religion

Philadelphia is preparing to welcome Pope Francis and about 2 million of his followers this fall, during the popular pontiff's first visit to the U.S., an event is generating both excitement and anxiety.

Scouting has been the official program for Mormon boys for more than 100 years, but that may change after a vote allowing openly gay leaders. A Brigham Young professor says a split would be wrenching.

The Tony Award-winning musical, The Book of Mormon, opened in Salt Lake City last week. The sendup of missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is getting a rousing reception.

GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee was criticized for evoking the Holocaust in comments on Iran's nuclear deal. It's the latest chapter in relations between Jewish and evangelical communities.

The Office of Exorcism reports a sharp increase in cases over the past decade — more than its five-man team can handle. Warning: It's a high-stress job. The priests believe the demons strike back.

In-house chaplains have helped detainees cope with daily frustration, even reducing violence in detention centers. But meeting the spiritual needs of people from all over the world is a challenge.

A plan for a cemetery in Farmersville, north of Dallas, sparked a debate among residents. The mayor of the mostly white community says it will likely be approved, but some are pushing for a no vote.

The Indiana-based group Reclamation Studios is hosting conversations online and posting a series of videos refuting the Islamic State ideology that they say has hijacked their faith.

In Arabic, haqq is the word for truth. Muslim software designers gathered recently for a "haqqathon" to develop social media products that can compete with violent extremists online.

In South Korea, Buddhist temple food is viewed the way spa food is in the U.S.: curative, cleansing, perhaps even medicinal. Buddhist nuns have preserved these cooking techniques for 1,600 years.