The Obama administration’s move to drop rhetorical references to “Islamic” terrorism is drawing criticism that naming the motivation of the violence is neccessary in order to fight it. The Obama administration says religion labels are too broadly drawn and give the impression that the U.S. is at war with Islam.
The Vatican posted its third straight year in the red, losing about $5 million last year, with expenses mostly going toward Pope Benedict XVI’s travels and Vatican radio. Germany’s top Catholic bishop admitted making mistakes in not investigating sexual abuse allegations against a priest who molested boys for two decades.
Some American Catholics are not pleased that forthcoming guidelines for sexual abuse also bring heightened penalties for ordaining women. More than 30 percent of the Catholic priests ordained in the U.S. last year are foreign-born, which can build barriers between pulpit and pew, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
In a whirlwind of activity, leaders in the Presbyterian Church (USA) approved gay clergy, but not gay marriage, passed a resolution denouncing Caterpillar Inc. for how Israel uses its bulldozers, and adopted a study guide on the Middle East that had drawn fierce criticism from American Jews until it was amended last week. The Church of England rejected a bid to compromise on women bishops in what was a horrible week for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Reuters reports.
A federal judge issued a restraining order blocking the arrest of Westboro Baptist Church members who broke a Nebraska law against desecrating the American flag. France’s parliament will probably pass its burqa ban today. Liberal Jewish groups in Israel are angry that a parliamentary committee gave control over conversions to Orthodox rabbis. Iran is sending thousand of clerics into schools to fight Western influences.
Irish Catholic youth rioted in Belfast before a Protestant parade. Catholic officials said Cuba plans to release 12 more political prisoners. Venezuela’s Chavez continued his war of words with Catholic bishops. Britain’s ambassador to Lebanon says she’s sorry for praising a recently deceased Muslim cleric who inspired Hezbollah, a week after a CNN producer was fired for doing the same.
China is improving material life in Tibet, but Tibetans are unhappy that their culture, centered on Buddhism, is being swept away. Two Russian curators who angered the Russian Orthodox Church with an exhibition that included images of Jesus Christ portrayed as Mickey Mouse were fined but not jailed. A scholar claims to have found a secret message in Plato’s writings. I belive it says the walrus is Paul, or something. A Georgia appellate court said the Episcopal Church, not breakaway conservatives get to keep parish property.
Hour of Power preacher Robert Schuller is stepping down as head pastor at Chrystal Cathedral but not retiring, his daughter hastens to add. An Alabama preacher promised to live on a church roof if 50 people signed up for Sunday School. The voice of God, heard from 1951-2007 in Yankee Stadium, was silenced by death (that’s longtime announcer Bob Sheppard at top left.)
