Monday’s Religion News Roundup

The Vatican told bishops to make stopping clergy sexual abuse a top priority, asking them to create “clear and coordinated” procedures by next May and to cooperate with civil law when required, according to the NYT. But, the AP notes, the Vatican’s suggestions are “vague and nonbinding” and contain no enforcement mechanisms to ensure the […]

The Vatican told bishops to make stopping clergy sexual abuse a top priority, asking them to create “clear and coordinated” procedures by next May and to cooperate with civil law when required, according to the NYT.

But, the AP notes, the Vatican’s suggestions are “vague and nonbinding” and contain no enforcement mechanisms to ensure the bishops actually follow them.


For the first time, Amnesty International’s annual report on human rights names the Holy See, saying it failed to protect children in Ireland from sexual abuse.

Billy Graham was discharged from the hospital Sunday afternoon after a five-day stay for treatment of pneumonia. Bishop TD Jakes said he wishes Graham’s son, Franklin, “had the diplomacy of his father,” calling Franklin’s lukewarm acceptance of President Obama’s professions of faith “insulting.”

God told Mike Huckabee not to run for president. A bunch of evangelical pastors who shall remain nameless told the Donald that America needs to restore its brand.

House Speaker John Boehner teared up while delivering Catholic University’s commencement address, and said a phone call from his high school football coach was “pretty darn close” to speaking with the Virgin Mary.

Egyptian Christian protesters Sunday disregarded a call by the top Copt to end a weeklong protest in front of a government building, a day after a mob attacked them, killing two and injuring 78.

Thailand’s army says suspected Islamic insurgents set off a roadside bomb, killing two Buddhist monks.

A stash of pornography was found in the hideout of Osama bin Laden. U.S. officials said the discovery of pornography in Islamists’ bunkers is not uncommon. Must. Resist. Urge. To. Make. Tasteless. Joke.


The imam of a Florida mosque and his two sons were arrested Saturday on charges of financing and supporting the Pakistani Taliban. This detail from was interesting: The FBI agents removed their shoes and waited for morning prayers to end before entering the mosque and making the arrest.

A once unimaginable movement is emerging from within Israel’s insular Orthodox Jewish community, the AP reports. Gays are demanding to be accepted and embraced.

British Catholics have been urged to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking said the idea of an afterlife is “a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”

I take it Mr. Hawking does not believe the world will end this Saturday at 6 p.m. But religion expert Mark Silk behooves us to consider the Signs of the Times, including the Yankees dropping three games to the Red Sox in New York this weekend, after which, I confess, I am almost ready to throw in the proverbial towel and incline mine eyes toward cloudless skies.

Yr hmbl aggregator,

Daniel Burke

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!