Institutions
Benedict gets the New Yorker treatment
By David Gibson — March 4, 2013
No, he's no Eustace Tilley. But it's an honor. Sort of. No? Discuss.
A fake bishop infiltrates the Vatican!
By David Gibson — March 4, 2013
Well, for a few minutes at least. Not that hard to do, actually. This ain't the Pentagon. If he got into the conclave, now that'd be something. But betrayed by a sash? Why did he go to all this trouble and use a scarf? One word, bro: Gammarelli's...
Why conservative Christians should oppose teaching the Bible in public schools
By Jonathan Merritt — March 4, 2013
On Sunday night, the long awaited mini-series “The Bible” premiered on the History Channel. Produced by reality TV mogul Mark Burnett of “Survivor” fame and former “Touched by an Angel” star Roma Downey in an effort to dramatize key stories from Scripture, the series is already being embraced by Christians nationwide. After all, when is the last […]
Cardinals hold first meeting but don’t set date for conclave
By Alessandro Speciale — March 4, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Roman Catholic cardinals will be called on to decide the start date of the conclave to elect a new pope, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to do so.
Cardinal Mahony: ‘The Vatican told me to come to the conclave’
By David Gibson — March 4, 2013
One of the most embattled members of the College of Cardinals, retired Los Angeles archbishop Roger Mahony, says that the Vatican told him he had to come to the conclave to help elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
Sweet Sistine Update: Round of Elite Eight Eminences
By Daniel Burke — March 4, 2013
(RNS) As Catholic cardinals flock to Rome to pick the next pope, our Sweet Sistine bracket is heating up, with just Eight Elite Eminences left.
Protecting religious liberty in an SSM country
By Mark Silk — March 4, 2013
I understand that the Catholic bishops are a bit preoccupied at the moment, but they and other religious leaders who are worried about the implications of same-sex marriage for religious liberty should make time to read the amicus brief filed last Thursday by the American Jewish Committee in the Supreme Court’s Proposition 8/DOMA case. It […]
Your Daily Colbert: “We have undergone a popendectomy”
By David Gibson — March 4, 2013
Why isn't Stephen Colbert in our "Sweet Sistine" pool? Any baptized male can be elected, and he sure qualifies. Alas, we may have to settle for video clips like these...
Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien admits to sexual misconduct
By Trevor Grundy — March 3, 2013
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Days after pulling out of the conclave to elect the next pope and vowing to fight the charges against him, disgraced Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien admitted Sunday (March 3) to inappropriate "sexual conduct."
Popes and conclaves: everything you need to know
By David Gibson — March 3, 2013
(RNS) What are the firsts and lasts, quirks and facts of papal history that you should know about? There are plenty, and Religion News Service has compiled a handy guide.
Facebook Rumi: How a Muslim mystic became a popular meme
By Omid Safi — March 2, 2013
These memes and Facebook sayings are transforming a 13th century Muslim mystic into the perfect New Age mystic.
Cardinals flock to Rome to begin choosing next pope
By Alessandro Speciale — March 1, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) As former Pope Benedict XVI started his retired life in the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo on Friday (March 1), cardinals in Rome began preparations that will lead up to the closed-door conclave to elect his successor.
Has there ever been a black or African pope?
By David Gibson — March 1, 2013
(RNS) Amid all the fevered speculation about who might succeed Pope Benedict XVI, one possibility seems particularly tantalizing: that the conclave could elect an African to be the first black pontiff in the nearly 2,000 year history of the papacy. But would it be a first?
Job Posting from Rome
By Mark Silk — March 1, 2013
Job Title: Bishop of Rome (also Pope, Pontifex Maximus, Vicar of Christ, Servus Servorum Dei, etc.)
Pope Benedict XVI leaves office, promises ‘obedience’ to successor
By Alessandro Speciale — February 28, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The papacy of Benedict XVI came to a quiet end at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 28), making him the first pope in 600 years to voluntarily leave office.
