Happy Friday (the 13th)! As always, your weekly roundup:
U.S. officials this week confirmed the death of American aid worker and ISIS captive Kayla Mueller. Her family released a letter she wrote during her captivity, in which she wrote, “Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I + by God’s will we will be together soon.”
After three young Muslims were shot to death in Chapel Hill, N.C., civil rights leaders want an investigation into the killer’s motive “based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society.”
The Supreme Court decided this week not to delay same-sex marriage in Alabama, the strongest signal yet that gay rights advocates are likely to prevail in coming months, the New York Times reports.
Pope Francis reminded Christians it’s their duty to protect the environment. “A Christian who does not protect creation, who does not let it grow, is a Christian who does not care about the work of God,” he said.
A study suggests what doctors have already said: HPV vaccines don’t cause girls to engage in risky sex, but they could save them from cervical cancer.
Jon Stewart, who has regularly offered amusing church commentary, announced he will leave his anchor chair at The Daily Show later this year.
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams (who, in case you missed it, has been suspended for 6 months for lying to the public about his experiences covering the Iraq war) is now under scrutiny for saying he shook hands with Pope John Paul II.
Surprise! Bishops aren’t too happy about the film Fifty Shades of Grey.
And now for the papal rapid fire roundup
This week, Pope Francis:
- Took a detour to a Roman shantytown.
- Said opting to not have children is selfish.
- Wants transparency.
