Church Robbery Spree

A crime bulletin is out for two young white males believed to be behind more than 50 church robberies across the Midwest. The thieves have stolen money for the poor, gift cards for seminary students, musical instruments, and much more from churches in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

A first for Canada

Canada has its first deaf Catholic priest. Matthew Hysell lost his hearing as a toddler when he contracted meningitis. Raised a Baptist in Michigan, Hysell made the decision to become a priest as a teenager after reading about the priesthood in school. He graduated from City University in New York, then earned a master's in theology from a California program. He next moved to Edmonton to study at Newman Theological College. Hysell was ordained yesterday and is now assigned to St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Parish and will also serve as a parish priest at St. Thomas Church in the nearby community of Mill Woods. Hysell will celebrate mass using sign language and will hear confessions face to face.

Attempt to Ban Bell Ringers on Campus

There's an effort to ban the Salvation Army bell ringers from UC Berkeley by students who object to the group's stance on homosexuality. The student government at the California school past an anti-bell ringer resolution accusing the charity of discrimination and demanding the administration revoke the Army's permit to collect donations on campus. In response, the ministry denies the charges, saying the accusations are based on Internet rumors and not facts. The Army's says it does not require those it helps to agree with its doctrines, as the student resolution claims.

Evangelical runs California marijuana dispensary

Read the story in the Sacramento Bee here.

Religion and Same-Sex Marriage

If you opposed same-sex marriage, the odds are good it is because of religion, according to Frank Newport of the Gallup poll. A survey by the polling company finds 46% of those who opposed same-sex marriage say it because of their religious beliefs. Seven out of 10 weekly church attenders are opposed to same-sex marriage, while seven in 10 of those who seldom or never attend church are in favor of it. Read more about the survey here.

Sex among Unmarried Evangelicals Survey

Fewer young unmarried evangelical Christians are having sex than previously thought, according to the National Association of Evangelicals. 77% of evangelicals between the ages of 18 and 29 disagree with the statement “Having sex outside of marriage is morally acceptable for an unmarried person.” At the same time, 44% of unmarried evangelicals admitted having sex outside of marriage. That's lower than the finding of a estimate based on a 2009 survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The NAE says the difference is based the two surveys defined evangelical differently. Read more here.

Misspelled words Commandments Monument

A newly 2,000-pound erected Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma state capitol grounds contains several typos. The misspelled words? Sabbeth instead of sabbath and maidseruent instead of maidservant. State Rep. Mike Ritze sponsored the original bill to put up the huge granite block and his family donated $10,000 for the monument. Another $10,000 came from private donations.