NJ Nuptials * Baby Francesco * Bush’s socks: Monday’s religion news roundup

New Jersey Gov. Christie withdrew an appeal of a same-sex marriage ruling. Francesco is the most popular baby name in Italy now. Former President Bush is donating his socks to a church fundraiser.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is expected to sign a bill that allows business owners to refuse same-sex wedding clients who want to buy goods such as this cake topper.

 

Gay wedding, photo by Stefano Bolognini via Wiki Commons http://bit.ly/18ClDv9

Gay wedding, photo by Stefano Bolognini via Wiki Commons http://bit.ly/18ClDv9

A judge’s ruling Friday allowing same-sex marriages in New Jersey has caused some weddings and confusion today. New Jersey Gov. Christie just withdrew an appeal of the same-sex marriage ruling and ordered enforcement of law as dictated by the state Supreme Court. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, one of the main featured speakers via video at the recent evangelical Catalyst conference, performed some of the first ceremonies.


Pope Francis has launched a reform of Vatican bureaucracy, including a cleanup of the Vatican bank. The Pope also recently reached out to an American Jewish leader, the son of two Holocaust survivors, in a recent e-mail exchange, part of the ongoing dialogue between Catholic and Jewish leaders.

And thanks to Pope Francis, “Francesco” is now Italy’s most popular baby name.

Former President George H.W. Bush says his wife is getting tired of his flashy socks, so he’s donated his cactus-themed socks (pictured below in former President Clinton’s tweet) to a fundraiser for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Phill Kline, former Kansas attorney general who oversaw over investigations of the late George Tiller’s abortion clinic, has been indefinitely suspended from practicing law for his ethical misconduct in going after abortion providers. Kline now teaches law at Liberty University.

Daisy Coleman, the teenager at the center of the Maryville rape media storm, writes that she quit praying to God after her rape. “Why would I even want to believe in a God? Why would a God even allow this to happen? I lost all faith in religion and humanity.”

In a clash over charismatic theology, megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll claims that his books were confiscated at the Strange Fire conference put on by another megachurch pastor John MacArthur. MacArthur’s assistant says that Driscoll said the books were gifts. Then there was this tweet:

Israel named New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the first recipient of the $1 million Genesis Prize, an award called the “Jewish Nobel Prize.”

United Arab Emirates mosque officials say they have asked Rihanna to leave a mosque after she posed for pictures violating the “sanctity” of the site.

Egypt’s interim prime minister has condemned Sunday’s shooting attack outside a Coptic Christian church that killed four people.

Two new books celebrate the significance of gathering at the family table, drawing from from Christian and Jewish traditions.


A Jewish-American is new head of Philadelphia chapter of CAIR, an Muslim-American group.

England’s Prince George will be christened on Wednesday in a private ceremony by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The royal couple broke with tradition and chose loyal friends as godparents.

Want more religion news? Keep going by reading Brian Pellot’s religious freedom recap.

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