By TERRY MATTINGLY, Scripps Howard News Service

Religion: Abortion still an issue for Catholic politicians

In the summer of 2004, the Vatican sent a letter to the United States addressing one of the hottest issues facing the church here -- whether politicians who back abortion rights should receive Holy Communion.

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Religion: End of life issues in the health care debate

The "Your Life, Your Choices" booklet didn't cause trouble at the Department of Veterans Affairs until late in President George W. Bush's second term.

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Religion: Eunice Shriver's deep religion

There is nothing particularly newsworthy about a coalition of pro-lifers releasing a public manifesto that criticizes politicos who support abortion rights.

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Religion: A Baptist minister's eye-opening sabbatical

The Rev. Gordon Atkinson had few specific goals when he started planning his 13-week sabbatical from his duties at Covenant Baptist Church near San Antonio.

"I knew that I didn't want to be in charge of anything," said Atkinson, long known as the "Real Live Preacher" to those who read his intensely personal online journal (reallivepreacher.com).

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Religion: Catholic Bishops face health care dilemmas

In Catholic debates, it always helps to be able to quote the official Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Consider, for example, this reference to health care in its chapter on the biblical instruction, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

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Religion: Why Episcopalians get so much attention

On a typical Sunday, 4,281 Episcopalians attend services in the world-famous Diocese of New Hampshire, according to official church reports.
This isn't a large number of worshippers in the pews of 47 parishes -- roughly the same number that would attend weekend Masses in two or three healthy Catholic parishes in a typical American city.

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Religion: Matters of faith and religion

Near the end of Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons," the beautiful scientist Vittoria Vetra clashes with a Vatican official who insists that the day researchers prove how God acted in creation is "the day people stop needing faith."

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Religion: Many condemn killer of abortion doc

After days of angry headlines about the murder of an abortionist, one of America's most articulate defenders of life knew it was time for candor.

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Religion: Eastern Orthodox Church in Ukraine rent by divisions

Merely saying the forest's name -- Bykivnya -- can cause strong emotions for millions of Ukrainians.

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Religion: Clash continues over Catholics and abortion

It was hard to ignore the papal bull condemning the slave trade, which was read to American Catholic leaders gathered in Baltimore in 1839.

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