Yahoo! News: Religion News

Mass. jurors weigh Obama-related church fire case (AP)
Most Catholic women use birth control banned by church (Reuters)
As John Paul beatification nears, criticism mounts (AP)
Religion news in brief (AP)
Libyan foreign minister heading to Cyprus: spokesman (Reuters)
Jewish community given back books stolen by Nazis (AP)
McDonald's pulls Philippine ad amid church anger (AFP)
Vatican embarrassed by error-filled catechism book (AP)
Kate Middleton confirmed in Church of England (AP)
Synagogue blast suspect will return to Calif. (AP)

Mass. jurors weigh Obama-related church fire case (AP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 02:59 PM PDT

AP - A federal jury on Wednesday told a judge that it was deadlocked on two of the three charges in the trial of a white man accused of burning down a predominantly black church hours after President Barack Obama's election in 2008.

Most Catholic women use birth control banned by church (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 02:54 PM PDT

Reuters - Some 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women have used contraceptive methods banned by the church, research published on Wednesday showed.

As John Paul beatification nears, criticism mounts (AP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 01:21 PM PDT

AP - Few deny that Pope John Paul II was a towering figure of the 20th century, a great pope of great consequence. His record-fast beatification, though, has prompted questions even from some supporters who suggest the Vatican should first answer lingering concerns about the flaws of his papacy.

Religion news in brief (AP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 08:00 AM PDT

AP - Chicago allows protests during religious services

Libyan foreign minister heading to Cyprus: spokesman (Reuters)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 06:48 AM PDT

Reuters - Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi is to visit Cyprus to meet Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Cypriot government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said on Wednesday.

Jewish community given back books stolen by Nazis (AP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 06:09 AM PDT

AP - Recently rediscovered books plundered by the Nazis more than six decades ago were returned to Berlin's Jewish community on Wednesday in a ceremony at the city's landmark synagogue.

McDonald's pulls Philippine ad amid church anger (AFP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 05:29 AM PDT

AFP - US fast-food chain McDonald's said Wednesday it had scrapped a television commercial in the devoutly Catholic Philippines after facing a barrage of criticism from church leaders.

Vatican embarrassed by error-filled catechism book (AP)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 10:34 AM PDT

AP - The Vatican has again been embarrassed by a botched translation of its teachings, with the launch Wednesday of an error-plagued book that implies the Holy See approves of contraception and euthanasia.