Pope wades diplomatically into gay marriage debate

Pope Francis waded diplomatically into the gay marriage debate Friday, telling the Archbishop of Canterbury he wants to work together to promote family values 'based on marriage.'

Thanks, Dad, for being a wise man

I'm writing this article while sitting in my father's chair. You know the chair of which I speak. It is that ratty old recliner that occupies the living room, den, or man-cave that no guest or other family member is ever allowed access.

Southern Baptists re-elect first black president

— The Southern Baptist Convention re-elected its first black president, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr., at its annual meeting Tuesday.

Churches split on Scouts’ welcoming of gay members

In suburban Atlanta, northern Idaho and a number of other places, churches have moved swiftly to sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America in protest over the vote last month to let openly gay boys participate in Scouting.

Trust is the way to get safely home

My family and I made a trip last summer to the Midwest. We stopped for lunch in the megalopolis of Carmi, Ill., population 5,240. Most of these people must be scarecrows, because the only thing we saw there was a sandwich shop, a gas station and cornfields.

Francis gets personal: ‘I didn’t want to be pope’

Vatican City — Pope Francis has revealed that he never wanted to be pope and that he's living in the Vatican hotel for his "psychiatric" health.

New Hindu temple, cultural center in Novi set to open Sunday

Novi — Sathi Nair smiled as Sanskrit chants and the aroma of a fire pit filled the air outside the Sri Venkateswara Temple & Cultural Center on Friday evening. The longtime Novi resident was among the crowd gathering for the Navaratna Samarpanam ritual — one of many marking the temple’s inauguration this week.

Graham on mission to spread the word

He’ll be 95 in November, but Billy Graham isn’t finished preaching.

Multitasking is best left to our computers

Beware of the multitasker. He or she isn’t being honest, for anyone who claims the ability to talk on the phone, surf the Web, cook dinner, send a text message, balance the checkbook, and fly a crop duster all at the same time is terribly misguided.

Outspoken, best-selling author Rev. Greeley dies

Chicago — The Rev. Andrew Greeley, an outspoken Roman Catholic priest, best-selling author and longtime Chicago newspaper columnist who even criticized the hierarchy of his own church over the child sex abuse scandal, has died. He was 85.

Trial opens over firing of pregnant Ohio teacher

Cincinnati —A lawyer for a teacher fired after she became pregnant through artificial insemination says an Ohio Roman Catholic archdiocese and two schools violated her civil rights.

Pope urges Mafiosi to stop exploitation of others

Vatican City — Pope Francis paid tribute to a courageous priest murdered by the Sicilian Mafia as a martyr and urged mobsters on Sunday to abandon their evil ways, particularly the exploitation of people in trafficking rackets such as prostitution.

Vatican re-enters art world with Venice Biennale

Vatican CityThe Vatican is getting back into its centuries-old tradition of arts patronage with its first-ever exhibit at the Venice Biennale, commissioning a biblically inspired show about creation, destruction and renewal for one of the world's most prestigious contemporary arts festivals.

Teachers lead the way in influencing future

Curtain climbers. Yard monkeys. Cherubs. Whippersnappers. Ankle biters. I don't know what you call them, but our children have been turned loose on the world. ...

Faith calendar

Today: Special services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard flags will be displayed. Services will include the posting of the ...

Ga. parks to get atheist literature

Atlanta — A national atheist group said Monday it will donate its literature for use in cabins and lodges in Georgia’s state parks after the governor’s recent ...

Saturday memorial planned for newlywed minister

It was when Ryan Costa saw his son Jordan get married Saturday that he knew his pride and joy had matured into “his own man” ready to serve God.

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

Vatican City — Is Pope Francis an exorcist?

Supreme Court to weigh in on legislative prayers

Washington — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open ...

Pope leads pep rally at Vatican, meets with Merkel

Vatican City — Pope Francis lamented that investment losses by banks trigger more alarm in the economic crisis than the struggle of people to feed their ...

Open heart is needed to accept any, everyone

I’ve been involved in ministry for more than two decades. The church has been my life. I have loved, hated, embraced, and attacked it; been welcomed by it, and ...

St. Clair Shores nun confronting death inspires others to seize the day

Sister Carol Juhasz, 63, a pastoral associate at St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores, was stricken with breast cancer and given six months to live in March. ...

Jewish school in Oak Park trains future rabbis

Farmington Hills — On a recent Friday afternoon, Rod Brown stood amid the racks of cotton shirts and shiny shoes at his shop on Northwestern Highway, murmuring ...