Church of England to Consecrate Female Bishops

Following years of protest, the Church of England has agreed to consecrate female bishops. The church was careful to appease more conservative members of the church with a compromise, though female bishops will retain the same authority as their male counterparts.

The church would also have a class of subordinate "flying bishops" to serve parishes who do not accept women's ordination as priests...

the issue remains a divisive one, and experts on canon law expect legal fights if the General Synod approves the Church of England compromise. Female bishops would not be required to delegate their authority over conservative parishes to a traditionalist male bishop, but parishes would be able to wage a legal fight inside the church.

(UPI)

- United Press International

iBreviary? ill txt u the deets

The Vatican has officially embraced a new digital version of the Breviary (the book of daily prayers) that is available via Apple's iPhone. The program, or "app" is entitled iBreviary, and was created by Reverend Paolo Padrini.

After Padrini told Vatican officials that technologies such as the iPhone are already used widely by the church, the so-called “Pontifical Council for Social Communications” approved the father’s creation.

(TMC)

Now Catholics, including ranking members of the church can conveniently view the Breviary in "Italian, English, Spanish, French and Latin". The app costs just over $1USD and has already sold 10,000 copies.

- TMCnet

It's Easy to Become a Minister

From the Bowling Green College News:

"It literally took every bit of 15 seconds, if you're a fast typer," [Bowling Green State University Senior Matthew] Haynes said.

...[Haynes] would recommend the process to anyone.

- BG News

Atheist Denied by the City of Sin

In the Clark County, Nevada, Michael Jacobson filed to obtain a wedding officiant permit earlier this year, however his beliefs were not acknowledged by the county. As a "lifelong atheist," Jacobson has never been a member of any church or congregation, and Las Vegas law fails to take into account situations such as his.

Jacobson filled out an application to perform marriages, but sidestepped the questions on religion. County Clerk Shirley Parraguirre said she had little choice but to reject it.

As Nevada law requires, all of the county's 2,500 or so licensed officiants are connected to a congregation -- though some are as small as two people, Parraguirre said.

(LAT)

To become licensed as an officiant in Clark County, a person must have a congregational affiliation. ULC ministers (we accept individuals of all faiths and no faith) are welcomed as officiants in Clark County, however our church is not for everyone.

In spite of the Separation of Church and State, faith based laws still perpetrate discrimination throughout this country. With the help of attorney Bob Ritter, Jacobson is now firing back:

"Many atheists and agnostics have . . . deeply held beliefs," Ritter wrote in a letter to Parraguirre. "Are not their beliefs entitled to the same respect?" Nevada law, he continued, implies that "the religious are more trustworthy than the nonreligious. This is a bigoted assumption."

(LAT)

-Los Angeles Times

Russain Orthodox Church Leader Dies

At the age of 79, Patriarch Alexiy II, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, has passed away. Alexiy II became the head of the church in 1990, during which time he oversaw the fall of communism and rise of the Orthodox faith in the Russian Nation.

The Russian Orthodox Church counts nearly 70% of Russia's population - about 100 million people - among its members.

(BBC)

- British Broadcasting Corporation
- Voice of America

Remembrances

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of the tragedy in Mumbai. There is nothing more painful to see than acts of violence carried out in the name of religion.

We are all children of the same universe.

Remembering the event.

Sale of Marijuana Not Protected as Religious Freedom

Reverend Craig X. Rubin, a prominent minister of the Universal Life Church, founder of Temple 420, and current candidate for Los Angeles' mayor, was recently convicted and sentenced to probation over charges of sale and possession of marijuana. Rubin's church, Temple 420, hosts Juedo-Christian services and emphasizes the use of marijuana as a sacramental herb.

Deputy District Attorney Bob Chen seemed astounded that Rubin has never denied possessing and distributing the pot.

(IHT)

Ruben argued that his use and sale of marijuana was done as a religious practice, however the Los Angeles Superior court was not willing to hear this as a defense.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel placed Rubin on probation on condition that he serve 90 days in jail.

(MNE)

Upon appeal of this conviction, the judge approved the ruling of the trial court. According Justice Kenneth Yegan,

"[The] appellant presented no evidence that he was unable to practice his religious beliefs without selling marijuana or that he had to use marijuana to perform religious services..." Unlike the defendants in the cited cases, he added, "the ceremonial use of marijuana is not the sine qua non of appellant’s faith and religious beliefs."

(MNE)

Ruben is currently running for Mayor of the City of Los Angeles.

- International Herald Tribune
- Metropolitan News-Enterprise