As the manhunt intensifies in Boston for the Marathon bombers (one’s on the lam, one’s in the morgue, others may be on the run), here’s a helpful backgrounder on the conflict in Chechnya that has birthed countless militants.
A woman cries during an interfaith memorial service for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Photo courtesy Gregory Tracy/The Boston Pilot.
President Obama joined religious leaders in Boston yesterday to praise the city for overcoming “the face of evil.” BU’s Stephen Prothero heard echoes of Ronald Reagan in Obama’s speech.
The Atlantic has a video compilation of Obama as consoler-in-chief over the years.
A new wrinkle in the gay-Catholic debate: A teacher at a Catholic school in Ohio was fired for being gay after her partner’s name appeared in her mother’s obituary. Some anonymous tipster notified the local diocese.
Worth reading: Duke preaching professor Richard Lischer chronicles his wrestling with God over the death of his son, Adam, from cancer.
An Oklahoma lawmaker apologized (or tried to laugh it off) after he used the phrase “Jew me down” during a legislative debate. His attempted recovery? “I apologize to the Jews. They’re good small businessmen as well.”
Remember that high-stakes (and expensive) property fight between the Episcopal Church and a breakaway congregation in Virginia? The state Supreme Court yesterday said the property (but not all the money) belongs to the Episcopal Church.
Evangelicals, at least so far, like what they see on immigration reform.
From the Dept. of I Guess He Meant It: Pope Francis, who wants a “poor church, for the poor,” said Vatican employees won’t get a bonus to mark his election and the money will go to charity, instead.
Here’s Francis’ latest theological insight: “When we talk to God we speak with persons who are concrete and tangible, not some misty, diffused god-like “‘god spray” that’s a little bit everywhere but who knows what it is.”
The pope’s rabbi friend said he’s certain that Francis will open the Vatican files on Pope Pius XII, the controversial pope during World War II who’s accused of not doing enough to save Jews from Hitler.
A Tibetan man who tried (and failed) to set himself ablaze near the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile in India says he won’t do it again because he doesn’t want to create trouble for the Dalai Lama.
Whoops: Reuters accidentally published an obituary of Jewish billionaire George Soros.
Not at all religious but kinda fascinating: a Texas man crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon seconds before the bombs went off, and then when he got home the fertilizer plant in West blew up as he was driving by. Someone get this man a cocktail.
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