The New Jersey state Senate has defeated a bill that would have legalized gay marriage, 20 to 14. But the gay marriage story isn’t going away: the AP previews the federal court challenge to California’s Proposition 8 that kicks off next week. It’s a case that could very well settle the gay marriage issue, one way or another.
A federal judge in Kansas has thrown out an atheist soldier’s complaint that he was forced to attend Army events at which prayers were said. The lead sponsor of Uganda’s proposed anti-gay bill refuses to throw out the bill, despite heavy pressure from within (and beyond) the government.
You know what Shakespeare wrote about a rose by any other name, but what about God? Tensions are flaring in Malaysia over non-Muslims’ right to use the name “Allah” to refer to God. In Minnesota, meanwhile, prosecutors won’t file charges against a man who displayed anti-Muslim images in front of a mosque and a Somali-owned store.
The Massachusetts pharmacy college that came under fire from Muslim groups after the school banned headcoverings has decided to make an exception for Muslims.
Presidents routinely offer fairly standard greetings for a range of religious holidays, but I can’t recall an Orthodox Christmas message like the one President Obama issued (I could be completely wrong). Obama also said the U.S. is seeking “new beginnings with Muslim communities around the world, one in which we engage on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect” to help stem the spread of Islamic radicalization.
A Catholic priest outside Chicago is in critical but stable condition after apparently jumping off the balcony of a church in an (unsucessful) suicide attempt; he had recently been suspended after the family of a 13-year-old boy said the priest had abused him. Victims’ groups are protesting the upcoming Milwaukee appearance of two retired archbishops who they say both confessed to shielding abusive priests. A high-profile liberal nun is calling for resistance to the Vatican investigation of U.S. women’s religious life.
Time magazine’s David Van Biema asks whether megachurches can bridge the racial divide and Peter Smith down in Louisville says “Donkeys are often preaching to elephants in Presbyterian churches, a denominational survey says.” Scinetologists say they’ve uncovered a treasure trove of unknown writings by founder L. Ron Hubbard.
The best lede I’ve seen in a long time, from WaPo: “Yiddish might be on its way out as a language offering at the University of Maryland, and its supporters are positively farklempt.”
Finally, Elvis entered the building 75 years ago today (reports differ on whether he’s still here, or has in fact left; David Gibson examines the never-ending cult of (dead) celebrity hero worship.
