Friday’s Religion News Roundup

There’s been an uptick in blog chatter over next week’s likely election of Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon (left) as the next head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; conservative critics are shedding light on a few abuse skeletons in his closet, and Commonweal breaks it down here. Other blog chatter: Jews are incensed […]

There’s been an uptick in blog chatter over next week’s likely election of Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon (left) as the next head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; conservative critics are shedding light on a few abuse skeletons in his closet, and Commonweal breaks it down here.

Other blog chatter: Jews are incensed after Fox News’ Glenn Beck went on the attack against liberal financier George Soros as “a Jewish boy helping send the Jews to the death camps.” It’s the kind of statement that the ELCA’s Presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson, doesn’t like. An anti-abortion Republican congressman who lost his election in New Orleans is still angry after being attacked by the Family Research Council.

The NYT reviews Philly’s new National Museum of American Jewish History (we did it here). WaPo checks on the status of the fight in Tennessee over whether or not Islam is an actual religion. A California man charged with beating an elderly priest because of abuse years ago hopes to use his upcoming trial to humiliate the priest.


Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley is “very pleased” that John Boehner, a “pro-life Catholic,” is poised to be the next House speaker. Outgoing bishops’ president Cardinal Francis George says the U.S. has a moral obligation to protect the lives of Iraqis, especially endangered Christians. A voter in Philly says it was “a little creepy” to be told to swear on a Bible when she reported a change of address to voting officials last week.

The Mormons are softening their tone on gays, “eliminates the suggestion … that same-sex relationships `distort loving relationships’ and that gays should repent of their `homosexual thoughts or feelings,'” according to the SLT. Illinois may (or may not) have enough votes in Springfield to pass a civil unions bill for gay couples.

There’s a turf battle brewing in Mississippi between town officials and church leaders over the demolition of a Catholic church damaged by Hurricane Katrina; town leaders want it saved, church leaders want it razed. And, if you’re a fan, you can now watch the old Latin Mass on your iPad.

Rapper Shyne, who they tell me is a protege of P Diddy, is now an Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem, studying the Torah and plotting his second act. A U.N. refugee official says he’s having trouble finding a home for Iraqi Mandaeans, a small sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist.

A Christian woman in Pakistan has reportedly been sentenced to death for blaspheming Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Swanky digs in Mecca during the hajj has some pilgrims worried about commercialism.

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!