The Obama administration is preparing for the prospect that the turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East will usher in Islamist regimes, WaPo reports.
There’s some dispute about whether Obama told Jewish leaders to “search your souls” about Israel’s commitment to peace with Palestinians.
Israeli PM Netanyahu wrote Pope Benedict XVI a nice letter thanking the pontiff for clearing the Jews on charges of killing Jesus.
The Vatican may issue revisions to its sex abuse laws … in 2012. This is seen as progress in some quarters. Benedict is really committed to this “new evangelization” thing, says NCR.
Probable GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr. descend from the same Mormon apostle, which should make things nice and awkward in the celestial kingdom. Brigham Young University benched a star basketball player for having sex with his girlfriend, a breach of the Mormon-run school’s honor code. Slate has an “explainer” on premarital sex at BYU. How about an explainer on how many schools have honor codes that prohibit hanky panky?
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. moved the date (again!) of his hearings on homegrown Muslim terrorism. Now it’s March 10. By the time you read this it will probably have moved again, so be sure to check your local listings. Tennessee Republicans say they are willing to talk to Muslims about a proposed law that would make it a felony to follow Shariah.
Michael Gerson and Shane Claiborne, who would make a great “Odd Couple”-type Christian reality show (you listenin’, CBN?) agree that Jesus would want the U.S. budget to include money for anti-malaria bed nets. Rep. Gabby Giffords’s rabbi says the injured congresswoman feels comforted by prayer.
The U.S. Catholic bishops are backing an Illinois bill that would ban the death penalty and the president of the U.S. bishops conference called Obama’s refusal to defend the Defense of Marriage Act “an alarming and grave injustice.” A group of 130 clergy in Colorado are backing a bill that would legalize same-sex civil unions in the state.
A leader in the PCUSA sent a letter to Gov. Walker of Wisconsin asking him to respect the rights of workers. A labor relations board in Canada says an Adventist has the right to abstain from joining a union.
Zondervan is trying a new NIV Bible translation that contains exhaustive footnotes explaining gender pronouns and refers to Jesus as “the Messiah” on second reference.
The fashioner designer who said he loves Hitler will be tried by French authorities on charges of inciting racial hatred. A Ukranian Byzantine Catholic priest from Ohio offered sexual favors to police if they let him out of jail. The priest, who was arrested on a drunk driving charge, also said he plans to try out for “American Idol.”
Nepal has banned the sale of marijuana during a popular Hindu festival. Remember when Nepal used to be cool, man?