TuesdayâÂ?Â?s Religion News Roundup: Kosher laws are kosher, beating kids, not. Robertson good with Romney, Luther insults you.

Religious freedom updates: The state can say what’s kosher and what’s not, says an appeals court. And encouraging parents to use wooden rods to spank misbehaving children, including infants, because the Bible tells you so is actually not protected under the religious freedom doctrine. But is criticizing your pastor in an online forum protected as […]

Religious freedom updates: The state can say what’s kosher and what’s not, says an appeals court.

And encouraging parents to use wooden rods to spank misbehaving children, including infants, because the Bible tells you so is actually not protected under the religious freedom doctrine.

But is criticizing your pastor in an online forum protected as freedom of speech? The Oregon pastor in question doesn’t think so, and is suing to the tune of half a million bucks.


Christ and couture: A Texas pastor wants clergy to show some fashion flair.

A new Tennessee law aims to keep kids from getting to first base, or in Gov. Bill Haslam’s words, away from “Groin Central Station.”

Pat Robertson is the latest Christian conservative to give Mitt Romney absolution, if not an outright endorsement: “The question is, if you have two candidates, you don't have Jesus running against someone else. You have Obama running against Romney.”

Here’s a somewhat different way that evangelicals can talk to, and about, Mormons.

Rhode Island’s governor says the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Colorado will not be one of those states: Republicans nix a gay civil unions bill.

An Iowa Catholic diocese and a Catholic high school have forged a compromise over how to present a scholarship award to a gay student from a foundation that supports gay rights: An Eychenar Foundation representative will be permitted to present the award to Keaton Fuller but will not be allowed to speak at the ceremony.

Pope Benedict XVI seems closer than ever to preparing a special place to welcome back Traditionalist rightwing schismatics. Some of the rejectionists may split off again, however, because, well, that’s what they do.

John Allen handicaps the latest speculation on Benedict’s potential successors.

For Catholics (and everyone else) who may not feel dissed enough as it is, there is a “Lutheran Insulter” site. “You sophistic worms, grasshoppers, locusts, frogs and lice!” (Calm down, that was Martin, not me – from “Against Latomus,” pg. 150 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32)


Michael Peppard just wishes it were in the original German. That’s a theologian for you.

A Minnesota grand jury indicts a national right-to-die group in connection with the 2007 suicide of a suburban Minneapolis woman.

The Dalai Lama is giving most of his Templeton Prize money ($1.7 million) to Save the Children India.

David Gibson

Photo credit from Wikipedia: Luther looking so fed up with you, by Lucas Cranach the Elder
 

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