Religion news in brief

Alter Constitution, say Catholic leaders

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Roman Catholic leaders in Iowa are urging voters to back a constitutional convention, saying the rare gathering would be the quickest way to overturn the court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state.

The Iowa Catholic Conference, which represents the state's four Roman Catholic dioceses, issued the statement Monday in favor of a yes vote on a Nov. 2 ballot question that would require a constitutional convention.

Gay marriage has been legal in Iowa since 2009, when the state Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision that found a same-sex marriage ban approved by lawmakers violated the Iowa Constitution. Since then, about 1,800 same-sex weddings have been held in Iowa, most by couples who live in other states.

Tom Chapman, executive director of the Catholic Conference, said the group was part of a larger effort to encourage Iowa's roughly 500,000 Catholics to vote their conscience on a number of issues.

Voters last called for a constitutional convention in 1920, but it wasn't convened, according to Rich Johnson, the legal director for the Legislative Services Agency. He didn't know why. In such a convention, the Legislature would set a process to select delegates and voters would have to approve any changes delegates propose.

Catholics pray for peace in Sudan

JUBA, Sudan (AP) — Roman Catholic leaders have launched a countrywide campaign in Sudan to pray for peace ahead of a scheduled referendum on southern independence that some fear may lead to violence.

Southern Sudan, which is predominantly animist and Christian, is scheduled to vote on independence Jan. 9, but preparations for the vote are badly behind schedule. The body charged with organizing the vote has not yet set a date for voter registration, a process likely to be contentious as officials decide who is eligible to vote.

The Obama administration has said it is "inevitable" the south will declare independence. But given the south's substantial known oil resources, many here worry that the predominantly Muslim north will find it difficult to accept an independent south.

"There are a lot of forecasts of war and all these indications that tells us the situation between north and south is as tense as ever," said Sister Cecilia Sierra Salcido, a Mexican nun.