Religion News Service
America’s largest Protestant denomination is in decline. Yup, we’re talking Southern Baptists who meet next week in Houston.

Though the SBC added 270 churches last year, it lost more than 105,000 members and 188,000 Sunday worshipers, according to its Annual Church Profile. Most troubling to Baptists, baptisms slid 5.5 percent, or 314,956 people, over the previous year.

A retired Australian bishop urged Roman Catholics around the world to sign an online petition to Pope Francis calling for a Vatican III-type council to take effective measures to end the sexual abuse of children in the church.

Jonathan Merritt interviews disabilities champion Amy Julia Becker who declined prenatal testing in her third pregnancy, even though she was at high risk for having another Down syndrome baby.

A South Carolina high school valedictorian tore up his graduation speech and recited the Lord’s Prayer instead. Cheers erupted. The recitation was a form of protest after the school board adopted a new policy that allows non-sectarian prayer at meetings.

Funny, I thought the Lord’s Prayer was nonsectarian.