President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo in which he pledged a new U.S. relationship with Muslim countries, has been named the top religion story for 2009 by secular journalists who cover religion in the United States. The June speech in Egypt was seen as offering an olive branch to the Muslim world and was named the top story by more than 100 members of the Religion Newswriters Association.

Rick Warren was named 2009 Religion Newsmaker of the Year.

Jeffery L. Sheler, author of the new Warren biography Prophet of Purpose, says of Warren: “The Obama inauguration solidified his status as America’s most influential evangelical and putative successor to Billy Graham as America’s Pastor. On the flip-side, it also has made him a formidable target of critics and has exposed him to some withering attacks. How he handles the continuing onslaught will be a supreme test of his character.”

Others receiving votes for this award were Pope Benedict XVI; Archbishop Robert Duncan, leader of a new conservative Anglican church; Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourner’s, a magazine which focuses on social justice issues; and Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Following is the list of religion stories that came in 2 through 10 in the voting:

2. Health Care Reform and the involvement of religious influence on both sides of the issue.

3. The Fort Hood massacre

4. Murder of Dr. Carl Tiller, the country’s leading abortion doctor.

5. Proposition 8 in California which outlawed gay marriage, especially the involvement of Mormons lobbying efforts.

6. Debate of President Obama receiving an honorary degree and speaking at the 2009 Notre Dame University commencement.

7. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America decision at their national meeting to ordain gay and lesbian clergy who are in a committed monogamous relationship and the resulting decision to form a ‘Coalition for Renewal’ to start making plans to form new denomination.

8. Cut backs in support of faith-based organizations such as churches, colleges, publishers, and relief agencies due to economic problems in the U. S.

9. The Episcopal Church’s actions to end an agreement they would not install any additional gay bishops and the subsequent installation of a practicing lesbian as Assistant Bishop in Los Angeles.

10. The series of controversial prayers at President Obama’s inauguration: invocation by Rick Warren, benediction by civil rights activist Joseph Lowery and pre-ceremony prayer by gay Bishop Gene Robinson.

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