Spain to make morning-after pill available without prescription in pharmacies

MADRID — Spain said Monday it plans to make the contraceptive morning-after pill available over the counter in pharmacies without prescription within three months.

Fla.’s ‘Father Oprah’ defends church celibacy policy, thinks about leaving over woman he loves

MIAMI — A popular Miami priest and media personality said Monday he is thinking about leaving the Roman Catholic Church for a woman he loves after a magazine ran pictures of the couple kissing and hugging.

Pope kicks off trip to Israel, Palestinian areas in bid to improve interfaith relations

TEL AVIV, Israel — Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Israel on an emotion-charged visit to the Holy Land hoping to improve relations with Jews and Muslims.

Chuck Daly, who led US Olympic team to gold and won 2 NBA titles with Pistons, dies at 78

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons made plenty of enemies while winning titles and throwing blows two decades ago. Chuck Daly, though, was universally admired for his class and coaching acumen.

Former Red Sox great Dom DiMaggio, younger brother of Yankees legend Joe, dies at 92

BOSTON — Dominic DiMaggio, the bespectacled Boston Red Sox center fielder who made his own mark on the major leagues despite playing in the shadow of Hall of Fame brother Joe and teammate Ted Williams, died early Friday at his Massachusetts home. He was 92.

Notre Dame’s Obama invite riles Catholic bishops, exposes rift with flock

This coming week, Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando, Fla., will take the unusual step of celebrating a Mass of Reparation, to make amends for sins against God. The motivation: to provide an outlet for Catholics upset with what Wenski calls the University of Notre Dame’s “clueless” decision to invite President Barack Obama to speak at its commencement and receive an honorary doctorate May 17.

‘Is Your Sex Life A Bore’ leaflets get Florida church in trouble

MELBOURNE - New Hope Church has infuriated officials at the school where they hold their meetings, after they mailed tens of thousands colourful fliers posing the question “Is Your Sex Life A Bore?”

Muslim calligrapher writes Gospel of Luke as a gift for the pope on upcoming Holy Land tour

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh has dedicated the past two months to Christian art, writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when the Roman Catholic leader visits the Holy Land next month.

Former President Jimmy Carter speaks to Baptists in NC, imploring denomination to unite

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Former President Jimmy Carter implored fellow Baptists on Saturday to look beyond a range of doctrinal disputes that have split the denomination, and urged them to focus on reconciling under a common cause.

Hundreds attend funeral in Middletown, Md., for family killed in murder-suicide

MIDDLETOWN, Md. — Hundreds of mourners filled a hilltop church Friday for the funeral of five family members slain in a murder-suicide.

Paraguayan president, ex-bishop, asks for forgiveness in response to paternity claims

ASUNCION, Paraguay — President Fernando Lugo asked for forgiveness Friday for a paternity scandal in which three women claim the former Roman Catholic bishop fathered their children.

Nepal becoming haven for persecuted lesbians

KATHMANDU - Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s first openly gay MP who is also the founding president of the country’s first gay rights organisation, the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), received a distress call recently. Two girls, both in their teens, who had left their home in India’s Kolkata city after their families opposed their lesbian relationship, wanted his help.

Britain’s Got Talent’s Susan Boyle accepts Piers Morgan’s dinner invitation

LONDON - Britain’s Got Talent’s star Susan Boyle has accepted judge Piers Morgan’s dinner invitation.

Obamas continue with presidential tradition of visiting Episcopal Church

WASHINGTON - The Obamas have honoured a presidential tradition of visiting St. John’s Church, located across from the White House, for an Easter Sunday service.

Goody’s widower wants wife’s message tattooed

LONDON - Jack Tweed, widower of late British reality TV star Jade Goody, wants to fulfil his wife’s wish by getting a tattoo of her message ‘Call me and I will answer’.

Barber finds Christ-like face on church wall

LONDON - A Scot barber has found what he says to be an exact likeness to Jesus Christ’s face on a church wall.

Maoists gun down Hindu leader in Orissa’s Kandhamal district

BHUBANESWAR - A band of armed Maoists has gunned down a Hindu leader in Orissa’s Kandhamal district, where communal violence erupted last year after the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, the police said Thursday. Officials fear the murder could lead to renewed tension in the area.

Obama appoints Indian American in interfaith council

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has included an Indian American in a revamped White House office for faith-based and neighbourhood programmes, expanding an initiative started by the Bush administration to support charitable organisations delivering social services.

Germany marks Holocaust anniversary despite Jewish boycott

BERLIN - Germany Tuesday marked the Holocaust Memorial Day with President Horst Koehler promising that his country would keep alive the memory of Nazi crimes and its victims.

Five security men killed in bomb blast outside Colombo

COLOMBO - At least five Civil Defence Force personnel were killed and 13 wounded in a suspected suicide bomb explosion by the Tamil Tiger rebels on the outskirts of capital Colombo Sunday morning, defence sources here said.