From today’s Religion News Service roundup:

In Spain over the weekend, Pope Benedict XVI defended traditional families and the rights of the unborn, attacking Spanish laws that allow gay marriage, fast-track divorce and easier access to abortions; the pontiff was met by 200 kissing gays and lesbians as he headed to dedicate Barcelona’s iconic basilica, La Sagrada Familia. Upon his return to Rome, B16 summoned 200 cardinals for an unprecedented summit on the clergy sexual abuse scandal on Nov. 19.

and:

President Obama and Michelle celebrated Diwali at a Catholic school in India yesterday. POTUS also took some tough questions from Indian students, who asked his opinion about jihad and why the U.S. doesn’t call Pakistan a “terrorist state.”

Check back this week for more on Obama’s Asia tour, including his twice-postponed and potentially difficult visit to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country and the president’s former childhood home. For more on the papal visit, here are some more links:

• Pope blasts Spain’s “aggressive” anti-church ways (AP)
• Pope slammed by gays in Barcelona, but cheered by faithful (AFP)
• Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia finally becomes a church (Reuters)
• Benedict XVI calls Spain, all of Europe, to deeper faith (Catholic News Agency)
• Railing against the Pope (GetReligion)

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