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Quote of the Day. "I'd love to have those numbers be higher, but I think that we have made a great start and have paved the way, with women now being able to perform the same duties as men in space flight." Stephanie Wilson, one of three women aboard the space shuttle Discovery that successfully launched this morning on a mission to the International Space Shuttle, which also has a woman crew member, setting a record for the most women in space at the same time. (Times Online)

RELIGION IN THE NEWS

Arab Christians from Jordan risk all for Easter Sunday pilgrimage to Israel "Many of the Arab Christians flocking to holy sites in Israel this Easter Sunday come from neighboring Jordan. But they do so at a price."

Easter Support for Pope, and Some Apologies "A prominent cardinal, in a marked departure from tradition, stood near Pope Benedict XVI at Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square on Sunday and delivered pointedly public support in the face of growing anger over the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal -- a topic untouched by the pope in his Easter appearances."

Churches Wrestle with Drop in Donations "The number of churches that reported a drop in giving due to the sour economy rose nearly 10 percent last year."

Groups Press for Religious Freedom Envoy "In an open letter sent to President Obama on Tuesday (March 30), 29 human rights groups and faith leaders pressed the president to fill the vacant position of ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom"

NEWS AT HOME

Unemployment. Signaling Jobs Recovery, Payrolls Surged in March "After losing eight million jobs since the recession began in December 2007, payrolls finally surged in March, the Labor Department reported on Friday. Employers added 162,000 nonfarm jobs last month. Nationwide, the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent." Jobless rate may rise as many are drawn back to labor force "The increase in jobs highlighted in the nation's most recent unemployment report carried the sound of economic promise, but Obama administration officials said Sunday that the public shouldn't expect any dramatic improvement in the jobless rate, largely because of the effect of thousands of 'discouraged' unemployed people who have resumed their search for work."

Economy