More on Dobson Exit

An unnamed member of the Focus on the Family board says James Dobson could not allow his son to take over the ministry because Ryan Dobson divorced 2001 and later remarried. The 39-year-old tattooed surfer and skateboarder wrote a book called Be Intolerant and is known for preaching to youth. James Dobson ended his hosting duties on the Focus on the Family radio show show for Focus in February. His new show will be called James Dobson on the Family. Dr. Dobson’s new venture is likely to compete directly with Focus for donors, listeners and radio stations. One and a half million listeners tune in each day for The Focus on the Family radio show on some 1,000 stations.

Curriculum Revisions by Texas Conservatives

The Texas Board of Education voted 11 to 4 today to approve a social studies curriculum promoted by conservatives. All 10 Republicans along with one Democrat voted for the curriculum while four Democrats voting against.

Glenn Beck Under Fire

Some Christian groups are taking issue with comments made by radio talk show host and Fox commentator Glenn Beck. On his March 2 radio show, he told listeners:

I beg you, look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!

Later on his television show Beck said "social justice" was the one common rallying cry of both Nazis and Communists because they both want totalitarian government.

Beck now denies he has advised people to leave churches because they talked about social justice:

No, no, no. Didn't say that. I said if they are basing their religion on social justice. Social justice and economic justice are code words. Look for those code words, and then ask your church, 'What do you mean by that? What is that?' Because they're code words. And don't be sucked into that," said Beck.

Megachurch Pastor: Dobson Kicked Out of Focus

James Dobson was pushed out of Focus on the Family, the ministry he founded, according to his friend, Ken Hutcherson, who leads a megachurch Washington State. Hutcherson says the board of directors wanted to take a less divisive direction. Dobson is starting a new radio venture with his son, though he admitted during a Focus on the Family broadcast in November that he was asked to resign for reasons he didn't fully understand. The ministry denies Hutcherson's charges and says it gave a million dollars to help Dobson to start his new show.

High Court to Consider Church Protests

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of a Pennsylvania man awarded $5 million from the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, after members of the church protested outside his son's military funeral. Snyder found the church's Web site attacked him for raising his son a Catholic and supporting his service in the armed forces. The decision was overturned by an appeals court last year.

Prison for Faith-Healing Couple

An Oregon judge has given a couple 16 months in prison for watching their son die while relying on faith healing. Jeffrey and Marci Beagley were convicted of criminally negligent homicide for their 16-year-old son's death. Their 15-year old granddaughter died last year from pneumonia and a blood infection that also could have been treated. Her parents were acquitted of manslaughter. The Beagley's church cemetery includes many headstones marking the graves of children. An appeal is planned.

Haiti Frees Missionary; Leader Still Held

One of two Baptist missionaries still held on kidnapping charges in Haiti was released and flew to Miami yesterday. But the U.S. group's leader remained in custody.

MLB Picks TobyMac

The Major League Baseball Network will use the title track on TobyMac's latest project for its spring training series. The song Tonight hit number six on Billboard's Top 200. The Christian singer kicked off his Awake Tonight tour last week. For tour dates check his Web site.