Buddhist fireworks * Kim K at church * Auschwitz selfies: Tuesday’s Roundup

(RNS) Buddhist monks get a ticket for lighting the wrong kind of candle. Katharine Jefferts Schori is sounding a tad anti-democratic and apparently we should care about the Kardashians in church. All that and more in today's Roundup.

Happy Tuesday, dear readers. Fair warning: I seem a little grumpy this a.m., and I apologize in advance. Maybe it’s because I was up until 1 a.m. packing in preparation for a house move this week. At any rate, here’s the morning rant, er, Roundup:

POP CULTURE IS BAD FOR YOUR SOUL

One of the Kardashians went to church, apparently. Someone who knows something about this please tell me: A) Which one is Kim B) Why we care anything about them and C) When they’ll go away. The only thing we have in common is that I and all my siblings also have K-names. But we did it first.


FORGIVE ME, FATHER

Interesting case down in Louisiana where the Catholic Church is pushing back against a state Supreme Court ruling that said a young girl can use her confession with a priest as evidence in court. The court didn’t force the priest in question to reveal the contents of the confessional, but the Diocese of Baton Rouge says it’s a slippery slope.

ROCKETS’ RED GLARE

A group of Buddhist monks in Albuquerque were cited for setting off illegal fireworks on July 4; they said they didn’t know there was a fireworks ban, but police weren’t buying it. I’d like those officers to stop by my ‘hood, where fireworks are all too legal and the July 4 festivities resemble Ramallah and last for a week.

THE SHARDS OF THE SHATTERED STAINED-GLASS CEILING

The Church of England is about to debate (for about the 793rd time) whether to allow women bishops. The Church Times catches up with Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori about being the first (and only) female Anglican primate, and says women in the U.K. might have a better chance of moving up the ladder than here at home: “I think you’re more fortunate in the UK, in that you don’t elect your bishops.”

SPEAKING OF, READ THESE HEADLINES

A string of words that you don’t often see together in the same sentence: “Lesbian Baptist bishop finds new start after resigning” Or this one: “Baptist church in Kentucky plans first gay wedding.”

THEY DIDN’T TEACH ME THIS IN SEMINARY

Used to be that a newly minted priest might wait 10 or 15 years before taking charge of his own Catholic parish; now that can be as little as three years. A new program at Villanova is trying to equip these newbie priests with the business skills to tackle budgets, HR and other fun tasks.

TASTELESS, OFFENSIVE OR BOTH?

So apparently the newest rage among the selfie set is taking pix of yourself outside Auschwitz. No further comment needed.

FOR SHAME

Sister Mary Ann Walsh is embarrassed and ashamed of news photos that show angry Americans trying to turn back busloads of Latin American immigrants in California.


IT’S MY BLOG AND I’LL TAKE JABS AT THE YANKEES IF I WANT TO

Not at all religious: A New York Yankees fan is suing ESPN for showing him sleeping at a Yankees game. As proud citizens of Red Sox Nation, I think Adelle Banks and I would both fall asleep at a Yankees game, too.

CONSERVATIVES ARE GONNA LOVE THIS ONE

Acceptance of gay marriages has spread to the United Nations, where Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave the OK to recognize same-sex nuptials among the U.N.’s 43,000 employees. Meanwhile, the U.S. fight over Christian bakers refusing to make gay wedding cakes has spread to Northern Ireland.

And with that, it’s back to work. Before you go, make sure we have your email address below so we can continue sending less-cranky emails.

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!