VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A Vatican court Oct. 6 sentenced Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler to 18 months in jail for stealing the pontiff’s private papers and leaking them to the press. The butler, Paolo Gabriele, stood motionless as the tribunal’s…

Although the first Sunday in October — Oct. 7 this year — is the traditional day to celebrate “Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Sunday,” congregations may mark the special observance on any Sunday. “LWML Sunday” sample packets were mailed to all LCMS…

Online registration opens Nov. 1 at www.fromabove2013.org for three 2013 Higher Things conferences for Lutheran youth that will offer nearly identical programs in different locations and over separate dates. They are set for June 25-28 at the University of Scranton in…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Most Americans do not believe Scientology is a real religion, according to a recent poll by “60 Minutes” and Vanity Fair. The survey, conducted by CBS News, found that 70 percent of Americans say that Scientology is not…

(RNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has reportedly told the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) that they must accept the Second Vatican Council, a move that might seal the fate of years of negotiations to bring the group fully…

(RNS/ENInews) — Ecumenical News International (ENI) announced Oct. 1 that its ENInews service is suspending operations, effective immediately, as it seeks emergency funding in order to operate for the remainder of 2012. “We regret taking this step, but despite a…