Q: The Catholic background of the family of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is well-known. However, from ages 8 to 11, he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Could he have been a Mormon and Catholic at the same time? Did his parents convert and then reconvert? -- Don White, Atlanta
A: Rubio's father, Mario, never joined the Mormon church when the family was living in Las Vegas "because the church's strict moral code clashed with his work as a bartender," The Miami Herald reported, using information from the website BuzzFeed, which first reported the story. Michelle Denis, Rubio's cousin, was the source of the BuzzFeed story. Rubio has stated he doesn't remember much of his time in the Mormon church, a Miami TV station reported recently. "On the question of my religion, I'm a Roman Catholic," he told CBS4. "I've been a Roman Catholic, baptized and confirmed, and we go to church on Sundays. And I enjoy my Catholic faith." The Herald also reported that Rubio has attended Miami's Christ Fellowship, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Q: Excedrin was removed from stores due to a tampering scare. When will we see Excedrin returned to stores? -- Joni Pelta, Atlanta
A: Novartis, which makes Excedrin, has not updated its statement from earlier this year that said the company would resume production by "midyear," according to The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. The Novartis plant is near Lincoln. In January, Novartis voluntarily recalled bottles of Excedrin, Bufferin, Gas-X Prevention and NoDoz with certain expiration dates because of the possibility of stray pills from other medicines and chipped or broken pills, according to USA Today.
Andy Johnston for the AJC. Do you have a question about the news? Our news researchers will try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include your name and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.
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