Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, who has close links to the Vatican bank, was arrested last month, accused of plotting to bring millions of euros in cash into Italy from Switzerland for rich friends. Scarano&#039;s lawyer said his client, who is currently being held in Rome&#039;s Queen of Heaven jail, was prepared to cooperate fully with investigators. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/polish-parliament-shuns-religious-animal-125338721.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/WIYwnNiGy2EtPrsy3sQUTQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://globalfinance.zenfs.com/images/US_AHTTP_AP_FINANCIALTIMES/2f6939db2fd34617370f6a706700a53d_original.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Polish parliament shuns religious animal slaughter" align="left" title="Polish parliament shuns religious animal slaughter" border="0" /></a>Polish parliament&#039;s lower house has voted to reject a government plan to reinstate the religious slaughter of animals. Lawmakers rejected the divisive issue in a 222-178 vote Friday as 38 members of the ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/polish-parliament-shuns-religious-animal-125338721.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 08:53:38 -0400Associated Presspolish-parliament-shuns-religious-animal-125338721<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/polish-parliament-shuns-religious-animal-125338721.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/WIYwnNiGy2EtPrsy3sQUTQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://globalfinance.zenfs.com/images/US_AHTTP_AP_FINANCIALTIMES/2f6939db2fd34617370f6a706700a53d_original.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Polish parliament shuns religious animal slaughter" align="left" title="Polish parliament shuns religious animal slaughter" border="0" /></a>Polish parliament&#039;s lower house has voted to reject a government plan to reinstate the religious slaughter of animals. Lawmakers rejected the divisive issue in a 222-178 vote Friday as 38 members of the ...</p><br clear="all"/>The Vatican has frozen the assets of a monsignor who was arrested in a plot to smuggle 20 million euro ($26 million) into Italy and warned Friday that other people may be caught up in the investigation. ...http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-freezes-assets-arrested-monsignor-110230695.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 08:48:08 -0400Associated Pressvatican-freezes-assets-arrested-monsignor-110230695Vatican freezes assets of arrested monsignor, warns others may be involved in case.http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-freezes-assets-arrested-monsignor-warns-others-may-110329541.htmlFri, 12 Jul 2013 07:03:29 -0400Associated Pressvatican-freezes-assets-arrested-monsignor-warns-others-may-110329541<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/actress-leah-remini-leaves-church-scientology-022516266.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/VqLVSLQV8BkHSCuStgrlTw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-12T022516Z_1_CBRE96B06QH00_RTROPTP_2_CENTERTAINMENT-US-LEAHREMINI-SCIENTOLOGY.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A man walks past the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles building in Los Angeles" align="left" title="A man walks past the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles building in Los Angeles" border="0" /></a>By Piya Sinha-Roy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Leah Remini has severed ties with the Church of Scientology, a source with knowledge of her decision said on Thursday, making her one of the most high-profile members to quit. Remini, best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan in the CBS sitcom &quot;King of Queens,&quot; issued a statement following press reports that she had decided to leave the church. &quot;I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/actress-leah-remini-leaves-church-scientology-022516266.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 22:57:58 -0400Reutersactress-leah-remini-leaves-church-scientology-022516266<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/actress-leah-remini-leaves-church-scientology-022516266.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/VqLVSLQV8BkHSCuStgrlTw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-12T022516Z_1_CBRE96B06QH00_RTROPTP_2_CENTERTAINMENT-US-LEAHREMINI-SCIENTOLOGY.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A man walks past the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles building in Los Angeles" align="left" title="A man walks past the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles building in Los Angeles" border="0" /></a>By Piya Sinha-Roy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Leah Remini has severed ties with the Church of Scientology, a source with knowledge of her decision said on Thursday, making her one of the most high-profile members to quit. Remini, best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan in the CBS sitcom &quot;King of Queens,&quot; issued a statement following press reports that she had decided to leave the church. &quot;I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/court-rejects-religion-based-challenge-obamacare-171807516.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/e1Rcla_4elN38bUYiWOD0Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T203532Z_2_CBRE96A1G7R00_RTROPTP_2_USA-HEALTHCARE-EMPLOYERS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="File photo of an Obamacare pamphlet at a Tea Party rally in Littleton" align="left" title="File photo of an Obamacare pamphlet at a Tea Party rally in Littleton" border="0" /></a>By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday rejected a Christian university&#039;s challenge to President Barack Obama&#039;s 2010 healthcare overhaul, which the school said unconstitutionally imposes costly burdens on large employers and infringes religious liberty. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, rejected Liberty University&#039;s argument that the law violated the constitution&#039;s Commerce Clause by forcing large employers to provide health insurance to full-time workers and violated First Amendment religious protections by subsidizing abortions. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/court-rejects-religion-based-challenge-obamacare-171807516.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 16:35:32 -0400Reuterscourt-rejects-religion-based-challenge-obamacare-171807516<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/court-rejects-religion-based-challenge-obamacare-171807516.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/e1Rcla_4elN38bUYiWOD0Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T203532Z_2_CBRE96A1G7R00_RTROPTP_2_USA-HEALTHCARE-EMPLOYERS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="File photo of an Obamacare pamphlet at a Tea Party rally in Littleton" align="left" title="File photo of an Obamacare pamphlet at a Tea Party rally in Littleton" border="0" /></a>By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday rejected a Christian university&#039;s challenge to President Barack Obama&#039;s 2010 healthcare overhaul, which the school said unconstitutionally imposes costly burdens on large employers and infringes religious liberty. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, rejected Liberty University&#039;s argument that the law violated the constitution&#039;s Commerce Clause by forcing large employers to provide health insurance to full-time workers and violated First Amendment religious protections by subsidizing abortions. ...</p><br clear="all"/>VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis is letting baptized Catholics join the new church structure created to receive Anglican converts.http://news.yahoo.com/pope-lets-catholics-join-anglican-converts-201858926.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 16:18:58 -0400Associated Presspope-lets-catholics-join-anglican-converts-201858926<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/northern-ireland-braces-protestant-marches-175110100.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/YPWCt8N1vvYBurgwr6PxRA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/4c857f3a11062f17370f6a7067005a67.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A man adds the finishing touch to a huge bonfire in the New Mossley area on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Hundreds of fires will be set alight at midnight, on July 11, as Protestant loyalist&#039;s celebrate July 12, to mark the defeat of the Catholic King James, by the Protestant William of Orange in 1690. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)" align="left" title="A man adds the finishing touch to a huge bonfire in the New Mossley area on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Hundreds of fires will be set alight at midnight, on July 11, as Protestant loyalist&#039;s celebrate July 12, to mark the defeat of the Catholic King James, by the Protestant William of Orange in 1690. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)" border="0" /></a>BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) ? Northern Ireland leaders appealed for calm and police braced for trouble in advance of Friday&#039;s Protestant parades and bonfires on &quot;the Twelfth,&quot; an annual sectarian holiday that always inflames tensions with the Catholic minority.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/northern-ireland-braces-protestant-marches-175110100.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 13:51:10 -0400Associated Pressnorthern-ireland-braces-protestant-marches-175110100<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/northern-ireland-braces-protestant-marches-175110100.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/YPWCt8N1vvYBurgwr6PxRA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/4c857f3a11062f17370f6a7067005a67.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A man adds the finishing touch to a huge bonfire in the New Mossley area on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Hundreds of fires will be set alight at midnight, on July 11, as Protestant loyalist&#039;s celebrate July 12, to mark the defeat of the Catholic King James, by the Protestant William of Orange in 1690. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)" align="left" title="A man adds the finishing touch to a huge bonfire in the New Mossley area on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Hundreds of fires will be set alight at midnight, on July 11, as Protestant loyalist&#039;s celebrate July 12, to mark the defeat of the Catholic King James, by the Protestant William of Orange in 1690. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)" border="0" /></a>BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) ? Northern Ireland leaders appealed for calm and police braced for trouble in advance of Friday&#039;s Protestant parades and bonfires on &quot;the Twelfth,&quot; an annual sectarian holiday that always inflames tensions with the Catholic minority.</p><br clear="all"/>COUDERSPORT, Pa. (AP) ? A former elementary school music teacher will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting his ex-wife ? also a music teacher ? while she played the organ during a church service in northern Pennsylvania last year.http://news.yahoo.com/pa-man-guilty-killing-organist-ex-church-133129980.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 13:49:19 -0400Associated Presspa-man-guilty-killing-organist-ex-church-133129980<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-criminalizes-leaks-sex-abuse-first-laws-122255811.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dvaw_N8IRDrCngZpiDCAiQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT04NTt3PTEzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/33a09a30d259fb16360f6a70670073b4.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="ADDS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALICE. Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with a chalice made from recycled wood from broken migrant boats, during his visit to the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, Monday July 8, 2013. Pope Francis traveled Monday to the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa to pray for migrants lost at sea, going to the farthest reaches of Italy to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea and celebrate Mass as yet another boatload of Eritrean migrants came ashore. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" align="left" title="ADDS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALICE. Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with a chalice made from recycled wood from broken migrant boats, during his visit to the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, Monday July 8, 2013. Pope Francis traveled Monday to the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa to pray for migrants lost at sea, going to the farthest reaches of Italy to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea and celebrate Mass as yet another boatload of Eritrean migrants came ashore. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" border="0" /></a>VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis overhauled the laws that govern the Vatican City State on Thursday, criminalizing leaks of Vatican information and specifically listing sexual violence, prostitution and possession of child pornography as crimes against children that can be punished by up to 12 years in prison.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pope-criminalizes-leaks-sex-abuse-first-laws-122255811.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 13:33:54 -0400Associated Presspope-criminalizes-leaks-sex-abuse-first-laws-122255811<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-criminalizes-leaks-sex-abuse-first-laws-122255811.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dvaw_N8IRDrCngZpiDCAiQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT04NTt3PTEzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/33a09a30d259fb16360f6a70670073b4.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="ADDS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALICE. Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with a chalice made from recycled wood from broken migrant boats, during his visit to the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, Monday July 8, 2013. Pope Francis traveled Monday to the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa to pray for migrants lost at sea, going to the farthest reaches of Italy to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea and celebrate Mass as yet another boatload of Eritrean migrants came ashore. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" align="left" title="ADDS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALICE. Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with a chalice made from recycled wood from broken migrant boats, during his visit to the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, Monday July 8, 2013. Pope Francis traveled Monday to the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa to pray for migrants lost at sea, going to the farthest reaches of Italy to throw a wreath of flowers into the sea and celebrate Mass as yet another boatload of Eritrean migrants came ashore. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)" border="0" /></a>VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis overhauled the laws that govern the Vatican City State on Thursday, criminalizing leaks of Vatican information and specifically listing sexual violence, prostitution and possession of child pornography as crimes against children that can be punished by up to 12 years in prison.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-signals-concern-oversees-bank-reform-meeting-163741823.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/VGNkvsyiMzWl0ZO2DyBA.A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T163741Z_1_CBRE96A1A6X00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-POPE-IOR.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Pope Francis celebrates a mass during his visit at Lampedusa Island" align="left" title="Pope Francis celebrates a mass during his visit at Lampedusa Island" border="0" /></a>By Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis made it clear on Thursday that he would personally oversee reform of the troubled Vatican bank by attending the first meeting of an investigative commission he set up last month to shed light on its murky financial dealings. &quot;Francis wanted to be present to encourage the work of the commission,&quot; the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano said, adding that the meeting had taken place a day earlier. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pope-signals-concern-oversees-bank-reform-meeting-163741823.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 12:37:41 -0400Reuterspope-signals-concern-oversees-bank-reform-meeting-163741823<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-signals-concern-oversees-bank-reform-meeting-163741823.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/VGNkvsyiMzWl0ZO2DyBA.A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T163741Z_1_CBRE96A1A6X00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-POPE-IOR.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Pope Francis celebrates a mass during his visit at Lampedusa Island" align="left" title="Pope Francis celebrates a mass during his visit at Lampedusa Island" border="0" /></a>By Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis made it clear on Thursday that he would personally oversee reform of the troubled Vatican bank by attending the first meeting of an investigative commission he set up last month to shed light on its murky financial dealings. &quot;Francis wanted to be present to encourage the work of the commission,&quot; the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano said, adding that the meeting had taken place a day earlier. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-targets-child-abuse-leaks-vatican-legal-155530516.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/M_Wvka_hx..CdBoHAqbmbA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T155530Z_1_CBRE96A188P00_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION-START.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican is silhouetted during sunset in Rome" align="left" title="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican is silhouetted during sunset in Rome" border="0" /></a>By Catherine Hornby VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, acting to end years of scandals damaging the Catholic Church, overhauled Vatican law on Thursday to specify sexual violence against children as a crime and impose tough penalties for staff who leak confidential Vatican information. Issuing a &quot;Motu Proprio&quot;, a decree of his own initiative, Francis also said he would renew the Holy See&#039;s commitment to international conventions against organized crime and terrorism. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-targets-child-abuse-leaks-vatican-legal-155530516.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 11:55:30 -0400Reuterspope-francis-targets-child-abuse-leaks-vatican-legal-155530516<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-targets-child-abuse-leaks-vatican-legal-155530516.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/M_Wvka_hx..CdBoHAqbmbA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T155530Z_1_CBRE96A188P00_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION-START.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican is silhouetted during sunset in Rome" align="left" title="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican is silhouetted during sunset in Rome" border="0" /></a>By Catherine Hornby VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, acting to end years of scandals damaging the Catholic Church, overhauled Vatican law on Thursday to specify sexual violence against children as a crime and impose tough penalties for staff who leak confidential Vatican information. Issuing a &quot;Motu Proprio&quot;, a decree of his own initiative, Francis also said he would renew the Holy See&#039;s commitment to international conventions against organized crime and terrorism. ...</p><br clear="all"/>Vatican officials announced Thursday that Pope Francis has bolstered legislation against child abuse within the grounds of the small city-state. At the same time, a United Nations committee has demanded that the church reveal its procedures for dealing with child abuse allegations.RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about the Catholic Church? Take our quiz!http://news.yahoo.com/pope-un-crack-down-church-child-abuse-142247697.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 10:22:47 -0400Christian Science Monitorpope-un-crack-down-church-child-abuse-142247697<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-broadens-child-abuse-crimes-legal-reform-122021014.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ApjkxkSz54sYVjGxuiVs_A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T122021Z_1_CBRE96A0YA400_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica is seen reflected during the conclave at the Vatican" align="left" title="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica is seen reflected during the conclave at the Vatican" border="0" /></a>VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican unveiled changes to its law on Thursday that name the sexual abuse of children as a specific crime and aim to implement international anti-money laundering norms as the city state seeks to end years of scandal. Under the changes, child prostitution, sexual violence and sexual acts with children and child pornography will be included in a broader definition of the category of crimes against minors, the Vatican said in a statement. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-broadens-child-abuse-crimes-legal-reform-122021014.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 08:20:21 -0400Reutersvatican-broadens-child-abuse-crimes-legal-reform-122021014<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-broadens-child-abuse-crimes-legal-reform-122021014.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ApjkxkSz54sYVjGxuiVs_A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-11T122021Z_1_CBRE96A0YA400_RTROPTP_2_POPE-SUCCESSION.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica is seen reflected during the conclave at the Vatican" align="left" title="Saint Peter&#039;s Basilica is seen reflected during the conclave at the Vatican" border="0" /></a>VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican unveiled changes to its law on Thursday that name the sexual abuse of children as a specific crime and aim to implement international anti-money laundering norms as the city state seeks to end years of scandal. Under the changes, child prostitution, sexual violence and sexual acts with children and child pornography will be included in a broader definition of the category of crimes against minors, the Vatican said in a statement. ...</p><br clear="all"/>EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) ? Security officials say suspected militants have killed a Christian merchant in the northern Sinai Peninsula.http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-suspected-militants-kill-christian-092419404.htmlThu, 11 Jul 2013 05:24:19 -0400Associated Pressegypt-suspected-militants-kill-christian-092419404<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/poles-divided-over-religious-slaughter-161650332.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/AP1U2It0RJs1T5LGGO94dw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://globalfinance.zenfs.com/images/US_AHTTP_AP_FINANCIALTIMES/8e55877c10812c17370f6a7067006105_original.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Poles divided over religious slaughter of animals" align="left" title="Poles divided over religious slaughter of animals" border="0" /></a>Polish farmers marched through Warsaw&#039;s streets Wednesday to back government plans to repeal a ban on the religious slaughter of animals. Lawmakers will vote Friday on a government draft law that would ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/poles-divided-over-religious-slaughter-161650332.htmlWed, 10 Jul 2013 12:16:50 -0400Associated Presspoles-divided-over-religious-slaughter-161650332<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/poles-divided-over-religious-slaughter-161650332.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/AP1U2It0RJs1T5LGGO94dw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://globalfinance.zenfs.com/images/US_AHTTP_AP_FINANCIALTIMES/8e55877c10812c17370f6a7067006105_original.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Poles divided over religious slaughter of animals" align="left" title="Poles divided over religious slaughter of animals" border="0" /></a>Polish farmers marched through Warsaw&#039;s streets Wednesday to back government plans to repeal a ban on the religious slaughter of animals. Lawmakers will vote Friday on a government draft law that would ...</p><br clear="all"/>By Robert Evans GENEVA (Reuters) - A United Nations human rights panel has posed a list of tough questions to the Vatican about child abuse by Catholic priests, a potential embarrassment for Pope Francis a few months into his papacy. The U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) asked for "detailed information on all cases of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, brothers or nuns" since the Holy See last reported to it some 15 years ago, and set November 1 as a deadline for a reply. ...http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-rights-body-poses-tough-questions-vatican-151639085.htmlWed, 10 Jul 2013 11:16:39 -0400Reutersu-n-rights-body-poses-tough-questions-vatican-151639085LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) ? A newspaper column lampooning Southern Baptists, calling the group "the crazy old paranoid uncle of evangelical Christians," is causing quite a stir in a Kentucky city and put a pastor's job in jeopardy.http://news.yahoo.com/ky-church-wants-pastor-gone-wifes-column-083204548.htmlWed, 10 Jul 2013 04:38:35 -0400Associated Pressky-church-wants-pastor-gone-wifes-column-083204548In a split with U.S. bishops, a trade group for Catholic hospitals said Tuesday it can accept the Obama's administration latest compromise on birth control coverage by religious employers. "We are ...http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-hospitals-accept-birth-control-175949552.htmlTue, 09 Jul 2013 13:59:49 -0400Associated Presscatholic-hospitals-accept-birth-control-175949552OTTAWA - Pope Francis is expressing his sympathy and sending a special blessing to the people of Lac Megantic, Que., after the devastating train derailment in the community on the weekend.http://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-offers-prayers-sends-blessing-people-lac-152818125.htmlTue, 09 Jul 2013 11:28:18 -0400Associated Presspope-francis-offers-prayers-sends-blessing-people-lac-152818125SOFIA (Reuters) - Bishop Cyril of Varna, a prominent Bulgarian Orthodox cleric who was ousted last year as a secret police collaborator under Communist rule, was found dead on a Black Sea beach on Tuesday, regional police said. The body of Cyril, 59, who headed one of Bulgaria's biggest Christian Orthodox eparchies and also served as an interim patriarch, was discovered near his coastal residence. An autopsy showed he had drowned and there were no signs of violence. ...http://news.yahoo.com/bulgarian-christian-orthodox-bishop-cyril-found-dead-beach-151947503.htmlTue, 09 Jul 2013 11:19:47 -0400Reutersbulgarian-christian-orthodox-bishop-cyril-found-dead-beach-151947503WASHINGTON (AP) ? A trade group for Catholic hospitals says it can accept the Obama administration's compromise on birth control coverage.http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-hospitals-accept-birth-control-rule-151105644.htmlTue, 09 Jul 2013 11:11:05 -0400Associated Presscatholic-hospitals-accept-birth-control-rule-151105644<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/divided-church-england-renews-pledge-ordain-women-bishops-171750478.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/1.iB5EHltKac6a9gzoPrWQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-08T171750Z_1_CBRE9671C1W00_RTROPTP_2_BRITAIN-RELIGION-ANGLICANS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby, attends his enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral at Canterbury, southern England" align="left" title="The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby, attends his enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral at Canterbury, southern England" border="0" /></a>By Adam Jourdan LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England&#039;s law-making body voted on Monday in favor of ordaining women bishops, but it will be at least two years before the measure, opposed by a minority of traditionalists, can be passed. The vote was a boost for Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who became head of the 80 million-member Anglican church in January, a few weeks after a blocking minority defeated the last attempt to allow women bishops in the English church, after 10 years of divisive debate. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/divided-church-england-renews-pledge-ordain-women-bishops-171750478.htmlMon, 08 Jul 2013 13:17:50 -0400Reutersdivided-church-england-renews-pledge-ordain-women-bishops-171750478<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/divided-church-england-renews-pledge-ordain-women-bishops-171750478.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/1.iB5EHltKac6a9gzoPrWQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-07-08T171750Z_1_CBRE9671C1W00_RTROPTP_2_BRITAIN-RELIGION-ANGLICANS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby, attends his enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral at Canterbury, southern England" align="left" title="The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby, attends his enthronement ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral at Canterbury, southern England" border="0" /></a>By Adam Jourdan LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England&#039;s law-making body voted on Monday in favor of ordaining women bishops, but it will be at least two years before the measure, opposed by a minority of traditionalists, can be passed. The vote was a boost for Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who became head of the 80 million-member Anglican church in January, a few weeks after a blocking minority defeated the last attempt to allow women bishops in the English church, after 10 years of divisive debate. ...</p><br clear="all"/>LONDON (AP) ? The Church of England's governing body has voted to restart the process of allowing women bishops following a widespread backlash over the failure of such legislation last year.http://news.yahoo.com/church-england-backs-push-women-bishops-163533510.htmlMon, 08 Jul 2013 12:35:33 -0400Associated Presschurch-england-backs-push-women-bishops-163533510

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