Friday’s Religion News Roundup: St. John Paul II * St. John XXIII * Egypt unravels

(RNS) The two most decisive popes of the 20th century are now, or soon will be, saints. The Supremes' gay marriage decision is already being invoked in federal court and Muslims' are taking a page from the Christians' music book.

Pope John Paul II gestures in a still from the PBS frontline show,
Pope John Paul II gestures in a still from the PBS frontline show, "John Paul II: The Millennial Pope." The pontiff, who has always attracted media attention is the subject a new book as well the PBS television show airing Sept. 28.

Pope John Paul II gestures in a still from the PBS frontline show, “John Paul II: The Millennial Pope.” The pontiff, who has always attracted media attention is the subject a new book as well the PBS television show airing Sept. 28.

It’s official: The Vatican says Pope John Paul II, along with “Good Pope John” XXIII, will enter the pantheon of Catholic saints by year’s end.

From the Dept. of That Didn’t Take Long, a federal judge in Michigan cited last week’s DOMA decision in allowing a lesbian couple’s challenge to Michigan’s same-sex marriage law to continue. The Atlantic has a breakdown of where the next fights are likely to be.


Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand and Lenny Bruce forever changed American Judaism: discuss.

Our own Jonathan Merritt says Christians should not roll off and simply accept a surveillance state. Look up, he says, not over your shoulder.

The White House says it’s powerless to list Westboro “God Hates Fags” Baptist Church as a hate group, but they’re more than happy to condemn Westboro’s obnoxious protests at military funerals.

During this season of fireworks and backyard BBQ’s, Jana Riess asks whether America is, or was meant to be, a “Christian nation.” It’s complicated, she says.

Outspoken Bishop Harry Jackson thinks the gay marriage ruling will lead the kids of gay parents to “violence,” and Justice Antonin Scalia’s (priest) son isn’t sure that homosexuality actually exists.

A run-down Catholic shrine that used to be hot destination back in the ’60s may see new life under a deal to make it into an ecumenical shrine in Waterbury, Conn.

WaPo’s Michelle Boorstein profiles one of the three Orthodox women “maharat” who will start her job in D.C. later this year; just don’t call her “Rabbi.”


First there was CCM, or Contemporary Christian Music. Now there’s CMM, Contemporary Muslim Music, in the form of “nasheeds” that pair Islamic theology with catchy melodies.

Omid Safi is, um, a little ticked off by the Republican takeover of North Carolina politics.

A Quebec judge has signed off on an $18 million settlement between abuse victims and the Congregation of Holy Cross — believed to be one of the largest settlements in Canadian history.

The Muslim Brotherhood is calling for a wave of protests today against the removal of President Mohammed Morsi by the country’s military.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws to ban adoption by same-sex couples and to prevent a “persona non grata” from setting up a religious organization on Russian soil.

And with that, we’ll let you get back to your leftover ice cream and stale hamburger buns. But before you do, make sure you’re subscribed to the daily Religion News Roundup (sign up below) for your daily dose of fireworks delivered to your inbox, for free.


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