Monthly Archives: February 2013
Bp. Paprocki: Call Ratzinger “Pope,” too…
By David Gibson — February 20, 2013
Bishop Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., is known as a Catholic culture warrior to many but he is also a Rome-trained canon lawyer. In a memo that Pia de Solenni passes along, with his nihil obstat, Paprocki gives his opinion on a number of interesting issues stemming from Pope Benedict XVI’s unusual resignation — one of […]
Computer simulator preps military chaplains for the battlefield
By Mark I. Pinsky — February 20, 2013
ORLANDO (RNS) Nothing short of the real thing prepares someone for serving under fire, veterans say, but a computer simulation company here has won a $100,000 development contract to develop a program designed to help prospective military chaplains.
GUEST COMMENTARY: Benedict XVI, the caretaker pope
By David Steinmetz — February 20, 2013
(RNS) Pope Benedict XVI was first, last, and always a teacher. But he was always, alas, a weak manager of personnel. In the end Benedict XVI was the ``caretaker pope'' that many didn't expect him to be.
DJesus in the Book of Revelation
By Mark Silk — February 20, 2013
Chill, Christians. In their "DJesus UnCrossed" skit, the folks at Saturday Night Live were merely acting out the New Testament's own version of a Tarentino revenge fantasy.
Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup: Anti-Pope Emerges? * Pro-lifers as Pro-choicers? * Lenten Delicacies
By David Gibson — February 20, 2013
The papal debates get medieval, with talk of an anti-pope. And it's not Cardinal Mahony, though he's not winning the popularity contest. Is it a "Yope" or a "Poda"? Plus: The Gospel according to Downton.
UPDATE: Did SNL cross a line in “DJesus Uncrossed” skit?
By Daniel Burke — February 20, 2013
(RNS) The line between satire and stupidity is notoriously blurry. On Saturday, "Saturday Night Live" ran a skit call "DJesus Uncrossed," a spoof on Quentin Tarantino's revenge flick "Django Unchained."
Purim apes Carnival
By Mark Silk — February 20, 2013
So if Purim is not, as Lauren Markoe reports, the Jewish Halloween, what is it? The Jewish Mardi Gras.
PURE FLIX Entertainment Continues Growth as The Largest Producer And Distributor of Faith And Family Films
By Religion News LLC — February 20, 2013
Los Angeles, CA – February 20, 2013: Pure Flix Entertainment (PFE), the largest producer, acquisition and distributor of faith and family films has announced their first quarter release schedule for 2013. With their mission statement as “transforming the human spirit through values -based entertainment,” Pure Flix Entertainment offers compelling, enlightening, life altering, and sometimes humorous […]
Quote of the Day: New York Times columnist Bill Keller
By Ron Ribiat — February 19, 2013
“Pope Benedict, tweeting as @Pontifex, has 1.5 million followers, which is pretty good, but he has tweeted exactly 35 times — and the messages read like boilerplate composed by a dutiful intern.” – New York Times columnist, writing about Pope Benedict XVI
Controversy over Cardinal Mahony’s conclave vote reaches Vatican
By Alessandro Speciale — February 19, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The controversy over Cardinal Roger Mahony's vote in the conclave that will elect a new pope has now reached the Vatican, with at least one cardinal musing aloud that the former archbishop of Los Angeles should consider staying home.
Canada names head of religious freedom office
By Ron Csillag — February 19, 2013
TORONTO (RNS) After nearly two years of delay, Canada on Tuesday finally named its ambassador for the Office of Religious Freedom.
Is Purim the Jewish Halloween? Some Jews say no
By Lauren Markoe — February 19, 2013
On Purim, as on Halloween, children dress up and goodies are given out. But some Jews take care not to think of Purim as their Jewish Halloween.
The gospel roots of the ‘Godmother of rock ‘n’ roll’
By Daniel Burke — February 19, 2013
(RNS) Before Elvis and Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash. Before Aretha and Whitney and Beyonce. Before the blues met gospel and conceived rock 'n’ roll, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Crowds
By Martin E. Marty — February 19, 2013
Western European and North American crowds are midget and mini- compared to what goes on elsewhere and in other faiths.
Gay marriage opponents make their case to Supreme Court
By Richard Wolf — February 19, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Foes of same-sex marriage are warning the Supreme Court that lifting state or federal restrictions would threaten their own economic and religious freedoms and lead to social and political upheaval.
