Drinking games

That Vatican synod you’ve been hearing so much about is coming to an end. Catholics are anticipating “the report,” due Saturday, which may, signal a new attitude toward what the church calls “irregular” relationships.

The infighting among the bishops has produced much rancor. John Allen wonders if conservatives who have been inclined to give Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt will, instead, turn on him.

Meanwhile, the Pew Research Center points out that U.S. Catholics have already moved beyond the church on the issue of homosexuality, especially younger Catholics.

If you’re tired of the synod, and heck, it’s Friday, here’s a Catholic drinking game courtesy the Acts of the Apostasy blog:

•  For every “Yay! The Church is changing her doctrine!” comment, take a shot (Your choice – follow your conscience).
• For every “Oh no! The Church is changing her doctrine!” comment, take 2 shots. Because they should know better.
• For every “Oh no! We’re becoming Episcopalian!!” take 3 shots. Because they really should know better.

Mum’s the word

At least give Catholic bishops credit for attempting to say something about gays.

The Australian megachurch Hillsong drew thousands to New York City’s Madison Square Garden last night for the start of its annual conference tour.

The scene onstage at MSG for #HillsongConf opening night. pic.twitter.com/WGIM0YyH8A

— Michael Paulson (@MichaelPaulson) October 17, 2014

But Jonathan Merritt writes that pastor Brian Houston took a pass when asked his views on homosexuality at a press conference earlier in the day. There’s a lot at stake, of course, including 30,000 weekly attendees and millions of worship music album sales.

Islam and the West

Pundits can’t quit writing about comedian Bill Maher and his view that Islam is more violent than other faiths. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Maher defended the idea he was making generalizations, adding:

“To say that it’s a widespread belief in the Muslim world that death is the appropriate response to leaving the religion is just a statement of fact. We should stop arguing about that and move on from it and figure out what we can do about it.”

In the Washington Post, Ishaan Tharoor writes that Islam and those who practice it were not always perceived to be such a cultural threat. There was a time when the West wanted to curb Christian extremism.

And The New York Times has an interesting editorial on India’s 180 million-strong Muslim community. That country’s Muslims  offer an obvious rebuttal to claims that Islam is radicalized or violent. The community, which is the world’s second largest (after Indonesia), is overwhelmingly moderate.

Ebola agonistes

Lauren Markoe reported that the Roman Catholic Diocese in Fort Worth had instructed priests to alter Communion rites. No more drinking from the same Communion cup. No more offering the Communion wafer on the tongue.

Televangelist John Hagee issued a stark warning to America that the Ebola crisis is God’s judgment on America for President Obama’s failure to adequately support Israel.

 Retiring, begging, peeping:

On the eve of Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday that marks the completion of the reading of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), Rabbi Avi Weiss, a religiously progressive voice within Orthodoxy who has spearheaded the push to give women a greater role, announced he is stepping down from his Riverdale, N.Y. synagogue.

Mark Oppenheimer writes about itinerant modern Orthodox beggars: students at Lakewood, N.J.’s Beth Medrash Govoha, the nation’s largest yeshiva.

And in the saga of the peeping tom rabbi, investigators found numerous computers and storage devices in Barry Freundel’s
Georgetown home along with files of women undressing. Police now think D.C’s renowned modern Orthodox rabbi had been “engaging in the criminal act of voyeurism in several locations and with the use of several devices and over a period of time.”

As my people would say, Oy gevalt.

Other Catholic news:

Visitors view the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Photo courtesy of Vatican Museums

Pope Paul VI, who is most famous for reaffirming the Catholic Church’s ban on artificial contraception, will be beatified Sunday.

In what may be a first, the Vatican agreed to rent out the Sistine Chapel for a charity. Porsche enthusiasts willing to pay 5,000 euros ($6,400) will get an exclusive after-hours concert inside the famous chapel and a dinner in the Vatican Museums on Saturday.

Kenya’s government on Friday said a tetanus vaccine was entirely safe and would save children’s lives, dismissing claims by the country’s Roman Catholic Church that it made women infertile.

Saturday would have been James Foley’s 41st birthday, and Jesuit colleges and universities across the country will join his family in solidarity, as they celebrate the life of the slain journalist at a memorial service.

Seize the day

Finally if you’re looking for a lift as you head off into the weekend – a lift in and of itself — Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, the powerhouse couple that wrote “Half the Sky” about the oppression of women, have a new book out.

In “A Path Appears”, they show that ordinary people can make a difference helping others and that neuroscience demonstrates that the happiness boost people get from those efforts exceeds what they get from helping themselves.

If you haven’t signed up for our daily feel-good Roundup, check out the box below. It’ll give you that happiness boost you’ve been waiting for.