Politics plays big role in top religious stories of '08

More than 100 religion writers have picked the top religious stories for 2008 as part of the annual round-up for the Religion Newswriters Association. The November balloting played a big role in the selection.Here, with a brief synopsis, are the Top 10 faith-based events for the past year taken from the RNA Web site:1. The fiery sermons of Jeremiah Wright threatened to sidetrack — if not derail — Barack Obama's big push for the White House. Obama backs away from his hometown church while John McCain and others act quickly to distance themselves from firebrand pastors who create headlines for all the wrong reasons.2. Democrats look to peel away faith-based voters from the Republican camp by courting evangelicals at the Democratic National Convention and softening their rhetoric about religion, as Obama did in his national appearance with "Purpose Driven" pastor Rick Warren.3. Sarah Palin was seen by some as a sop tossed to the religious right when she was selected as McCain's running mate. She delivered on the stump, however, and kindled the Republican values voters to the point McCain had to tamp them down.4. Proposition 8 in California was a closer call than many anticipated. Gay organizations end up targeting the LDS Church because of Mormons' hefty financial contributions to the effort to get the proposition passed. Fallout continues on both sides.5. Stepping on U.S. soil for the first time, Pope Benedict XVI stops in Washington and New York and confronts the priest-pedophile scandal head-on, offering hope and support to victims and discouraged Catholics.6. Disillusioned Anglicans (Episcopalians in the United States) move to create an Anglican Church for North America that will return the progressive faith to its traditional roots. The ordination of gay clergy was at the heart of the controversy.7. In Mumbai, India, fanatical religion fuels a terrorist attack that kills almost 200. At one target, a Jewish Center, an American rabbi and his wife are killed. Attacks against Christians continue in the Indian state of Orissa.8. China takes a whack at Buddhists who preach freedom for Tibet. Demonstrations abound. Public relations efforts by the Chinese sputter, however, especially during the Olympic torch run.9. The fluttering U.S. economy claims victims, including those who benefit from the donations of believers.10. Once more with feeling. The age-old battle between Shiite and Sunni Muslims continues in Iraq. As the country slowly lurches toward peace, fears remain over the ability of die-hard believers to get along.