First there was the Mother Teresa cinnamon bun, and then the Jesus Cheeto, and now the man from Nazareth has apparently appeared in the form of kudzu growing on a utility pole in North Carolina. Turns out he already pulled this trick last year in Louisiana.
Meanwhile, back here in the real world, Catholics can raise a glass in honor of B16‘s 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Unitarian Universalists marked their own 50th anniversary, but some wonder whether the anything-goes denomination can make it another 50.
Following up on Catholics’ loss on gay marriage in New York, same-sex couples in Rhode Island — the nation’s most Catholic state — will soon be able to enter into civil unions (Delaware, Illinois, Hawaii and New Jersey also offer civil unions). New York’s gay marriage bill has put Conservative Jews, as ever, in the middle, not sure what to do. NCR has a smart piece on “Cuomo Catholicism.”
POTUS called the New York decision “a good thing,” but still refused to endorse gay marriage, either for himself or his administration. The feds decided not to deport a Venezuelan gay man who married to an American man in New Jersey.
There’s been a lot of talk about whether atheist Ayn Rand and Jesus would be pals (liberals say no), but conservative Episcopal Bishop Edward Little says the “Atlas Shrugged” author actually led him to Jesus.
A Tea Partier in Minnesota is accusing Rep. Keith Ellison — the first Muslim elected to Congress — of being a “radical Islamist” who wants to implement Shariah law from sea to shining sea.
An outspoken atheist in Florida is alleging retaliation at the hands of an evangelical judge. The Supremes are increasingly relying on legal “standing” in hearing (some would say not hearing) church-state disputes.
Mormon leaders followed up on their warning to local church leaders to not dabble in partisan politics, but said advocating on issues like gay marriage is totally kosher.
Speaking of kosher, Israeli archaeologists say a 2,000-year-old osuary (burial box for bones) bearing the name of Caiaphas the high priest seems to be legit. In Rome, a recently uncovered 1,400-year-old fresco of St. Paul from the catacombs is “spectacular,” church leaders say.
The U.S. is courting Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, but only in a “limited” way, officials say. Churches in tiny Liechtenstein are worried about a divorce from the government that doesn’t include alimony.
China arrested a Catholic priest who had been cleared by the Vatican to become a bishop, and then reportedly ordained a bishop who hadn’t been approved by Rome.
Peru‘s outgoing president inaugurated a 72-foot statue of “Christ of the Pacific” overlooking Lima; no word yet on whether it’s covered in kudzu (h/t: David Anderson).
–Kevin Eckstrom
