Image courtesy of David Carillet via Shutterstock
We begin in Rome, where Pope Francis weighs in on the Scopes trial, which, apparently, is not really over.
Pope Francis: Creation is cool . . . and so is evolution
Here’s what he said Monday at the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences:
God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life . . . Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.
By the way, ISIS has banned the teaching of evolution.
And by the way, John Allen says the Francis honeymoon is over.
Picking on Muslims by picking on kebabs
Rightist politicians in France are taking on the ubiquitous kebab, the fast food of the Middle East that is not as popular as the croissant in France, but it’s getting there. With 5 million Muslims, the largest Muslim population in Europe, France grapples with its immigration issue as the French would: through food, both embracing and disdaining the kebab. Reuters quotes Damien Schmitz, who runs a kebab shop in Paris: by criticizing the kebab, he says, “you can speak ill of Muslims without speaking ill of Muslims.”
la primera nueva iglesia católica en Cuba en 55 años
Some say it’s a sign of improving Cuban-Vatican relations: the first new Catholic church to be built in Cuba in 55 years is going up in the western province of Pinar del Rio, and is funded by Tampa, Florida Catholics. Religion isn’t exactly flourishing in Cuba, but no longer are Communist party officials forbidden from belonging to a church.
Rev. Schaefer, back on the job for real
Seven years ago: UMC Rev. Frank Schaefer presides at the wedding of his son and his son’s partner.
2013: After a trial, a ministerial court defrocks Schaefer
Monday, Oct. 27, 2014: A ministerial court of appeals upholds his reinstatement.
Justin Welby warns minor xenophobia is not minor
The Archbishop of Canterbury sounded the alarm Monday over intolerance in Britain seven months before a national election in which the immigration could play a starring role. Said Welby:
What we’re seeing is an upsurge in minor racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic, anti-foreigner, xenophobic … not major things – just comments being made … which are, for people who come from those backgrounds, seriously uncomfortable, really quite frightening.
Unitarians give sanctuary to Mexican immigrant
Arturo Hernandez accepted an offer of sanctuary from the First Unitarian Society of Denver and now lives in an apartment in the church’s basement, adding himself to the handful of other undocumented migrants who seek sanctuary in American churches following deportation orders. Hernandez, a contractor from Mexico picked up after he got into a fight with another contractor, says he doesn’t expect many others will make the same choice, because of the restrictiveness of sanctuary life.
Religion News Lite
Moriah Pie is an Ohio pizza cafe whose Christian owners ask you to pay what you can. And they won’t judge you even if you come in drunk and try to sell the a chainsaw.
Dolly Parton on why Christians shouldn’t judge the LGBT community and why church groups and gay people love Dollywood.
Best of the Rest from RNS and elswhere
An Iraqi Christian town remains in Christian hands, but ISIS is a scant 10 miles away.
Chad Connelly argues for more religion in politics.
ICYMI: Our photo editor goes into the heart of the Westboro Baptist Church and uncovers their library of obnoxious signs.
How the prosperity gospel has wormed its way into the faith of even those who say they don’t buy it.
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– Lauren Markoe
