Tupac Makes the Vatican’s Cut

Staff / Truthdig Dec 8, 2009 It's kind of sweetly dorky, like your grandpa finally figuring out how to use his iPod or something, but the Vatican has apparently discovered the late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur and has gone so far as to include one of his songs, "Changes," among a lineup of eight tunes on "The Vatican's Playlist" (which has its own MySpace page!). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

And on the Eighth Day, God Created Aliens

Staff / Truthdig Nov 11, 2009 The Vatican used to burn people for talking about aliens. Now it holds conferences on the subject. After presiding over such an affair, the director of the Vatican Observatory explained "we cannot put limits on God's creative freedom." (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Crucifixes Barred From Italian Classrooms

Staff / Truthdig Nov 4, 2009 An Italian mom's wish for her kids to have a secular education provided the catalyst for a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights to bar crucifixes from being displayed in Italy's classrooms. Needless to say, the court's decision didn't sit well with the Vatican. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Marx Gets a Boost from the Vatican

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2009 Although Pope Benedict XVI made a point of denouncing institutionalized Marxism two years ago, the Vatican's own newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, last week cast a more redemptive light on Karl Marx's ideas by going to the primary source and validating the German economist's critiques of capitalism. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope Makes Room for Anglicans in Catholic Church

Staff / Truthdig Oct 20, 2009 It's been nearly 500 years since King Henry VIII split with the Vatican and formed the Church of England, and now Pope Benedict XVI has given Anglicans a way to come back to the Catholic fold while keeping some of their own traditions. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Berlusconi Suing European Media Outlets for Libel

Staff / Truthdig Aug 29, 2009 Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is aiming to do some serious image rehab after taking a beating in the European press this summer for his alleged sexual indiscretions. To that end, Berlusconi is pulling out the legal big guns and going after publications in France, Italy, Spain and Britain for besmirching his reputation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Italy Approves Abortion Pill

Staff / Truthdig Jul 31, 2009 In the face of strong conservative Catholic opposition, Italy has approved use of the RU486 abortion drug. Italian authorities decided to allow the drug to be administered by a doctor up to the seventh week of pregnancy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Does Obama Have a Friend in the Vatican?

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Jul 9, 2009 When Obama meets with Benedict XVI on Friday, there will be no right-wing Catholic demonstrators upbraiding the pontiff for conferring the church's legitimacy upon this liberal politician. In fact, when it comes to economics, this conservative pope is to the left of the president.When Obama meets with Benedict XVI on Friday, there will be no right-wing Catholic demonstrators. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Pope Says Capitalism Is Failing

Staff / Truthdig Jul 8, 2009 In the spirit of the poignant critiques of capitalism made popular by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI has written a scathing letter just in time for the capitalist G-8 economic summit in Italy that demands we find a "profoundly new way of understanding business enterprise." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope’s Nazi Ties Questioned — Again

Staff / Truthdig May 13, 2009 It was just the second day of his Holy Land Tour 2009, but unsurprisingly, the presence of Pope Benedict XVI in Israel stirred up more static on Tuesday -- this time over his personal wartime history. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vatican Paper Gives ‘Angels & Demons’ a Pass

Staff / Truthdig May 8, 2009 It wasn't exactly "two thumbs up" material, but despite the Vatican's vested interest in pooh-poohing certain conspiratorial notions presented in "Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown's oeuvre, the official paper of the Holy See didn't quite pan director Ron Howard's cinematic treatment of Brown's prequel, "Angels & Demons," either. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Stakes at Notre Dame

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig May 8, 2009 You have heard the expression "more Catholic than the pope." We now know that the reaction of right-wing Catholics to Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama falls into this category. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )