Monday’s Religion News Roundup

As you all have probably heard, President Obama announced late Sunday night that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden at a compound in Pakistan. In a sober speech, Obama gave little impression of gloat and hastened to add that the U.S. “is not, and will never be, at war with Islam. …Bin Laden was […]

As you all have probably heard, President Obama announced late Sunday night that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden at a compound in Pakistan.

In a sober speech, Obama gave little impression of gloat and hastened to add that the U.S. “is not, and will never be, at war with Islam. …Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.”

OBL’s body was buried at sea within 24 hours of his death, in accordance with Islamic law, U.S. officials said. The sea burial was chosen because it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept OBL’s remains, the LA Times reports. Also, it eliminates the possibility of his grave becoming a martyr’s shrine for al-Qaeda.


The Vatican spokesman said: “Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man, and hopes and commits himself so that no event be an opportunity for further growth of hatred, but for peace.”

Mike Huckabee, who apparently has not read Rob Bell’s new book, said “Welcome to hell, bin Laden.” The Muslim Public Affairs Council expressed “an immense sense of relief” at the al-Qaeda leader’s death.

As for Muslims in the Middle East, the NYT ponders whether bin Laden’s death will spur the movement to promote democracy in the region or fuel Islamist forces.

In other news, Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II before 1.5 million faithful, moving the former pontiff one step closer to possible sainthood. And people thought the royal wedding would overshadow the festivities in Rome. B16’s homily is here.

Benedict has sacked an outspoken Australian bishop who had called on the church to consider ordaining women and married men, according to the AP.

Southerners are turning to God and the federal government to recover from the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The storms killed at least 342 people, according to the LA Times, and people are desperate for solace, healing and recovery.


Anti-Semitic incidents worldwide dropped sharply in 2010, according to an annual report issued by an Israeli university. A Tibetan religious leader asked China to release nearly 400 monks from a blockaded monastery.

A Pennsylvania man fired four shots near Jehovah’s Witnesses whom he believed were not leaving his property fast enough. “This is a Catholic home,” said the man’s wife.

An Arkansas middle school teacher was told to stop praying “for the Devil to be bound up” and not enter students’ brains. A pastor is suing after he was was arrested for trespassing and interfering with public business while reading the Bible to a crowd outside a California DMV.

After helping defeat gay marriage, the Catholic Diocese of Providence is urging Rhode Island lawmakers to reject civil unions as well. An Oklahoma county will allow atheists to marry people.

People who believe in a loving God are more likely to cheat on tests than those who believe in a punitive deity; Mormons dig Mountain Dew.

Yr hmble aggregator,

Daniel Burke

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