Another high-ranking Catholic priest has resigned in the wake of the child abuse scandal. In Belgium, the highest-ranking bishop Roger Vangheluwe, 73, the Bishop of Bruges, has resigned after admitting that he also engaged in child abuse.
Continue reading “Belgium Bishop Admits To Prior Child Abuse and Resigns”
Pope Benedict XVI is named in a new lawsuit on child abuse in a case that will test the claims of diplomatic immunity claimed by the Vatican’s lawyers, here. The claims stem from the alleged cover-up of abuse by a priest at a Catholic school in Wisconsin, Father Lawrence Murphy. The lawsuit seeks the names of potentially thousands of similar priests facing “credible allegations of sexual misconduct” against them.
Continue reading “Pope on a Rope: Benedict XVI Named in New Abuse Lawsuit”
We previously posted on the death threats levied against South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, here. 
The extremists appear to have succeeded. Comedy Central confirmed that they blocked out mention of Mohammad’s name and image in the later episode.
Continue reading “Not Funny: Comedy Central Accused of Self-Censorship of South Park”
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the latest writers or artists to face death threats over a depiction of Muhammad. In this case, the threats are based on an image of Muhammad in a bear suit on the cartoon program “South Park.” Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee of RevolutionMuslim wrote on his Twitter account “May Allah kill Matt Stone and Trey Parker and burn them in Hell for all eternity. They insult our prophets Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses…”
Continue reading “South Park Creators Threatened With Death Over Depiction of Muhammad”
Ahmed bin Qassim al-Ghamidi is no longer the head of the religious police in Mecca. His offense is not corruption or nepotism or adultery. It is a single statement made in an interview in a newspaper where he suggested that men and women should be allowed to mingle in the district. He was immediately fired as head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. There will be no mixers in Mecca.
Continue reading “Saudi Head of Virtue Police Fired For Suggesting Men and Women Can Mix in Mecca”
Remember in high school feeling that that cute girl made the Earth tremble at your feet. It turns out that she does, at least according to Senior Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi.
Continue reading “Iranian Cleric: Women Causing Earthquakes with Their Revealing Clothing Styles”
Margie Phelps, the lawyer representing Westboro in the current Supreme Court case and daughter of the Church’s founder, has responded to my recent column on that case. Since I do not believe it was published, in fairness I am publishing it in full on the blog:
Continue reading “Phelps Responds To Westboro Column”
Below is my column this morning on conflicts forming around non-discrimination laws and free exercise. Much of the attention this term in the Supreme Court has focused on the campaign finance ruling striking down limits on corporate spending. However, an equally (if not more) important case has been given little attention before its oral argument on April 19, 2010. Christian Legal Society v. Martinez is the classic “sleeper case”: a case that has a low profile but could have a sweeping impact on our society. While the immediate issue is the refusal of the Hastings College of Law in California to recognize the Christian Legal Society (CLS) as an official student organization, it is a case that could address a growing conflict between anti-discrimination laws and the free exercise of religion. The question is whether anti-discrimination laws are themselves discriminatory against some faith-based organizations. Notably (while it was cut for space), we have followed other cases around the country and the world. This includes Philadelphia evicting the Boy Scouts from a historic building after over 70 years (here).
This is not a unique problem for the United States. For example, in England, the famous Jewish Free School (founded in 1732) denied entry to a student because he was not viewed as Jewish under orthodox rules since his mother was not Jewish as opposed to his father. (His mother converted to Judaism). An appellate court ruled that the use of such religious principles violated anti-discrimination laws and that the school had to admit students that it does not consider Jewish (here).
Universities have also struggled with the line between non-discrimination and religious values. Harvard recently was criticized for setting aside time in a student gym for only women to accommodate the customs of Muslim women who could not exercise in the presence of males (here).
Here is the column:
Federal trial judge Barbara Crabb handed down a major decision this week that found the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional.
Continue reading “Federal Judge Declares National Day of Prayer To Be Unconstitutional”
Rev. William Ventura, 31, of St. John the Evangelist Church in Chelmsford was one of eight men arrested this week in a prostitution sting.
Continue reading “Catholic Priest Arrested In Prostitution Sting”
Judge Richard Goldstone, the author of a United Nations report accusing Israel of war crimes in the Gaza Strip, has been reportedly barred from his own grandson’s bar mitzvah in South Africa.
Continue reading “Goldstone Reporteldy Barred From Grandson’s Bar Mitzvah Due To U.N. Report”
It is one of the touchstones of faith in the Old Testament: a wrathful God caused the plagues that devastated the ancient city of Pi-Rameses on the Nile Delta and led to the Israelites leaving Egypt. Scientists believe that, rather than divine punishment, Pharaoh Rameses the Second fell victim to global warming.
Continue reading “Exodus According to Gore: Scientists Publish Report on the Natural Causes of the Ten Plagues of Egypt”
The Boy Scouts lost a major case in Portland, Oregon with jurors awarding $1.4 million after finding Tuesday that the organization was negligent in allowing a Scout leader who was a sex offender after a three week trial.
The Islamic extremists controlling much of Somali have banned music and jingles from radio stations as an offense to Islam. The replacement for jingles? Recordings of gunfire.
Continue reading “The Day The Music Died: Islamists Ban Music on Somali Radio Stations — Replace Music with Sound of Gun Fire”
A Swedish priest had a novel way of preventing suicide: the man had to wake him first. A 44-year-old man complained that he was forwarded to a Church of Sweden pastor after he revealed his suicidal thoughts. After five minutes of silence, he asked if the priest was taking notes only to hear tell-tale snoring on the other end.
Continue reading “The Sleeping Samaritan: Suicidal Man Finds Meaning in Life After Priest Falls Asleep on Suicide Line”