The moon has its own Catholic bishop, who is currently John Noonan. The Catholic Church says the moon is a part of Florida — sort of. An obscure church law — the 1917 Code of Canon Law — says that when an expedition sets out to discover new territory, that new land becomes part of Read more
Odd Spot
Mary Queen of Scots rosary beads stolen
Monday, July 5th, 2021Thieves snuck in through a window at a 1,000-year-old Arundel Castle, in West Sussex, England, and made off with a trove of gold and silver items worth more than $1.4 million, including gold rosary beads owned by Mary of Scots. Mary may have carried this rosary on her person as she recited her final prayers Read more
Debates rage about allowing women multiple husbands
Thursday, July 1st, 2021South Africa is considering allowing women to have multiple husbands, a move towards equality in a country that already allows men to take multiple wives. The proposal comes in a green paper from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs and has sparked outrage from conservative voices in the Rainbow Nation. Read more
Woman abandons husband to marry the Holy Spirit
Monday, June 28th, 2021A 41-year-old woman allegedly abandoned her husband of 20 years and claims to have married the Holy Spirit in an act that has shocked Kenyans and embarrassed the church in the East African country. A man who said he is her husband viewed the most recent ceremony differently: “There are not two marriages here. She Read more
Pope Francis invited Spider-Man to the Vatican
Thursday, June 24th, 2021
At his weekly audience at the Vatican on June 23, Pope Francis had a special visitor: Spider-Man. Well, not quite. Mattia Villardita, was dressed as the superhero—his childhood idol. It helps that he channels many of Spider-Man’s most noteworthy qualities by bringing joy to children in need. Mr. Villardita was invited to sit in the Read more
Quiz: Statements about refugees Which pope said it?
Monday, June 21st, 2021Throughout his pontificate, Francis has highlighted the plight of refugees. But he is not the first to do so. This year, as we observe World Refugee Day, America Magazine is testing reader’s knowledge of papal refugee statements. Read more
Post pandemic: More people reading their Bibles
Thursday, June 17th, 2021According to the American Bible Society’s 11th Annual State of the Bible Report, more Americans are turning to the Bible than they have in prior years, and they are reading it more often. Read more
e-prayer rug: digital support to Muslim prayer
Monday, June 14th, 2021A new e-prayer rug is being offered as an educational tool for use by Muslims concerned they may make errors in their daily prayers. Read more
Video of Pope Francis features false subtitles
Thursday, June 10th, 2021A video of Pope Francis talking in Italian about his longing for unity among Christians has been edited to add false English subtitles, thus changing the meaning of his video message and fooling users on social media. Read more
Priest in the running for Britain’s Shed of the Year
Thursday, June 3rd, 2021A priest in the Highlands of Scotland is up against the creators of a bra-fitting boutique and a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-inspired “inventor’s workshop” in Britain’s 2021 Shed of the Year competition. Father Len Black, from Inverness, has made it to the finals with summerhouse The Oratory Of St Joseph. He streamed Mass from the Read more