FAITH

Religion News: Pope’s order allows priests to forgive abortion

Staff Writer
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WEEK IN RELIGION

Pope Francis released an order earlier this week allowing priests to temporarily be able to absolve women who express contrition and seek forgiveness for having an abortion. “The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented,” the pope wrote in a letter that was released by the Vatican on Aug. 1. The order is part of the church’s jubilee year of mercy, which begins Dec. 8, 2015, and runs through Nov. 20, 2016.

SURVEY SAYS

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, modern American Catholics are increasingly more open to nontraditional families. According to the survey, 84 percent of Catholics say it’s OK for unmarried parents who live together to raise children, and 43 percent of U.S. Catholics said gay or lesbian couples are just as capable of raising children as heterosexual couples.

GOOD BOOK?

‘Good or God?’ by John Bevere

These days the terms good and God seem synonymous. We believe what’s generally accepted as good must be in line with God’s will. Generosity, humility, justice ? good. Selfishness, arrogance, cruelty ? evil. The distinction seems pretty straightforward. But is that all there is to it? If good is so obvious, why does the Bible say that we need discernment to recognize it? Good or God? isn’t another self-help message. This book will do more than ask you to change your behavior. It will empower you to engage with God on a level that will change every aspect of your life.

— Messenger International

THE WORD

Rosh Hashanah: Pronounced “rohsh-huh-SHAH-nuh.” The Jewish New Year, celebrated according to the Hebrew calendar sometime between the middle of September and the middle of October.

— ReligionStylebook.com

RELIGION AROUND THE WORLD

According to the CIA World Factbook, the religious makeup of New Zealand is:

• Christian: 44.3 percent

• Hindu: 2.1 percent

• Buddhist: 1.4 percent

• Maori Christian: 1.3 percent

• Islam: 1.1 percent

• Other religion: 1.4 percent

• No religion: 38.5 percent

• Not stated: 8.2 percent

• Objected to answering: 4.1 percent

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