Pastors, politics among 2008 headlines

Religious headlines in 2008 featured pastors embroiled in politics, confrontations over same-sex marriage, infighting among Anglicans and a joyful visit to the United States by Pope Benedict XVI.

Presidential politics: After inflammatory sermons by Barack Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the Democratic nominee severed their 20-year ties. Republican candidate John McCain rebuffed an endorsement from renowned evangelical John Hagee when Hagee’s anti-Catholic remarks surfaced.

Obama has revived controversy by naming California mega-church pastor Rick Warren, an opponent of gay marriage, to give the invocation at his inauguration.

Gay marriage: Voters approved bans on gay marriage in California, Arizona and Florida. Californians overturned an earlier Supreme Court decision with a constitutional amendment, Proposition 8, supported by white evangelicals, Mormons and conservative blacks and Hispanics.

Anglicans break away: The ongoing unity of the world’s third-largest Christian denomination, the Anglican Communion, was challenged by breakaway bishops from Africa and South America.

So far, 10 percent of U.S. parishes have split from the Episcopal Church, which approved a gay bishop in 2003.

Benedict’s visit: On his first papal visit to the United States, Pope Benedict blessed U.S. Catholics in televised Masses at baseball stadiums in Washington, D.C., and New York City, tours in the “popemobile” and meetings with Catholic and interfaith leaders.

He also met privately to pray with victims of sexual abuse by priests and apologized publicly for the scandal.