Faith Groups Losing Gay Rights Fight

The Washington Post take a look at how some faith groups are losing their fight against gay rights.

Warren On Gay Marriage

Rick Warren spoke with Christianity Today magazine about recent media reports that he had changed his position on gay marriage:

In a Beliefnet interview.. Steve Waldman asked me about gay marriage. I said I believe marriage, that term, should be reserved for a man and a woman. I'm not saying same-sex couples don't love each other. I gave some examples of what I think shouldn't be considered to be marriage, like an older guy with a younger woman. Then [Waldman] said, "Are you saying that those are the same thing?" I said, "Oh sure." It made it sound like I was equating homosexuality with pedophilia and incest. I don't believe it, never have, and never would. I don't believe that, but because I made a commitment to not say anything about it, people just ran with it. They were looking for a new poster boy. There's a lot of hatred out there.

No More Christians

The Mosaic Church has hit the Crestview, Florida area with signs and commercials with the slogan No More Christians. A web with the same name promote a series of discussions planned at the church.

Christian But Not Conservative

CNN has a discussion of the growing number of Christians who are not politically conservative.

Obama Hosts Seder

Barack Obama will host a Seder tonight.It's believed to be the first time the traditional Passover meal has been celebrated at the White House.

Pop Winans Dies

The head of the Gospel singing Winans family has died in Nashville. Pop Winans was 74 years old, having suffered a heart attack and stroke in October. His children have won six Grammys and his last recording called Uncensored was nominated for a Grammy for best traditional gospel album in 2000.

Blessing of the Sun

NPR offers a look the Jewish "Blessing of the Sun".

Supreme Court Religious Affiliations

Roman Catholic: Chief Justice John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito

Jewish: Stephen Breyer, Ruth Badger Ginsburg

Protestant: John Paul Stevens

Episcopal: David Souter

Pastor Dies in Church

Pastor Rodney Bowling of Grace Point Baptist Church in the north Alabama town of Somerville was found dead inside his church yesterday. The 46-year-old apparently died of a heart attack. Bowling leaves behind three children.

Mags Dropped

The Navigators has decided to stop publication of its two magazines, Discipleship Journal and Pray! will be dropped in favor of developing a greater web presence.

Last year, Ignite Your Faith and CCM Magazine ceased publication. At the same time, Rick Warren has launched a magazine called the Purpose Driven Connection.

Is it Episcopal or Episcopalian?

You may have heard reporters refer to Episcopalian bishops and the Episcopalian Church. But here's how it should work. Episcopal is an adjective (She is an Episcopal priest). Episcopalian is a noun referring to a member of the Episcopal Church (She is an Episcopalian). An Episcopalian can be a minister, in the sense of ministering to others, and this can be either a lay or an ordained ministry. Priests are usually referred to as the Reverend So-and-So, not Reverend So-and-So. (And they're generally addressed as Father So-and-So, not Reverend that's like addressing a judge as Honorable.) Bishops are usually the Right Reverend So-and-So, and addressed as Bishop So-and-So. Bishops can be identified because they wear purple. Bishops are important in the Episcopal Church.

Disgraced Pastor Wants to Lead Again

Henry Lyons wants to lead the National Baptist Convention, USA again – despite the fact he was given more than five years in state prison for racketeering and grand theft. Lyon’s says he’s no longer the man he was a decade ago. The election for president of the denomination takes place in September. Current president William Shaw can’t run again. The only other declared candidate is Julius Scruggs who serves as pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church, in Huntsville, Alabama.

Rick Warren Switch on Gay Marriage?

Some gay rights websites are suggesting that Rick Warren has switched his position on gay marriage after Warren appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live this week. The megachurch pastor told viewers, "I am not an anti-gay marriage activist. Never have been, never will be.."

10 Years Behind Bars for Praying

An Italian court hsa sentenced a pilot to 10 years in prison for praying instead of taking emergency steps to avoid a crash off the coast of Sicily that killed 16 people four years ago. 23 people survived. Chafik Gharby was flying the Tunisian bound airline when it developed problems. Investigators say it had a wrong part installed and Chafik could have glided the plane for a landing. Prosecutors claim he panicked and crashed the plane, praying when he should have been taking emergency measures. His voice on a recording can be heard asking from help from "Allah and Muhammad his prophet".

Focus Employee Indicted

A man who works in the Spanish broadcasting department of Focus on the Family is facing charges that he used the internet to arrange sex with a teenage girl. Juan Alberto Ovalle also narrates the Bible in Spanish on CDs for Trans World Radio. Police arrested him after he drove to meet the girl. She turned out to be an undercover officer.

Disgraced Leader Wants Comeback

Henry Lyons wants to lead the National Baptist Convention, USA again – despite the fact he was given more than five years in state prison for racketeering and grand theft. Lyon’s says he’s no longer the man he was a decade ago. The election for president of the denomination takes place in September. Current president William Shaw can’t run again. The only other declared candidate is Julius Scruggs who serves as pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church, in Huntsville, Alabama.

No war with Islam

"Let me say this as clearly as I can. The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical."

A remark made by President Obama today in Turkey during his first visit to a Muslim-majority nation.

Mosques Point in Wrong Direction

About 200 mosques older in Islam's holiest city of Mecca point pilgrims in the wrong direct for prayers, according to the BBC. Mosques are supposed to indicate the direction of the most sacred Islamic site of an ancient cube-like building in Mecca's Grand Mosque called the Kaaba. The misleading Mosques in Mecca were spotted by people in high-rises.

One Year Ago.. Texas Polygamist Compound

More than 180 women and children were taken from The Yearn for Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas by Texas Child Protective Services one year ago. Jailed polygamous religious leader Warren Jeffs leads the breakaway Mormon sect. Reports from local media suggested the group had first refused to allow authorities on the compound. Police began a roadblock around the secluded retreat.

The End of Christian America

Newsweek offers this article on the fall of the number of self-identifying Christians in the US.