Westerville, USA - 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."
The other top 10 events, in order:
_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.