In Abuse Crisis, a Church Is Pitted Against Society and Itself

". . .Instead, the church is undergoing nothing less than an epochal shift: It pits those who hold fast to a more traditional idea of protecting bishops and priests above all against those who call for more openness and accountability."

Church Recruits Young Priests Via Facebook

"On Facebook, Humblot discovered a forum dedicated to people who, like him, are considering the priesthood. The page was part of a campaign, launched by the Catholic Church this month, to attract young people to the priesthood following decades of dwindling ordainments — and amid waves of sexual abuse allegations that have darkened the reputation of the Catholic priest."

The Future of Evangelicals: A Conversation with Pastor Rick Warren

"The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life invited Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., to discuss how this political association has affected the evangelical movement, what evangelicals' most important concerns are today, and how the movement is evolving."

Religious Persecution is Widespread, Report Warns

There are "many stark assessments about the level of religious persecution around the world today in a huge new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The report names more than two dozen countries as offenders. Some engage in what's classically thought of as religious persecution."

Meditation: Even A Little Helps

"But new research shows that even 20 minutes a day, four days a week, can produce an impressive increase in critical cognitive skills."

Putin: Return Religious Items to Church

"Legislation is being drafted to return icons and other religious art seized after the Russian Revolution to churches and convents."

Where Did Anne Frank Live? Take a Virtual Tour

"Now, 50 years after the opening of the Anne Frank House museum, which has more than 1 million visitors every year, the museum is launching an online virtual tour of what life was like at the back of 263 Prinsengracht in Amsterdam."