(An earlier version contained dead links; our apologies)
Kudos to Ohio state Rep. Robert Mecklenborg, a family values lawmaker who managed to keep his DUI charges out of the news until just days ago. Back in April, police found the Republican with a young woman who was not his wife (or daughter) in his car, and plenty of alcohol and Viagra in his system. He’s contesting the charges.
Gay rights supporters in Illinois are still celebrating last month’s legalization of same-sex marriage in the state. But some faith-based adoption groups that receive state money have decided to get out of the business, for fear they would be required to consider same-sex couples as adoptive parents.
Ireland is eyeing the property of several Catholic orders that owe more than 200 million euros to victims of sexual abuse and other crimes. The Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy, among other orders, have agreed to compensate victims who attended their now-defunct industrial schools.
Secrets revealed! The Vatican next year will exhibit 100 documents from its Secret Archives, including several from the papacy of Pius XII, during World War II and other concerning the trials of Galileo. In other treasure news, investigators will open the final vault of the 16th century Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple (top left) in India‘s southern Kerala state. More than $20 billion in valuables has been found. Newt and Callista Gingrich have applied for a line of credit.
A plan to save the deeply indebted Crystal Cathedral would have nearby Chapman University buy the church’s land for $46 million, and then lease its core buildings back to the church. A lawyer for the Crystal Cathedral, founded by Rev. Robert H.Schuller, said the church would consider the deal.
Nepal says Tibetans can’t rally to celebrate the birth of the Dalai Lama, for fear that the gatherings would turn anti-Chinese.
Some Ultra-Orthodox Jews, to the chagrin of others, are turning into reporters, and using the Internet to reveal parts of their world mostly unseen by outsiders.
— Lauren Markoe
