Bible | The Adobo Chronicles

Minneapolis, Minnesota- There are official national symbols and there are official state symbols. The apple is New York’s official state fruit, the valley quail is California’s official state bird, the wood violet is Illinois’ official state flower, and humuhumunukunukuapua’a is Hawaii’s official state fish.

Soon, the bible will become Louisiana’s official state book. By a vote of 8-5, a committee of the Louisiana House yesterday advanced a bill that would make the bible the official state book.

Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, said he sponsored the proposal after a constituent made the request. But Carmody insisted the bill wasn’t designed to be a state endorsement of Christianity or a specific religion. “It’s not to the exclusion of anyone else’s sacred literature,” he told the House committee.

Enter Michele Bachmann, U.S. representative from Minnesota. She loves the idea so much she is taking the proposal to a national level. The congresswoman is busy drafting legislation that would make the bible the country’s official book. “This is an opportune time to introduce this bill considering that next week marks Christianity’s Holy Week leading up to Easter,” Bachmann said.

Asked by The Adobo Chronicles which version of the bible she would be proposing as the official national book of the U.S., Bachmann replied, “I will get back to you on that. I didn’t realize there was more than one version of the bible.”

The Vatican – It’s Palm Sunday this weekend, the day Roman Catholic rituals include a procession re-enacting Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem – complete with waving of palm tree branches – as well the reading of the longest gospel in the liturgical year.

The Palm Sunday gospel narrates ‘The Passion of Christ,’ including his last supper, agony in the garden, arrest, trial and crucifixion. It will be read in church services all over the world and during the Palm Sunday mass at St. Peter’s Square officiated by no less that Pope Francis.

In yet another of the many changes Pope Francis has initiated since he was elected leader of the Catholic Church, The Vatican just announced a different Palm Sunday service that will replace the reading of the pages-long Passion of Christ

In a prepared statement, Pope Francis said that instead of reading the long gospel on Palm Sunday, he will tweet a shortened version of the passion during Sunday’s services. He is encouraging Catholics planning to attend the services at St. Peter’s Square to bring their smartphones, tablets or other mobile devices so that they can call up and read the Pope’s tweet at the appropriate time during the mass.

Catholic faithful in Rome were quick to praise the Pope’s announcement, saying that the tweet will cut down the lengthy Palm Sunday services they are subjected to year after year. Members of the clergy said they are so looking forward to see how the Pope will deliver the Passion of Christ in 140 characters or less.

The Vatican encouraged Catholic churches throughout the world to follow Pope Francis’ example and also tweet the Palm Sunday gospel to their churchgoers.

(iReporter Spandan Chakrabarti, a non-Catholic, contributed to this report)