Saturday, June 21, 2008

Pro-life Pharmacies

DMC Pharmacy opens in Northern Virginia. You won't find condoms, birth control pills or the Plan B emergency contraceptives there. The Chantilly store will be what’s called a pro-life pharmacy. Critics, like the National Woman’s Law Center, say the owners should be forced to carry certain products. But Pharmacists for Life International believes it is pharmacist's right to refuse to fill such prescriptions.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Teacher Accused of Burning Crosses onto Students

The school board in Mount Vernon, Ohio has voted to fired a middle school teacher accused of burning the image of a cross onto the arms of students. A report also says John Freshwater preached Christian doctrine and taught creationism in his science class.One student’s family has filed a lawsuit against him and administrators. He has two weeks to respond before the decision to let him go becomes permanent. Freshwater has told local media through his lawyer that he plans to defend himself.

Christian Recording Studio Murders

Police have arrested three men who are suspects in yesterday's double murder at a Christian recording studio in Garland, Texas. The owner of Zion Gate Records, Matthew Butler, and employee Stephen Swan were shot multiple times. The suspects were driving one of the victim's cars in Texarkana and will be returned to Garland to face murder charges.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Wikipedia Bible

Wikipedia is working on it’s own version of the Bible. The online encyclopedia's Wiki Bible Project allows anyone to contribute to "an original, open content translation of the source text of the Bible that will be in the Public Domain”. Bible scholars say lots of mistakes are already being found in the rough translation.

Judge Dismissed $200 Million Lawsuit

A Mississippi judge has dismissed a $200 million lawsuit filed by a former pastor against a former parishioner. Jackson pastor Jeffery Stallworth was originally sued by the woman for $10 million, claiming she was sexually assaulted by him while a member of Anderson United Methodist Church. She also has sued The Mississippi United Methodist Conference. Stallworth pleaded guilty in 2002 to sexually assaulting the woman in Maryland. Even though Stallworth says a Maryland judge later removed that conviction, the Mississippi supreme court says he still will stay on the state’s sex offender registry.

Obama's Meeting with Christian Leaders

Barack Obama’s recent meeting with Christian leaders focused on abortion, homosexuality and his faith, according to the Chicago Tribune. Franklin Graham asked the Senator whether he believed that Jesus was the way to God or merely one of many ways. It’s not clear how Obama answered.

Lawsuit over I Believe Tags

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is going to court in an effort to stop the state of South Carolina from issuing license plates that say I Believe. The state lets private groups come up with tags for any cause if they can come up with a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders.

Alabama Car Tags

Alabama may be the next state to offer drivers I Believe custom license plates. State Senator Hank Erwin says he plans to introduce a bill that would create the faith-proclaiming tags. South Carolina Lawmakers recently approved similar legislation.

Protests at Tim Russert's Memorial

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketed at the memorial service of Meet the Press host Tim Russert taking place at the Kennedy Center. The followers of the Reverend Fred Phelps wanted to make a statement against Catholicism and Russert’s attitude toward homosexuality. In a statement, Phelps thanked God for “killing Tim Russert and sending him to hell”. The group has often protested at the funerals of soldiers -even showing up to demonstrate at Jerry Falwell’s funeral, calling him a "corpulent false prophet.”

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Teen Dies for Lack of a Catheter

A teenager in Gladstone, Oregon died from an illness that could have been easily treated. Neil Beagley died of heart failure caused by a urinary tract blockage. A catheter would have saved his life. His family attends Followers of Christ church and believe in faith-healing. Recently Beagley’s 15-month-old cousin died in a case that has led to criminal charges. But police say there will be no charges filed in Beagley’s case because in Oregon a 16-year-old can legally make his own medical decisions.

Code of Conduct Challenged

The Society of Christian Ethics has lost a member. Daniel Heimbach has resigned from the group because of a position on homosexuality proposed in its code of conduct guidelines. The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary professor had been a part of the Society for nearly a quarter of a century. But the amendments to the Standards of Professional Conduct are not official. Members will still vote on them in January.

Heimbach objects to a portion of the proposal that says:

“..activities that occur under the auspices of the Society we will neither practice nor tolerate any form of harassment or unjust discrimination, in deed or word, based on race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, religious community, sexual orientation, age, or physical condition."

Another section says, "We recognize that each of us has a right to make our own decisions and keep our own commitments in matters concerning romantic and sexual relationships."

Chapman Back on Road

Steven Curtis Chapman is getting ready to perform again. The Christian singer cancelled all his public appearances after adopted daughter, Maria Sue Chapman, was accidentally run over and killed by her brother. His first concert will take place July 11th at the Lifest Christian Festival in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There are more than a dozen US commitments Chapman will fulfill between July and September. But his appearances in other counties will be cancelled.

Bible Holds off Robber

A woman working at a South Bend, Indiana music store stopped a robbery with her Bible. According to WSBT-TV, a man told the employee of Discoteca Luzestela he had a gun and demanded money. She held up a Bible and said that was all she had to give him. The man apologized and left. Police are still looking for the suspect.

Presbyterian Statement Draws Fire

Jewish leaders are upset with a statement from the Presbyterian Church, USA. Jewish activists and some leaders within the denomination say a radical pro-Palestinian faction has revised a document that was supposed to support anti-Jewish, anti-Israel attitudes within the church. They say it now does the opposite. The conflict is likely to be front and center at the church’s upcoming General Assembly that starts Saturday in San Jose, California.

Presidential Poll of Evangelicals

A recent survey of White Evangelicals:
John McCain - 68%
Barack Obama - 22%

A survey of White Evangelicals four years ago:
President Bush – 65%
John Kerry – 30%

Source: Washington Post-ABC News poll

Monday, June 16, 2008

Evangelical Voters

  • 80% of Southern Baptist pastors polled by LifeWay Research plan to vote for John McCain
  • 78% percent of likely Evangelical voters say they'll vote for McCain according to a Barna Group survey using answers to a detailed series of questions to determine if the person was an actually an Evangelical.
  • 57% of people who say they are evangelical Protestants told pollsters they will vote for McCain. The study was commissioned by Calvin College’s Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics

Atheism and IQ

A professor of psychology in Ireland claims he can tell how likely you are to be an atheist - by knowing your IQ. Richard Lynn of the University of Ulster says the higher the IQ, the more likely a person will deny the existence of God. Lynn says he studied atheists in 137 countries to come up with his theory. Details will be published in the journal Intelligence. Other papers by Lynn have linked intelligence with race and sex.

The Da Vinci Code Sequel

The Vatican has said “no thanks” to the shooting of the The Da Vinci Code sequel. Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons will again star Tom Hanks as Harvard professor Robert Langdon. A Vatican spokesman says Brown has "turned the Gospels upside down to poison the faith.” In The Da Vinci Code Jesus marries Mary Magdalene and has children. In Angels and Demons, a group called The Illuminati try to seize control of the papacy during the election of a new Pope. Scholars have pointed out that both books are filled with factual errors.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Korea & Christianity

• About 30% of South Korea's 49 million citizens are Christian.
• The country is second only to the U.S. in the number of missionaries it sends abroad.
• In 2006, there were 16,600 Korean missionaries stationed in 173 countries.
• Christians in Asia number 350 million. That's up from about 20 million in 1900.

Ireland & Christianity

A poll surveying the religious knowledge of the Irish found only 42% of those in the North knew that there were four Gospels and 68% knew that Genesis was the first book of the Bible. The North is dominated by Protestants. Only 21% of those in the North between the ages of 16 and 24 could say there were four Gospels. And 26% could name the first of the 10 Commandments. In the South, a largely Roman Catholic area, 39% could name the first of the 10 Commandments. The survey was conducted by The Iona Institute.

Evangelical Leader Found Guilty

The director of Repent America has been given one year's probation and fined for an unauthorized anti-abortion demonstration at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia last fall. Michael Marcavage refused to move from a sidewalk when park rangers ordered him away from the spot. He had no permit from the city but claims he had the right to express his views at the location. Protestswere restricted in the area following the 9/11 attacks. Marchavage turned down a site located a half-block away.