It’s 2013, can you believe it? It’s a time to reflect on the past and look toward the future. Last year was a phenomenal year spiritually for the Body of Christ, including some disappointments and victories. Take a look at the happenings worldwide, as we look forward to the ones to come.
1 U.S. Catholic bishops lead opposition to the “Obamacare” requirement that insurance coverage for contraception be provided for employees. The government backs down, but not enough to satisfy the opposition.
2 A Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey shows that nones, or people with no religious affiliation, is the fastest-growing religious group in the United States, rising to 19.6 percent of the population.
3 The circulation of an anti-Islam film trailer, “Innocence of Muslims,” causes unrest in several countries, leading to claims that it inspired the fatal attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya. President Obama, at the U.N. calls for tolerance of blasphemy and respect as a two-way street.
4 Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith turns out to be a virtual non-issue for white evangelical voters, who support him more strongly than they did John McCain, in the U.S. presidential race.
5 Monsignor William Lynn of Philadelphia becomes the first senior Catholic official in the U.S. to be found guilty of covering up child abuse by priests; later Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, Mo., becomes the first bishop to be found guilty of it.
6 The Vatican criticizes the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group of U.S. nuns, alleging they haven’t supported church teaching on abortion, sexuality or women’s ordination.
7Voters OK same-sex marriage in Maine, Maryland and Washington, bringing the total approving to nine states and the District of Columbia. Also, Minnesota defeats a ban on same-sex marriage after North Carolina approves one.
8The Episcopal Church overwhelmingly adopts a trial ritual for blessing same-sex couples. Earlier, the United Methodists failed to vote on approving gay clergy, and the Presbyterians (USA) voted to study, rather than sanction same-sex marriage ceremonies.
9Six people are killed and three wounded during worship in a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee. The shooter, an Army veteran killed by police, was described as a neo-Nazi.
10The Southern Baptist Convention elects without opposition its first Black president, Rev. Fred Luter of New Orleans.
Information obtained from the Religion Newswriters Association.
