We previously followed the dispute between Joseph Reyes and his ex-wife over the religious upbringing of their daughter, here. The judge in the case has now barred Joseph Reyes from bringing his daughter to Easter mass in a ruling that raises some troubling questions under the first amendment and parental rights.
Continue reading “Church Bars Father From Taking Daughter to Easter Mass”
Category: Religion
The sex abuse scandal has increasingly entangled Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican in allegations of the cover-up of molesting priests. Now, one case has directly implicated the Pope after it was learned that in the 1990s then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger effectively spared an American molesting hundreds of deaf boys. The then Cardinal received letters from Wisconsin priests asking him to move against the Reverend Lawrence Murphy, who worked at the St John’s School for the Deaf in St Francis, Wisconsin. He appears to have blocked efforts to defrock Murphy.
Continue reading “NYT: Pope Spared American Priest Who Molested Hundreds of Deaf Boys”
An Islamic court in Nigeria has banned any debates on the use of amputations as punishment on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs to protect Islamic traditions from being mocked or disrespected.
Continue reading “Satanic Tweets: Sharia Court Bans Discussion of Amputation Punishment on Twitter and Facebook”
U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson has ruled that Itawamba Agricultural High School did violate the constitutional rights of Constance McMillen, 18, in canceling her class prom when she asked to attend with her girlfriend while wearing a tuxedo. However, the court declined to order that the school must hold the prom.
Continue reading “Court Rules School Violated Lesbian’s Constitutional Rights in Canceling Prom But Declines To Order Relief”
The heckler who screamed “Baby Killer” at Rep. Bart Stupak (D., MI) during the health care debate has been uncovered. It was not, as widely assumed, a person in the public gallery. Rather it was Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R., TX) who has fessed up to the infraction, here. After Joe Wilson (R., SC) screamed “you lie” at the President during the State of the Union and Justice Sam Alito saying “not true” and shaking his head at the State of the Union (here), Republicans appear to have growing distemper in their ranks.
Continue reading “A Randy Moment: Congressman Admits Screaming “Baby Killer” on House Floor”
It appears that Lebanese talk show host Ali Hussain Sibat is again facing death for sorcery in Saudi Arabia. A court in Medina reaffirmed his conviction despite being reversed earlier by the court of appeals. He was convicted of claiming to be able to predict the future on his show, which is treated as a form of witchcraft in the Kingdom.
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In the midst of apologizing for abuses of children by Catholic priests, Pope Benedict XVI used his public comments to blame liberal secularism for threatening the Church and society. The Pope appears to be joining former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other leaders (here and here) campaigning against the scourge of seclurism — even as he apologizes for the widespread abuses of his church. It is astonishing to watch the expanding campaign against secularists, a rather unlikely group for villification. It appears that the scandal of pedophilic priests is only a distraction from the real threat to society — people who want society guided by civic rather than religious principles.
Continue reading “Pope: The Real Threat is the Scourge of Secularism”
We learned recently that you had to be careful how you say goodbye in Dubai (here) after a couple was arrested for kissing on the streets. It appears that you cannot even opt for texting your desires without ending up in the Dubai hoosegow. Two Emirates airlines cabin crew have been ordered jailed for three months over sexually explicit text messages. The Indian flight attendant and her cabin services supervisor were convicted of “coercion to commit sin.”
Continue reading “Coercion to Commit Sin: Dubai Arrests Couple for Sending Explicit Text Messages”
In Minnesota, James Wallace Fall, 58, is accused of marrying his ten-year-old niece. Fall insists that he is a “prophet of God.” He insists that the marriage is sanctioned by the Bible, which is full of accounts of figures with multiple and often adolescent wives.
Continue reading “Fall From Grace: “Prophet of God” Charged After “Marrying” Ten Year Old Niece”
I just saw this video from 2008 of the perils of incorporating a motorcyle into your sermon.
Continue reading “That’s Why They Call Him “The Leader of the Pew””
Bis Nichts Mehr Bleibt, or Until Nothing Remains, is a movie based on an account of how a German family was ripped apart by its associations with Scientology, which is depicted as authoritarian, abusive, and cult-like. The Church is being accused of campaigning to block the airing of the film on German television and has charged that it should be blocked as fostering “intolerance and discrimination against a religious community.” It appears to be the latest version of a blasphemy claim in the West, here.
Continue reading “Until Nothing Remains: Scientology Accused To Trying To Block Film on Church Abuses”
The Church abuse scandal has now touched Pope Benedict XVI directly with an allegation that he was directly involved in a decision to allow an abusive priest to continue pastoral duties — leading to additional crimes against children.
Continue reading “Pope on a Rope: New Allegations Connect Pope To Abusive Priest in Bavaria”
One must take care how you say Goodbye in Dubai. A British couple was spotted kissing in public in Dubai by an Emirati mother and quickly arrested. The British man named Ayman Najafi and female friend now face a month in jail for indecency.
Continue reading “A Kiss Before a Flogging: Western Couple Arrested for Kissing in Public In Dubai”
With President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder blocked any investigation or prosecution of those responsible for the torture program, Bush officials like Vice President Dick Cheney have been publicly celebrating the use of torture. Now, Karl Rove says that he is “proud” that the administration used torture “that broke the will of these terrorists.”
Continue reading “Pride in His Work: Rove Publicly Rejoices in the Use of Torture”
The Vatican’s Chief Exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, has gone public with an allegation that “the Devil is at work inside the Vatican.” He also reveals that the devil has a playful side and often mocks him.
Continue reading “Vatican’s Chief Exorcist Claims Devil Is Gaining Ground Within the Church”