Tuesday’s Religion News Roundup: Subway Speech, Gaga and the Pope, and Pastor Trump

Anti-Muslim ads hit the NYC subways. Lady Gaga criticizes the pope's gay marriage stance. And Donald Trump sticks his foot in his mouth at Liberty U.

Iwonderandiwander via Wikimedia Commons

Mainstream Jewish groups have launched a campaign to counter anti-Muslim radical Pam Geller and supporters, who paid for NYC subways ads that brand Muslims as “savage.”

NPR reports that most New York straphangers seem to be rushing by the posters, not taking much notice. But that's New Yorkers, right?

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Foreign Office has disavowed the bounty a cabinet minister put on the head of the American maker of the anti-Islam film roiling much of that country.


And in Egypt, a Coptic Christian is going on trial next week for blasphemy because he allegedly posted the film online.

More on free speech and its limits: the backlash over California lawmakers' attempt to curb anti-Semitic speech on Golden States college campuses.

Maybe the pols  should have directed their speech-curbing efforts at Donald Trump, who told Liberty University students – to seemingly stunned silence – that he doesn't advise turning the other cheek.

Also from the celebrity corner. Lady Gaga, “has a pop at the Pope,” as the British put it – for his stance against gay marriage. 

Prominent progressive evangelist Brian McLaren presided over a commitment ceremony for two grooms this past weekend, one of whom was his son. 

Christian evangelists breathe a little easier in the Big Easy – for now. A judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of a law used to arrest them for preaching on Bourbon Street during a gay pride event.


The nine Amish defendants convicted of hate crimes want to be let out on bail before their Jan. 24 sentencing. A federal judge has given defense attorneys until Thursday (Sept. 27) to make their case.

Omar Sacirbey explores the balancing act for Muslim parents who want their kids to be fully Muslim, and fully American.

Yom Kippur fun fact: 64 percent of Israelis plan to fast for the day. The Jewish Day of Atonement begins at sundown tonight.

– Lauren Markoe

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