Fake arrests of pastors

A video of three Ohio pastors being arrested at their churches during Sunday services for preaching the gospel has caused a stir in Akron. The law enforcement officers are real, but the videos are faked. They are part of a production coming up at the Akron Civic Theater called Defending the Faith. Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry issued a press release explaining the arrest were just a promotional effort.

Laws vs Church Doctrine

A teacher who was fired for having a child through artificial insemination has gotten the support of an Ohio jury. They said the Catholic archdiocese violated anti-discrimination laws by firing Christa Dias when she became pregnant and order she be paid $170,000. The church's lawyer said the dismissal was for violation of church doctrine and having a contract saying she would follow it. The school argued that Dias, who is gay, never intended to abide by that contract. WCPO-TV has this video report:

Appeals Court: OK to fire HR Director for view on Gay Rights

It was perfectly legal for the University of Toledo to fire an HR administrator because she wrote an opinion piece challenging gay rights, according to a federal court. The appeals panel took a look at a lower court's decision to side with the school when Crystal Dixon was dismissed, based on her opinion essay. She had sued, accusing the public university of violating her constitutional rights. Specifically, her 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law by punishing her for expressing her views on homosexuality while other university employees were allowed to state views on homosexuality. The article came out in the Toledo Free Press in 2008. Dixon wrote “As a Black woman who happens to be an alumnus of the University of Toledo's Graduate School, an employee and business owner, I takegreat umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are 'civil-rights victims'" because they have made "a life decision." In a school hearing, Dixon said her opinion did not prevent her from performing her duty and that she had even hired at least one gay person to work in her department. But the appeals court ruled that her expressed opinion conflicted directly with the policies she was supposed to enforce at the university and the fact her article was a statement of her own views as a private citizen did not matter.

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.

"Touchdown Jesus" gets Replaced

A large statue of Jesus now looms at an Ohio megachurch. The Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio dedicated the new "Lux Mundi" (The Light of the World) statute yesterday. It replaces the sculpture commonly known as "Touchdown Jesus." In 2010, it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The new statue has lots of safety features designed to prevent that from happening again. The dedication drew a few protesters who said the statue amounted to idol worship.

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.

Amish on Amish Violence

Read the story of attacks on Amish by a cast-off group in Ohio here.

Teacher Loses in Court

An Ohio public school teacher has lost his case against the Mount Vernon school board. John Freshwater sued for wrongful termination, after he was let go for talking about his beliefs in class and keeping a Bible on his desk. He was also accused of burning a cross into the arm of a students, but that allegation was resolved outside the courtroom. Freshwater may file an appeal.

Radio Network Sale

An Ohio University is selling its radio network to California's Educational Media Foundation. The deal still needs FCC approval, but the 13 frequencies will switch from Cedarville University's Bible teaching format to the EMF's Contemporary Christian music format branded as K-Love.

Billboard Comes Down

A billboard on church property in Ohio proclaiming, "I can be good without God" is down. The sign, paid for by the Freedom From Religion Foundation was placed on land owned by Christ Cathedral Church. The ad agency said the placement was just a mistake.

Controversial Billboards

Cincinnati Right to Life has put up 5 billboards around the city like the one you see here. They feature an ultrasound image of a haloed fetus. The ad was made by ChurchAds.net, a coalition of Christian churches, including Church of England, Baptist Union, United Reformed Church, Anglican and Methodist churches.

Sign Slashed at Church

Vandals have struck at a church Cleveland-area church. The images of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus on a sign at the St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church in North Ridgeville have been sliced with a knife.

KJV: 400th Birthday in May

The King James Version of the Bible will celebrate its 400th anniversary on May 2, 2011. More than 70 events are planned around Britain to mark the date. Ohio State University is planning a conference on the influence of the King James Bible.

Teacher Quits Suit

An Ohio school teacher has dropped his million dollar lawsuit over his firing. John Freshwater was dismissed from Mount Vernon Middle School for burning the image of a cross on a student's arm. He has been on suspension for last 2 years. The entire school board agreed to fire him for teaching Christian beliefs in his classroom. But Freshwater claimed a hostile work environment and harassment over his beliefs.

Offer to Rebuild Jesus Statue

PETA is offering to rebuild a 60-foot-high statue of Jesus that was burned to the ground by a lightning strike. The animal rights group put the offer in a a letter it sent to the Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio. The catch: PETA wants the Jesus image to hold a lamb and these words placed at the foot of the statue: "Blessed Are the Merciful. Go Vegan."

Statue Burns to Ground

A 60-foot tall statue of Jesus near Monroe, Ohio is gone after lightning triggered a fire that burned it to the ground. The structure outside of Solid Rock Church weighted 16,000 pounds and was made of styrofoam, wood and fiberglass. Intense thunderstorms triggered the lightning strike Monday. No one was injured.

Creationism in the Classroom

A New York Times article on a town divided over a teacher is here.

Missionaries hold Vigil for Haiti

WUPW-TV in Toledo, Ohio reports on a group of missionaries who have been to Haiti.

Commandments Removed

Officials in a Ohio town have given up on fighting a lawsuit filed against them to get the removal of the Ten Commandments from a public building. WLWT-TV has this video report.

Pageant Death

A Cincinnati church will continue it's Christmas pageant despite a woman's death in the show last year. WLWT-TV reports.