"I believe I am led by the Spirit to confess the sins that Roman Catholics have committed against classical Pentecostals," said Kilian McDonnell at a session of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. "I confess the sin of arrogance with which Catholics have treated Pentecostals, leading to intolerance, discrimination and exclusion. … We have employed methods of evangelization not in keeping with the Gospel, using the state to harass and oppress Pentecostals. When we were in the majority, we deprived Pentecostals of their civil rights; when we were in the minority, we demanded our full rights as citizens. … Many Catholics have failed to recognize the true ecclesial and sanctifying elements in Pentecostal churches. … We have labeled them 'enthusiasts' [and 'sects'] and have not received with gratitude the gifts and spirituality they offer." The impromptu statement was very well-received by both Catholics and Pentecostals in attendance, reports Religion News Service.

It was the headline that grabbed Weblog's eye: "U.S. soldier handed sentence for cardinal's head." Whoa! Turns out the headline was wrong (the solider is Canadian) and misleading: the head was that of a statue, not an actual human cardinal. Still, it was the head of a statue on the 18th-century Column of the Immaculate Conception in Rome, and that's a big deal. Handed a hefty fine and a one-year suspended sentence, the Canadian solider now faces a court-martial. (See an earlier story, with photo, here)

Many attend as a compromise measure in an interfaith marriage, reports the Chicago Tribune. Others are Christian ...