Religion

Just wishful thinking on the part of southern evangelicals? Or perhaps they were trying to prop up Miers as much as possible, and in some of their circles, there is no higher praise. > Harriet Miers was not raised as a Catholic. > Catholic Church records and the White House

> "I'm a Roman Catholic priest and I'm gay." > With that confession, 63-year-old Karl Clemens became the first priest in Canada to openly declare his homosexuality. > Clemens - a priest for 33 years who retired from the Kingston diocese seven years

Mainline Protestant denominations have started mass marketing advertising campaigns, and this article says they're proving successful. I generally object to such advertising (link [http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=1&art_id=29792] and link [http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=

I'll have to break out that 900-page Kerr biography again. Earlier this year, I got through page 100 before being lured away by the charms of another: > The Vatican is preparing to give England its first post- Reformation saint by putting Cardinal Newman – the 19th-century

> As prelates gathered in Rome prepare to conclude the 11th General Synod of Bishops this weekend, the Vatican has announced the schedule for the final days, which will climax with a beatification ceremony on Sunday. . . > The newly proclaimed Blesseds will include Jozef Bilczewski [http://newsaints.faithweb.com/biographies/

Sexually-active former priests want to change celibacy rules. I'm shocked. > Former Swiss Catholic priests who were forced to step down after admitting sexual relationships have formed a group to challenge the celibacy rules. Link [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=6096817&

In England: > Pagan priests will be allowed to use wine and wands during ceremonies in jails under instructions issued to every prison governor. > Inmates practising paganism will be allowed a hoodless robe, incense and a piece of religious jewellery among their personal possessions. They will also be allowed