The United Church of Christ is joining the national debate on the future of gay marriage in a novel way: The church filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, saying Amendment One violates the church's constitutional guarantee to freedom of religion.
Hundreds of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square and the streets of Rome on Sunday to witness the extraordinary sight of two popes -- one reigning and one retired -- declaring two of their predecessors as saints. The ceremony was the first time two pontiffs -- John XXIII and John Paul II -- were made saints at the same time.
Catholics have known for years that Pope John Paul II was destined for sainthood, but many aren't so familiar with John XXIII, who also will be canonized on Sunday.
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For nearly three decades in various roles throughout the archdiocese, the Rev. Kevin McDonough assured parishioners in dozens of interviews and personal conversations that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was a national leader in fighting abuse.
Nienstedt said he had followed a subordinate's advice that he keep no written notes of certain discussions, in case those notes should later become public in legal proceedings. He said that he didn't publicly disclose which priests were being monitored, and that he relied on others to keep parish trustees informed.
The four-hour deposition marked the first time Archbishop John Nienstedt has had to answer questions under oath about clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since he was appointed to its helm six years ago.
The percentage of Americans who say they used the Internet went from nearly zero in 1990 to 87 percent this year. Now, a detailed data analysis finds the two trends aren't just related, but that wider Internet use may actually be leading us to lose our religion.
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