So Daniel Sullivan Burke, our resident jolly Irishman, is off for a few days so you’re be left with this dour Swede to guide you through the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day. Truth be told, the real Irish saint with a fondness for the brew (green or otherwise) was St. Patrick’s friend, St. Brigid, who is credited with turning bathwater into beer. If that’s the case, I say we move Amateur Drunk Night to her feast day on Feb. 1 and leave Patrick to chase after his snakes.
Rocco has some background on why everyone’s feeling green today. Meanwhile, hold on to your shamrocks …
A woman in Nantucket will be back in court Monday on charges of killing her 3-year-old daughter she tried to put a rose down her daughter’s throat to ward off the devil; turns out the “rose” was actually her fist.
Japanese are turning to ancient rituals to mourn the dead and try to put the shattered pieces of their lives back together. This year has special meaning for Japanese Buddhists gathering for Ohigan to pray and worship on behalf of their ancestors. CNN traces the history of God being blamed for natural disasters.
Evangelist Benny Hinn has dropped a defamation suit against a Christian media consultant who tweeted that Hinn and Florida evangelist Paula White were having an affair; the consultant, Phil Cooke, has recanted. “South Park” co-creator Matt Stone probes his thoughts on Mormonism as his “Book of Mormon” satire hits Broadway.
Two North Dakota bishops told Catholics in the state not to give money to March of Dimes, UNICEF or breast cancer advocates at Susan G. Komen for the Cure because they support abortion, contraception or stem cell research. Mark Silk sees the shadow of Shariah over the GOP nominating contest.
The Justice Department is siding with a Sikh inmate who didn’t want to cut his beard, and Southwest Airlines apologized to a Muslim woman who was removed from a plane after a crew member thought she heard the woman say over her cell phone, “It’s a go” when she actually said “I gotta go” when they closed the cabin door.
A Jewish lawmaker in Minnesota would prefer non-Jesusy prayers in the state legislature, and Texas Republican Louie Gohmert wants to know why the FBI doesn’t have a special “outreach” to Catholics or Hindus like they do with Muslims.
Remember Father Michael Pfleger, the other Chicago pastor who caused angina for Barack Obama for mocking rival Hillary Clinton? He may or may not be leaving the South Side pulpit he’s held since 1981, according to The Sun-Times.
The lyrics to Lady Gaga‘s love-the-gays “Born This Way” are getting a makeover in Muslim-majority Malaysia. House Democrats unveiled a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act — I’m sure Speaker Boehner will get right on that.
Yet another Anglican vicar has been arrested on charges of running a sham marriage mill. Three candidates are vying for Tibetan ex-pats’ votes after the Dalai Lama ceded political power.
