The Christian Century

Mass protests against planned mosques in New York City and Ten­nessee. An Oklahoma referendum to ban Islamic law. A media circus around a Florida pastor's threat to burn Qur'ans. An upsurge in homegrown Islamic terrorists. Two U.S.-led wars in predominantly Muslim countries.

An umbrella group of Catholic hospitals is backing a Phoenix hospital that was stripped of its church affiliation, thereby setting the stage for another sharp conflict between the hierarchy and Catholic health-care providers.

In 1859, a Wisconsin farm woman recounted three mystical meetings with the Virgin Mary, who told her to pray for the conversion of sinners and teach children the Catholic faith.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Conservative Christians are biting mad that an app for their manifesto opposing gay marriage and abortion has been plucked from Apple's popular online store.

(RNS) Whether it's a mere "Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub," or a more solemn supplication, millions of Americans will bow their heads this Thursday in gratitude for the bounty of food before them.

Even a murmured "Thanks be to God," before carving the Thanksgiving turkey speaks volumes about the person praying, especially if it's a daily habit, according to scholars.

In a dramatic break with tradition, U.S. Catholic bishops elected New York archbishop Timothy Dolan as their next president, choosing a friendly but as­sertive leader over the more conciliatory front-runner.

(RNS) For four decades, the U.S. Catholic bishops have maintained a nationwide program designed to help the poor lift themselves out of poverty. And for just as long, fierce critics have tried to kill it.

Women have been ordained as priests in all dioceses of the Episcopal Church, now that the last holdout—Quincy, Illinois—has ordained its first woman.

Margaret Lee, a grandmother of five and former chemist, was ordained a priest October 16 in the Peoria-based Diocese of Quincy, according to Episcopal News Service. She had been a deacon since 1996.