By JENNIFER GARZA, Sacramento Bee

Mitt Romney's tax returns reveal that the Republican presidential candidate does something fewer Americans do these days: He tithes.

Rebecca Gertner believes her faith will help pay the medical bills. That's why every phone call with her health care representative ends the same.

"We pray to remember that God is in control and not to worry about the bills," Gertner said.

With his gentle nature and easy laugh, the Rev. Jovito Rata was well-liked by his parishioners at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Redding, Calif. The priest stunned churchgoers last year when he announced at Sunday Mass that he had three days to leave the country and return to the Philippines because of complications with his visa.

"God willing," he said tearfully, "I'll see you soon."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - To parishioners in her small Sacramento congregation, Elizabeth English is their Catholic priest: She presides over their Sunday Mass, leads them during Communion and baptizes their babies.

To the Roman Catholic Church, English symbolizes a topic that church leaders consider closed: the ordination of women priests.

Three American evangelical Christians have become embroiled in an international dispute over anti-gay legislation in Uganda that would, in some cases, carry a death sentence.

Two evangelists said they have been flooded with hate e-mails and are now trying to distance themselves from the legislative efforts in the African country.

Dene McGriff wants to make sense out of the last days -- the end of times. He has turned to the Bible. Others have turned to ancient calendars, prophecies and even movies.

All see the same message: The end is near.

Twenty years later Carmina Salcido still vividly remembers her 4-year-old sister Sofia trying to protect her. She remembers her father's eyes when he came for baby Teresa.

She remembers the deadly silence that followed as he walked away.

"He was in a hurry to do what he was going to do," Carmina Salcido said.

To say that the Rev. Barry Smith is always looking for new sermon ideas is an understatement.

The pastor of Impact Community Church in Elk Grove, Calif., has come up with topics for Sunday messages while on retreat, in the shower or on the treadmill.

Smith preaches 38 weeks a year and says he has original ideas for half. The other half? He finds those on the Internet.

The traditional element of prayer at the presidential inauguration can't seem to find a universal blessing this year.

For some, it was a challenge of seemingly biblical proportions.
In his sermon Sunday, the Rev. Barry Smith called on the married couples in his flock at Impact Community Church to build intimacy by having sex every day for 30 days.
"Ready to have some fun?" Smith asked at the beginning of his talk.