Before renovations began at Izumo Taisha, one of Japan?s oldest and most famous Shinto shrines, it opened to the public for the first time in six decades.

The Vatican said that two men and two women ? ?a representative group of victims? ? were invited to attend the Mass with a delegation of senior clergy before the pope left the country.

This year?s Lambeth Conference, which takes place once every 10 years, comes as the church?s ranks have been cut by a battle over gay priests.

The priests are members of an underground church and were held by authorities in Xuanhua in Hebei Province, according to the Cardinal Kung Foundation.

By appearing to cater more to the needs of the dead than to the living, Buddhism may be losing standing in Japan.

The church?s governing body endorsed women as bishops, but traditionalists warned the move could lead to schism.

The governing body of the church endorsed women as bishops, but traditionalists warned the move could lead to schism.

The governing body of the Church of England endorsed women as bishops, while traditionalists warned the move could lead to a breakup of the church.

The governing body of the Anglican church in Britain voted to approve appointing women as bishops, while traditionalists warned the move could lead to a breakup of the church.

Rev. Uwem Akpan is a Nigerian and a Jesuit priest who has just published a debut collection of stories about the dark side of human experience.