Happy Friday! As always, your weekly roundup:
Nebraska made news this week when it abolished the death penalty.
Ireland also made news when it legalized gay marriage by popular vote. A New York Times columnist says that Catholics are actually leading the way to its legalization.
On Saturday, the church beatified Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated in 1980 while celebrating Mass just a day after pleading and ordering soldiers to stop killing innocent civilians. “Blessed Romero is another brilliant star that belongs to the sanctity of the church of the Americas,” said Cardinal Angelo Amato, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes.
A Catholic priest in New Jersey who says he was dismissed from his campus ministry job over a Facebook post against anti-gay bullying and racism has come out as gay.
The New York Times tells the story of Sister Meghan Rice, the 85-year-old anti-nuclear activist who was released from prison on May 16 after breaking into a nuclear sanctum in 2012.
Pope Francis told an Argentine newspaper that he hasn’t watched TV since July 15, 1990. We’re still processing this news.
A California woman fell in love with a Swiss Guard at the Vatican.
And now for the papal rapid fire roundup:
This week, Pope Francis:
- Gave love advice.
- Got a new mural.
- Said “armchair Christians” are selfish.
- Played catch.
