Happy Friday! As always, here’s your weekly news roundup:
Terrorists killed 12 people Wednesday at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The magazine staff, whose office was also fire bombed in 2011, was under threat since it published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. Recent reports say two suspects in the attack were killed after a standoff. This story is constantly developing, and the New York Times has live updates on additional hostage situations related to the attack.
Pope Francis named 20 new cardinals this week, 15 of which are eligible to vote for his successor in a future conclave. Most are from developing countries, and none are from the United States.
Republicans took full control of Capitol Hill when the 114th Congress was sworn in Tuesday. Here are seven ways religious affiliation will (and won’t) change in the new Congress.
The House of Representatives already passed legislation Thursday that changes the Affordable Care Act’s definition of full-time work from 30 hours to 40 hours a week, which reduces the number of workers to whom employers have to offer health insurance. The legislation now heads to the Senate.
Nebraska’s Supreme Court cleared the the way for the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline’s route.
President Obama has proposed free community college.
Now, in the Miami Archdiocese, supporting gay marriage can cost you your job. On a related note, a Belgian bishop said the church should to find ways to recognize gay relationships in which “exclusivity, loyalty, and care are central to each other.”
Cardinal Raymond Burke this week said he thinks a more “feminized” church and female altar servers has caused the shortage of priests. “Young boys don’t want to do things with girls. It’s just natural,” Burke said in an interview.
And now for the papal rapid fire roundup:
This week, Pope Francis:
- Met a Yazidi delegation.
- And also Angelina Jolie.
- Raffled off a new car and an old hat.
Before you go, we want to know: Do you think “heroism” drives mission trips?
