World: The clock ticks on a 48-hour ultimatum Egypt’s military chief gave President Mohammed Morsi to answer the demands of millions of protesters. The top general threatened that unless Morsi acted, the military would create its own “road map for the future”, while denying he would actually stage a coup. Opponents don’t like Morsi’s tilt toward Islamic rule. Morsi refuses to resign but six of his cabinet ministers have quit. Eight people died Sunday as protesters stormed and firebombed the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi’s political party.  

• Fugitive national Security leaker Edward Snowden has asked for asylum in 20 countries, including Russia. Snowden has been trapped in the transit area of the Moscow airport because the US cancelled his passport.  Russian President Vladimir Putin said Snowden will have to stop leaking secrets if he wants to stay. Ecuador has considered giving Snowden asylum, but is under US pressure not to do it. Snowden released a statement on Wikileaks saying that US cancellation of his passport and efforts to block his requests for asylum in other countries have left him “a stateless person”.

Sin No More: Popular NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan hid money from victims of sexual abuse suing the archdiocese of Milwaukee when he was the archbishop there, according to documents released in Milwaukee. Dolan asked and was granted permission by the Vatican to put $57 million in the cemetery trust fund. Dolan wrote in a letter, “I foresee an improved protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability.” Dolan dismissed it as old accusations.

• The director of the Vatican bank and his deputy resigned Monday under pressure from the Pope. The bank at times has been accused of both corruption and incompetence. There’s some suspicion it has been used as an offshore tax haven. Pope Francis pledged to clean up the bank.

National: The Texas legislature convened in special session in another attempt to pass anti-abortion legislation. The bill was blocked with the now-famous filibuster by State Sen. Wendy Davis. The law would close all but six abortion clinics in the state and end abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There’s a growing belief in the anti-abortion movement that a fetus feels pain at 20 weeks. The House last month passed the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” banning abortions after 20 weeks.

God’s Dream House: California’s famed Chrystal Cathedral, the home of Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power”, is now a Catholic Church re-named “The Christ Cathedral”. One priest called the cathedral “a gift from God”, but they haven’t seen their first bill for window washing.

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