IRS Investigates Website's Politics

The IRS is looking into Liveprayer.com. The Internet call-in program is run by Florida evangelist Bill Keller. He told people “a vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for Satan.” Since his organization in tax exempt, the agency is determining whether Keller illegally got in involved in partisan politics.

Religion in America Survey

A survey of American adults:

Do you believe in God? Yes 92%

Do you have a belief in a personal God? Yes 51%

Is God "an impersonal force”? Yes 14%

Do you reject any concept of God? Yes 5%

Do you pray daily? Yes 58%

Are there absolute standards of right and wrong? Yes 78%

How do you determine what’s right and wrong?
Practical experience and common sense 52%
Your religion 29%
Philosophy and reason 9%
Scientific information 5%

Is there a heaven, where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded? Yes 74%

Is there a hell, where people who have led bad lives and die without being sorry are eternally punished? Yes 59%

Can many religions can lead to eternal life? Yes 70%

Is there more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion? Yes 68%

Is religion the "main influence in their political thinking”? 14%

Is homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted by society? Yes 50%

Should society discourage homosexuality? % of members of groups responding Yes
Jehovah's Witnesses 76%
Mormons 68%
Muslims 61%
Evangelicals 64%

Do you read the Bible or pray with your children?
Couples of the same religion: Yes, 63%
Religiously mixed marriages: 48%

Source: Pew Forum

Dobson Goes After Obama

James Dobson says Barack Obama is distorting the Bible. On today's edition of his Focus on the Family radio program, Dobson played segments of a speech Obama made two years ago.

Obama says, "Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?"

Dobson tells listeners that Obama went on to “deliberately distort” traditional Christianity by his comments on the Old Testament’s dietary codes. Dobson says if you follow out Obama's comments to their logical conclusion, you would wind up letting the lowest common denominator decide public policy.

Obama’s representatives have approached Dobson about a meeting at the organization's headquarters in Colorado. Focus says it will consider the offer. McCain has not met with Dobson either.

Silent Thunder

Eric Thunander tells his story in a new book called Silent Thunder. The deaf college football standout was a part of the University of Oklahoma’s 2000 National Championship team. But his book not only chronicles his triumphs but his low points.

The defensive end endured abuse and multiple foster homes as a child, finally hitting the bottom when a head injury ended his football career. He wound up trying to commit suicide. But Thunander got back in school, completed his degree and is now a motivational speaker after turning his life over to God.

Sceme Took Millions from Church-goers

South Carolina prosecutors say three men known as The Three Hebrew Boys scammed millions of dollars from church-goers. They enlisted some 7000 believers across the Carolinas with promises of great financial reward for small investments in foreign currencies, claiming God had saved them from financial ruin. But authorities say Tony Pough, Timothy McQueen and Joseph Brunson used the money on luxury items. They face 35 counts of mail fraud and $17 million has been frozen.

McCain to Baptist Church

John McCain attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church this morning. He went unnoticed by many people in the services because the visit was unannounced and McCain did not speak to the congregation or reporters.

Priest who Mocked Hillary Returns

Michael Pfleger is back. The priest suspended for mocking Hillary from the pulpit of Senator Barack Obama's former church returned to his Chicago church today. Pfleger told his St. Sabina congregation he would not "play it safe or become silent."

Bibles in China

China allows only one state-sanctioned Bible printer to stay in operation. The Amity Printing Company in Nanjing has been in business some 20 years and prints about 12 million Bibles annual. That's hardly enough for a population of 1.3 billion. There are some 30 million Christians worshiping at government-approved churches and it's estimated that tens of millions more gathering in underground churches. A quarter of the Bibles printed at Amity go over seas. You can only buy a Bible legally through a state-run church. Visitors to China caught smuggling in copies face stiff prison sentences.

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.

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.

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.”

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 11^th 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

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.

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.

Your Name is What?

A judge has given Steve Kreuscher his wish. The Chicagoland man has legally changed his name to In God We Trust. His first name is now In God and his last name was changed to We Trust. When he first made the request, the school bus driver told local media that he was concerned about God being pushed out of public life. He’s also an amateur artist who’ll start signing his new name to pieces he creates.

The Jesus Christ Show

Neil Saavedra is host of a radio show in Las Vegas called The Jesus Christ Show. It airs on KXNT radio Sunday mornings from 7 to 9 am. Saavedra answers callers questions as if he is Jesus – referring to himself as “your holy host”. He says his goal is to offer Christians support, encouragement and pastoral advice.

Atheist Billboard

This message is plastered on a large billboard along interstate 95 in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. It’s the work of a group of local atheists and directs drivers to a site called PhillyCoR. At a cost more than $22,000, it stays up through August.

Donor Alert

A Christian Donor watchdog group is warning readers about the American Bible Society. Paul Irwin was recently fired as the Society’s CEO after a New York Times article revealed Irwins ties to Internet pornography and gambling. But Ministry Watch says it’s concerns about the charity go deeper and includes:

• The lack of a doctrinal statement
• Its failure to join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
• Its cash reserve and securities totaling more than $693 million (that's the largest in the Christian ministry world)

Hagee Apologizes for Jewish Comments

John Hagee is apologizing for comments he made nearly 10 years ago about the Holocaust. Hagee said that God allowed it to bring about a Jewish return to Israel so that Biblical prophecy would be fulfilled. The megachurch pastor has written the head of the Anti-Defamation League explaining his views. Hagee writes: “I regret if my Jewish friends felt any pain as a result. I have always believed that the Holocaust was a tragedy unique in its evil and horror.” In a response, Abraham Foxman says, “We welcome Pastor Hagee’s letter clarifying his views on Jews, the Holocaust and Israel. We appreciate his regret over the pain his statements may have caused to any in the Jewish community.” Senator John McCain repudiated Hagee’s endorsement last month after this sermon came to light. Hagee had already apologized for comments about the Catholic church.

Deaf Seminary

The City Council of Castle Hills, Texas has given the ok for a group of deaf priests to operate a seminary in the town. The vote in the San Antonio suburb was four to one. Tom Coughlin plans to train men who want to become priests in a 8100 square foot home. He was ordained as a first deaf priest in North America in 1977 and calls his group the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf.

How Believers Use Christian Media

Protestants
78% listen to Christian music
64% watch Christian television
64% listen to Christian radio
55% watch Christian movies

Pastors and Ministers
94% listen to Christian music
92% read Christian nonfiction books
84% listen to Christian radio

Source: Ellison Research

Professing TV Stars

· Mr. T
The A-Team star is featured in a new reality show on TV Land this fall called I Pity the Fool. He helps people change their lives by applying his moral "rules for fools".

· WILLIE AAMES
Once a part of Charles in Charge, his Christian TV show Bibleman is now out on DVD.

· LISA WHELCHEL
The Facts of Life shopaholic Blair is now writing books on Christian parenting. Her latest is Taking Care of the Me in Mommy.

· TODD BRIDGES
Diff'rent Strokes' "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" is traveling the country speaking about his faith and recovery from drug addiction.

· KIRK CAMERON
Growing Pains Mike Seaver has starred in the Left Behind films and leads a ministry to teach evangelism techniques called Way of the Master.

Apollo Auction

A auction in Dallas last year of space memorabilia included a handwritten card containing a Bible verse used during a lunar an Apollo 11 communion service. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin read John 15:5 during the 1969 mission while using a small amount of wine and a wafer from his Presbyterian church. He had wanted to broadcast the Bible verse back to Earth, but NASA to impose radio silence during the religious observance after Madalyn Murray O'Hair filed a lawsuit. The card also has a verse on it from Psalms that Aldrin quoted during a TV broadcast before the astronauts splashed down. The card sold for nearly $180,000.

Religion Related Movies and TV

A survey of Americans on whether they have seen:
Touched by an Angel 56.9%
The Passion of the Christ 44.3%
7th Heaven 40.3%
Joan of Arcadia 30%
Veggie Tales 24.5%
This is Your Day by Benny Hinn 6.7%
Source: Baylor University

The Uncensored Bible

The Uncensored Bible: The Bawdy and Naughty Bits of the Good Book is on stores shelves this week. It’s written by two professors at Rhodes College in Memphis - Steven McKenzie and John Kaltner along with Joel Kilpatrick. He runs a Christian satire site called Lark News. The Uncensored Bible takes a look at nearly two dozen stories in Scripture and some of the odd and perhaps embarrassing interpretations of them.

Catholic New Media

The Catholic Church will hold it’s first-ever New Media conference June 22 in Atlanta. Bloggers and podcasters from around the country are expected to attend and share the latest technologies. It coinsides the Eucharistic Congress, an annual event sponsored by the Archdiocese of Atlanta which attracts more than 20,000 Catholics from the region. Both events are free.

Colorado Springs Tourism

• Compassion International - 2,500 visitors
• International Bible Society – doesn’t keep stats
• Focus on the Family - nearly 200,000 visitors annually

Stuart Hamblen's Widow

A memorial service is scheduled today in Los Angeles for the widow of Stuart Hamblen. She died of heart failure at her home in Santa Clarita at the age of 101. Suzy Hamblen helped the songwriter with many of his tunes and sang during some of the crusades of their friend, Billy Graham. Hamblen wrote songs like It is no Secret and This Ole House. Suzy Hamblen was a singer and performer in her own right. She made appearances on the Bill Gaither Homecoming Gospel Albums. The Hamblen’s were married in 1933 and remained together until Stuart’s death in 1989.

Baptists Reject Sex Database

The Southern Baptist Convention has rejected calls for it to identify sex offenders within its ranks. Instead of creating a database, messengers meeting in Indianapolis are leaving it up to local churches to take action against offenders. That means a Souther Baptist pastor convicted of a sex crime could simply move to another area of the country and the new congregation would have no idea of the man's past.

Baptists Elect New Leader

Southern Baptists have a new leader. Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention elected Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt as their president. Hunt serves as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Woodstock. He led six candidates with 53%. Frank Cox, pastor of the Atlanta-area North Metro First Baptist Church, took 22% of the vote. Out-going president Frank Page says Hunt is part of the old regime he tried to get the Convention to move away from.

Former Regent Dean Arrested

He once served as dean for Pat Robertson’s Regent University. Now, he’s behind bars. Stephen McPherson turned himself in to police in Chesapeake, Virginia. He faces 13 sexual assault charges regarding a child. McPherson resigned from his Regent post last year.

Baptist Numbers Down

Baptisms at Southern Baptist churches fell last year for the third time in a row to 345,941. That's the lowest number of baptisms recorded by the denomination in more than a decade. On top of that, membership is down to just under 16.3 million. That’s a quarter of a percent drop from the year before.

Willow Creek Meeting Gay Group

Leaders at Willow Creek Community Church have agreed to meet with members of the gay-rights advocacy group Soulforce this Sunday. Soulforce has been touring the country asking to meeting with pastors at large Evangelical churches. Most have turned them away. Willow Creek, a Chicagoland megachurch, has a ministry called A Safe Place. It is designed for people who are “struggling with same sex attraction”. Another church program called Someone I Love supports families who are dealing with a gay relative.

Bush Addresses Baptists

President Bush got a polite reception this morning from messengers attending the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis. In the past, his speeches to the Convention have been live. But this year’s address was pre-taped. He praised the group for defending “the sanctity of life". Last year, Baptists gave Bush numerous standing ovations.

Drive-in Church

New Hope Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia is offering a drive-in service. Pastor Norman Markle leads the service while the congregation remains in their cars. A low-powered AM transmitter allows worshipers to hear the preaching over the radio. People in about a dozen cars came to the first service.

Hollywood's "Most Powerful Christians"

1 - Mel Gibson
2 - Denzel Washington
3 – Patricia Heaton
4 - Tyler Perry
5 - Ralph Winter
6 - Angela Bassett
7 - Martin Sheen
8 - Martha Williamson
9 - Kristen Chenoweth
10 - Philip Anschutz
11 - Howard Kazanjian
12 - Scott Derrickson
source: Beliefnet.com

Bible Handout Stopped

The Kern High School District has told students to stop handing out Bibles at Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, California. They raised more than $1600 to buy Bibles for students as they prepare to pick up their diplomas.

Obama Lawsuit Threatened

The head of the Home School Legal Defense Association says it will sue Barack Obama’s campaign if it goes ahead with a program called the Joshua Generation Project. It is designed to get evangelicals and Catholic youth to vote for Obama. But Michael Farris lead an effort during President Bush’s re-election effort four years ago called Generation Joshua. He also wrote a book by that title. The Obama program is due to be rolled out in the next couple of weeks. Before then, Farris says he's send a cease and desist order to the democratic presidential campaign.

Charity Leader Dropped

The president of the American Bible Society is out of a job. The organization’s trustees decided not to renew the contract of Paul Irwin. He had been in the post for three years. A New York Times article last month revealed Irwin paid a hefty $5 million to a consultant with a criminal record and ties to pornographers and gambling businesses.

The Aquarian Gospel

A movie due out next year speculates about what happened in Jesus’ life between the ages of 13 and 30. The Aquarian Gospel will show him wandering mystic inspired by eastern religions who travels across India, living in Buddhist monasteries. The role of Jesus will be played by several actors and some parts will be created by computer animated actors like 300.

Baptist Abusers

Christa Brown is trying to get the Southern Baptist Convention to deal with the victims of sexual abuse within the church – including her. The Austin lawyer says a youth minister abused her four decades ago. She’s created a Web site to help other victims called Stop Baptist Predators. She wants church leaders to identify abusers within their ranks so they cannot continue to take advantage of others. The Southern Baptist Convention meets this week in Indianapolis. The last time they got together, leaders agreed to consider creating a database of credibly accused, admitted and convicted sexual abusers.

Billy Graham's Library

The Billy Graham Library has had more than 165,000 visitors since opening one year ago. That’s less than the number predicted by his son, Franklin Graham but not bad considering there has been no advertising. The $27 million Charlotte museum is free.

Evangelicals for Obama?

Conservative PR exec Mark DeMoss says Barak Obama could take a third to nearly half of the Evangelical vote in the general election. DeMoss bases the claim on the number of conservative Christians who voted for Clinton when he ran for the office and the lack of enthusiasm among Evangelical leaders for Republican John McCain. DeMoss worked for the Mitt Romney campaign and counts Focus on the Family and Franklin Graham among his clients.

Spirit "Fall Out" Leads to Suit

A Tennessee man is suing the Knoxville church where he was “slain in the spirit” last year. Robert Lavala was preaching at the Lakewind Church when he touched Matthew Lincoln who fell backward, hitting his head on the floor. Lincoln now wants $2.5 million from Lakewind because he claims he can no longer care for his disabled daughter. The church says Lincoln should not have assumed someone would able to catch him. The Smoking Gun has a copy of the suit posted.

South Dakota Votes

South Dakota Democratic Primary votes and church attendance.

• Protestant and attend weekly: Clinton 56%, Obama 44%
• Protestant and attend less often: Clinton 54%, Obama 46%
• Catholic and attend weekly: Clinton 58%, Obama 42%
• Catholic and attend less often: Clinton 58%, Obama 42%
• Others: Clinton 52%, Obama 48%

Obama Leaving Trinity Church:

• Important: Clinton 69%, Obama 31%
• Not Important: Clinton 46%, Obama 54%

Source: CNN Exit Polls

Montana Votes

Montana Democratic Primary votes and church attendance.

• Protestant and attend weekly: Clinton 60%, Obama 35%
• Protestant and attend less often: Clinton 45%, Obama 54%
• Catholic and attend weekly: Clinton 43%, Obama 54%
• Catholic and attend less often: Clinton 45%, Obama 54%
• Others: Clinton 29%, Obama 68%

Obama Leaving Trinity Church:

• Important: Clinton 57%, Obama 40%
• Not Important: Clinton 32%, Obama 66%

Source: CNN Exit Polls

Footprints

The question of who wrote the famous poem Footprints in the Sand could wind up in court. Basil Zangare has filed a lawsuit claiming his mother, Mary Stevenson, wrote it in the 1930’s. He’s suing a couple of women who each claim they wrote it. One is Canadian poet Margaret Fishback Powers. She claims to have come up with it in 1964 and then to have sold it in 1992 to HarperCollins Canada for a book. The other woman is Carolyn Joyce Carty who claims to have come up with the poem in 1963 when she was just six years old. Not named in the suit is Burrell Webb who says he wrote it in 1958. On top of all that, journalist Rachel Aviv says her research shows it was written in 1880.

Priest Stepping Down

A Chicago priest is being given a leave of absence following his comments about Hillary Clinton at Barak Obama’s former church. Cardinal Francis George says Michael Pfleger will be given time to "reflect on his recent statements". During the sermon he said, "America is the greatest sin against God." Pfleger says that was a slip of the tongue and he meant to say "Racism is the greatest sin against God" . More on his sermon.

Faithbook

A new Facebook page launched today by a group of British Jews known as the Movement for Reform Judaism. Faithbook has the support of The Muslim Institute. The idea is that the site will provide a place for religious debate and discussion.

The Shroud

The Shroud of Turin will go on display in two years. It has not been viewed in public for eight. Some people claim the Shroud was used in Jesus’ burial. But carbon dating in the 80's indicated it is only a medieval fake. By tradition, the relic is owned by the Pope.

Obama Leaves Church

Barack Obama is leaving the Trinity United Church of Christ. He’s been a member of the Chicagovideo showed up on the Internet of Michael Pfleger who was a guest speaker at Trinity. It shows the priest swearing and mocking Hillary Clinton. Obama says the comments were "offensive (and) have no place in our politics and in the pulpit." Here's Obama's resignation letter. Pfleger apologized yesterday for the remarks but he also blamed YouTube for the controversy, saying, “YouTube and headlines and soundbites can now and have now become an instrument that creates the story rather than tells the story."

Dobson Takes on New Colorado Law

Colorado’s governor has signed a bill into law this week designed bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state. James Dobson says it will allow men to use women's bathrooms, providing opportunities for sexual predators. Senator Jennifer Veiga, who sponsored the bill, says the Focus on the Family founder is wrong and is using scare tactics.

The Peace Coalition

Rick Warren is hoping to get Evangelicals to re-think the group’s missionary culture.The author of the Purpose Driven Life invited the 1700 pastors attending a three-day conference to join him in the proposed PEACE coalition. It’s a move away from funneling aid through agencies that send trained professionals into the field. It’s designed to Christian churches into a giant "network of networks" dedicated to relieving the poverty and misery in the developing world. Warren has sent some 8000 of his own Saddleback Church to more than 65 countries in the last few years. The president of Rwanda has even described his country is the first "Purpose-Driven Nation."

Genome Resignation

The scientist who led efforts to decode the human genome is stepping down from his position as head of the National Human Genome Research Institute. Francis Collins is both an outspoken Christian and believer in evolution – combining the two ideas in his book The Language of God. He helped get President Bush to sign into law last week the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

The Manifesto

Some of the Christian leaders who did NOT sign the Evangelical Manifesto:

• James Dobson, Focus on the Family
• Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Church
• Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
• Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship
• Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention

Lieberman to Speak at Christian Conference

"I believe that Pastor Hagee has made comments that are deeply unacceptable and hurtful, I also believe that a person should be judged on the entire span of his or her life's works. Pastor Hagee has devoted much of his life to fighting anti-Semitism and building bridges between Christians and Jews."

Senator Joe Lieberman explaining why he plans to fulfill his commitment to speak at the Christians United for Israel summit hosted by pastor John Hagee. Pressure has mounted on the Connecticut Senator to skip the speaking engagement ever since remarks by Hagee surfaced critical of the Catholic church and that some critics considered anti-Semitic. Hagee apologized for the Catholic comments.

ORU Provost

Oral Roberts University is losing its provost. Mark Lewandowski says he’s leaving the post in about a month but will remain a faculty member of the school. Lewandowski says he was not forced to resign. He helped bring an end to Richard Roberts tenure as the school’s president last year and threatened to resign in November if Roberts won reinstatement.

Suspended over Harry Potter

A library worker claims she was suspended from her part-time job for refusing to work at an event to promote the last Harry Potter book. The ACLU of Eastern Missouri is going to court on behalf of Deborah Smith. The civic rights group has filed a lawsuit against Poplar Bluff, claiming the Southern Baptist had to quit on her doctor’s advice rather than continue working at library. After she returned from the suspension, Smith was given tasks like moving and emptying boxes of books which supposedly put a strain on her pacemaker. No response yet from the city.

Pick of the Week

Steven Curtis Chapman Cinderella is USA Today's Pick of the Week. His 5-year-old daughter, Maria Sue Chapman was the song's inspiration. She died last week. The newspaper calls the song
"emotionally devastating" now but still beautiful.

Zondervan Makes Cuts

Zondervan is cutting jobs. The Christian publishing giant says it’s dropping 18 jobs as part of a restructuring effort. Nineteen year veteran VP Scott Bolinder is among those being laid off. The Michigan company is owned by News Corporation which also owns Fox.

City Motto

Voters in Porterville, California will decide a week from today whether to official change the city's motto to In God We Trust. It’s already on display around city buildings. The ballot measure would add it to city stationary.

Saved! Comes to Broadway

The 2004 indie movie Saved has been turned into a musical. The film makes fun of life in an evangelical Christian high school where a teenager gets pregnant after she sleeps with her boyfriend in an attempt to cure his homosexuality. The movie only pulled in $9 million. The stage production opens for a three week run starting a week from today in New York at Off Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.

Narnia Tumbles

Ticket sales for the second Narnia film fell 58% over the Memorial Day Weekend to about $28.6 million. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has taken in $96.7 overall. Industry watchers say the dip could be the result of the powerful opening of the new Indiana Jones movie. Caspian still held on to the number two spot.

Rapture Email

Want to let your friends know what happened to you after you are whisked away during the Rapture? There’s a new site that claims it will store your notes and then “automatically send the Emails after the Rapture of the Church has taken place”. Is YouveBeenLeftBehind.com a joke? It seems just as likely the operators of the site are hoping to make fun of pretribulationist Christians as they are to be sincere, since they don’t identify themselves and keep the name of the site's owner hidden. But then, since the service costs $40 for the storage space and sample email, maybe they just want to make money off believers' zeal.

Chapman Memorial

The two-hour memorial service for the daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman drew about 1500 people to Nashville’s Christ Presbyterian Church. The five-year-old adopted girl was killed when her 17-year-old brother hit her while driving an SUV in the driveway of the family's home in Franklin, Tennessee. No charges are expected to be filed against the teenager. Here's a video tribute to Maria Sue Chapman.

Jakes to Daytime TV

A daytime talk show is in development for pastor T.D. Jakes. It’s being put together by Dr. Phil McGraw’s production company, Stage 29 Productions. Jakes appears frequently on CBS’s Dr. Phil. Jakes was named among the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America by Time magazine in 2005. His Dallas church, called The Potter’s House, now boasts more than 30,000 members.

Does God Hate Lawyers?

A study of first year law students in Minnesota shows the more religious of the group fared worse academically. Researchers say medium and low spirituality seemed to had no correlation. The study was conducted at the University of St. Thomas School of Law which has a strong Catholic tradition.

Noah: The Musical

Noah:The Musical opens tonight in the country’s largest Christian theater. The Millennium Theatre is tucked away in the Ozark mountains in Branson, Missouri. The stage production includes 150 animals in the cast – half them animatronic.

Cutting Funds for Planned Parenthood

Conservative plan to soon present the White House with a petition signed by tens of thousands of voters asking that funding be cut off for subsidizing the cost of reproductive care for low-income patients at clinics. A letter asking that Title X be scraped will accompany the petition. It carries the endorsement of at least 70 conservative organizations. Among them: the Family Research Council, the Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America. Some $280 million goes to the program each year. While the money can't legally be used for abortion procedures, nearly a third of it goes to Planned Parenthood - the nation's largest abortion provider. Critics believe the federal government is, in effect, underwriting the abortions taking place at Planned Parenthood offices. While Bush imposed restrictions on foreign family-planning aid years ago, he’s not put the same law into effect here in the US.

Obama Speech Cleared

An investigation into a speech by Barack Obama to the national convention of the United Church of Christ was not a violation of IRS rules for tax-exempt organizations. The Democratic presidential addressed the denomination’s convention in Hartford during June of last year. The agency says UCC had been careful to avoid the appearance that Obama was giving a political speech.

Faith-based Mutual Funds

We recently listed for you some of the Socially Responsible Mutual Funds that are available. Here are some other notes on such funds:

Morningstar says assets in faith-based funds grew to $17 billion in 2007. That’s up from less than $500 million just 10 years ago. Here’s a look at some of them:

The Timothy Plan stays away from companies involved in pornography, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, abortion services or antifamily entertainment. The Timothy Plan Large/Midcap Value earns Morningstar's top rating. It’s five-year return is more than 16%.

But there aren't just Christian oriented mutual funds out there. The Amana Funds invests according to Islamic principles. It boasts a five-year average annual return near 20%.

MW Smith for SC Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman has canceled his appearance at today’s Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival in Zellwood, Florida following the death of his daughter. Family friend Michael W. Smith will take his place.

Qurans Given Away

A Muslim organization is giving away free English translations of the Qurans to homes in the Chicago area. More than 70,000 have been given away during in the last year. More than 30,000 have been handed out in Houston. The Book of Signs Foundation, also is known as al-Furqaan Foundation, says it hopes the 378-page paperback edition of the holy book of Islam will help Americans better understand their religion.

Hagee Responds

"I have dedicated my life to combating anti-Semitism and supporting the state of Israel. Let me be clear. To assert that I, in any way, condone the Holocaust or that monster Adolf Hitler, is the most vicious of lies.- Pastor John Hagee responding to charges of anti-semitism

Fired for Expressing Views on Gays

A University of Toledo official with strong religious beliefs says she was fired for expressing her opinion on homosexuality. Crystal Dixon is an African American who served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources for the Ohio school. She wrote an op-ed piece that was published in the Toledo Free Press last month. In a written statement, the University’s president says her opinion contradicts the University’s core values. And the University says Disxon was fired for other reasons besides the coincidental article. Dixon plans to file a discrimination suit. She serves as an elder at End Time Christian Fellowship Church.

Intelligent Design in the Classroom

A survey of US high school science teachers:

I believe human beings had been created by God within the last 10,000 years – 16%

I have:

• spent some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design – 25%
• taught creationism or intelligent design as a valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species – 12.5%
• not covered evolution at all – 2%

A Parting of the Johns

John McCain and John Hagee have parted ways. McCain is rejecting the preacher’s support and Hagee is withdrawing his endorsement. After Hagee first endorsed McCain three months ago, sermons began to surface of Hagee offering what Democrats called anti-Catholic statements. Hagee, pastor of San Antonio’s Cornerstone Church, recently met with Catholic leaders and apologized. But a new round of criticism started when comments he made a decade ago about the Nazis began to surface on the internet. Hagee said Adolph Hitler was sent to persecute the Jews on God’s behalf so that Israel would be established.

Pilots' Answer to Prayer

Two pilots in New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a small airplane. After saying a prayer, they came across an airfield they did not know about until they saw it. The home-assembled plane came to a rest next to a 20-foot-tall sign that read Jesus is Lord. They started laughing and Associated Press quotes one of the pilots as saying, "My friend and I are both Christians so our immediate reaction in a life-threatening situation was to ask for God's help."

New Car Tag Moves Forward

The South Carolina House voted 109-0 yesterday to approve a new specialty license plate that says I Believe and features a cross. The bill now goes back to the Senate for final approval before it goes to the governor for his signature. A tag that says In God We Trust is already an option, Choose Life SC will be available in the fall. Florida lawmakers are working on their own version of the I Believe plate.

Chapman's Daughter Killed

One of the the daughters of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman was killed yesterday near Nashville. Five-year-old Maria was run over by an SUV driven by her teenage brother in the family driveway. She had been adopted from China along with two other girls. The award-winning singer founded Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation that helps financially assist couples in the adoption process. The 45-year-old singer wrote a book about being a father called Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.

An online survey of UK religious views

Do you believe God to be:
Male – 62%
Female – 1%

All religions fundamentally discriminate on grounds of gender - Yes 49%
All religions discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation – Yes 56%

Religion have "no place'' in modern life:
Agree - 29%
Disagree - 62%

Source: Movement for Reform Judaism in Britain

Deepak Chopra on the Manifesto

New Age guru Deepak Chopra says the controversial Evangelical Manifesto is “good news from a sector of the American public that made intolerance their marching banner”. Writing for the Washington Post, Chopra says “The strikingly new note in the Evangelical Manifesto is that it intends to be conciliatory. But the Indian doctor warns readers, “One still expects that fundamentalists will vote overwhelmingly on the right and that abortion, school prayer, homophobia, and the flag will irrationally dominate their agenda.” His latest book is called The Third Jesus in which he advocates Jesus as a spiritual guide - a "cosmic Christ" who's really a state of mind embracing all of humanity, not just the churches built in his name.

Gutenberg Bibles

New York’s Morgan Library is putting all three copies of the Gutenberg Bible in its possesses on display through September. This is the first time in more than a decade all three have been shown at the same time. Only 150 Gutenberg Bibles were printed in the 1400’s. Only about a third of them have survive today.

Looking Back.. 2005

TOP RELIGIOUS STORIES OF 2005
1. The death of Pope John Paul II
2. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected pope
3. Terri Schiavo dies in a Florida nursing home
4. Churches and faith-based agencies respond to Hurricane Katrina disaster
5. Debate over homosexuality in mainline denominations
6. Debate on evolution vs. intelligent design
7. Posting of Ten Commandments on government property
8. Faith-based groups speak out on Bush's 3 Supreme Court nominees
9. Vatican releases long-awaited statement on homosexuality
10. Billy Graham's farewell campaign in New York City
11. Withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza strip
12. Church leaders calling for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
13. Canada approves same-sex marriages
14. Rick Warren's efforts in Africa and Ashley Smith's use of his book (The Purpose Driven Life) to help her escape from an accused killer in Atlanta
15. Catholic dioceses continue to struggle with child-abuse payments
16. Debate on stem-cell research
17. The Air Force develops new guidelines on religious activity
18. Brother Roger founder of the Taize community in France, is knifed to death
19. Democrats hold conferences on rethinking how to reach out to people of faith
20. The Chronicles of Narnia and CS Lewis
Source: Religion Newswriters Association

Denominations v Congregations

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is getting support in its fight over state rules governing church splits from the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Presbyterian Church, USA among others. More than a dozen Protestant denominations and regional districts have filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese. Under state law passed after the Civil War, congregations get to keep their property whenever they break off from a denomination. The issue has come up because so many congregations are leaving mainline churches over issues such as gay clergy and same-sex unions. Eleven conservative congregations left Episcopal Church to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a group backed by the conservative Anglican Church of Nigeria. The court battle is expected to last for years.