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1. It's the National Day of Prayer
It seems like most daily papers have some article on local National Day of Prayer events today, so we're listing it as today's top news story. But honestly, there's not much news about today's events. Bush's speech was almost exactly the same one he has given at prayer breakfasts and days of prayer since his first inauguration. Even the 90-hour Capitol Bible Reading Marathon isn't really new: It has preceded the National Day of Prayer for the last 17 years. There's a protest of sorts called the National Day of Reason, where atheists are donating blood, but it doesn't look big enough to make much news. Anyway: People are praying today. Great! We hope they pray tomorrow, too, when the cameras are off.

2. Vatican excommunicates Chinese bishops
The Vatican has excommunicated two bishops ordained by the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, whose ordination had been opposed by Roman Catholic officials. The Vatican also excommunicated the two bishops who performed the ordinations. Catholic blogger Amy Welborn asks an interesting question: Does the excommunication of the ordainers "imply then that all of the previous bishops consecrated in the CPA have indeed had the tacit approval of the Vatican?" Discussion follows, with the general answer "not really."

3. Judge: San Diego cross must go. Really.
"It is now time, and perhaps long overdue, for this court to enforce its initial permanent injunction forbidding the presence of the Mount Soledad cross on city property," U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson Jr. told the city of San Diego yesterday. He originally ruled that the cross was unconstitutional in 1991—and it's been a long battle ever since. If it's not down in 90 days, he'll fine San Diego $5,000 a day.

4. Newspapers preview Episcopal vote
Yep, there could be another gay bishop in the Episcopal Church USA. Could be, but we'll wait and see. That seems to be the theme in Episcopal circles anyway: There's always one more meeting, one more vote, one more document, with each one touted beforehand as some kind of referendum on whether the denomination is going to be orthodox or walk away from historic Christianity. Afterward, all the talk turns to the next meeting, vote, or document.

5. Did end of Sudanese civil war make it worse for Darfur?
The New York Times argues as much today. At the very least, things are worse in Darfur than they were when the peace agreement was signed.

Quote of the day:
"Many have said that these were just college pranks, that this was a joke that got out of hand. It was not a joke then; it is not a joke now."

—Alabama attorney general Troy King, announcing 46 state arson and burglary charges against the three former college students accused of nine church arsons. The three were indicted in March on federal charges.

National Day of Prayer | Church and state | Religious freedom | Sudan | Politics | China-Vatican relations | Condoms | Abortion and life ethics | Education | Homosexuality and education | Homosexuality | Church life | Crime | Missions & ministry | Da Vinci Code | Entertainment and media | Spirituality | Other stories of interest

National Day of Prayer :

1. Prayers, and other offerings | As the Rev. Roy Kirton prays for President George W. Bush in a Copiague service today marking the National Day of Prayer, a small band of nonbelievers will be embarking on an alternative observance (Newsday)
   
   
2. Bible's profile at the Capitol touches a chord | 90-hour marathon of Bible reading, which will include readings by about two dozen members of Congress and their staffers, led up to Thursday's National Day of Prayer (The Christian Science Monitor)
   
   

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May (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50