In an unusual move, it has been announced by Italy’s ANSA news agency that Pope Benedict XVI will step down at the end of this month. Typically a Pope remains in office from installation to death. No details are available at this time.
UPDATE: MSNBC has confirmed that 85 year old Pope Benedict has announced his resignation. During a canonization ceremony in Vatican City, he stated that he “doesn’t have the strength to go on”. Reported on the Morning Joe show, it was also reported that the last resignation of a Pope was in 1415.
GEORGETOWN, DE – After a federal judge ruled that the Sussex County Council was in violation of the establishment clause by opening each meeting with the Lord’s Prayer, the council is seeking a compromise. Under a compromised, which passed by a 3-2 vote, the council president would open each meeting with a non-sectarian prayer. On occasion, the Lord’s Prayer would be used.
CHESTER BASIN, NS – A school has ruled that a student’s t-shirt promoting Christianity is “hate speech”. William Swinimer, a student at Forest Heights Community School, was punished for wearing a shirt that read, “Life is wasted without Jesus.” Swinimer, who has been disciplined in the past for wearing t-shirts promoting Christianity, is threatened with suspension for the rest of the school year if he wears the shirt to school again.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement calling for civil disobedience regarding key provisions of ObamaCare. In 
NEW YORK – Former conservative turned arch-lefty Arianna Huffington is being called on an article published on her Huffington Post which has Roman Catholics and other Christians outraged. Last Friday Huffington published a 
SAN GABRIEL, CA – The Rt. Rev. Gabino Zavala, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has resigned his post after disclosing that he was the father of two children. Zavala reported relayed his secret to Archbishop Jose Gomez before sending his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. Roman Catholic priests are required to hold a vow of celibacy.
We rarely discuss sports here at the 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will be shutting its doors in a week because a member of the Senate Democrat leadership cannot get a piece of pork. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) has placed a hold on the $4 million of funding received by the commission because he wants the federal government to buy a state prison in Thomson, IL and turn it into a federal lock-up.
GEORGETOWN, DE – The group responsible for a lawsuit against the Sussex County Council has now 
BALTIMORE, MD – At a time when many Roman Catholic bishops believe that the United States, or at least its government, is becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity, the nation’s Catholic bishops will meet in Baltimore this week to discuss these and other issues.
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland’s Roman Catholic bishops have issued a letter to all Maryland parishioners calling on them to oppose any proposal to permit same-sex marriage in the state. Entitled The Most Sacred of All Property: Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland, the letter is signed by the former archbishop of Baltimore, Edwin F. O’Brien, who has been given a new assignment in Rome; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington; and W. Francis Malooly, bishop of Wilmington, DE.
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has stated that passing a same-sex marriage bill will be a top priority in the 2012. It was expected that such a measure would pass in the 2011 session, but was pulled when African-American members of the General Assembly withdrew their support when leaders of African-American churches throughout Maryland expressed vehement and vocal opposition to the bill.
MONTREAT, NC – Billy Graham, the world’s best known evangelist, celebrates his 93rd birthday today. Graham, who first came to prominence in 1949, is also publishing his 30th book. Nearing Home addresses a range of topics from nearing the end of life to financial advice.
