LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Amid mounting criticism, the Rev. Jon Weese of central Kentucky’s largest church said that, in canceling worship on Christmas Sunday, its elders “chose to value families; people over policy.”

Officials at Southland Christian Church said they received protests from hundreds of Christians across the nation when word of the closed-on-Christmas decision was reported in the media.

Papal stories lead ’05 religion news

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (AP) – The death of Pope John Paul II, followed by the election of Pope Benedict XVI, were rated the top two stories in religion for 2005 in a survey of specialized reporters belonging to the Religion Newswriters Association.

Participants also overwhelmingly picked John Paul as the year’s top “religion newsmaker.”

Some of the other events, are:

• Controversy over removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube.

• Faith-based agencies’ response to Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami and Pakistan earthquake.

-Mainline Protestant denominations’ ongoing discord over homosexuality.

-Evolution and “intelligent design” debates, especially in Kansas schools and a Pennsylvania federal case.

-The U.S. Supreme Court’s split decisions on Ten Commandments displays.

-Religious involvement in Supreme Court nomination politicking.

-A Vatican policy statement bars most gays from seminaries and ordination.

-Billy Graham’s farewell revival meeting in New York City.

The annual survey, conducted online, drew responses from 100 religion reporters in general media, a third of the association’s membership.

—