Noteworthy religious news and newsmakers | Time to praise the protester | Faith responses to bin Laden’s death gain attention | Charitable cutbacks? Parish the thought! | Christian center of gravity shifts southward
Please note: Preaching the News will not be published next week. The next issue will appear Thursday, January 6, 2012. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! “Sing to the Lord a new song,” proclaims the psalmist in the readings for Christmas Day. Along with a new song, Catholics had a new translation of the Roman Missal this year . . .
The Christmas Day reading from the Book of Isaiah has nothing but praise for “the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news.” Those who took to the streets of nations around the world this year did do so not to praise . . .
The shepherds who witnessed the infant lying in the manager “made known the message,” the gospel for Sunday, January 1 tells us. While some celebrated the message that Osama bin Laden had been killed last May, the more reflective response by many faith groups . . .
The various Christmas liturgy readings, as well as those for its Octave a Sunday later, are filled with good news. The news about charitable giving, however, is decidedly more mixed . . .
As Christians celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world this fortnight, there is one more trend to note: Thanks in large part to recent worldwide birth trends, Christianity has become at truly global religion with a decidedly southern flair . . .
Among the things Americans report dreading during the holidays: crowds and waiting in line (68 percent); gaining weight (37 percent); going into debt (37 percent); seeing relatives (24 percent); and attending holiday parties (15 percent).