Friday’s roundup

The man accused of killing Kansas abortionist George Tiller said he did it to save unborn babies. “I did what I thought was needed to be done to protect the children,” Scott Roeder said. “I shot him.” The judge also ruled out allowing Roeder to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. [UPDATE: Jurors found Roeder guilty […]

The man accused of killing Kansas abortionist George Tiller said he did it to save unborn babies. “I did what I thought was needed to be done to protect the children,” Scott Roeder said. “I shot him.” The judge also ruled out allowing Roeder to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. [UPDATE: Jurors found Roeder guilty after just 37 minutes of deliberation.]

Brace yourself for a renewed front in the culture wars: Pentagon brass are expected to release a plan on Tuesday for how to integrate gays and lesbians into the military, essentially lifting the 1993 Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell policy. President Obama also called on Congress to pass a domestic benefits bill, although he largely danced around the gay marriage question (although Mexico City’s mayor doesn’t).

A federal judge has ruled against a North Carolina county board that opened its meetings with prayer, saying they were inappropriate and unconstitutional. Some secular groups are rallying opposition to the planned Mother Teresa postage stamp. The landmark chapel at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs plans to add space for earth-centered (Wicca, Druid) worship.


Malaysian officials have charged three Muslim men with fire-bombing a church in the latest flare-up of violence over whether non-Muslims can use the term “Allah” to describe God. Concern is growing that Haitian orphans are being sold for as little as $50.

John Travolta says his Scientology faith helped him recover from the death of his son just over a year ago, although he didn’t mention Scientology by name, instead just saying “our church.”

In a development that would give your Jewish bubbe shpilkes in her genecktegessoink, The Forward is reporting that Jewish nursing homes are allowing non-kosher meals, or ditching the kosher menu altogether.

From the Dept. of Well, That Didn’t Last Very Long, former Bush White House faith-based director Jim Towey is stepping down as president of St. Vincent College outside Pittsburgh and will be replaced by a monk. St. Vincent is staying mum on why Towey’s leaving after four years; the Post-Gazette has this blurb: …”his administration was also marked by complaints from faculty that he lacked collegiality and didn’t follow academic protocol. Mr. Towey announced in October that he would leave June 30.”

And finally this: A Polish Catholic priest has installed an electronic fingerprint reader at a Catholic school; students who attend 200 Masses won’t have to pass an exam prior to confirmation. No word yet on if there are nuns with rulers to make the kids stay awake.

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