A new book called The Sacred Art of Joking examines why jokes often go wrong and are considered offensive. James Cary suggests that Jesus was funny and used offensive humour to mock religious authorities. He gives instances in the Bible of Jesus highlighting hypocrisy by using imagery that wouldn’t look out of place in a Read more
In an odd tweet, Francis seemed to endorse the practice of flipping the bird, claiming that extending one’s middle digit indicated a certain level of “honesty” against the forces of corruption. The tweet was part of a series in which Francis extolled the virtues of all the various fingers in an aphoristic fashion. Read more
India’s government last Friday withdrew its appeal to citizens to mark Valentine’s Day not as a celebration of romance but as “Cow Hug Day” to better promote Hindu values. The Animal Welfare Board had said Wednesday that “hugging cows will bring emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness.” Read more
Fresno Diocese Bishop Joseph V. Brennan says that any new church built in the Fresno Diocese must hold at least 1,500 people. Brennan was speaking in front of a packed house at the dedication of North America’s largest Catholic parish church – St. Charles Borromeo. The mega church has seating for 3,200 people. “We’re hoping Read more
Everything from costumes for guinea pigs to charcuterie gingerbread houses to kitty litter Christmas ornaments. Here are some of the strangest gift ideas available this year that are sure to please the nutters in your life. Read more
Christingles are usually held from the end of November through to February (Advent to Candlemas), with Christmas Eve being a particularly popular time for services. During the service, each person takes a Christingle and the candles are all lit to create a warm, magical glow symbolising the light of Christ and bringing hope to people Read more
All the monks, including the abbot, in a Buddhist temple in central Thailand, have been dismissed after they tested positive for methamphetamine. Nearby villagers were concerned they could not do any merit-making by donating food to monks. But a District official Boonlert Thintapthai said more monks would be sent to the temple to allow villagers Read more
Italy’s new right-wing government has submitted a $35 billion budget plan to the country’s parliament last week, without a controversial proposal from one of the parties that compose the governing majority to subsidise marriages in the Catholic Church. Read more
Two pastors in New York who are also ride-share drivers try to inspire passengers through spiritual guidance on the road as part of what they see as mobile Christian ministries. Pastor Kenneth Drayton says a car is such an ideal place to listen to people’s stories and share his faith. Read more
Some tourists this northern summer have been treating Italy as if it’s their personal theme park. Following a Czech tourist sunbathing topless on a war memorial and Americans skinny dipping in Venice’s canals, three visitors to the Amalfi Coast look set to be charged with “obscene acts” after a woman was caught staging an impromptu Read more