The Nashville Tennessean is still looking for the right candidate to fill its religion reporter’s job, vacated when Brian Lewis accepted a position at another paper. The Tennessean seeks someone with 3-5 years religion reporting experience, who likes to break news for A-1 in addition to filling a weekly religion page inside the local section. An editor there said last week that they’ve had good candidates but no one with enough religion experience. City Editor Ricky Young is the contact.

Florida’s voucher law — the centerpiece of Governer Jeb Bush’s education policy which entitles students of failing public schools to vouchers for private schools, including religious schools — was ruled unconstitutional by the 1st District Court of Appeal. “‘Courts do not have the authority to ignore the clear language of the Constitution, even for a popular program with a worthy purpose,'” wrote Judge William Van Nortwick. Florida’s Education Commissioner plans to appeal the case to the state Supreme Court. Read more.

Archaeologists in Israel claimed yesterday to have found a cave where they believe John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples. Carvings on the walls of the cave, which is about 2 ½ miles from the preacher’s hometown of Ein Kerem, are thought to tell the story of his life, though the archeologists didn’t find any inscriptions. If their claims can be confirmed, writes the AP’s Karin Laub, the discovery would be among the most significant breakthroughs for biblical scholars in memory.

“‘I think the thing about our country that you must understand is that one of the most valuable aspects of America is that people can choose church or not church, and they’re equally American. That is a vital part of our society.'” So says…George W. Bush? Maura Reynolds, writing in The Los Angeles Times, reports on Dubya’s belated attempts to keep it down with the God-talk, already, deflecting praise that God had found a home with the President in the White House and requests that he pray for the unchurched of Oregon. Perhaps wary of relying solely on evangelical voters, Reynolds speculates, Bush is attempting to “validate his supporters’ views without endorsing them in a way that would alienate more moderate swing voters.”

Hugo Chavez mixes metaphors: Soldier of God, leader of a social revolution, beats evil emperor in an “‘Olympics of democracy.'”

Pity the heathens: A new study conducted by marketing company Euro RSCG Worldwide looks at attitudes about sex, religion and infidelity in five different countries. 39% of American respondents agreed that “my religious beliefs factor into my sexual behavior,” as compared to a measly 3% of the French participants. “No other nation surveyed comes close to the United States in terms of allowing religion into the bedroom, the nearest being the U.K., with 16 percent in agreement. In Germany, just 6 percent agree.”