Episcopal Bishop Kee Sloan of Alabama voted in favor of his church's new ritual for blessing same-sex unions — but he won't allow priests in his diocese to perform it.

“For the time being, I will not give permission,” Sloan said.

Is it OK to date someone from outside your faith?

The Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies will honor the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) of Coeur d’Alene and the Rev. Percy “Happy” Watkins, pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church of Spokane, at its fourth annual Take Action Against Hate Banquet.

The banquet is scheduled for Oct. 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Cataldo Hall at Gonzaga.

A 600-foot footrace was the only athletic event at the first Olympics, a festival held in 776 B.C. and dedicated to Zeus, the chief Greek god.

For the next millennium, Greeks gathered every four years in Olympia to honor Zeus through sports, sacrifices and hymns.

Today Religion News LLC soft launched its newest site, ColumbiaFAVS.com.

CoumbiaFAVS is edited by Kellie Kotraba and is the third FAVS site to go live.

Spokane Buddhist Temple teaches gratitude, thoughtfulness Lindsey TreffrySpokane born-and-raised, Lindsey Treffry works as a copy editor and page designer for The Spokesman-Review. She graduated from the University of Idaho in 2013 with a journalism degree, and now spends her weekends cooking vegan meals and walking her dog, Griffey. She returns …