Happy Friday! As always, your weekly roundup:
A Texas high school student at the center of a tech storm after authorities mistook his clock invention for a bomb got a reprieve from the highest level Wednesday when President Obama invited him to the White House.
A 15-year-old Philadelphia-area boy was arrested last month for allegedly pursuing an Islamic State-inspired plot against Pope Francis, two federal law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
Advocates for Syrian refugee resettlement found unexpected allies as major Jewish groups have called on President Obama to open America’s gates to 100,000 asylum seekers from the war-torn Arab nation.
Sixty-three percent of Americans say Kentucky’s Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis should be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples regardless of her religious objections, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Despite a Hawaii birth certificate and repeated professions of his Christian faith, fairly large numbers of Americans still believe President Obama is a Muslim born outside of the United States.
A group of cloistered nuns has been working overtime in the kitchen to help Philadelphia church officials prepare for Pope Francis’ visit, baking 100,000 Communion hosts for his public Mass.
The U.S. Postal Service has decided not to issue new religious-themed holiday stamps this year.
Is it OK to use your phone in church? The Pew Research Center has published a new report on cell phone etiquette.
And now for the papal rapid fire roundup
This week, Pope Francis:
- Became an emoji.
- Doesn’t like dictators.
- Is a Lego character.
- Could be on your piece of toast.
