WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are deeply divided over President Barack Obama’s new rule that religious schools and hospitals must provide insurance for free birth control to their employees amid fresh signs that the administration was scrambling for a way out. “This is not only unacceptable, it is un-American,” says Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a Catholic who faces re-election in November in a state where Wednesday nights are reserved for church services. Another Catholic senator, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, has pleaded... Read more

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia state Senate has passed legislation allowing private adoption agencies to deny placing children in homes that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality. Thursday’s 22-18 vote means the bill will likely become law: The Virginia House of Delegates has already passed an identical version and Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell says he will sign it. Virginia would become just the second state with such a law, which supporters said was modeled... Read more

JERICHO, West Bank (AP) — Located between Jerusalem and Jericho, the Judean Desert provided an inspiration to thousands of hermits who lived here in the early Middle Ages. With its breathtaking, rugged beauty, it was the perfect setting for those searching spiritual fullness in the emptiness of the desert. Today only a handful of monks live here, but the desert and its stunning monasteries continue to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. With its majestic cliffs and... Read more

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A federal judge blasted by Newt Gingrich and other conservatives for his ruling that prohibited prayer at a Texas high school graduation is firing back in accepting a settlement to the case. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery on Thursday admonished those who “demagogued this case for their own political goals.” He then added, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Biery did not mention anyone by name in his court order. Yet one target appeared to be... Read more

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS — a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others. The Corps said in a statement that using the symbol was not acceptable, but the Marines in the photograph taken in September 2010 will not be disciplined because... Read more

MONTREAL (AP) — It’s come to this for the Montreal Canadiens: The Catholic church is asking people to pray for the last-place team. The church has placed an ad in Montreal newspapers in hopes of an eighth-place finish and a spot in the playoffs. The ad shows the Eastern Conference standings with every team listed except the Canadiens. In eighth place, the final playoff spot, it simply says, “Let Us Pray.” Faced with declining church attendance, the Archdiocese of Montreal... Read more

ROME (AP) — A top Asian church official has told a Vatican-backed conference on priestly sex abuse that a culture of silence prevalent on the continent has kept many victims from coming forward, as concerns rise that Asia may be the next ground zero in the abuse scandal. The archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle, said a widespread deference to the church in places like the Philippines may also have kept a lid on reports. He said more and... Read more

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Supporters of a war memorial cross deemed unconstitutional last year by a federal court rallied at the landmark on Thursday as they prepared to ask the Supreme Court to reverse the decision, amid a growing fight nationwide over the use of religious symbols to honor fallen troops. A nonprofit legal firm, Liberty Institute in Dallas, filed a petition Thursday on behalf of the Mount Soledad Memorial Association to preserve the 43-foot monument on federal land atop... Read more

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Supporters of a war memorial cross deemed unconstitutional last year by a federal court plan to ask the Supreme Court to reverse the decision, amid a growing fight nationwide over the use of religious symbols to honor fallen troops. A nonprofit legal firm, Liberty Institute in Washington D.C., planned to file its petition Thursday to preserve the 43-foot cross on federal land atop San Diego’s Mt. Soledad — the same day the group called on combat... Read more

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities executed at least 65 people in the first 40 days of 2012 for various offenses, including 14 on a single day, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director of the New York-based advocacy group, said that Iraqi authorities appear to have given the “green light to execute at will.” The group said trials often violate international standards. Many defendants are unable to challenge the evidence against them, which may include coerced... Read more