Three things for September 7
1. Vatican declines to comment on women’s vote in church meeting
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, Vatican officials declined to say if women would be able to vote on concrete proposals about the future of the Catholic Church.
For years, women activists and even nuns have pressed to be able to vote at Synod of Bishops meetings, which bring together the Catholic hierarchy to Rome to discuss pressing issues facing the 1.3-billion strong church, reports AP News.
While Pope Francis strives for inclusivity, even religious superiors have not yet been able to cast a vote in church business.
Earlier this year, Sister Natalie Becquart was appointed as the undersecretary in the Vatican’s Synod office. Her predecessors were voting members of the Catholic church, due to their position. This signals that Becquart will be granted the same authority.
Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech declined to comment on whether other women would be granted votes in 2023.
2. Michael K. Williams dead at 54
Actor Michael K. Williams was found dead by family members in his apartment on Monday afternoon at the age of 54.
Police are investigating the death as a possible drug overdose.
Williams most notably played Omar Little on HBO shows “The Wire” from 2001 to 2008. Williams’ role as Omar Little began the more prominent parts of his career.
“The character of Omar thrusted me into the limelight,” he told Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show” in 2016. “I had very low self-esteem growing up, a high need to be accepted, a corny kid from the projects. So all of a sudden, I’m like, Omar, yo, I’m getting respect from people who probably would have took my lunch money as a kid.”
He’s known for playing Chalky White in “Boardwalk Empire” and for his roles in “12 Years a Slave” and “Assasin’s Creed.”
Williams is nominated for an Emmy for his role in “Lovecraft Country,” one of four Emmy nominations in his career.
3. Joan Allen to narrate Clinton-Penny thriller audiobook
Joan Allen, best known for her roles in action thrillers, is set to narrate “State of Terror” by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny.
The book set to release on Oct. 12, 2021 is a political mystery written by the former U.S. Secretary of State, Clinton, and a Canadian mystery novelist, Penny.
Allen, who has been acting since 1977, is known for her roles as government officials in action thrillers such as the Jason Bourne movies and Oliver Stone’s “Nixon.”
“I am such a fan of Joan Allen — when I heard she would be the voice of ‘State of Terror,’ I was ecstatic,” Penny said in a press release Tuesday. “She will brilliantly bring to life all the diverse characters and elements, from drama, to thriller, to humor and, best of all, make it all deeply human.”
