Daily links, Wed., July 11: Over-corrected Catholics, purity balls, and Sister Corita

Following up on yesterday's approval by the Episcopal Church of a blessing liturgy for same-sex couples comes news that the Catholic Church's youngest cardinal, Berlin's Rainer Maria Woelki, doesn't think that gay couples are violating natural law. But the real money quote: "Maybe it's a problem that today in the church everything must be almost over-correct. It must also be possible to be Catholic without every last detail being always checked." I can think of some of his brother bishops in America who would vehemently disagree.

On the evangelical front, Religion Dispatches gives a decidedly mixed review to a documentary about "purity balls," where daughters offer their fathers "virginity pledges," often dressed in white. (Sorry, I think that's just weird.)

Heading out into the wide world, former USC associate editor Megan Sweas explains the challenge of being both Christian and Dalit (untouchable) in India.

And for you arty types out there, be sure and give a read to Religion News Service's coverage of an exhibit of the work of Sister Corita Kent, an Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister from California whose art captured the spirit of the 1960s. I have "Coritas" myself, and they make me happy every time I look at them.

 

About the author

Bryan Cones

Bryan Cones is a writer living in Chicago.