Hopeful prayers that some of the West Virginia coal miners would still be found alive turned into sorrowful prayers for their grieving families and coworkers over the weekend, at funerals and Sunday church services. A few of the stories: Some W. Va. miners’ families say goodbye; others wait (USA Today) Churchgoers honor 29 dead miners —…

Mourning for Polish President Lech Kaczynski and the dozens of other victims of Saturday’s plane crash has brought together Poland’s Catholics and Jews, groups that haven’t shared the happiest history. In fact, Jewish leaders have called Kaczynski a “friend to Israel,” and today’s March of the Living at Auschwitz, which takes place every Yom Hashoah (the…

Was it something we said? Both Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak each announced today that they are retiring. From a religion news perspective, the SCOTUS departure is important because with Stevens departing this summer, the court may no longer have any Protestants unless President Obama decides to appoint one,…

Introducing “Fun Friday,” my take on the most entertaining religion news of the past week. Hands down, as I came down off my Greek Easter food coma to a week of more clergy sex abuse news and the West Virginia coal mine disaster, what made me smile was the debut of the Rev. Barbie, an Episcopal priest. Episcopal Cafe…

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