Penguin christening * Uber as ISIS? * Muhammad sightings : Thursday’s Roundup

(RNS) Today's religion headlines are full of tricks and treats. Take your pick in today's Roundup -- and hope you're not the kid who ends up with a lame sack full of raisins and pencils.

Halloween prep is in full swing at our house, with the little dudes about to terrorize the neighborhood as Elmo and Cookie Monster. And since Halloween is based on the religious tradition of All Hallows Eve, and today is now All Hallows Eve Eve (or something like that), here’s a Halloween-themed overview of today’s news.

Tricks

A modern of depiction of satan in the likeness of a goat with horns and goatee.

A modern of depiction of Satan in the likeness of a goat with horns and goatee.

Just in time for Halloween, this from Pope Francis: “In this generation, like so many others, people have been led to believe that the devil is a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil. But the devil exists and we must fight against him.” He adds “it’s not me saying it,” but comes straight from the Apostle Paul.


And this from Malaysia: No trick-or-treating for Muslims, according to a new fatwa, because Halloween is a Christian holiday that celebrates death. Especially if you’re dressed up in a dog costume.

A whole bunch of folks in Colorado are concerned about the kiddos getting a Rocky Mountain High from pot-infused Halloween candy (or any kind of pot candy, for that matter).

Speaking of tricks, a woman in India caught her husband getting jiggy with another man, reported him to the police (gay sex is illegal in India), and then sued his parents for not telling her he was gay before they got married. After noting that “the continual use of pink lip gloss began to raise her suspicions,” Jonathan Turley makes a larger point:

“The husband was wrong to get married to her if he is gay. However, the central problem is with the archaic tradition of arranged marriages.”

The head of the Pennsylvania taxi union compared Uber to ISIS — “exactly the same menace.” Right, exactly the same menace.

New York’s highest court has said it’s cool for a niece to marry her half-uncle. Or something like that.

Tsk tsk — Time’s Elizabeth Dias, normally an eagle-eyed religion scribe, says the media botched its coverage of Pope Francis’ statements on evolution earlier this week. “Anyone who knows anything about Catholic history knows that a statement like this is nothing new.” Um, right. Which is why she should have read the RNS story.


Bummer: Four girls who fled Iraq’s sectarian violence and settled in Michigan had hoped to test the effects of iodine tablets on E.Coli bacteria in zero gravity onboard the International Space Station. Their experiment died when the resupply rocket exploded just after lift-off on Tuesday.

Oh, Saudi Arabia — the country’s religious police have detained a man for possible blasphemy after he claimed to see the Prophet Muhammad in a Medina hotel.

Treats

A baby penguin gets blessed by a Catholic priest. Need we say more?

"An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory" by Ludovico Carracci (circa 1610).

“An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory” by Ludovico Carracci (circa 1610).

Our own David Gibson reports on fledgling popularity of purgatory among Protestants. Believe me when I say that purgatory is quite real — I lived it for 18 months in a place called Florida.

Another chestnut from Pope Francis: Judas was a sinner for betraying Jesus, but his sins were no worse than anyone else’s.

Apparently Coco Rocha is a big name in modeling? I dunno, you’re asking the wrong guy. Either way, she’s a Jehovah’s Witness and says her faith has cost her some jobs.

A new “Honeymoon Israel” will offer free trips to bring newlyweds to the Holy Land, modeled after the wildly popular “Birthright Israel” trips for young Jews.


Still confused over the travails of the Peeping Tom rabbi accused of spying on women in a ritual bath? Lauren Markoe breaks it all down with Mikvah 101.

Trick or treat? Not sure. Either way, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms that rumors and says he’s quite happy to be openly gay.

“I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” Cook wrote

The rare hand-out that will please both left and right: Houston Mayor Annise Parker has rescinded her subpoenas for pastors’ sermons related to a legal fight over a new LGBT equal rights ordinance.

Mixed bag

“Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson says it’s “time to elect godly men for crying out loud.” Which may or may not be a swipe at embattled Louisiana incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu — notice he didn’t say “godly women” or even “godly people.”

SodaStream, the Israeli company that allows you to make your own soda at home, says it’s leaving its disputed HQ in the occupied West Bank and decamping for southern Israel after worldwide protests.

And with that, it’s almost off to the weekend. Make sure we have your contact info below so we can keep sending you the Roundup every day for free. Only treats, no tricks, we promise.


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