The fragment is written in Coptic, a language used by some early Christians.
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Vatican newspaper calls fragment referring to Jesus' wife 'a fake'
By Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editors
(CNN) - The Vatican on Friday appeared to push back on a recently publicized piece of papyrus that appears to show an early Christian referring to Jesus' wife, with its newspaper calling the fragment "a fake."
"Substantial reasons would lead us to conclude that the papyrus is actually a clumsy counterfeit," the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said in a Friday editorial by the newspaper's editor.
"In other words, in any case it is a fake," wrote L'Osservatore Romano editor-in-chief Gian Maria Vian.
The fragment referring to Jesus wife was written in Coptic, a language used by Egyptian Christians, and says in part, "Jesus said to them, 'My wife ..."
Filed under: Catholic Church • Christianity • Vatican
Though not sanctioned by the LDS Church, an email chain is asking Mormons to fast and pray for Mitt Romney before debates.
Personal e-mail urging Mormons to fast and pray for Romney goes national
By Jessica Ravitz, CNN
(CNN) - A Utah woman unwittingly started a grassroots campaign when an e-mail she sent to her five children and a handful of friends urging a day of prayer and fasting for Mitt Romney started making the Mormon rounds.
Mona Williams, a Price, Utah, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote last Sunday evening to tell people closest to her how frustrated she is with the state of the country.
"A lot of my frustration is because I feel I don't know what to do to really make a change. Well, this time I do," she wrote. "I am asking you to join me and my family on Sunday Sept. 30 by fasting and praying for Mitt Romney. That he will be blessed in the debates," the first of which is next Wednesday.
Jessica Ravitz - CNN Writer/Producer
Filed under: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Mitt Romney • Mormonism • Politics
Need a bit of Bible? There's an app for that
(CNN) - Onlookers might think you're checking stocks, watching clips of "Honey Boo Boo" or reading news out of Libya. But on the subway, in the doctor's office, under a beach cabana – with the right gadget, God's word can be with you.
Making the Bible accessible and shareable is what YouVersion's Bible app is all about. About 300 versions of the Bible can be downloaded for free to smartphones and tablets, allowing people speaking 144 different languages to get their fix of Scripture.
"A lot of people in the U.S. have six or seven Bibles in the house and never use them," says Bobby Gruenewald, 36, the man behind this mobile Christian mission. "Our goal was to help people engage with the Bible."
If numbers are any indication, mission accomplished.
Filed under: Bible • Christianity • Technology • Trends
Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Friday, September 28
CNN: Pew poll: Obama opens up lead over Romney among Catholics
President Barack Obama has opened up a significant lead among Catholic voters, a crucial swing voting bloc, according to a recent Pew poll. Obama leads opponent Mitt Romney among Catholic voters by 54% to 39%, according to the survey, conducted from September 12 to 16 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
CNN: Photo of woman with facial hair leads to conversation, understanding
A picture of a woman with facial hair wearing a turban posted to the social media site Reddit has garnered a firestorm of Internet reaction and has taught at least two Ohio college students lessons in graciousness, humanities and religious studies. The picture was posted five days ago with the caption, "I'm not sure what to conclude from this."A 20-year old college student, who asked to remain anonymous, says one of his friends took the photo at a library at The Ohio State University. He's "not really sure why," but after he and his friends shared the picture amongst themselves, he posted it to Reddit.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula is led out of his home by Los Angeles County Sheriff's officers in Cerritos, California, September 15.
Producer of inflammatory anti-Islam film arrested, ordered held without bail
From Stan Wilson, CNN
Los Angeles (CNN) - Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man allegedly behind the inflammatory film "Innocence of Muslims," was ordered held without bail Thursday after being arrested in California and accused of violating his probation.
"He engaged in a likely pattern of deception both to his probation officers and the court," Judge Suzanne Segal said in issuing her ruling.
Filed under: Crime • Islam