Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Quotable Pope * Mideast Talks * Rick Returns

The quotable, retweetable pope delighted the 3 million-strong crowds in Rio de Janeiro, telling the youth, “I want a mess…I want trouble in the dioceses!” On his way home from World Youth Day, Pope Francis gave a spontaneous interview with reporters that is gaining much attention. On gays, he said, “Who am I to judge them if they’re […]

Pope Francis in Brazil, via Wikimedia Commons: http://bit.ly/1aSAgKu
Pope Francis in Brazil, via Wikimedia Commons: http://bit.ly/1aSAgKu

Pope Francis in Brazil, via Wikimedia Commons: http://bit.ly/1aSAgKu

The quotable, retweetable pope delighted the 3 million-strong crowds in Rio de Janeiro, telling the youth, “I want a mess…I want trouble in the dioceses!”

On his way home from World Youth Day, Pope Francis gave a spontaneous interview with reporters that is gaining much attention. On gays, he said, “Who am I to judge them if they’re seeking the Lord in good faith?” On womenpriests, he says no, but he also says, “We cannot limit the role of women in the Church to altar girls or the president of a charity, there must be more.” Transcript (in Spanish).


The Supreme Court might need to settle whether secular, for-profit corporations like Hobby Lobby must provide contraceptive coverage to employees despite the owners’ religious objections.

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren returned to the pulpit for the first time since his son’s suicide in April. “God knows what it’s like to lose a son,” he said.

More Americans are opting for cremations over burials. And instead of sending flowers, friends of one man were asked to donate to a Kickstarter for a card game on death, one with a religious tilt.

Three members of a Baptist church in Indianapolis were killed in a bus crash over the weekend. A crash in Italy killed 38.

World magazine wonders whether the National Religious Broadcasters should be defending the lifestyles of the rich and Christian.

Christians in Britain have called on Scotland Yard’s chief to inform  his officers that it is legal to cite traditional Bible teaching when describing homosexuality as a sin while speaking in public.

On pressing matters, the Jewish Daily Forward wants to know if royal baby George will get circumcised.


An interview of a Muslim scholar on Fox News about his recent book on Jesus has gone viral.

What does religion have to say about usury and money lending, the BBC wonders? Generally, lending of money at high interest rates, is frowned upon by the three Abrahamic religions.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is finding reliable supporters in Islamists who are more willing to use violent or radical tactics.

A group of monks on Greece’s Mount Athos who face eviction attacked court bailiffs with rocks and petrol bombs.

A charity aims to bring Buddhist studies into the modern world.

Mideast peace talks resume amid much skepticism.

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