Francis weddings * Anti-semitism rally * Ebola ban: Monday’s Roundup

Pope Francis wed couples, including cohabitating ones. German chancellor Angela Merkel led an anti-Semitism rally. Plus, Nigeria stopped religious gatherings to try to stop Ebola from spreading.

When Pope Francis visits the U.S. in September, he'll see a church in financial crisis.Creative Commons image by Catholic Church England and Wales

Hey, Monday. Here are 10 things you need to know today:

ISIS released a video Saturday of the third beheading of a foreign hostage, a British aid worker.

Pope Francis on July 14, 2014, encouraged people to welcome children immigrants crossing the U.S. border from Central America, saying in a letter, "Many people forced to emigrate suffer, and often, die tragically. Many of their rights are violated. They are obliged to separate from their families and, unfortunately, continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes."

Pope Francis


Pope Francis married 20 couples on Sunday, some of whom had already lived together and had children. On Saturday, the pope said the spate of conflicts around the globe today were effectively a “piecemeal” Third World War.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a rally against anti-Semitism in Berlin on Sunday, telling several thousand people that Jewish life is part of Germany’s identity and she wants to ensure that Jews feel safe.

Nigeria banned religious gatherings to stop Ebola from spreading. At least one group has threatened to sue.

More than 85,000 people have signed a petition asking the city-run Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall to cancel a scheduled black mass.

Chase Peterson, former University of Utah president, Harvard dean of admissions and beloved Mormon intellectual, died Sunday at 84.

What does growth of Hasidism mean for American Jews’ identity politics? Discuss.

A South Carolina pastor was sentenced to one day in jail last week after being found guilty in of violating city noise limits.

Several anti-abortion organizations filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court defending the employment rights of pregnant women.

ICYMI: Hobby Lobby’s Steve Green has grand plans for the Bible museum in Washington.

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