Cats and dogs: Heaven is open to cats, dogs and protestants according to Pope Francis. Read the highlights from his weekly Vatican address here.

December 25: Christmas is on December 25 because thats what the early church wanted, not because we took over ancient pagan festivals, says Eric Erickson, a blogger with tons of followers in the US. He may be right despite being on talk radio. Read more here.

Defined by action: US atheist Tania Lombrozo wants to be defined by her actions rather than her beliefs. What would that look like from the Christian side, we wonder? “We move so easily beyond beliefs to inferences about behaviour that discussions that seem to pit theist and atheists against each other may be about something else entirely. It’s when we get to behaviours — whether it’s choosing textbooks for public school science classes or waging holy war — that the stakes go up.” Read more. 

Funding theology: Ridley’s Michael Bird answers an article in The Age headlined as “Abbott government cuts university support; funds priests’ training”. The article, says Bird, raises good questions about the role of government in funding theological education, but is “let down by its biased perspective and a highly selective rendition of the facts… Theological colleges are not glorified Sunday schools, they are serious educational centres concerned with the interface between religion and public life and train students in that context.” Read more.