So much news, so little time. In case you missed the news this week, here is your weekly roundup.
This week has proved tumultuous for Vision Forum, the nonprofit organization headed up by evangelical proponent of male-dominated households, Doug Phillips. Phillips had an extra-marital relationship with a woman and so stepped down as president of the organization. The organization shortly thereafter decided to close its doors.
Former President George W. Bush is in a bit of a pickle this week because he served as the keynote speaker at a Messianic Jews event in Irving, Texas. The president came under some fire from Jewish groups such as the Anti-Defamation League for speaking for a group whose primary purpose is to convert Jews and bring about the Second Coming.
Everyone remember Ted Cruz, of the Freshman Senator Ted Cruz who may or may not have but definitely did advocate for a government shutdown? Well, his father made news this week. Rafael Cruz, father of said freshman Senator, make the claim this week that atheism is what leads to child sexual abuse.
The USCCB met in Baltimore this week so that they could, among other things, elect a new president. Out with the old and in with the new, the bishops elected Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston as Prez and Vice Prez of the bishops conference. It was nothing terribly exciting or surprising, and is likely to mean more of the same from our bishops for the foreseeable future.
The Bible got a makeover this week with the release of the Twible, the Twitter Bible.
#Twible Ps 40: Glad that burnt offering thing is in the past. Sacrifices were bloody. But write the law on my heart? Harder than it looks.
— Jana Riess/Twible (@janariess) November 14, 2013
Meanwhile, in Hawaii, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a bill making same-sex marriage legal in the state. Hawaii, then replaced Illinois as the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage, as Illinois governor Pat Quinn will sign the same-sex marriage bill into law on November 20.
In Illinois, Bishop Paprocki of Springfield announced that he will preside over a service of "supplication and exorcism" on the same day that Governor Pat Quinn signs the same-sex marriage bill into law. The bishop claimed that “It is scandalous that so many Catholic politicians are responsible for enabling the passage of this legislation and even twisting the words of the pope to rationalize their actions despite the clear teaching of the church."
In Washington, the bishops have called for an independent review of coal transportation practices. The bishops expressed concern for how the increase in shipments could affect regional transportation, climate change, and Native American rights, among other considerations.
And now for our Papal Rapid-fire Roundup:
This week, Sarah Palin said that Pope Francis sounds kind of liberal.
But then she took it back and apologized.
Francis may be in some danger, according to a prosecutor in Italy, who warns that there may be a mafia threat against the pontiff.
In Italy, more people are going to church because of him, apparently.
He has the sniffles, so he canceled his audiences this morning.
If he has a vision of Mary, then it's probably just the cold medicine talking.
And that's about it around here. Looking for something to do this weekend? Consider entering your parish in our "Better know a parish" series here. Or take our survey on Civil and religious marriages.
