• Ohio Supreme Court Removes Gender-Specific Terms From Rules, Forms, Same-Sex Marriage Docs

  Ohio Supreme Court justices carried out a controversial decision Tuesday to stop using gender-specific terms, such as "husband," "wife," "father" and "mother," on all government rules and forms, opting instead to use gender-neutral terms. The gender neutrality approach immediately became effective in the state March 15.

  

• Farmers Imprisoned For Practicing Religion 'Illegally' In China’s Xinjiang Via 'Strike Hard' Campaign

  Eight farmers and an imam serving as a worship leader from a village in Aksu are serving prison sentences from seven to nine years for practicing their religion during China's "strike hard" campaign to crack down on Turkic ethnic Uyghurs in the country's agitated northwestern Xinjiang region, according to local residents and officials. Their "crime" reportedly was that they prayed together outside of the government-designated mosque.

  

• Joey Feek Memorial: Mother Sings 'Just a Closer Walk With Thee,' Father Saved

  At the public funeral memorial hosted March 13 by gospel music leaders Bill and Gloria Gaither in Joey Martin Feek's hometown of Alexandria, Ind., Joey's mother, June Martin, sang an uplifting spiritual song "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." Joey's father, Jack Martin, also shared how he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior during the time Joey was so ill.

  

• Hollywood Rediscovers Religion, Entices Celebrities

  More actors and filmmakers are embracing movies with religious themes, states a Wednesday (March 16) article in The Hollywood Reporter. In "Why Religious Movies Are Luring Mainstream Stars," reporter Tatiana Siegel wrote that Hollywood has rediscovered religion.

  

• Saint Patrick's Day Marks Christianity Conversions, Trivia Of Real Patrick

  In the Christian faith, Saint Patrick's Day honors the 5th century missionary to Ireland. The holiday is celebrated by different church denominations, including Roman Catholics and Protestants. St. Patrick's Day is observed annually on March 17, the anniversary of the famous saint's death. The first St. Patrick's Day celebration took place in America in Boston, Mass., in 1737. The holiday often incorporates elements of Irish culture, such as green colors and traditional Irish foods. But what rea