Computer Fraud Scheme

The California Attorney General's office is going after several companies that used to a computer scam to defraud churches. The companies leased equipment to less than tech-savvy churches for enormous amounts of money. The company may have operated in 10 other states, offering what sounded like free computers and kiosks that could serve as message boards. If the churches didn't cough up as much as $45,000, they companies hit them with late fees and filed lawsuits against them. Among those under investigation: Urban Interfaith Network and Television Broadcasting Online, Balboa Capital, United Leasing Associates of America, Banc of America Leasing and Capital LLC. BoA says it was unaware of what was going on.

Shocking Sign Outside Church

"The Church Should Go To Hell." That's the message that's turning heads outside of the Downtown Orlando Baptist Church. WOFL-TV reports the marquee is not a prank.

TBN Host: DUI & Fatal Crash

Orange County, California authorities say TBN contributor and Trinity Music City Church pastor in Nashville, Steve Galiher, was driving drunk and going 85 miles per hour in his company-owned BMW when he hit another car in April. The 70-year-old driver who was hit recently never recovered from his injuries and died recently. Galiher told police he only had two glasses of red wine but was charged on suspicion of drunken driving resulting in an injury. Manslaughter charges may follow.

Giving Away Darwin

What former teen idol Kirk Cameron is doing to debunk evolution. CNN reports.

Cyber Attack

A New Jersey teenager has been given a year in prison for orchestrating a cyber attack on Church of Scientology Web sites almost two years ago. 19-year-old Dmitriy Guzner pleaded guilty to computer hacking charges. He has denied being part of an underground group that protests the Church of Scientology as prosecutors claim.

Grad Ceremonies at Megachurch

The ACLU is threating to sue a Connecticut school board for holding graduation ceremonies at a local megachurch. The Enfield Public School system has used the First Cathedral in Bloomfield as a graduation site for several years because of its size.

Handwritten Bible

A unique copy of the Bible is for sale on eBay. It was written by hand, one verse at a time, by more than 31,000 people across the country. The 2200 page Bible is leather bound and comes in three volumes. Christian book publisher Zondervan is the seller. The money will go to The International Bible Society. The nonprofit group translates and distributes Bibles. A published version will be sold in stores next month. You can bid on the Bible here.

Scientology Accused of Criminal Conduct

A member of the Austrailian Parliament attacked The Church of Scientology last night during a session of the legislative body. Senator Nick Xenophon raised allegations of widespread criminal conduct within the church, saying he had received letters from former followers detailing claims of abuse, false imprisonment and forced abortion. The Independent Senator called for a Senate inquiry into the religion and its tax-exempt status. The church says it has tried to meet with Xenophon and he has refused.

Transgender Law

Christian groups are mobilizing to pack tomorrow's city council meeting in Tampa, Florida when a final vote will be taken on whether to extend the city's anti-discrimination laws to include transgender individuals. A preliminary vote on the change passed unanimously at a November 5th meeting. If approved, the proposal would extend existing laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations to include "gender identity or expression."

The Florida Family Association says the law would allow cross dressing males to patronize women's restrooms. And the Community Issues Council says it would allow "sexual predators" to go into public restrooms of the opposite sex and force local business owners and landlords to accept cross-dressers. The city's attorney contends the changes are not meant to protect the occasional cross dresser, but individuals who are undergoing sexual reassignment surgery.

Next Fireproof

A followup to the movie Fireproof will explore the topic of fatherhood. Fireproof starred Kirk Cameron as a firefighter. The 2008 independent movie was produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georiga which plans to start filming Courageous this spring. It should hit theaters a year later, telling the story of four fathers in law enforcement who go through a tragedy together. Fireproof made more than $33 million on a budget of about half-a-million.

County Sued over Bibles, Cross, Prayers

Some Tennessee students are suing the Cheatham County School District for alledgedly promoting Christianity in violation of the US Constitution. Specifically, the suit points to the distribution of Gideon's Bibles in class, a teacher with a cross hanging on a classroom wall and prayers during school events.

Going Rouge

Sarah Palin's new book Going Rouge doesn't acknowledge her co-writter on the cover. Evangelical Christian writer and pro-life activist Lynn Vincent is not mentioned until she's thanked several other people. Collaborators sometimes trade such credits for higher fees, but their names usually appear prominently in the acknowledgments. Vicenct's previous books include a biography of General William Boykin and a history of the Democratic Party. The Los Angeles Times suggests parts of the book are Vincent's and not Palin, such as a reference to Blaise Pascal's philosophy in Palin's conversion from Catholicism to Evangelical Protestantism.

Suit Over Abortion Protest

A New Jersey teen is suing Bridgeton High School for refusing to let her join a anti-abortion protest. The girl is only identified as CH in court papers. The suit claims she asked the school's principal for permission to join in the Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity on October 20th. The protest is organized annually by Stand True, a ministry based in Troy, Ohio. But the principal told her she could not "do anything religious" on the campus. The teen wanted to wear an armband with the word "life" on it and to hand out anti-abortion pamphlets. CH says she was later punished for sharing her views.

A "Recipe for Disaster"

An Iowa pastor's remarks are stirring controversy about the shootings at Fort Hood. Bob Deever, pastor of West Des Moines' Grace West Church says letting Muslims serve in the military is a "recipe for disaster. " During Steve Deace's radio show. Deever said that since alleged gunman Major Nadal Hasaan was a Muslim he did not have the proper foundation to serve in the US Armed Forces. Deace added that "Islam is a violent ideology."

DC Same-Sex Bill

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is warning about what may happen if the D.C. same-sex marriage bill passes. WTTG-TV has this video report.

Alamo Sentenced

An Arkansas judge has given Cult leder Tony Alamo 175 years in federal prison for child sex convictions. The judge heard testimony from three of Alamo's child "brides" before giving Alamo the maximum time allowed by federal guidelines. Judge Harry Barnes warned Alamo he would one day face "a greater judge."

Atheist Billboard

A billboard in San Diego says, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone." XETV reports.

Behar: Keep Church Out of Government

In this video, CNN's Joy Behar on HLN decries church leaders working with Congress to get abortion restrictions in health bill and says churches should pay taxes.

Magistrate: Prayers Improper

A prayer before county commissioners meetings in Winston-Salem, North Carolina violates the First Amendment, according to a federal magistrate. But the decision carries no legal weight and the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners are not obligated to follow it. The magistrate based his opinion on frequent referrances to Jesus and he says the prayers "display a preference for Christianity over other religions by the government."

The Jesus Christians (JC's)

Some call the JC's a dangerous cult. KTTV-TV has this video report on a mother who says the California group
brainwashed her son and is now fighting to get him back.

Christianity and the Occult

In Kenya, the line between Christianity and the occult can get blurry. CNN's has this video report.

Car Tags Lose Court Battle

South Carolina will not be allowed to issue license plates with a cross and stained glass window with the phrase I Believe. A district judge (appointed by President Clinton) says it violates the First Amendment ban on establishment of religion by government. Christian groups plan to appeal - and work to get a similar plate issued using a state law that permits private groups to issue tags they design.

Cross Comes Down

The owners of dogs that killed a teenager forced his friends and classmates to remove a cross placed in his honor. The makeshift memorial for Justin Clinton along Highway 135 in Rusk County, Texas was taken down Saturday. It was originally placed there several months ago after Clinton died. The owners of the dogs said the memorial was placed on private, leased land and demanded that it come down.

Dobson Honor

One Year Ago.. James Dobson was inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communications over the complaints of protestors. They gathered to object to the Focus on the Family radio host receiving the honor because of his position on homosexuality. The hall of fame does not take into account a nominee's political or religious views.

Graham Library Upgrade

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte will close for a time next year for renovations. The facility opened two years ago, chronicling the life of the evangelist. Charlotte is Graham's hometown and the library has drawn more than 165,000 people since it opened at a cost of $27 million. Although the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association layed off more than 50 workers earlier this year, the Billy Graham library does not plan to let anyone go during the temporary shut down.

Agassi's Book

Andrea Agassi in his autobiography Open has this to say about references to God by frequent opponent Michael Chang:

"He thanks God - credits God - for the win, which offends me. That God should take sides in a tennis match, that God should side against me, that God should be in Chang's box, feels ludicrous and insulting. I beat Chang and savor every blasphemous stroke."

Charity Founder Fired

Feed The Children has fired founder and president Larry Jones. He admitted that he put hidden microphones in executive offices. Jones says he did nothing wrong and plans to file a lawsuit to get his job back. Prosecutors haven't said whether they are going to charge him with a crime. He's been battling the directors, along with his daughter, for more than a year. Jones tried to have his opponents fired last year but a judge reinstated them. He receives more than $230,000 from the Oklahoma-Based Christian relief organization which gets about one billion in donations each year, mostly from its television pleas featuring Jones.

Reader's Digest Project Dropped

Rick Warren and Reader's Digest magazine have called it quits less than a year after starting a multimedia project called the Purpose Driven Connection. Warren's Saddleback Church is taking over the operation and the quarterly print magazine will be completely discontinued. Reader's Digest filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year. Rick Warren is author of the best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life.

Breakaway Church

A church in Bessemer City, North Carolina is leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Members of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church are troubled by the denomination's acceptance of same-sex relationships, voting 559-451 to break away.

Fastest Growing

Americans with no religious affiliation are the fastest growing segment of the religious landscape. Trinity College researchers say about 15% of the adult American population has have no religious affiliation. The number was 8% in 1990. They are more likely to be young and live in the Northeast or Pacific Northwest. And in Vermont, they comprise the largest single “denomination.” A majority of them believe in God and about a third pray each week. Less than 10% call themselves atheists.

Dad: God Is Punishing Her

Lindsay Lohan's dad says God is taking her career from her. Michael Lohan is quoted in the New York Post as saying, "She's forsaken everything He's given her and she's done nothing but misuse all the gifts she's given."

Atheists Gather

Atheists and agnostics are gathering in Seattle this weekend. Some 600 people are expected at the annual convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Ron Reagan is among the speakers and events include the Nonprayer Breakfast planned for tomorrow.

GMA May Shut Down

The Gospel Music Association may not be around much longer. The option to close has been put on the table due to financial problems (debt around $800,00). The future of GMA week, held annually in Nashville, is in doubt even if the organization survives falling membership and interest.

Winans on Oprah

Oprah Winfrey says she won't let Gospel singer BeBe Winans back on her show any time soon. He appeared on her talk show last week as part of her show's karaoke challenge. But Winan's ex-wife is complaining that since Oprah said she would let Chris Brown on the show because of his domestic abuse, she should have waited until Winan's case is settled as well. He's charged with domestic assault and will be back in court at the first of the year.

Haggard Opening Church

Ted Haggard is stepping into the pulpit again. He's starting a church out of his house in Colorado Springs. The megachurch pastor was dismissed after an alleged a cash-for-sex relationship was revealed. The first gathering is this Sunday.

Maine Vote

Maine will not be the first state to approve same-sex marriage at the ballot box. Voters rejected a referendum that would have repealed the state lawing allowing same-sex marriage that had passed the Legislature and was signed by the governor. In every state in which gay marriage has been put to a vote (31) it has lost. The 5 states allowing gay marriage have done so through the courts or legislation.

Grapes of Galilee

Adam Haroz came back with more than just stories from his trip to Israel. Along with his father, who founded Haroz Vintners, he’s offering Grapes of Galilee, a wine that comes from Israel. The grapes are grown next to Nazareth by the Sea of Galilee. The wine is being pitched as something for Christians who “seek a physical connection to their spiritual homeland.”

Hidden Mics

Feed The Children founder Larry Jones placed hidden microphones in the organization’s headquarters in Oklahoma City. A private investigator found the devices planted in the ceilings of three offices used by leaders in the organization - executives Jones has been fighting with over control of the organization - including his daughter. Jones tried to fire all of them last year but a judge reinstated them to their positions. The director of Feed the Children was later let go and is suing over his dismissal. The charity pulls in more than a billion in donations each year.

The state has no law against secretly recording your own conversation but recording conversations you are not a part of is illegal.

Evangelical March

More than one and a half million Evangelicals took part in Brazil's annual March for Jesus today. It is organized by the Reborn in Christ Church, operated by a couple who just finished serving five months in prison and five months under house arrest in Florida for failing to declair $56,000 in cash they were carrying on a flight from Sao Paulo to Miami. While Brazil has a larger Roman Catholic population than any other country, the number of evangelicals continues to grow.

Book Burning "Sucess"

The Amazing Grace Baptist Church says its book burning was a "great success." Pastor Marc Grizzard says a video of the event will be up soon. Local authorities in Canton, North Carolina. had warned the congregation that it would be against the law. Grizzard and his followers said they planned to burn versions of the Bible other than the King James translation along with books by Billy Graham and Rick Warren.

On the Ballot

Maine and Washington state voters will decided tomorrow whether to give marriage rights to gay men and lesbians. Washington's Referendum 71 would give same-sex partners and unmarried seniors who live together the same rights as married couples. Although the proposed law explicitly states, "a domestic partnership is not a marriage." The Maine measure called Question 1 would remove a law from the books that allows same-sex marriage. The state also has a ballot measure on medical marijuana. It would increase the number of conditions that qualify for patients to buy marijuana.

Largest Building Program Ever

It's perhaps the largest church building program in modern history. First Baptist Church of Dallas has approved a $130 million plan to build a 3,000-seat worship center and a religious education building downtown near the city's arts district. The effort includes a glass concourse and a sky bridge. The congregation currently meets in a sanctuary built in 1890. Five buildings on the old campus will be destroyed to make way for the new facilities.

Dobson Group Banned

Focus on the Family has been banned from schools around Australia's capital city. The country's education department is looking into allegations about its practices related to homosexuality and promoting religion without parental consent. Focus programs have offered students information about marriage, pornography and abstinence.

Nativity Scene

WJBK-TV in Detroit reports on a Nativity scene removed suddenly after 63 years.

GMC Growth

The Gospel Music Channel is the fastest growing cable channel. From offices in Atlanta, it has gone from reaching about one million homes in 2004 to more than 46 million subscribers today. That's more than TeenNick (44 million) and NBA-TV (39 million). Charley Humbard, son of televangelist Rex Humbard, runs the privately held network. He previously worked at the Discovery Channel as a senior vice president. The network focuses on Christian music videos of every style. Some estimates put annual revenue for the Gospel Music Channel at more than $13 million.

Dobson Leaving Radio

You will soon no longer hear James Dobson's voice on the daily radio show Focus on the Family. He's leaving the organization's flagship daily broadcast at the end of February. Six years ago, the 73-yearl-old Dobson first started reducing his role in the ministry he founded. He gave up his position as board chairman in February.

Bible Suit Dismissed

A Knoxville, Tennessee jury has ruled against a students' claims that he could not read and discuss Bible passages during recess. Samuel and Tina Whitson filed a lawsuit on behalf of their son Luke asking for $1. But Knox County Schools says it is a misunderstanding of the school policy against adult-led Bible classes during school hours. Administrators insist student Bible reading is fine if they do it on their own.

Frat Suit Dismissed

An appeal by a Christian fraternity has been dismissed. Beta Upsilon Chi filed suit against the University of Florida because it refused to recognize it as an official organization. The 11th Curcuit decided the issue was merely academic because the university had amended its policy and allowed to register.

Grandma's Letter

A grandmother in England was scolded by local police complaining in a letter about a gay pride parade. 67-year-old Pauline Howe is the wife of a Baptist minister near Norwich. She wrote the parade was a "public display of indecency" and "offensive to God." Local officials investigated her as to whether she was engaged in "hate speech." Howe says her letter was not hate-based but she was "simply speaking as a Christian." She told the media she felt threatened when officers arrived at her door and gave her a tongue-lashing.

Scientology Decision

The Church of Scientology is calling a decision by a French court a "modern Inquisition." The church plans an appeal of today's verdict, convicting the cult and six of its members of organized fraud. They will spend as much as two years in prison and pay as much as $595,000 in fines. The 3-judge panel did not ban the church as prosecutors asked them to do. The issue came to court when two former members said the group defrauded them out of money.

Breakaway Churches

Three California congregations in the Presbyterian Church, USA are leaving the denomination. The three are:

• Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clovis
• First Presbyterian Church in Fresno
• Fowler Presbyterian Church

Each breakaway church has joined the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church based in Michigan. The congregations will keep their church properties.

Fired Over Button

A Home Depot worker in Florida has been fired because he wore a button with an American flag on it that reads, One nation under God, indivisible. Trevor Keezer says he wore it for more than a year, partly to honor his older brother who's headed to Iraq in December for his second tour of duty. After Keezer brought his Bible to work, a supervisor told him to take off the button and fired him when he refused. Several local businesses in the Okeechobee area are having employees wear similar buttons in support of Keezer. Home Depot isn't commenting.

Book Burning Goes Forward

A church is planning to go forward with its Bible and book burning even though it is illegal according to the local fire marshal in Canton, North Carolina. The pastor of Amazing Grace Baptist Church says he's going through with the Halloween night event despite the fact it goes against open burning laws. If firefighters put the fire out, the church could be fined as much as $25,000. A group of protestors is planning to attend the event at 7 pm, Eastern on October 31st.

Dueling News Conferences

Here's is a report on a decrimination lawsuit against Without Walls International Church in Tampa

America's Prophet

A new book casts Moses as "bigger than Jesus" in US political and cultural history. Bruce Feiler's new book is titled America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story. He looks at Moses in American history from the Pilgrims onward, suggesting the man who led his people out of Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land, had more to do with shaping American self-indentity than Jesus.

Robber Stops to Pray

An armed robber stopped to pray with a store clerk for nearly 10 minutes in Indianapolis on Monday. The crime took place at Advance America, a check cashing business. Even though the man fleed with a cell phone and $20 after the prayer, he turned himself in to police the next day. The man told the clerk he had a two-year-old child to support and wanted prayer about overcoming his hardships.

View of Bible Changing

Only 67% of college age adults say the Bible is a sacred text. That compares to more than 80% of 26- to 41-year-olds and 91% of those older than 42. A Barna Group survey also found less than a third (30%) of adults under 25 say the Bible is totally accurate in the principles it teaches. Less than half (40%) say they've read the Bible in the last week.

Former Dobson Employee Sentenced

A former Focus on the Family radio employee won't get any jail time for attempting to lure an underage teen into having sex with him. A Colorado judge gave Juan Alberto Ovalle five years probation after he plead guilty to attempted sexual assault of a child . He worked for Spanish-speaking arm of the ministry founded by James Dobson where he narrated Christian CDs for the organization.

Wrong Bible-Burning Church

A Mount Airy, North Carolina is getting negative feedback from around the country about its plans to burn Bibles and Christian literature on Halloween. Trouble is, it’s not the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Mount Airy that’s planning the book burning but a church by the same name in Canton, North Carolina. Pastor Jonathan Barker is not happy about all the unsolicited publicity from people who’ve confused the two congregations.

USA Today quotes Barker as saying, “We do use the King James Bible and I preach why we do but I'm sure not going to jerk a different Bible out of someone's hand and say, 'I'm burning this.' No. No. That's wrong. And I would never tell anyone or put on our website that someone is going go hell… We're just a country church in the hills where we believe Jesus is the Savior of the world. And we welcome visitors.”

Cult Leader Dies

Elizabeth Clare Prophet has died at the age of 70 in California. The leader of the Church Universal and Triumphant was known for threading together various religions. Her New Age group once stockpiled weapons and supplies in Montana in anticipation of a coming nuclear nightmare.

Lottery Reversal

Harding University has reversed itself on the Arkansas state lottery. The Little Rock-area Christian school affiliated with the Church of Christ had exempted the new lottery from a student gambling ban. But now Harding’s president says that was a mistake. The lottery began at the end of September with the sale of scratch-off tickets. Arkansas starts Powerball sales at the end of this month.

Apology for Nazi Comment

A Southern Baptist leader is apologizing for comparing some Democratic health-care proposals to Nazi Germany. Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said what Democratic leaders are advocating "is not something like what the Nazis did. It is precisely what the Nazis did." Land was speaking at a Florida banquet when he suggested the "Dr. Josef Mengele Award" should go to the president's chief health-care adviser. Mengele led the Nazi genocide including medical experiments at death camps. Land now says he never intended to "equate the Obama administration's health-care reform proposals with anything related to the Holocaust" and that he "deeply regrets" the reference to Dr. Josef Mengele.

Discrimination Suit

A former youth worker with a Florida megachurch is suing for racial discrimination. Joshua Randolph claims Brandon White, the son of the founder of Without Walls International Church and a senior administrator, sent him racially offensive e-mail messages using the N-word. Randolph says he quit over the issue. Pastor Paula White calls it an attempt to embarrass the predominantly black church. White's ex-husband led the church until he stepped down recently.

Would-be Thief Stopped

A man tried to rob the Lighthouse Christian Bookstore in Martell, California, claiming he had a gun. A female employee refused to fill the bag he brought into the store with money. After making sevearal demands, the man fled the scene.

Passenger Arrested

A Bible chanting airline passenger on a flight from Seattle to Atlanta was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The Delta flight crew made an unscheduled stop in Tennessee. Passengers say Paul Marchuk III was subdued by other passengers when he began quoting Bible verses while biting and flailing about inside the aircraft.

Burning Bibles at Church

The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, North Carolina plans a book burning on Halloween – including Bibles. Marc Grizzard says Bibles that are not King James Version have a satanic influence. The church website says members will burn “Satan's music such as country, rap, rock, pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel, contemporary Christian, jazz, soul (and) oldies.

Books going into the fire include those by Rick Warren and Billy Graham. That’s they have used Bibles other than the King James Version. Other authors going in the flames: Bill Hybels, John McArthur, James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, John Piper, Chuck Colson, Tony Evans, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swagart, Mark Driskol, Franklin Graham, Bill Bright, Tim Lahaye, Paula White, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Joyce Myers, Brian McLaren, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa, The Pope, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne, Brennan Manning and William Young.

Teen Ordered Back to Islamic Family

The runaway who fled to Florida because she was afraid of her Islamic father after embracing Christianity has been ordered back to Ohio. A Florida judge says 17-year-old Rifqa Bary should return to her family near Columbus. A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation found no credible threats.

Choose Life Tags

Choose Life license plates have hit roadblocks in New Jersey, New York and Illinois. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court decided not to consider an appeal from Illinois abortion opponents over the matter. That leaves the decision, for the moment, in the hands of state governments. Choose Life plates have won approval in 24 states. Five U.S. Circuit Courts have ruled on the matter. And each one of them has come to different conclusions.

Left Behind Video Game

A video games based on the Left Behind book series is now available in some Walmart stores around Dallas and Houston as a test. The popular novel series byTim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have sold millions of copies in 30 languages. The US market for Christian video games is expected to grap 3% of the market in the next five years, pulling in $648 million, according to estimates by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Thousands of Texas-based pastors are getting letters about the games. It's part of a 10 week campaign that runs through Christmas.

Abortion & Gay Marriage Survey

A new survey shows most Americans now oppose abortion rights. At the same time, the Pew Research Center survey shows most (57%) favor civil unions for gay couples. In 2003, support for civil unions stood at 45%. Most remain opposed to gay marriage (53%).

Graham Gets More than $1 Million

Evangelist Franklin Graham earned more than a million dollars from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse in 2008. He received $669,000 from his father’s organization and $535,000 from Samaritan's Purse. Charity watchdog Guidestar says that’s more anyone else at a US-based international relief agency. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has gone from revenue of $126 million in 2005 to $93 million last year. Earlier this year, the organization laid off 10% of its staff (55 people). Graham along with four members of the Graham family are on the board of directors, though none are part of the compensation committee. Graham says he plans to stop to halt contributions to his retirement plans from the two ministries. CEOs at the nation's biggest charities saw a 7% drop in compensation in 2008, according to the Journal of Philanthropy.

Getting to Know.. Rod Parsley

Preaches prosperity gospel at World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio

• His $40 million-a-year Breakthrough TV ministry is on 1,400 TV stations and cable affiliates


• Dropped out of Circleville Bible College in his second year, completed his BA at Ohio Christian University and was given an honorary doctorate from Liberty University


• Lives on a 21-acre compound in a $1 million home

Connecticut's Suicide Laws

A report from WTNH-TV in New Haven on physician-assisted suicide.

Demon Possession on Campus

A student at Georgia’s Berry College says he cast a demon out of a former student at a dorm room, igniting a debate over religion at the school. The student newspaper says people at the private school near Rome “are afraid we're going to be looked at as some sort of radical, right-wing school."

High Court Hears Cross Arguments

Observers say the Supreme Court looks divided over the issue of a whether a cross should stay on public land. The 6 1/2-foot monument is a memorial to those who died in World War I. During this morning's questioning, some justices indicated they would favor having Congress transfer ownership of the land to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, removing the issue. Justice Antonin Scalia showed he was at odds with an ACLU lawyer who suggested the cross only honored Christian war dead. Scalia told him it is a “common symbol of the resting place of the dead.” This is the first time the court led by John Roberts will deal with what the First Amendment means when it says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The case is Buono v. Salazar.

Fake Check in Offering

Police are looking for a Pittsburgh-area woman who put a fake check in the offering at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday that came from a stolen checkbook. She also stole a member’s wallet, using it to buy items from a New Brighton store.

Abortion Ad Rejected

A Wisconsin student newspaper is rejecting anti-abortion ads. Student editors at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Advance-Titan say the advertisement from the Human Life Alliance as too controversial. The ad includes information about abortion, its side effects, contraception, the development of a pre-born child and adoption. Pro-Life Wisconsin accuses the paper of censorship, saying the decision shows bias.

High Court Turns Aside Church

The Supreme Court has turned away an appeal from LA’s St. James Anglican Church. The breakaway Episcopalian congregation is fighting with its former national church over who owns the church's sanctuary and property. The congregation voted to split from the national church after the consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. St. James is now allied with an Anglican diocese in Uganda.

Prayer Harassment Lawsuit

The founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is suing over the prayers of a Dallas-based religious group. Mikey Weinstein, who is Jewish, says the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches is harassing him with their prayers. The suit says the group should "stop asking Jesus to plunder my fields ... seize my assets, kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations." Weinstein points to former Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt who denies he’s incited anyone to make death threats, throw feces at Weinstein’s house or leave animal carcasses on his doorstep as Weinstein claims.

High Court Considers Cross

Hundreds Leave Megachurch

Hundreds of members of a Florida megachurch have left to form a new congregation. Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church has faced a battle between new pastor Tullian Tchividjian, a grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham, and those who object to changes he’s made at the church founded by D. James Kennedy. Nearly 500 people attended the first meeting of the new congregation last Sunday. Leaders of the group lost a vote last month to oust Tchividjian. Among those who’ve left the church: Kennedy's daughter, several church elders, the organist, choir director and hundreds of choir members.

Vick Speaks at Church

NFL Quarterback Michael Vick spoke this week at Covenant Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He played in his first official game for the first time since 2006 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick served a 23-month prison term for his involvement in dog fighting. About 75 people came to hear Vick speak about his regrets and mistakes.

Bible Banner Banned

A Georgia high school football team will not take the field tonight by running through a banner with a Bible verse written across it. District officials have banned the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High team in Fort Oglethorpe from using the banners after a parent complained. Hundreds of people in the north Georgia town showed up for a rally in support of the banners and many of the 900 students wore t-shirts today bearing Bible verses. The tradition was started right after 9/11.

High Court to Rule on Cross

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in one week on whether a 7-foot cross in the middle of the desert should be removed. The World War I memorial is located in California's Mojave National Preserve. The ACLU has sued to get it taken down. The case is Buono v. Salazar.

Dan Brown's Faith

Da Vinci Code Author Dan Brown tells Parade Magazine about hs loss of faith as a child.

I was raised Episcopalian, and I was very religious as a kid. Then, in
eighth or ninth grade, I studied astronomy, cosmology, and the origins of the
universe. I remember saying to a minister, “I don’t get it. I read a book that
said there was an explosion known as the Big Bang, but here it says God created
heaven and Earth and the animals in seven days. Which is right?” Unfortunately,
the response I got was, “Nice boys don’t ask that question.” A light went off,
and I said, “The Bible doesn’t make sense. Science makes much more sense to me.”
And I just gravitated away from religion.

Read more here.

Transgendered Pastor

A Portland pastor revealed to his congregation he was born a woman. David Weekley of the Epworth United Methodist Church says he under-went surgery to become a man in his early 20s. Weekly decided to go public when he won an award for making anonymous blog entries about church inclusion.

Global Warming Survey

Do you believe the earth is warming as the result of human activity?

• white mainline Protestants - 48%
• all Americans - 47%
• white evangelical Protestants - 34%
• black Protestants - 39%

Source: Pew Research Center

Rapture Pet Service

An atheist group insists it isn’t a joke. They are offering pet services for Christians who have been taken in the rapture. Eternal Earth-Bound Pets says it will take care of dogs and cats left behind for $110. The animals will be taken care of by people with no criminal record but are not too saintly, according to the website. The offer expires in ten years if the rapture hasn’t taken place by then.

See You at the Pole

Students at Pace High School gathered around their flag pole this morning to pray as did many students around the country. But the event was especially significant at the Pace, Florida school. The principal and athletic director had been accused of violating a court agreement against the promotion of prayer at the school. Principal Frank Lay asked Athletic Director Robert Freeman to say a prayer at a school athletic banquet. Last week, the judge found them not guilty. Some 700 students skipped school to encourage the men as they entered court.

Church Boycott Poll

A Florida church’s boycott of Pepsi has local newspaper readers split. Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon decided to pull away from the soft drink company after it refused to drop its support of organizations that "oppose traditional family values.” Specifically, it has sponsored gay pride parades and opposed California's same-sex marriage ban. A Tampa Tribune readers poll found 45% of readers agree with the church and 55% disagree. Some 50 area churches are joining the boycott.

ORU Debt

Oral Roberts University says it’s out of debt. The Tulsa evangelical school went from $55 million down to just over $700,000 during the summer.

Local Church Fights Denomination

California congregation fights Reformed Church of America. SF Gate has the story.

Controversial Megachurch Pastor Survives Vote

The new pastor of Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church will stay in the pulpit. The congregation voted overwhelmingly yesterday to keep Tullian Tchividjian. The grandson of evangelist Billy Graham was battling a group that tried to remove him, including the daughter of church founder D. James Kennedy. The group was banned from the church but they paved the way for the vote which was 940-422.

Christianity Today Redesign

Christianity Today will soon sport a redesign that the editor says could leave some readers disoriented. Senior managing editor Mark Galli says the redo is aimed at a younger audience. One thing that won't change is that the online version will lag behind the print publication. CT will continue posting print articles on line gradually through the month after the print magazine comes out. The publication will re-launch in January.

Swine Flu

WJBK-TV in Detroit reports on what area churches are doing to stop the spread of swine flu.

Cult Leader Convicted

Arkansas Cult leader Tony Alamo has been convicted on 10 counts of sexual crimes. Several women testified he kept them as sexual partners, not office workers as he claimed. Jurors and witnesses both cried as they told their stories. Alamo will be setenced in about six weeks. His lawyers plan an appeal.

Satanist Arrested

Poice arrested a teenage girl who says she worships Satan for setting a church on fire in Orangevale, California near Sacramento. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints blaze damaged some church pews. Some 50 people were inside at the time.

No Credible Threats to Runaway

Florida investigators say there's no evidence to justify the claims that a teenager who ran away from her Ohio home did so because her life was threatened. Rifqa Bary says her father threatened to kill her because she converting to Christianity from Islam. The 17-year-old girl is in foster care in Orlando, where a judge is deciding whether she should be returned to Ohio.

Women Pastors Study

Women have made substantial gains in the pulpits of Protestant churches. A new study by the Barna Group finds the number of female pastors has doubled since 1999. About 10% of pastors in Protestant churches are now women. Most are in mainline churches. Most are about 55 years old. That’s up from 50 years of age just a decade ago. The average age of male pastors has rises as well, from 48 to 52. 77% of women pastors have
a seminary degree compared with only 63% of male pastors. The average salary for women is $45,300 while male pastors make about $48,600. That’s 21% higher for men than a decade ago and 30% higher for women than a decade ago. Churches led by men typically have about 103 in attendance on Sunday mornings. For women pastors, the number is closer to 81.

Another finding by Barna: The median number of adults attending Protestant church services in 1999 was 108. In 2009, that average had dropped to 101.

Kirk Franklin Caught in Riot

Kirk Franklin is safe after running into riots in Uganda. The Christian singer and his band were in the capital of Kampala last week when mobs began rioting over rumors of the arrest of a popular political figure. Franklin was attending a luncheon with the country's president. Some of the demonstrators were shot by riot police. The bus some of his band members were riding in was pelted with rocks. Here's a video he posted on YouTube about the experience.