War in Iraq voted top story of 2003, Pope John Paul top newsmaker

Published: 2003-12-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In one of the closest votes in recent memory, Catholic editors voted the war in Iraq and its aftermath as the top religious story of 2003, with the continuing fallout from the clergy sex abuse scandal a close second and Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee coming in third. In voting for top religious newsmaker of the year, Pope John Paul, who has won the poll most often in recent years, returned to the top spot after coming in second the past two years. President Bush was the No. 2 newsmaker for 2003, and Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley of Boston was third. The poll was the 42nd annual survey of Catholic News Service client newspapers. This year's ballots were distributed Dec. 5 and the deadline for returns was Dec. 12. When the editors' poll was first conducted in 1962, the overwhelming choice for top story was the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Last year, editors chose the scandal over clergy sex abuse of minors as the top religious news story of the year and Cardinal Bernard F. Law, former archbishop of Boston, as the top newsmaker.

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