Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop to lead Germany’s Limburg diocese, ending a more than two-year hiatus after he removed the previous bishop amid an uproar over his costly new residence.
CHR Comment: One wonders how so much money could be spent without someone noticing earlier.
Source: Pope appoints successor to German ‘bling bishop’ – The Washington Post
In an unusual new paper, a group of German neuroscientists report that they scanned the brain of a Catholic bishop: Does a bishop pray when he prays? And does his brain distinguish between different religions? The researchers were Sarita Silveira and colleagues of Munich, and they used fMRI to measure brain activity in “a German …
CHR Comment: Silveira and other researchers were exploring whether there was a notable difference in brain activity while the bishop prayed the Lord’s Prayer repeatedly in his mind. The experiment seems poorly formed since reciting the Lord’s Prayer repeatedly would produce a restful state similar to the control activity of resting and thinking of nothing in particular.
CHR Comment: Germany’s Protestant Churches in Hesse and Nassau will no longer invest in fossil fuel companies. The article also includes a statement from Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. An Oxford study says the divestment movement is the fastest growing in history.
Source: World’s Cities Join Growing Push to Divest From Fossil Fuels
The Episcopal Church USA’s first African-American leader hopes to call his divided church to “a deeper unity.”
CHR Comment: Curry explains his personal background and his goals for the liberal denomination which has recently lost 20% of its membership over the issue of ordaining homosexuals as priests and bishops. He is a supporter of activist religious politics and a Buffalo Bills fan.
Source: New Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry | October 30, 2015 | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | PBS
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay is taking action to shut down a fake Twitter account.
CHR Comment: Identity theft and false solicitations caused Bishop David Ricken to take action and request that Twitter remove the false account. The convenience of social media also allows convenient abuse of Christian activities.
Ashey wonders why the bishops are not more active in addressing these kinds of situations, citing other historic examples. Where are Bishops when you need them?.
“Our prelates are hung and not shot. Respect our traditions!” Damaskinos replied to Gen. Jurgen Stroop, SS, when he threatened to have Damaskinos shot for arguing against the deportation of Jews from Greece. The Greek Orthodox Bishop Who Stood Up to the Nazis | Acton PowerBlog.
The recent decision of Anglicans to approve woman bishops has greatly disrupted ecumenical discussions with Eastern Orthodox. The Orthodox view the decision as cultural rather than theological.
Orthodox Church says women bishops vote closes down talks |.
Bishop Samuel Azariah describes how the churches in Pakistan may respond to the violence they experience by appealing to God, community, and the state. Pakistan Primate condemns attack on churches in Youhanabad.
Bishop John Guernsey urges prayer for terrorists with the hope that the Lord will change them.
church history review 