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Monday's Religion News Roundup: Mormon exodus; Obama's atheist problem; Rupert Murdoch twits Scientology

Ex-Mormons declare their independence from LDS Church. Secular Alliance starts clubs for high-school skeptics. Obama has an atheist problem. Rupert Murdoch says Scientologists are "evil."

Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Mormon exodus; Obama’s atheist problem; Rupert Murdoch twits Scientology
Daniel Burke

Scores of ex-Mormons in Utah signed a “Declaration of Independence from Mormonism” and addressed formal “letters of resignation” to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The Secular Student Alliance is helping to establish clubs for high-school skeptics.

Does President Obama have an atheist problem? His support among them is down 10 percent since 2008, according to Gallup.


White House spokesman Jay Carney condemned the “heinous” attacks on churches in Kenya that left 17 people dead and dozens wounded.

Israel's Holocaust memorial has softened its criticism of Pope Pius XII's conduct toward the massacre of Jews during of World War II, following a long dispute with the Vatican.

Speaking of Yad Vashem, Lauren Markoe explains why ultra-Orthodox Jews admitted to vandalizing the memorial last week. 

Germany's foreign minister said that religious traditions will be protected after a court ruled that circumcising young boys on religious grounds amounts to bodily harm.

A judge barred New York City from enforcing a law that would block churches from conducting worship services in public schools after hours.

United Methodist Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly, the first African-American woman elected to the episcopacy by a major religious denomination, died Thursday.

A father and son were ordained Catholic priests in Texas. Yes, you read that right. 


Rupert Murdoch had some interesting tweets about Scientology last weekend, following news of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' divorce. 

This tweet from Murdoch was even more surprising.

   

Got a story for the roundup? Shoot me a note: [email protected]. You can also follow me for news updates throughout the day on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Tumblr.   

Yr hmbl aggrgtr,

Daniel Burke

 

 

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