The American nuns targeted by a Vatican crackdown respond: Rome’s charges that the U.S. sisters spend too much time caring for the poor and not enough preaching about sex “was based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency.”

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious adds: “The report has furthermore caused scandal and pain throughout the church community, and created greater polarization.” More TK, as we say in the news biz.

Speaking of snake-handling, in The Washington Post the photojournalist who was with West Virginia Pastor Randy “Mack” Wolford (in center, after the bite, supported by congregants) when he was bitten by a rattlesnake during a service recounts Wolford’s agonizing death and has a riveting photo gallery of his final hours.

Speaking of snake-handling, the Russian Orthodox Church is a powerful voice in opposing any effort to topple Syrian dictator Assad because it fears that worse may be in store for Christians there.

Evangelicals in Egypt are also trying to make a deal, in this case with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Speaking of snake-handling, John Edwards is breathing easier after a close call with the law, but adds: "I don't think God is through with me."

God has more patience than I do.

The jury is only just beginning with Msgr. William Lynn, who is on his trial in Philadelphia for covering up for priests who sexually abused children.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is staying shtum after it was revealed that while archbishop of Milwaukee he backed a policy of paying abusive priests to leave the priesthood and not fight defrocking. Actually it was probably a smart policy, but he didn’t tell the whole truth, to put it charitably, when asked about it back then.

In Washington, Cardinal – not Karl – Marx talks economic justice, only Catholic-style, not communist-style.

Ashley Biden, the vice-president’s daughter, is getting married tomorrow – apparently another intermarriage with all sorts of implications. Such as what’s up with all these gentile politico families marrying their kids off to Jews? Remember Chelsea and Marc?

DOMA may be done after a federal ruling against the federal gay marriage ban.

Is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg Jewish enough anymore? If not, why not? A Reform rabbi ponders.

Israel agrees to recognize non-Orthodox rabbis.

Three leading evangelicals are moving on.

An Ohio man who was ticketed for littering when he gave a few bucks to a roadside panhandler has been given a reprieve. The man in the wheelchair held a sign saying, “Jesus loves you, please help.” John Davis said, “I just had compassion for the guy.” The Cleveland Municipal Court just had common sense.

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David Gibson

Photo credit: The Washington Post