Less than a week after the controversial execution of Troy Davis, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told Duquesne University law students that if he thought the death penalty was immoral under Catholic doctrine, he would resign immediately.
For the record, here’s what the Catholic Catechism says about the death penalty: “the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity `are very rare, if not practically non-existent.'”
Sticking with the theme of death and dying, the Dalai Lama says he plans to live until he’s 90 and will leave detailed instructions for finding his reincarnation. China reiterated that it will choose the next Dalai Lama and two Tibetan monks set themselves on fire in protest.
Pope Benedict XVI concluded his trip to his native Germany by urging Catholics to close ranks behind him rather than demand reforms or leave the Church. On Saturday a man fired an air gun at a security guard about an hour before a papal Mass. Benedict’s spokesman said there was “no worry” in the papal entourage over the incident.
Catholics and Protestants disagree over whether Benedict’s high praise for Martin Luther signals a de facto “rehabilitation” of the Protestant Reformer.
Horse sense? A NYT op-ed frets that Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann (or even Ron Paul) will ride the Four Horses of the Apocalypse to the White House.
Thousands of Muslims held a rally in London on Saturday to promote an inclusive version of Islam and denounce violent extremism.
Ten Muslim students convicted of misdemeanors for disrupting a speech by the Israeli ambassador at the University of California, Irvine expressed no regrets at a public meeting in an Anaheim mosque.
Rob Bell broke up with his girl…uh, church on Sunday, saying: “We’ve had this beautiful thing, you and me. And now, we let go of how it was and open ourselves up to how it is and will be.”
You can almost see Bell in a dimly lit restaurant, murmuring “It’s not you, Mars Hill, it’s me,” as he soothingly pats his brokenhearted lover’s hand.
A Wisconsin man is expected to become the first openly gay candidate ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since the church lifted its ban on gay clergy.
A New Jersey church had congregants take, rather than put, money in the collection plate. The goal is for people to invest or use the money to help others, says the pastor.
An Australian pastor is competing in the country’s national amateur brewing championship. “Jesus liked to drink with people,” saith the Rev. Dave Steel, in an impressive batch of proof-texting.
And now, the NIMBY segment of our report:
An annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews? NIMBY, says Ukraine’s nationalist party.
Bible study in a California home? NIMBY, says the city of San Juan Capistrano.
A Chan (Zen) monastery in Walnut, Calif.? NIMBY, say local residents.
Sukkahs in TriBeCa? NIMBY says a local community board.
May you all live near barking dogs and paper factories.
Yr hmbl aggregator,
Daniel Burke