Category: Other Christians

A bunch of anti-Catholic fanatics vandalized the altar of a Catholic church in Alabama toward the end of a Mass Sunday. I wonder whether they know it’s a Federal offense; conservatives got that provision into the same law that prohibits blockading an abortion mill.
The priest — in a savvy move — wouldn’t allow the press to photograph the ruined, toppled altar, lest it “glorify” the violence. But that’s not to suggest that we gloss over this crime and fail to prosecute it. A trial and a verdict will display the truth about the crime, and that’s necessary; society’s good and the church’s safety demand that. After that we can talk about clemency.
Is it too much to hope that this will be the beginning of some relationship between these misguided people and the parish? These four are gonna need somebody to visit them in the Pen.
(via Amy.)

Some people worry that the words of our Lady at Fatima haven’t been fulfilled yet: that Russia hasn’t been converted, but when the head of state openly embraces the Christian faith to the extent Putin has, it’s something. Is it enough to counter his ominous saber-rattling toward his neighbors?
By the way, scroll down on that second link for an amusing story about Pope Benedict paying off a bet with a reporter.

The killing of Brother Roger, the 90-year-old founder of the Taize monastery, is a shock. May the Lord of eternal life bring all consolation to the friends of Taize.

Monday morning I went to visit this wonderful Orthodox church, actually a privately-owned chapel built by a Greek immigrant farming community in Alabama. It’s a curious story.

Is there something in the water in Scandinavia? Do they just have a natural inclination to the absurd? A year after a minister in Denmark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was suspended for denying the existence of God, he’s back, since as his supervising bishop indicates, “although he disagrees with Grosboell’s views there should be room for him in Denmark’s state church.”