What Religion is the President?

About half of all Americans don't know which religion their President professes. Just 49% said that Barack Obama is a Christian, according to a Pew Research poll. Nearly a fifth (17%) said he was a Muslim. About a third said they had no idea, even though he's been office for three years. About a third of Republicans claimed Obama was a Muslim. Six out of ten Americans knew Mitt Romney is a Mormon.

Black Couple Denied Access to Church for Wedding

A black couple says a Baptist church in Mississippi refused to allow their wedding to take place in the sanctuary. Below is a video will the couple from the Clarion Ledger or read the story here.

Lundstrom Passes

Evangelist Lowell Lundstrom has died at the age of 72. He had a long battle with Parkinson's disease and passed away at his home in Savage, Minnesota. His wife, Connie, died just seven months before him. They had been marred for 55 years. Lundstrom founded Celebration Church and was known nationally for his crusades, music, and radio and television programs.  He was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Megachurch make close

A Canadian megachurch is facing foreclosure. The CBC has a report on the prosperity teaching that lead to the falter.

Celebrity priests

The Economist takes a look at a "new bred of clergyman" in Africa here.

Walking in Jesus' Steps

The Jesus Trail now has competition. In 2010, two hikers conceived the 40 mile trail that retracing the steps of Jesus in Israel. But the country’s Ministry of Tourism has opened a rival trail. The Gospel Trail is a few miles shorter than the Jesus Trail which also journeys through more Arab villages. For more information click here.

Concert Threatened by Suit

An atheist in Utah is trying to stop a performance by Christian singer Michael W. Smith. Here's a video report from KSTU-TV about the lawsuit.

Linsanity Comes to Texas

Jeremy Lin is now a Houston Rocket. The outspoken NBA player who made a splash last season in New York with his clutch play, plans to wear the number 7 because he says it represents God to him. At his introduction press conference, Lin said, "I want to make sure I play hard and I play for God. Everything else I can be OK with. I just want to make sure as a person and as a player I'm consistent in what I believe in. The biggest thing for me is waking up every day trying to glorify God. The only thing I can really promise is I'm going to give my best effort. I'm going to do my best to be a great playmaker, a great decision-maker. I'm gonna try my best to be a humble leader and serve my teammates."

Kathie Lee Gifford on Broadway

Kathie Lee Gifford has a musical she has written headed To Broadway. It's about early 1900s evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Here's more on her announcement.

Wheaton Challenges Obama Care

Wheaton College is joining America's Catholic bishops in their legal fight against Obama Care. The Evangelical group objects to the Affordable Care Act's requirement to provide contraception. Their lawsuit, filed in DC says it "forces both institutions to violate their deeply held religious beliefs or pay severe fines. There is an exception for churches and religious schools but not faith-based organizations.

Scientology may face new troubles

USA Today takes a look at Scientology after the Tom Cruise divorce here.

Jailed for Bible Study

An Arizona pastor is in jail for holding a Bible study. The City of Phoenix raided the home of Michael Salmon because he was in violation of a city law related to occupancy. His home Bible study only brought together about 20 people. He's held the studies on his more than four acres of property for some seven years. While Salmon applied for the required permits related to fires, the city says he must commercially incorporate in order to receive a grant. He's now serving a 60 day jail sentence for his crime.

Cain on the Big Screen

Will Smith is reportedly lined up to direct his first film - The Redemption of Cain. He will also play a role in the movie about the sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and his brother Abel. The original title was changed from the The Legend of Cain to the Redemption of Cain to offer a more sympathetic portrayal of the Biblical character.

Noah

Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins have signed on to play parts in the new movie from Paramount about Noah. Crowe will play the title role while Hopkins has been cast as Noah’s grandfather, Methuselah. Darren Aronofsky's big budget biblical epic also includes Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone. The film is set for a March of 2014 release.

Beer vs Church

People Tweet about church more than beer, according to a new study. Floatingsheep.org says the numbers are different for different regions of the country. Tweets about church popped up most in the Southeast. Tweets about beer were more common in the Northeast. The survey reviewed some 10 million tweets during a week in June. Church got more than 17 thousand tweets while beer was mentioned some 14 thousand times. People living in San Francisco talked about beer the most, while Dallas was the most focused on church.

Faith drives new political movement

The Tennessean offers a look at Tea Party Evangelicals here.

Westboro: We'll Picket Andy Griffith's Funeral

The Westboro Baptist Church may have missed its chance. The group that thrives on picketing funerals had said it planned to picket the funeral of actor Andy Griffith. But Griffith was buried on North Carolina's Roanoke Island just hours after he died. The star of The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, Griffith also won a Grammy for a Gospel album. Margie Phelps, spokesperson for Westboro, called him a "twice-divorced adulterer who taught sin.

Counseling Gays Ruling

A student who says her Christian beliefs prevented her from counseling gays has lost her lawsuit against Augusta State University. A federal judge says the school's counseling program was justified in throwing Jennifer Keeton out of the program. Keeton is represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, which has not decided whether to appeal the decision. An appeals court had already refused to block her expulsion from the program, saying her lawsuit was likely to fail and she was looking for special treatment. In a similar suit, an appeals court told Eastern Michigan University that it should not have expelled Julea Ward for referring gay clients to other counselors who did not share her Christian beliefs. The Michigan House passed a bill recently that would stop programs at public schools from taking action against students who did the same. The Michigan Senate hasn't weighted in on the legislation yet.

Cruise Divorce Filing

The wife Tom Cruise says members of the Church of Scientology are following her, since she filed for divorce from him. A lawyer for the group denies the claim. Katie Holmes is asking for sole custody of their daughter, 6-year-old Suri. There are reports she is afraid he will send her to a Scientology camp. Raised a Catholic in Ohio, Holmes has reportedly enrolled in a Catholic school in New York.

Presidential faith

CNN offers a perspective on "Why a president's faith may not matter" here.

Sentenced to read the Bible

A South Carolina women was ordered to read the Bible as part of her DUI sentence for driving the wrong way down a road and causing an accident that severely injured two men. Her blood alcohol content was more than four times the legal limit. Judge Michael Nettles gave Cassandra Belle Tolley eight years. When she gets out, Tolley has five years probation, counseling - and an order to read and write a summary of the book of Job.

Singapore church scandal

CNN offers a video report about a megachurch pastor in Singapore who is accused of misusing church funds to help his wife's singing career.

Salem Suit

A concert promoter is suing the largest Christian radio broadcasting company. LMG Concerts out of Vancouver, Washington (near Portland) claims Salem Communications has a monopoly that restricts competition in the religious media market. Salem has 4 Christian radio stations in the Portland area. Salem's Fish Concerts is a competitor of LMG. The suit says all the major Christian artists have switched from LMG to Fish Concerts.

Jesus Banned from Police Prayers in Charlotte

Charlotte police are taking the name of Jesus out of prayers that are offered during official ceremonies. A notice went out last week about the policy. Employees and chaplains are warned to only give nonsectarian prayers. WBTV has a video report below.

Pastor Accused of Gamibling Away $430k

A Texas preacher and his wife are facing charges related to gambling with church funds. Prosecutors accuse the couple of gambling away $430,000. Read the story here.

Sandusky’s pastor addresses conviction from pulpit

Read the story hereat CNN.com.

TBN Accused of Covering Up Sexual Assault

The granddaughter of the founder of TBN says she was drugged and raped by an employee of the broadcasting network when she was just 13 years old. Carra Crouch, now 19, is suing the Trinity Broadcasting Network in a Southern California court, though the alleged attack took place in Atlanta during an April 2006 telethon. In the lawsuit, she claims TBN founder Paul Crouch hushed up the crime to avoid bad publicity and Jan Crouch, her grandmother, told Carra Crouch that the attack was her own fault. Although the alleged attacker, Stephen L. Smith, was fired the next day, TBN denies the accusations, saying the organization is "stunned to learn of the allegations now being made by Ms. Carra Crouch, coming more than six years after her initial report."

Guilty Verdict for End Times Preacher

A preacher we claimed the end of the world was near has been found guilty of tax evasion. Read about it here.

Tebow Gets Award

The Professional Football Writers of America has given Tim Tebow its annual Good Guy Award for the way he has handled intense media scrutiny. The group gave its George Halas Award for overcoming adversity" to New England Patriots Chairman Robert Kraft. He played a significant role in the collective bargaining negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association while his wife battled cancer.

Baptist Name Change

Southern Baptists churches can now refer to themselves as Great Commission Baptists. Leaders of the denomination voted for the change while meeting in New Orleans. Just over half of the 4800 ballots cast voted for allowing the option. The vote by ballot came after a show of hands was too close to call.

Church sign: "Ultimate Racism"

A sign outside a South Carolina church is getting a strong reaction from passersby. Read about it here.

Luter Profile

Here's a PBS profile of Fred Luter, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Watch Rev. Fred Luter Jr. on PBS. See more from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

A First for Baptists

It's official: The Southern Baptist Convention voted to install its first African-American president leader today. Fred Luter Jr. was unopposed. He was selected by delegates at the denomination's annual meeting of church leaders in his hometown of New Orleans. Luter is pastor of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church - which he turned into a megachurch.

Tebow Encourages Fathers

CBN offers a video report on Tim Tebow's Sunday talk in San Diego that brought out more than 26,000 people.

Sou Baptists losing members

The numbers are down - again, for Southern Baptists. It fell for a 5th straight year to less than 16 million. That's a drop of about one percent from last year, according to Lifeway Christian Resources. It was the second lowest year of Baptisms in the last half-century.

Movie Banned from Christian Stores

The Blind Side will no longer be sold at LifeWay Christian Stores. The Southern Baptist-owned stories pulled the Sandra Bullock movie about a black college football player accepted into a white family because the issue will come up during the denomination's annual meeting in New Orleans that starts Tuesday. A Florida pastor has proposed a resolution protesting its sale because the PG-13 movie contains profanity and a racial slur. Rodney Baker, pastor of Hopeful Baptist Church in Lake City, was able to get the Florida Baptist Convention pass a resolution similar to it last year. He says the movie is not "family friendly."

Evangelicals & undocumented immigrants

A discussion on MSNBC about a group of Evangelicals who've signed a document concerning undocumented immigrants.
 

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Protest against Billy Graham

The infamous Westboro Baptist Church has set its sights on Billy Graham's Charlotte-based library yesterday. Members protested what the church's website calls the "lying whore false prophet Billy Graham" because he should tell people "that it's not okay to be a fag, it's not okay to divorce and remarry, it's not okay to fornicate, it's not okay to kill your babies." The group declared Graham's wife is in hell and he will go there as well. Graham has publicly supported a proposed state amendment that would ban gay marriage.

The Candy Cane Case

The Supreme Court has decided not to reconsider a lower court ruling known as the candy case case. Two Plano, Texas elementary school principals refused to let students hand out cane pens with a Christian message. Four families sued, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled the two were protected from liability. At the same time, the Appeals court ruled the First Amendment rights of the children might have been violated by the principals. Some other aspects of the case have not been settled by the courts yet.

Tool for Outdoor camp ministry Gets Student in Trouble

How a pocketknife got a Bible college student arrested in New York here.

Pledge Suit Tossed

A New Jerson judge has thrown out a suit filed by an atheist couple against the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District. The couple, whose children attend school in the district and refused to be identified, claimed the use of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is a violation of their children's rights.

Creflo Dollar addresses battery charge

Here's a CNN video about the arrest of Creflo Dollar on child abuse charges.

Parents Outraged over Decision

A school principal in Coney Island, New York says her students can't sing Lee Greenwood's “God Bless the USA” at their June 20th graduation even though kindergartners spent months learning the patriotic tune. Greta Hawkins, principal at Edna Cohen School did, however, approve Justin Bieber's song Baby. The kids were also planning to wave small flags as they sang that America, “still stands for freedom.” Hawkins told staffers, “We don’t want to offend other cultures.” A Department of Education spokeswoman says the department supports the decision because the lyrics “too grown up” for 5-year-olds. A student sung the song a year ago - and got a standing ovation. Hawkins is a Jehovah’s Witness who does not recite the pledge of allegiance.

Offensive Poster of Jesus

A photo depicting Jesus saying, "I want you to kill all infidels" is hanging in an elementary school in California. The image, with Jesus pointing like Uncle Sam in a recruitment poster, is part of a series drawn at the Hamilton Elementary School when second grade students were learning about the crusades. The parents of one child complained back in March, but school officials refuse to take it down. Fresno's KFSN-TV has this video report.

Creflo Dollar's Prosperity Gospel finds followers and critics

CNN takes a look at the prosperity gospel of Creflo Dollar here.

New Name for Megachurch Sanctuary

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange says it will now call the former Crystal Cathedral in southern California Christ Cathedral. The megachurch facility, founded by televangelist Robert Schuller was sold for more than $57 million after going bankrupt. The new name was selected out of more than 4000 suggestions made by Catholics in the area.

Televangelist Speaks out on Arrest

More on the Creflo Dollar arrest from AP here.

Megachurch Pastor Arrested

Creflo Dollar is facing charges related to has been family violence. He was arrested at his Atlanta-area home Thursday night - allegedly because he “intentionally caused physical harm to his teenage daughter by grabbing her around the neck and choking her.” The warrant says he scratched her on the right side of the throat. Dollar is out on $5000 bond.

Osteen's Ties to Mexican Drug Traffickers

A megachurch pastor's "foray into film production has been marred with controversy involving Mexican drug traffickers and money launderers." Read about Joel Osteen's time as executive produce of the movie Mary, Mother of Christ here. There is a trailer for the film posted below on ChristianNewsReport.com.

Taking Revivals Online

AP takes a look at efforts by the Billy Graham Assoc. to reach out through new media here.

2 Year Ago... Christian Singer Dies

Christian singer Dana Key unexpectedly passed away two years ago today. A member of the pioneering Christian band Degarmo and Key, the 57 year old died from a blood clot. He served as senior pastor of The Love of Christ Church in Cordova, Tennessee which had planned on a DeGarmo and Key reunion to take place just a few days after his death.

New Name for Crystal Cathedral

Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral is getting a new name. The California church went into bankruptcy and sanctuary sold to the Catholic church. A new name for the unique facility will be announced Saturday. What's left of the Evangelical ministry is paying $150,000 monthly rent to the local Catholic church.

Snake Handlng Believers

The Tennessean takes a look at the snake-handling community in Southern churches here.

Baptists Punish Ethics Chief

Richard Land has lost his radio show. The Southern Baptist Convention's ethics chief has made comments about the Trayvon Martin case for which he later apologized. Not only did he accuse the President and others of using the case for political gain, it turns out that he plagiarized the comments from The Washington Times. The denomination has reprimanded Land and cancelled his radio show as a result.

Weakening Dem interest in religious voters

A look at the Obama campaign and religious voters in a Washington Post story here.

Snake Handler Dies

A snake-handling, West Virginia pastor died Sunday from the bites of a rattle snake. Mack Wolford was pastor at the Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka. Wolford’s father died the same way when he was a teenager. Wolford had been bitten at least three other times without seeking medical attention. Some states have outlawed the practice. Jim Murphy, curator of the Reptile Discovery Center at the National Zoo, told the Washington Post last year that the pain from such a bite would be "excruciating" because "The venom attacks the nervous system. It's vicious and gruesome when it hits." Here's a trailer of a video about Wolford that was in the works when he died.

Protests in NC

CNN reports on the North Carolina pastor who sparked protests with his comments about gays.

Billboard on Gay Marriage

San Diego's Missiongathering Christian Church says it will pay $3000 billboard in Charlotte, North Carolina near Billy Graham Parkway apologizing to gays for a state amendment, passed earlier this month, defining marriage as only between a man and woman. The message on the billboard:

"Missiongathering Christian Church is sorry for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who DENIED rights and equality TO so many in the Name of God."

Church reacts to Embattled Pastor

The congregation of North Carolina's Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden gave their pastor a standing ovation this morning. Charles Worley had stirred protests after a sermon of his about gays went viral. He said:

“I figured a way out, a way to get rid of all the lesbians and queers but I couldn’t get it pass the Congress – build a great big large fence, 50 or a hundred mile long. Put all the lesbians in there, fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals. And have that fence electrified so they can’t get out."

Many Evangelical leaders have condemned Worley's remarks. Below is a video of the 1000 or so demonstrators who gathered in opposition to Worley today.

Attempt to Burn down NC Church

Someone made tried to burn down the church in North Carolina where a pastor has caused a stir with a sermon about gays. Charles Worley of Maiden's Providence Baptist Church recently told his congregation that gays should be put behind electrified fences. A video of the sermon went viral and protesters decided to gather nearby today. The sheriff of Catawba County says power lines and a power box outside the church were damaged last night. While thousands were expected to attend the rally against the pastor, a group from Primrose, Georgia said they would attend the church's services in support of Worley. He hasn't spoken to the news media about the controversy.

License suspended when carjacked

Marvin Winans’ driver’s license was suspended and there was a warrant out for his arrest in Detroit when he was carjacked last week, according to the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. The singer and pastor had his license suspended two weeks ago (May 9) because he didn't pay a couple of traffic tickets from December. The arrest warrant was issued March 15 for failing to appear at court for driving on a suspended license.

Jeff Foxworthy's New Show

CNN takes a look at a new TV show hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy called American Bible Challenge.

Protest against NC Church Planned Sunday

A North Carolina county has reversed itself and agreed to allow a protest against a local pastor on county property this coming Sunday morning. Catawba County officials first denied the request for a demonstration against the preacher's anti-gay sermon. Charles Worley of Providence Baptist Church in Maiden recently told his congregation that gays should be put behind electrified fences. A video of the sermon (below) went viral and now the number of potential protestors has swelled into the hundreds. Organizers asked to move it from the church to the grounds of the Catawba County Justice Center, located a few miles away in Newton. But the county requires such requests two weeks in advance, so it was initially turned down. After constitutional law experts suggested such a rule would not hold up in court and be declared as unduly burdensome and an intrusion on the rights of peaceable assembly, county officials backed down. Southern Baptists in the state have stressed to the media that Providence Road is an independent Baptist church, not affiliated with the denomination. A video of part of the sermon is below.

Backlash over Sermon

CNN discusses a North Carolina pastor's rant against gays in the video below.

Birth Control Mandate

Three Catholic Universities are joining a lawsuit to block mandate on contraceptive insurance. Fox News has a video report below.

Pastor's Plan to "get rid" of Gays

Part of a sermon from a North Carolina pastor has gone viral. In the sermon, Charles Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden (north of Charlotte) explains how he wants to "get rid" of homosexuals - by putting them in an electrified fence. The video is below.

Madden 2013 includes Tebowing

EA Sports is adding the famous prayer stance of Tim Tebow to its popular football video game Madden 2013. Tebow made the move famous as a Denver Bronco, but he's been traded to the New York Jets and will be shown with the Jets in Madden 2013 which is due to hit store shelves in August.

Movie about the Mother of Jesus

Filming of Joel Osteen's first film begins this summer in the Middle East. The megachurch pastor will play executive producer for the Biblical prequel to the story of The Passion of Christ. Odeya Rush will take the main role in Mary in Mary Mother of Christ. She'll be joined by Julia Ormond and Peter O'Toole. The Alister Grierson film will be distributed in North America by Lionsgate.

Charges in Pastor's Carjacking

Three Detriot men are facing charges they carjacked and asaulted singer and megachurch pastor Marvin Winans. WXYZ-TV files this video report.

Tebow looks to stop Jesus T-shirt maker

Tim Tebow has told a t-shirt manufacturer to stop using his name in promotion of a t-shirt. CubbyTees.com is selling the shirt that says My Jesus on the front in the style of the Jets logo. A fish is used instead of a football. Among other things, the ad says the New York Jets quarterback is “not just looking to cure lepers, but heal Gang Green! This shirt should fit Tebow followers to a tee.”

Baptist State Convention Found Liable

A jury says the Florida Baptist Convention is liable for what a former pastor did. Douglas Myers plead guilty to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Eustis at the Triangle Community Church where he served as pastor. The jury decided the state convention didn't properly investigate Douglas before giving him grant funds. He was accused of sexual abuse at churches in Maryland and Alabama before moving to Florida. Douglas is now serving a 7 year sentence for the crime. The church and another he started have been shut down.

Satanic Symbols Put on Churches

A homeless California man is accused of putting Satanic graffiti on two downtown churches - Church of the Incarnation and St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. Kyle Eric Schaller is now in the Sonoma County Jail on charges of felony vandalism. Damages are estimated at more than $4000.

Singer-Pastor Carjacked

A group of men carjacked Gospel singer and megachurch pastor Marvin Winans at a gas station in Detroit. The mid-afternoon attack left Winans without money or his SUV and with minor injuries. Winans was in the news earlier this year when he gave singer Whitney Houston’s eulogy. The city is facing increasing problems with crime. Just a few days ago a former police chief was robbed and assaulted as he mowed his lawn. Here's a WXYZ-TV interview with Winans.

Fest calls it Quits

One of the biggest Christian Rock festivals is shutting down. The Cornerstone Festival has taken place every summer since 1984 in Illinois. The organization behind the gathering says this upcoming one set for early July will be the last, due to financial concerns. For more information click here.

One Survivor from Plane Crash

Here's an interview on NBC's Today show with Ron Luce, president of Teen Mania Ministries and father of the sole survivor of a small plane crash in Kansas that took the lives of everyone else on board. All five people on the plane had connections to Oral Roberts University.

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Faculty Quit College

More than 60 faculty members at Georgia's Shorter University are leaving over new contracts that include a lifestyle pledge reading, "I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality." There are also specific mentions of drug use, public drinking near the campus and regular church attendance. An anonymous survey showed nine out of ten faculty members planned to quit over the issue. Shorter is associated with the Southern Baptist convention.

Jennifer Knapp

The Houston Chronicle profiles "Jennifer Knapp, an unlikely gay Christian icon" here.

Churches Split Over Gay Marriage

The New York Times takes a look at how different church are handling the issue of gay marriage here.

Pastor wants $500k for Church review

A pastor is suing a woman and her daughter for giving his church a poor online review. Charles O'Neal leads the Beaverton Grace Bible Church in Beaverton, Oregon and he says Julie Anne Smith's unfavorable review amounts to defamation because she used words like cult, control tactics, and spiritual abuse. Several other writers are named in the half of a million dollar lawsuit as well. Smith used to attend the church, but says she was shunned by the congregation after leaving.

Same Bible, Different Verdict On Gay Marriage

NPR takes a look at how different groups are interpreting the Bible when it comes to gay marriage here

The Mormon way of business

The Economist takes a look at "striking number of successful business people" who are Mormons.here.

Evangelical voters

The Economist says "Growing numbers of non-white evangelicals and changing attitudes among younger Christians are reshaping the politics of American Christianity." The British magazine takes takes a look at Evangelical votershere.

Luxuries at largest Christian TV network

The New York Times investigates the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the lifestyle of its founders, Paul and Jan Crouch. Read the story here.

Muslims and Jerusalem

More Muslims are trying to visit Jerusalem. Read the story in the Economist here.

Stanley Catches Flack

Some Evangelical leaders are criticizing megachurch pastor Andy Stanley for a recent sermon on homosexuality. Read about it here.

Fired for Bible & Prayer

A Christian doctor in the UK has lost his unfair dismissal claim. David Drew was fired by Walsall Manor Hospital in the suburb of Birmingham from his position as clinical director after quoting from the Bible and emailing a prayer by 16th century Jesuit founder St Ignatius Loyola, to motivate his department. He wrote to colleagues: "I find this a personal inspiration in my frail imperfect efforts to serve my patients, their families and our department." Drew plans an appeal because he says the ruling tells people they can no longer say "I am a Christian" at work.

Pastor Apoligizes for Gay Kids Remark

It was just hyperbole. That's what a Fayetteville, North Carolina pastor says about his comment during a sermon to fathers that "the second you see that son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give them a good punch.” Sean Harris says he regrets his choice of words and he didn't endorse hitting children. The Berean Baptist Church pastor was speaking just days before the vote on an amendment to the state constitutional that would ban gay marriage.

Mormons on the Rise

The number of Mormons are on the rise in the U.S. and the number of mainline Protestants and Catholics is falling. That's according to the 2012 Religious Congregations and Membership Study. In the largest county in the U.S. Catholics fell 7% and Mormons rose by 55%. In fact, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fastest-growing religious group in the U.S. While 8 of 10 Americans call themselves Christians, only half have an affiliation with a local church.

Bible Reading Marathon

CNN reports on a Bible Reading Marathon on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Campus Preacher Wins Appeal

An appeals court has sided with a preacher against a Tennessee school that said he couldn't give out tracts or speak on campus without a two week wait. John McGlone was forced to leave Tennessee Technical University. He filed a lawsuit and it was thrown out by a judge. But the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals says the state school's speaking permit rules are unconstitutional. The three-judge panel ruled campus sidewalks are a “public forum” and therefore any regulation on the content of speech is unconstitutional, unless justified by a “significant” government interest. Even the school's own lawyers admited the 14 day waiting period is burdensome and overly long.

From Minister To Atheist

NPR profiles a former pastor who turned atheist here.

Burning the Koran.. again

Evangelical leaders are condemning Terry Jones decision to burn copies of the Koran over the weekend along with an image of Muhammad. The Gainesville, Florida pastor says he's protesting Iran's continued imprisonment of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. About two dozen people showed up and the city gave the church a citation for violating burn ordinances.

Students Walk out on Speaker

Students walked out on a speaker at a high school journalism conference in Seattle following his derogatory comments about the Bible. Dan Savage told students at the National High School Journalism Convention - among other things - to ignore the “bulls--t in the Bible about gay people.” A conservative gay rights group said it was ironic that at a speech on bullying, the speaker would resort to name-calling. Savage called the students who were offended "pansy-asses." Video of what happened is posted below.

Written on the Heart

A new play about the Bible is getting positive reviews in London. The Royal Shakespeare Company production of Written on the Heart tells the story of the translation of the King James Bible. The play focuses the human cost of bringing God's word to the masses, including the execution of William Tyndale.

Reward for Jesus Costume

An atheist group is giving a scholarship to a Tennessee student for dressing up as Jesus. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is giving Jeff Shott of Springhill its $1,000 scholarship for "Fictional Character Day." Shott wore the costume to high school and his principal made him remove it.

Osteen in DC

Joel Osteen will preach tomorrow night at the Washington Nationals ballpark. Some 40,000 people have tickets to what he's calling America's Night of Hope. The megachurch pastor gave the opening prayers in both the House and the Senate this week.

Bible Translations under Review

There's an investigation into a Bible translation produced by Wycliffe Bible Translators following complaints the organization is trying to avoid offending Muslims. An independent panel from World Evangelical Alliance is checking on whether the concept of the Trinity is being downplayed by Wycliffe. The Assemblies of God is reviewing its relationship with Wycliffe over the issue.

Osteen: Romney is a Christian

Joel Osteen tells CNN that Mitt Romney is a Christian.

Noah coming to the Big Screen

Russell Crowe has signed on to play Noah in a new movie set to start shooting this summer in Iceland and New York. Darren Aronofsky's version of the ship-building animal rustler from the Bible will show up in movie theaters in Spring of 2014. Aronofsky says he will follow the Bible story.

On this Date...

It was on this date in 1864 that the U.S. Congress added In God We Trust to U.S. coins.