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Christy Ortiz, an interpreter for the deaf at a Texas high school, says most of her students have attended local churches for years. But without interpreters in their congregations, the teenagers were not grasping the fundamentals of the faith."The cross, Jesus’ death and resurrection—it meant nothing to them," Ortiz said after her students bombed the religion part of a recent exam. "They were shocked to learn that Jesus was a Jew."

COMMENTARYThe bigger that government gets, the further it grows away from the people. From the massive expansion of health care to increased environmental controls, higher taxes, and mind-numbing budget deficits, people feel overwhelmed and powerless. It doesn’t help when Congress closes its doors to draw up the health-care bill in conference committee—signaling a request to the public not to butt into its affairs.Where will all of this lead?

NEW YORK | Rabbi Marc Schneier’s Upper East Side office at the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding is relatively stark; a bookshelf here, an abstract painting there, and little hint of the outsized role he’s played in bringing opposites together. When he founded the FFEU 20 years ago, it was geared toward improving relations between the black and Jewish communities. Then three years ago, he switched to a much harder mission: Muslims and Jews.

(RNS) With her careers as veterinarian, astronaut and U.S. president behind her, Barbie has at last found her true calling: as a second-career Episcopal priest. The 11.5-inch-tall fictional graduate of Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif., has donned a cassock and surplice and is rector at St. Barbara’s-by-the-Sea in (where else?) Malibu, Calif.

With U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announcing his retirement, attention has focused on the "who" — as in who is on President Obama’s short list of potential nominees. But almost nobody has noticed that when Justice Stevens retires, it is entirely possible that there will be no Protestant justices on the court for the first time ever.

WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama bared his soul before a cross section of Christian leaders at a White House Easter breakfast on Tuesday (April 6), where he spoke publicly of his faith in redemption through Jesus in his most personal terms since becoming president. Addressing his “brothers and sisters in Christ” among the nearly 90 pastors, community activists, and bishops in attendance, Obama spoke of “our risen savior” and the inspiration he takes from Christ’s resurrection.

COMMENTARYDuring this Holy Week, which encompasses the crucifixion of Jesus, I found myself thinking back to a remarkable 1980 "Firing Line" interview between journalist and author Malcolm Muggeridge and William F. Buckley Jr., on the topic of how does one find faith.

Sandra Yearman doesn’t think the family that she grew up in was particularly religious. "But I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t talking to God all the time," she said. As a child she drew strength, encouragement and hope from her prayers. She still does.In her job with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department she meets people who are dealing with problems and need help. But many don’t know how to get help. "I’ve had people tell me that in the 12-step programs, the step to connect with a higher power is the hardest. I’ve actually had people tell me…

NEWS RELEASE The River Food Pantry is celebrating four years of serving needy families in Dane County. The River is Madison and Dane County’s busiest food pantry, receiving over 2000 family visits each month. Four years ago, on Friday, March 31, 2006, the River opened its doors and served 40 families during its first Friday night pantry session. Today, the River serves that many families in half an hour at one of their four weekly pantry sessions. Around 500 families come to them for help each week. “If someone would have said that we would do 500 families a week I would have laughed,” said…

JERUSALEM – On Easter Sunday, millions of Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, thousands of Christian pilgrims visit what many believe to be the site of that resurrection. Located near the heart of Jerusalem is a place called The Garden Tomb, what some believe was the Garden of Joseph of Arimathea. Here is where some believe Jesus died, was buried, and then rose from the dead.