Friday’s roundup

As we slide into the weekend, here’s what’s going on out there: Some three dozen people were killed Friday when militants stormed a Pakistani mosque during midday prayers. Saudi authorities say they (and millions of pilgrims) survived the Hajj without a major H1N1 outbreak, although given the incubation period, it might be premature to start […]

As we slide into the weekend, here’s what’s going on out there:

Some three dozen people were killed Friday when militants stormed a Pakistani mosque during midday prayers. Saudi authorities say they (and millions of pilgrims) survived the Hajj without a major H1N1 outbreak, although given the incubation period, it might be premature to start back-slapping just yet.

All (Episcopal) eyes are on Los Angeles this weekend as two openly gay candidates (one man, one woman) are up for election for TWO assistant bishop slots. If elected, he or she (or both?) would be only the second (or second and third?) openly gay bishop elected in the U.S. church; observers say odds are good that either of them stand a chance of winning. New Jersey lawmakers say gay marriage is likely to face a vote in Trenton next week, just days after neighboring New York rejected it.


NPR’s Barbara Bradley Hagerty looks into the newfound political muscle of U.S. Catholic bishops. If you missed it yesterday, the NIH has approved expanded access to embryonic stem cell lines, much to the bishops’ dismay. The Episcopal Church’s top bishop is speaking out against a proposed bill in Uganda to criminalize homosexuality.

A Christian counselor in Britain who refused to counsel same-sex couples has lost his appeal before an employment tribunal. And while we’re in the UK, Britain’s top rabbi has called for an environmental Sabbath ahead of the climate change summit in Copenhagen. A little to the north and west, Irish nuns are offering to pay $193 million for abuse at church-run schools. The Vatican and Russia on Thursday announced plans to establish full diplomatic relations. They may want to talk about these proposed fines for street missionaries.

And to show you that miracles really do happen, a former imperial wizard of the KKK has been ordained in the predominantly black Church of God in Christ. And outside Philly, a new front is breaking out in the war on Christmas (y’all remember that, I’m sure): the semi-godless “Tree of Knowledge” is under attack.

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