Thursday’s Religion News Roundup: Romney’s converts, Mel Gibson’s Maccabee movie, death penalty dying

Mitt Romney needs Christian conservatives and this morning he got the endorsement of the Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent pro-life group that had strongly supported Rick Santorum. Another convert to Romneyism, Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, tells CNN the media will make his Mormonism an issue. But Land had some advice for Romney: “If […]

Mitt Romney needs Christian conservatives and this morning he got the endorsement of the Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent pro-life group that had strongly supported Rick Santorum.

Another convert to Romneyism, Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, tells CNN the media will make his Mormonism an issue.


But Land had some advice for Romney: “If the media persists in trying to get you to defend…some of the more exotic beliefs of Mormonism, you turn it around on them and pummel them around the head and shoulders with the Constitution and say there is no religious test for office and for you to inject my religious beliefs into this campaign is un-American.”

Mitt is making history for Mormons, but how historic is his prospective nomination for the United States?

Florida prosecutor Angela Corey called the parents of slain teen Trayvon Martin and reportedly prayed with them before announcing second-degree murder charges against George Zimmerman in the shooting.

Five years later, mother of Virginia Tech victim wrestles with God, finds peace.

Poll shows Christianity good for the poor, bad for sex.

Traditionalists facing showdown with Vatican.

An Irish priest who leads a campaign to change church teachings on contraception and celibacy has been silenced and sent to a monastery for six weeks of reflection.

The Catholic bishops have released another document on religious freedom.

Shocker: Mel Gibson (no relation, swear) and his movie project about the Maccabees (viz, Hanukkah) appear to be in trouble because of what screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (that’s him on the left) says is his issues with Jews:

“I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason you won’t make ‘The Maccabees’ is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews,” Eszterhas, a Jesus Seminar Catholic, wrote to Gibson. This was, however, after Warner Bros. rejected Eszterhas’ script, which Gibson said was “substandard.”

Holocaust violins live to play another song.

Connecticut is set to become the 17th state, and the 5th in five years, to abolish the death penalty. Is this one of those under-the-radar election year issues?


Tabloid indulgence: “Argentine miracle baby”!

— David Gibson

Photo credit: Getty images via Entertainment Weekly

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!