Pope Francis: “I want to insist as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin because it puts an end to an innocent life.”
CHR Comment: The story also includes the closing of the cathedral doors that were symbolically opened for a year of jubilee mercy. The pope’s statement also includes a good example of the Roman Catholic views on repentance in distinction from that traditionally proclaimed by Protestant denominations.
Source: Pope Francis allows priests to absolve ‘grave sin’ of abortion
CHR Comment: David Gushee’s opinion piece released by the Religion News Service notes that United Methodist conferences have been debating the issue of homosexuality and church life since 1972. Recently, activists in the Reconciling Ministry Network have stepped forward to declare themselves homosexual. This action challenges the existing United Methodist standards on the issue, opening the possibility that those who have outed themselves could be disciplined. Gushee also includes some brief listing of biblical texts and arguments about why the United Methodist Church continues to teach that homosexual acts are sinful and a cause for repentance.
Source: The Methodists gather to argue about gay people again | Religion News Service
An awkward, at times profane, exchange between comedy talk show host Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher reflects the conflation of Islam with terrorism – and the debate over how to respond to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
CHR Comment: Maher, a former Catholic, is openly hostile toward religion and blames religion for many of the troubles in the world today, such as terrorism. Colbert, on the other hand, is a sincere Catholic who called Maher to humble himself and return to the Lord during a live broadcast of his program, “The Late Show.”
Source: Awkward exchange: Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher on terrorism and religion – CSMonitor.com
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