Religion

> "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

> What would Jesus blog? That and other pressing questions drew 135 Christians to Southern California this weekend for a national conference billed as the first-ever for "God bloggers," a growing community of online writers who exchange information and analyze current events from a Christian perspective. >