Human lungs, x-ray view. Image courtesy of Shutterstock. http://shutr.bz/16sIPtf
Pope Francis has nearly two lungs, though some press have reported he’s got one. Doctors did remove part of one of his lungs, the Vatican corrects. It happened decades ago, when the 76-year-old pontiff was a seminarian and suffered a severe infection.
RNS blogger Martin Marty was expecting someone to shout “April Fools” about the humble Pope Francis. But, happily, he writes, no one did.
Cardinal Dolan says the Roman Catholic Church can improve its outreach to gay Catholics. ”Nothing short of an Easter miracle,” responds Francis DeBernardo of the gay Catholic group New Ways Ministry.
“This is the first time that the cardinal has made such a positive statement about God’s love for lesbian and gay people,” DeBernardo said.
What’s all the fuss? writes Sister Mary Ann Walsh. “No one is carded in a Catholic Church.”
American nuns who felt marginalized by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI say they feel hopeful that Francis will treat them better, NPR reports.
A skeptical political reporter who always thought former Gov. Jim McGreevey of New Jersey was a first class jerk says the guv’s spiritual awakening is the real deal.
Some religious conservatives say it wasn’t cool for Pastor Luis Leon to deliver an Easter sermon to the Obama’s that vilified the religious right.
Evangelicalism is growing faster in Brazil than anywhere thanks in great part to Apostle Valdemiro Santiago. Now he has big plans for the U.S.A.
The homophobic Westboro Baptist Church tweeted on April Fool’s Day: “Hey, guess what? The Lord God Almighty has not pronounced eternal condemnation against all sodomites.”
New testing dates the Shroud of Turin to the era of Christ.
RNS blogger Jonathan Merritt still likes “The Bible” mini-series, but found seven things in the finale that are not quite kosher.
Speaking of unkosher, a ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper has blurred the face of a woman in an iconic Holocaust photo, in keeping with its practice of not publishing women’s faces. Renee Ghert-Zand “didn’t think the modesty police could stoop any lower.”
The Salt Lake City Tribune asks LDS writers to come up with a list of their favorite Mormon books, from novels, to history to theology.
And here’s how the Mormons lost their beards. (With his whiskers, even Brigham Young would not be allowed to serve in a temple today.)
Lego is pulling its “Jabba’s Palace” set but not, the toy company says, because some people have accused it of modeling the evil Star War character’s home on a mosque.
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- Lauren Markoe
6 Comments
John McGrath
Cardinal Dolan won’t be winning back gay people.
BUT, for the spiritual health of his own flock he needs to get the Uber-Catholics to stop using contempt and sarcasm when dealing with gayness and gay people. Contempt and sarcasm are not gifts of the Holy Spirit, as many religious people seem to think.
Tuesday's Religion News Roundup: Pope's Lung * Mormon Beards * Jabba's Hut - Religion News Service | THINKING PRESBYTERIAN | Scoop.it
[...] How many lungs does the pope have? Why don't Mormon leaders wear beards? What happened to Jabba's hut? [...]
Kevan Scott
John M. I totally agree with your comment. Somehow Christians seem to think that showing contempt for others is going to convert them. Works just the opposite. Actually, I’ve noticed for a long while now that the Christian church seems to be focused much more on hate and contempt than on love. What did Christ say to that? Even 2k yrs ago Christ saved his most condemning words for those in the church that ignored the poor and failed to show the love they were intended to show. I won’t get into quoteing the Bible but spit you out of my mouth comes to mind. I’m also speaking as a blind person who has been told that my blindness was the result of some sin and that if I just had enough faith I would be healed. The crowning blow came when I was asked how I could be a Democrat and a Christian as if political beliefs alone decided salvation. Haven’t been back to church since then . Won’t say I am an atheist but I do not believe much of what the neo-con church at large is preaching. Sigh.
Kevan Scott
Ironically though, I really enjoy reading the RNS roundup each morning with my screenreader. It is something I look forward to every morning. Thanks all at RNS!
2 April 2013 | MormonVoices
[...] http://www.religionnews.com/2013/04/02/tuesdays-religion-news-roundup-popes-lung-mormon-beards-jabba… [...]
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[...] Tuesday's Religion News Roundup: Pope's Lung * Mormon Beards * Jabba's Hut Pope Francis has nearly two lungs, though some press have reported he's got one. Doctors did remove part of one of his lungs, the Vatican corrects. It happened decades ago, when the 76-year-old pontiff was a seminarian and suffered a severe infection. Read more on Religion News Service [...]