The Wright Effect

Barak Obama's unfavorable rating among independents before the Wright controversy broke was 27%. It’s now 36%.

About 25% of Americans who are following the controversy say their "best guess" is that Obama agrees with the views of his former pastor, despite Obama’s repeated claims that he finds them offensive and wrong.

Source: USA TODAY/Gallup Poll

Obama on Joining Wright's Church

"I think that the American people understand that when I joined Trinity United Church of Christ, I was committing not to Pastor Wright, I was committing to a church and I was committing to Christ. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. What he said did not bring the country together; it divided the country. It fed into all of the racial antagonisms and divisions that have haunted this country for so long, and, you know, I did not want to give a platform for that." - Barack Obama on NBC's Meet the Press

TIME's Top 100

TIME Magazine has picked Richard Cizik for its top 100 most influential people in the world for 2008. The Evangelical Presbyterian minister heads up the Office of Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals. His views and work on environmental issues such as global warming brought him to Time’s attention - and earned him criticism from fellow Evangelicals. Cizik first hit the political map a quarter of a century ago when he invited President Ronald Reagan to talk to his group. That speech to the NAE is still remembered for Reagan's reference to the Soviet Union as the "evil empire".

Getting to know… Jeremiah Wright

▪ Born in Philadelphia, September 22, 1941

▪ His father, grandfather and an uncle were pastors

▪ Enrolled in the seminary at Virginia Union University but dropped out

▪ Served six years in the Marines and the Navy

▪ Earned two masters' degrees and one doctorate from Howard University

▪ Became pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ in 1972 when the church had less than 100 members

▪ Trinity now has more than 8,000 parishioners

▪ Oprah Winfrey was once a member but stopped going in the 1990s

▪ The motto of Trinity Church is Unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian

▪ Barack Obama titled his second book after a sermon given by Wright called The Audacity to Hope

ORU Leaking Students

Oral Roberts University is losing students. Many are transferring before graduating to avoid association with the school that has been rocked by a financial scandal involving former president Richard Roberts. Enrollment is expected to be at least 150 lower this fall than last year. Some reports put the figure closer to 400 (or more than 12% of the student body). Applications to the Tulsa, Oklahoma school are down as well.

Church Shooting Threatened

Police officers will be stationed at churches throughout the Denver suburb of Lakewood this morning. Someone anonymously phoned the Bear Valley Church with a warning about a threatened shooting. The pastor is quoted by the Associated Press as saying a phone caller told him a man at a bar claimed he would go out "in a blaze of glory" at a church this morning - and even showed a rifle that he claimed would be used in the crime.

Reporter sues TV Station

Danita Cohen is suing the Reno television station that she works for – saying she was discriminated against and harassed because she is Jewish. The suit claims KOLO-TV took her off the morning show as an anchor and demoted her to reporter partly because of her religion. She has worked for the ABC affiliate for a decade and says the problems started when the current news director arrived, telling the staff he was a born-again Christian. The station had no comment.

$25 million Scheme

Government investigators say Safevest, was not such a safe investment. They say the Mission Viejo, California based-company has been running a Ponzi scheme aimed at Christians. Jon G. Ervin and John V. Slye have been arrested by the FBI and face fraud charges for allegedly misappropriating at least $25 million. The money came from more than 500 investors who tought they were investing in commodity futures pools but the investment vehicles never existed. Slye claimed he was a pastor who had spent decades working as a missionary. More than two-thirds of the investors were church members.

Name Change Stirs Controversy

Steve Kreuscher wants to change his name. The Chicago area man is asking to officially be called In God We Trust. The school bus driver has petitioned the court in his county to make it legal. Kreuscher is from Zion, Illinois and says he remembers when God Reigns was taken off the city seal a few years ago. He’s afraid the same thing could happen to In God We Trust.. that it could be removed from US currency.

Religious Broadcasters May Face New Rules

A proposal by the FCC to require more local programming is dividing religious broadcasters. The new rules would require stations to have an outside advisory board and to inform the government about what kind of programming they are airing. The Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United Church of Christ support some form of new licensing guidelines. But the National Religious Broadcasters says the proposals could “strangle” Christian media.

Giving to Churches & Charities

The percentage of born-again adults who gave money to churches dropped to 76%. That’s the lowest level this decade because many Christians are now giving their money to different types of organizations rather than a church. Other findings:

The average gift to nonprofits last year by US adults was $1,308.

The segments of American adults MOST likely to give to churches and charitable groups:
Evangelicals – 24%
Conservatives – 12%
People who had prayed, read the Bible and attended a church service during the past week – 12%
Charismatic or Pentecostal Christians – 11%
Registered Republicans – 10%

The segments of American adults LEAST likely to give to churches and charitable groups:
People under the age of 25
Atheists and agnostics
Single adults who have never been married
Liberals

Adults making less than $20,000 per year

Source: The Barna Group

Mayor/Pastor Headed to Jail

The one-time mayor of Fairbanks has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for misusing $450,000 of government grants. Jim Hayes convicted of diverting the money to a nonprofit social service organization and the Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ - where he is pastor. Prosecutors say they had traced the money to payments for a plasma television and a wedding reception for the couple's son.

Cross Controversy at Western Wall

Three church leaders from Ireland say have been prevented from praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. A Roman Catholic Cardinal, the Church of Ireland Archbishop, as well as Presbyterian and Methodist Irish leaders refused to remove the crosses they were wearing. They left without visiting the remnant. The group is on a peace mission to Israel and the West Bank. The Western Wall was built by King Herod in the 6th century BC. Other sections of the temple were destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70.

FCC Rules on 700 Club

The FCC has ruled that news and interview portions of Pat Robertson's 700 Club is bona fide news programming. That makes it exempt from the equal opportunities clause. That means the 700 Club can talk about politics or interview candidates without invoking the FCC rule that requires TV stations to offer free airtime to other candidates. However, Robertson didn’t get everything he wanted. The commission stopped short of declaring the entire program exempt.

Voter Views on Barak's Pastor

A telephone survey of North Carolina voters:

Have you followed news stories about Barack Obama’s former Pastor, Jeremiah Wright? Yes – 80%

Do you believe Obama denounced Wright because he was outraged? Democratic Voters: Yes – 43%

Do you believe Obama’s denounced Wright because it was political convenient? Obama Supporters: Yes – 40%, Clinton Supporters: Yes - 70%

Do you believe Obama shares some of Wright’s controversial views about the US? Yes – 40%

Do you agree with Wright’s comments about the US? Democratic Voters: Yes- 15%, Obama Supporters: 22%

Do you view Wright favorably? Likely North Carolina Primary Voters: 15%

Source: Rasmussen Reports

Dobson up for Hall of Fame

James Dobson is up for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Besides the founder of Focus on the Family, other nominates include Bob Costas, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Howard Stern. To qualify, a broadcaster must have contributed to the radio industry on a national level for at least 10 years. Dobson’s Focus on the Family airs on more than 3000 radio stations each day and in 27 languages. Online voting starts today and runs through July 15. Inductees will be announced shortly afterward. This is the first time the public has been invited to vote on the nominees. The National Radio Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Chicago.

Pastor Gets 16 Years

The former pastor of Harvest Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Artis Caver was convicted on 25 counts of money laundering and theft stealing. Prosecutors say he stole more than $400,000 from the church.

Methodist Protest

Legislative action stopped for 15 minutes today at the United Methodist Church's General Conference taking place at the Fort Worth Convention Center when several hundred demonstrators took over the floor. They were protesting the denomination's decision not to change its official stand that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. They sang the spiritial Were You There? before dispersing.

Honest Scout

John Robert Bouterse of Door, Michigan found a wallet in the parking lot of Open Door Reformed Church after an Easter egg hunt that contained more than $800. The 11-year-old returned it to the owner – despite the fact he had just lost his own wallet. The publicity around JR's honesty led to the return of his own wallet (containing about $30). State Police officers took up a collection to give him a reward, but Boy Scout asked that the money be used to pay for a pizza party for his troop.

No Degree for You!

Barack Obama’s former pastor will not be getting an honorary degree from Northwestern University. The University has withdrawn the offer to Jeremiah Wright because of the recent controversy surrounding him. He was to receive it during June’s commencement exercises.

President Bush on Prayer

Some of President Bush's remarks at the White House on this National Day of Prayer.

"We are a prayerful nation. A lot of citizens draw comfort from prayer. Prayer is an important part of the lives of millions of Americans. And it's interesting, when you think about our faith you can find it in the Pledge of Allegiance, you can find an expression of American faith in the Declaration of Independence, and you can find it in the coins in our pockets.

George Washington took the oath of office and then added the famous plea, "So help me God." On John Adams's first day in the White House, he wrote a prayer that is now etched in marble on the fireplace in the State Dining Room, and he prayed, "May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." Now we'll leave it to the historians to judge whether or not that happened throughout our history. (Laughter.)

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln turned to prayer. His second Inaugural Address quoted from Scripture. He stood before the United States people and quoted from Scripture. And he sought to heal a people who "read the same Bible and prayed to the same God" -- his words.

As William McKinley lay dying from an assassin's bullet, one of his final words on earth focused on the Almighty. On his deathbed he was heard to say, "Nearer, my God to thee."

As American forces risked their lives on D-Day, Franklin Roosevelt delivered a presidential prayer over the radio. He asked God to protect our troops as they liberated "a suffering humanity" and he prayed for "a peace that will let all men live in freedom." When Roosevelt died, his successor, Harry Truman, said he "felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets" had fallen on him. And he told reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now."

John F. Kennedy attended mass in Florida during the last week of his presidency, and during the last week of his life.

Three days after the worst terrorist attack on American soil, Laura and I joined our fellow citizens in prayer before the Lord.

Well, sometimes God's signs are not always the ones we look for. And we learn in tragedy that His purposes are not always our own. But we also know that in adversity we can find comfort through prayer.

I think it makes sense to hope that one day there may be a International Day of Prayer. It will be a chance for people of faith around the world to stop at the same time to pause to praise an Almighty. It will be a time when we could prayer together for a world that sees the promise of the Psalms made real: "Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

Statue of Liberty

Some people think the book in the left hand of Lady Liberty is the Bible. But actually, the Statue of Liberty has a tablet reading July IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776). That's the date the Declaration
of Independence was signed.

A National Day of Prayer

This is the National Day of Prayer. Petitions to God will be made not just from the ground but from the air is well. That’s because a group of pilots plan to fly and pray over every state capital today. There are thousand of other events planned around the theme of prayer for the nation as well. Some are meeting in churches, others on the steps of courthouses, some in parks. The National Day of Prayer was first officially observed more than 50 years ago. In 1952, Congress passed a law declaring a day of prayer should be observed on the first Thursday of each May.

Methodist Vote on Gay Unions

Delegates at the United Methodist General Conference meeting in Fort Worth, Texas has voted to reject a move that would have changed the denomination’s Book of Discipline to support gay relationships. The decision was a fairly close 501-417 to affirm that marriage can only take place between a man and a women. Nearly a third of the delegates came from Africa and other places besides the US. Their conservative views made the difference in the outcome.

Pastor Sues Church

The former pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Utica, New York is suing the church over his dismissal. Tenolian Bell claims leaders of the congregation failed to go by church’s bylaws when they voted him out. The tally was 83-41, to give him notice. Members questioned his financial management. But Bell claims he was met with resistance because he wanted to make sure the church followed the law.

Dead Sea Scrolls Display

A very old section of the Dead Sea Scrolls rarely seen in public will be on display in May during Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations. The fragment is more than 2000 years old and include Psalm 133. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Clinton on Obama Pastor

Hillary Clinton is now offering her take on Barak Obama’s pastor. She told Fox News that the views of Jeremiah Wright, such as claiming the federal government is behind the spread of AIDS, are “offensive” and “outrageous”. Clinton went on to say that Obama had "made his views clear, finally, that he disagreed. And I think that's what he had to do." She made the remark during her first appearance on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show.

Hillary's Pastor on Barak's Pastor

"The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream.” - Dean Snyder of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC (Hillary Clinton’s pastor) commenting on Barak Obama’s former pastor. Synder has also recently announced his church will recognize same-sex unions in special ceremonies that fall just short of an official wedding.

Prophecy at Megachurch

Ted Haggard’s former Colorado Springs church is now focusing on prophecy. Pastor Brady Boyd says the entire 10,000 member New Life Church congregation can use the gift of prophecy to make declarations about the future. Ministers at the megachurch recently went through the audience, telling one woman she was "at a crossroads" and another man "he was on the right track” according to the Denver Post. Following Haggard’s resignation in disgrace, the church had to deal with another major incident - two people were killed in the church parking lot during a shooting spree in December.

Wright-Obama Timeline

1972 - Wright becomes pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

1985 - Obama meets Wright.

1988 - Obama becomes a Christian after hearing a Wright sermon.

1992 - Obama joins Trinity United Church and Wright officiates at his wedding.

2007 - Obama decides not to have Wright deliver the invocation at the launch of his presidential campaign.

March 14 – Wright steps down from a campaign advisory committee after Obama calls his remarks unacceptable and inexcusable.

March 18 - Obama criticizes Wright during a speech on race but says he can't "disown" Wright.

April 28 - Wright says criticism of his sermons amounts to criticism of black churches.

April 29, 2008 - Obama says he is "outraged" by Wright's recent comments and says
their relationship has been permanently damaged.

John Michael Talbot's Monastery

The Catholic monastery founded by Christian singer John Michael Talbot in Arkansas' Ozark Mountains was partly destroyed by fire Tuesday night. The Little Portion Hermitage lost its chapel where the fire started, dining hall, archives, library, and storeroom. Some people at the monastery suffered minor smoke inhalation. Talbot began recording rock in the 70’s but after a conversion experience became a well known Catholic acoustic artist. His more than 40 albums have sold more than 40 million copies.

Presbyterian Pastor Cleared

The Presbyterian Church, USA has cleared one if its pastors after she was brought up on charges for performing gay marriages. Jane Spahr, a California gay rights activist, was accused of breaking church law by officiating at the events. But the church’s high court decided the ceremonies were not real marriages ceremonies and only amounted to a blessing of a same-sex union. That overturns last year's ruling that found her guilty of misconduct and gave her a rebuke (the lightest possible punishment). Spahr was the first openly lesbian Presbyterian minister to be appointed a local church pastor.

Standoff at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries

A man is behind bars after sheriff's deputies arrested him at the Baton Rouge, headquarters of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Authorities say Garland Morris sat in his truck, loudly playing the ministry’s radio station before pulling out a machete. He held off deputies for a couple of hours, before SWAT officers broke a truck window and took him into custody.

Gibson's Return

Mel Gibson has agreed to star in a movie for the first time since 2002. While Gibson has directed movies like The Passion of the Christ in the last few years, he has not played the lead in a film since he starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs. In Edge of Darkness, Gibson will be a police officer whose political activist daughter is killed. It’s adapted from a British television series.

Obama Blasts Former Pastor

Barack Obama is distancing himself even further from former pastor Jeremiah Wright. Obama says Wright's comments do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church. Here’s what Obama had to say:

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday. This is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate. What became clear to me was that he was presenting a world view that contradicts what I am and what I stand for. I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS.. There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced. That's a show of disrespect to me. It is also, I think, an insult to what we've been trying to do."

Pelosi Explains Bible Verse

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is blaming a San Francisco priest for her press release that made reference to a Bible verse that lead to accusations she made it up. In her Earth Day message, Pelosi wrote, "The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'To minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship.’ To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.'” But the reference is not found directly in Scripture. A spokesman now says Pelosi "heard a priest quote the verse many years ago during a mass in San Francisco" and that her remark is actually a paraphrase of Genesis 2:15. It reads, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."

Third Day Facts

MEMBERS
lead singer - Mac Powell
drummer - David Carr
lead guitarist - Brad Avery
guitarist - Mark Lee
Bass guitarist - Tai Anderson

FIRST ALBUM
1995 self-produced, self-financed for $3000, self-distributed album
repackaged a year later by Reunion Records

SECOND ALBUM
1997's Conspiracy No. 5, Billboard called them, "not only one of the best Christian bands of the '90s but one of the best rock bands, period."

FIRST WORSHIP ALBUM
Offerings I went platinum

2003 EFFORT
Offerings II: All I Have to Give went gold

AWARDS
24 Dove awards
2 Grammy

2004 ALBUM
Wire

PERSONAL
The band started in 1991 in the suburbs of Atlanta

His Side of the Story

A televangelist recently went on the TV show Divorce Court. Now, the estranged husband of Juanita Bynum is telling his own story in a new book. Thomas Weeks claims he’s the one who’s suffered both physical and emotional abuse. His book is called What Love Taught Me and includes chapters like I Would Rather Push You Now Than Punch You Later and She Wanted to Be Oprah at Any Cost. An altercation between the Atlanta ministers left Weeks serving three years of probation.

Parents Face Charges

A Wisconsin couple who prayed instead of taking their sick daughter to a doctor face charges of second-degree reckless homicide. Dale and Leilani Neumann of Weston could get 25 years in prison for letting their 11-year-old die of diabetes. Leilani Neumann told Associated Press they believed in the Bible but had nothing against doctors. They do not belong to an organized church. The girl’s grandmother says the child was ill for days and wasn’t able to walk or talk.

Bible Literacy Poll

Have you read a phrase from the Bible in the past 12 months?
Americans – 75% (yes)
Germany – 28%
Italy - 27%
France - 21%
Spain - 20%

Have you read a book with a religious theme in the past 12 months?
Americans – 58% (yes)
Poland – 50%

Have you prayed in the past 12 months?
Americans – 87% (yes)
French – 49%

Have you a Bible in your home?
Americans – 93% (yes)
French – 48%

Do you attend religious services regularly?
Poland - 91% (yes)
Americans – 77%
Russia – 75%

Source: The GFK-Eurisko research group for the Catholic Biblical Federation

Plagiarism by Professor

The author of Shopping for God and Branded Nation: The Marketing of Megachurch is being accused of plagiarism. University of Florida professor James Twitchell borrowed parts of his books from other sources without crediting them, according to the The Gainesville Sun. Twitchell has issued an apology and the school has started its own investigation.

Wright on Farrakhan

Jeremiah Wright had this to say about Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan during his appearance at the National Press Club: "He is one of the most important voices in the 20th and 21st century; that’s what I think about him. I said, as I said on Bill Moyers, when Louis Farrakhan speaks it’s like E.F. Hutton speaks. All black America listens. Whether they agree with him or not, they listen. Now, I am not going to put down Louis Farrakhan any more than Mandela will put down Fidel Castro... Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains, he did not put me in slavery, and he didn’t make me this color."
Here's the complete transcript.

Scientology Online

Can't get enough of the Church of Scientology? The group has now started a YouTube site to "share the truth about Scientology’s beliefs with the general public". Here's a bit of Scientology history:

1975 • Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard came to Clearwater, Florida. The FBI soon uncovered a covert plot by the church to discredit its enemies and "take control" of the city.

Late '70s • Hubbard's wife and 10 other top church officials were convicted in Washington in a plot to steal federal government documents.

1980s • The city held hearings to explore allegations that Scientology is a cult, but no action was taken.

1995 • A Scientologist died after being cared for by church staffers for 17 days in at a hotel owned by the church. A wrongful death suit by her family was settled in 2004.

Today • Celebrity devotees such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. The Los Angeles-based church claims 10 million members and more than 7,000 churches around the world. Some 12,000 Scientologists live and work in and around Clearwater. Scientology's new seven-story Flag Building covers a full city block.

Obama's Pastor Speaks Out

Jeremiah Wright spoke at the National Press Club this morning in DC. He didn't back down from his controversial remarks about the government spreading AIDS (“I believe our government is capable of doing anything") and that America's "chickens are coming home to roost" after the 9/11 attacks (he claims America is "do(ing) terrorism" on others and it is simply coming back on the US). Wright said recent criticism about his sermons is really an attack on the black church. Wright says he warned Barak Obama that if he's elected President in November, "I'm coming after you." Wright is reportedly getting protection from the Nation of Islam because of death threats.

Revealing Photo of Miley Cyrus

The star of Disney’s Hannah Montana appears in the June issue of Vanity Fair topless and wrapped in a bed sheet. Although Miley Cyrus is covered, the outspoken Christian is getting a firestorm of criticism for her decision to pose for the photo. Disney blames the magazine. Cyrus has apologized, saying it seemed artsy at the time but now she’s embarrassed. Disney has moved into damage control, concerned its billion dollar franchise may be in jeopardy. A movie and book is in the works for Cyrus next year. Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards picked her as the favorite television actress.

Wright Speaks at Dinner

Barak Obama’s longtime pastor spoke tonight at NAACP's 53rd annual Freedom Fund dinner in Detroit. Jeremiah Wright told the audience of 12,000 people, “A change is coming because we no longer see others as being deficient”. In response to his controversial comments being run continuously on cable news networks, Wright said, “We knew that the looping was looping out the truth.”

Music Builds Tour

Third Day will headline a tour aimed at mainstream music fans. The 23-city Music Builds tour hits the road this fall with Switchfoot, Jars of Clay and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. Some of the proceeds will go to help Habitat for Humanity. Third Day also plans to release the group’s first studio album in three years. Revelation drops July 19th. Check here for tour dates.

Church Celebrates Cell Tower

A Florida church is planning a dedication service and picnic for a new cell phone tower on its property. That’s because T-Mobile is paying the Gulf Coast Worship Center in New Port Richey $1,200 a month to lease the property - and has disguised the tower with a very high cross. The 160 foot cross can been seen for quite a distance of road.

"Day of Silence" Get Noisy

Nearly 500 of the 1400 students at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington didn’t show up on Friday. Instead, some 80 students and parents gathered for a Day of Silence to show support for gay and lesbian rights. Pastor Ken Hutcherson (who’s daughter attends the school) and about 100 supporters gathered outside where they prayed and sang - behind yellow crime-scene tape put in place by police to keep them apart from several dozen counterdemonstrators. They chanted and banged on drums to dispute the pastor. More than 7,000 school and colleges around the country observed the national Day of Silence. Here's a video showing what the chaotic scene looked like:

Floor Collapse Aftermath

Three people are still in in serious condition today after the collapse of flooring at a Christian concert Friday night, sending dozens of people to the hospital. Starfield was playing at Central Heights Church in British Columbia when a 600-square-foot area of the floor caved in. Fans jumping up and down fell some 15 feet into the building's basement. Lighting and audio equipment followed after them. Today’s services at the Mennonite church were moved to the Columbia Bible College gym. Starfield has posted a request for prayer be offered on behalf of the injured. Fans have posted remarks in support of those who were hurt on the group's Facebook site. This video was shot right before the floor fell in.

World's Largest Flag

The world's largest flag was unveiled in Jerusalem today. It's part of celebrations to mark Israel's 60th anniversary (May 7). It was made by Grace Galindez-Gupana, a Filipino evangelical Christian. The flag is more than 2100 feet long and 300 feet wide. It weights a whopping 5.7 tons.

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

Obama Pastor in Dallas

The media was not allowed to bring cameras into a service this morning in Dallas featuring Barack Obama's former pastor. Jeremiah Wright preached to a packed and enthusiastic congregation of about 4000 at the Friendship-West Baptist Church. Local media says Wright referred to the replay of comments he's made from the pulpit as a “public crucifixion”.

Lawsuit over School Buses

A middle school student in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is suing the Calcasieu Parish School Board over the use of buses. The student is identified only as AW and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. But the group is not being allowed to use school buses for a field trip like other school clubs. They want to take members to the Just for Jesus rally taking place May 1 at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

Mel Gibson's Religious Group

▪ Name: Traditionalist Catholicism

▪ Distinctives: Catholicism only true path to salvation, Mass in Latin, no meat on Friday, women cover heads in church, some reject the authority of the Pope

▪ Opposes: Second Vatican Council

▪ Chapels: Independent, no formal connections

▪ Estimated Number: 50,000 Americans

▪ Newspaper: The Remnant

Alice Cooper

Rocker Alice Cooper is planning to put a youth center in Phoenix. His Christian nonprofit organization called Solid Rock Foundation built a 20,000-square-foot facility with basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, game room and a concert hall. Cooper says he became a Christian 16 years ago when he quit drinking. He's the son of a Christian minister and grandson of an evangelist.

Atheist Sues Army

A Specialist is suing the US Army, saying he was harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he’s an atheist. Jeremy Hall says he lead a meeting last year at Camp Speicher north of Baghdad when an officer began berating and threatening him because of his beliefs. He was sent home early from Iraq because of threats from fellow soldiers. The Defense Department had no comment on the lawsuit.

Injuries at Christian Concert

A lot of people who came to see a Christian rock concert at a church in Abbotsford, British Columbia wound up in the hospital last night. The floor of the Central Heights Church in front of the stage collapsed, injuring 40 of the 1200 people at the sold-out event. A few were seriously hurt. Most of the concert-goers who came to see Starfield were teens, though a warm-up band was playing when the accident happened.

Protest at Planned Parenthood

A major protest is planned today at the nation's largest Planned Parenthood facility. The Pro-Life Action League has been sending people to picket the Aurora, Illinois facility since last fall before it opened. Organizers expect more than 500 people to attend the rally.

Televangelist on Divorce Court

Juanita Bynum will appear on a two-part episode of Divorce Court this coming Thursday and Friday. She says her marriage to Thomas Weeks, the founder of Global Destiny churches, is over. He’s on probation after being convicted of assaulting her. She also admitted to Judge Lynn Toler she considered suicide and offers advice for women in similar situations.

Caspian Ready to Launch

The second of CS Lewis' fantasy books to be made into a film is about to hit the big screen. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a sequal to the hit film The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which did more than $300 million in domestic box office sales. Caspian is due out on May 16th. In it, the four Pervensie children return to Narnia to aid the young Prince Caspian in his struggle for the throne against his corrupt uncle King Miraz. It was shot in New Zealand and Eastern Europe. Movie tie-in editions of the books will be published by HarperCollins on May 5.

National Day of Prayer Controversy

A group called Jews on First is challenging the way the National Day of Prayer Task Force is handling the event. Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, heads up the Task Force. Jews on First accuses Evangelicals of “hijacking” the event and are campaigning for an Inclusive National Day of Prayer.

Creationists Turned Down

The Institute for Creation Research has been denied its proposed online master's degree in science education. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board unanimously denied the Dallas-based group's request. The institute can appeal or reapply in six months.

The Phantom Bible Verse

In an Earth Day press release, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'To minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship.’ To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.'” But the reference is not found in Scripture. Her office has yet to explain where the reference came from.

Protests and Counterprotests

Ken Hutcherson plans a protest at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington tomorrow. The pastor of Antioch Bible Church wants to counter students who will take part in a Day of Silence to support gay and lesbian students. Hutcherson spoke at the school on Martin Luther King Day and was booed by students for supporting Black civil rights but not gay rights. Counterprotests against Hutcherson are planned tomorrow as well.

The "Devious" Media

Jeremiah Wright says the media is "devious” for telling people what he’s said in his sermons. Barack Obama's former pastor make the remark during an interview that will air Friday night on PBS. Wright say airing snippets of his sermons was an attempt to paint him as "some sort of fanatic."

Advice to Wormwood

A stage version of the CS Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters is playing at the Lansburgh Theatre in Washington. It’s the advice of a senior devil to a younger tempter. It’s a product of the New Jersey-based Fellowship for the Performing Arts, a group that comes up with theater from a Christian worldview. The Washington Post calls it “handsomely produced” and the show will run through May 18^th.

Dove Winners

Last night in Nashville the Christian Music industry handed out its biggest awards. Here are the winners from this year's 39th annual Dove awards:

Artist of the Year: TobyMac

Singer of the Year: Mark Hall of Casting Crowns

Rock/contemporary album: TobyMac for Portable Sounds

Song of the Year: East to West by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Bernie Herms.

Pop/contemporary recorded song of the year: East to West by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Bernie Herms.

Group of the Year: Casting Crowns

Best pop/contemporary album of the year: The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns

Male vocalist of the year: Chris Tomlin

Female vocalist of the year: Natalie Grant

New artist of the year: Brandon Heath

Songwriter of the year award : Cindy Morgan

Bluegrass recorded song: Ricky Skaggs and the Whites for Salt of the Earth

Contemporary gospel album award: A Deeper Level by Israel & New Breed

More Winners

Pennsylvania Vote Breakdown

Vote By Religion and Attendance

Protestant/Weekly (9%)
Clinton - 50%
Obama - 50%

Prot./Less Often (15%)
Clinton - 57%
Obama - 43%

Catholic/Weekly (18%)
Clinton - 74%
Obama - 26%

Catholic/Less Often (18%)
Clinton - 65%
Obama - 35%

All Others (39%)
Clinton - 41%
Obama - 59%

Source: CNN Exit Polling

Over objections from John McCain, the North Carolina Republican party has released a TV ad focused on Barak Obama's former pastor. In response, Obama says, "My understanding is that the Republican National Committee and John McCain have both said that the ad’s inappropriate. I assume that if John McCain thinks that it’s an inappropriate ad, that he can get them to pull it down since he’s their nominee and standard-bearer." It's probably the first attempt by the GOP to win votes based on Obama's religious connections. Here's the ad:

Church Vandalized

Police are trying to figure out who vandalized a Port Arthur, Texas church with satanic markings. The racially mixed congregation of the Stonegate Missionary Baptist Church also found racial slurs, ketchup poured on furniture, and slashed pews. An American flag was thrown on the floor. Sinks were left running, flooding many rooms.

Wright to Speak in DC

Look for Obama’s former pastor to make more headlines soon. Jeremiah Wright will speak the National Press Club in Washington on Monday. The one-time leader of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago will talk about the role of faith in the public square and issues of “social justice and inequities” that have shaped his faith.

Robocop Director

The man behind Basic Instinct and Robocop is taking on Jesus. Filmmaker Paul Verhoeven has written a bio of Jesus that will be printed this fall by an Amsterdam publishing house. Besides directing several Hollywood bockbusters, he’s a member of the Jesus Seminar, a group that says it tries to separate the facts about Jesus from the religious myth. The book Jezus van Nazareth: A Realistic Portrait will suggest that Jesus real father is a Roman soldier who raped Mary. Verhoeven is hoping to turn the story into a movie.

Southern Baptists Losing Members

Membership for the Southern Baptist Convention is the lowest in more than 20 years. Here’s how the numbers shape up for the largest Protestant denomination:

Membership
▪ 2007 - 16,266,920
▪ That’s down some 40,000 from the year before
▪ It’s the third year in a row that the number of members has fallen

Baptisms
▪ 2007 – down 5.5% to 345,941

On the up side:
▪ The SBC added 473 new churches, growing by 1.1% to 44,696
▪ Worship attendance is up slightly to 6.15 million
▪ Support for mission activities – more than $1.3 billion

Source: LifeWay Christian Resources

Religion Test

A test of your knowledge of religious by the Houston Chronicle.

Prison for Box of Ammo

A South Carolina pastor is facing a sentence of more than three years in prison for trying to bring a $25 box of hunting rounds into Russia. Phillip Miles of Christ Community Church in Conway has been in a Moscow jail since February. He was bringing the .300-caliber cartridges to a fellow pastor who had recently bought a new rifle. Miles says he didn't know bringing ammunition into Russia was illegal and that he had asked US airline officials before boarding his plane and was assured there would not be a problem.

ORU Lawsuit

Two former Oral Roberts University professors say they’ll drop their lawsuit against the school for two-and-a-half million dollars, according to the Associated Press. They claim the school forced them out after they blew the whistle on financial and ethical wrongdoing. The school has already made an out of court with a third professor.

Former ORU president Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local mayoral race. His wife, Lindsay, are accused of spending school funds on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses. The lawsuit also claims she spent the night in a school guest house with an underage male several times. Roberts resigned last year after the allegations became public. Both he and his wife have denied any wrongdoing.

A "Control Freak"

The former head of New York State’s Charities Bureau says televangelist Kenneth Copeland is a “control freak”. That’s because, according to CBS News, ministry bylaws allow Copeland to veto any resolution of his church board. It’s unlikely there would ever be a conflict though. Copeland's wife is vice president while his son-in-law is Senior Pastor, Secretary and Treasurer. His son, John, is the Operations Vice President and CEO. In most churches, authority comes from the congregation and they get to decide who becomes pastor. But in Copeland's set up, he has all the power. He recently gained national attention for refusing to give Senate investigators details of his ministry's finances. The church spent $28 million on salaries of the $100 million it took in during 2006.

Expelled Debut

A movie critical of evolution has cracked the box office top ten. Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, debuted at number nine by pulling in more than $3 million. That makes it on track to become one of the most commercially successful documentaries. Expelled shows interviews with academics who say their views on evolution have led to threats and intimidation. The film had been criticized by scientists who say it is inaccurate and misleading.

Christian TV Host "Comes Out"

The host of a syndicated Christian TV show says he’s gay. Azariah Southworth is seen on the NRB and JCTV networks on The Remix. It goes behind the scenes to see what life is like for popular Christian groups and averages more than 200,000 viewers each week. Southworth says he had a Pentecostal upbringing but was inspired to reveal his homosexuality by last year’s controversial documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. He expects The Remix will be canceled but hasn’t heard yet about its fate.

Obama.. Osama

A sign outside a church is stirring controversy in a little South Carolina town. Pastor Roger Byrd of the Jonesville Church of God that reads: Obama Osama. Humm Are They Brothers? Byrd says the sign is not racist or an attempt to make a political statement, just to make people think. But Obama has made it clear his is not a Muslim and has attended the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for many years. Byrd says members voted unanimously to keep the sign up. Jonesville Church of God does not have any members who are Black.

Stadium Packed for Pope's Appearance

Pope Benedict spoke to a crowd of nearly 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium today. The outdoor Mass was the largest public event during his six-day visit to the US. Earlier in the day, he blessed the World Trade Center site at ground zero and spoke to a small group of survivors and families of the victims of the 9/11 attack.

Pastor Donating Kidney

The pastor of a Denver area church is giving a member of his church one of his kidneys a week from Tuesday. Jeremy Jacoby of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Frederick is making the donation to Jon Adams who was born with a medical condition that eventually will shut down his kidneys. Jacoby started his mission church just a year ago. Jon was his first hospital call.

Maher Apologizes

Bill Maher has apologized for accusing the pope of being a Nazi during his HBO show. Maher then said that if a CEO were in charge of an institution that housed molesters, he would be fired. And now Maher’s admits that Joseph Ratzinger was forced to join a German youth organization (from which he fled at the first instance).

Bethrothals

Betrothals are rising in popularity among conservative Christians. For some, that means a prearranged marriage. For others it’s more of a chaste courtship. One of its advocates is Jonathan Lindvall who runs Bold Christian Living. He’s written several pamphlets on what he calls Spiritual Romance.

Nice Guys Finish..

Nice guys finish first and punishers are the losers, according to a new Harvard study. Students playing the same game many times showed those who escalate conflict wind up hurting themselves. Researchers say the results indicated it’s in your own self-interest to be nice because the players who punished their opponents the least, or not at all, made the most money. This runs against Game Theory that says punishment makes two equals cooperate. Details of the new study are in the latest issue of the journal Nature.

Doves Fly Soon

The Dove Awards take place Wednesday in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House. The show can be seen on Gospel Music Channel from 8–10pm, Eastern and XM radio on 32 The Message. Among those appearing during the awards ceremony are Rick Skaggs and Charlie Daniels.

A Survey of US Christian views on Jerusalem

Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel in any peace agreement with the Palestinians:
Yes - 50%
Unsure 33%
Favoring Division 17%

The percentage of US Christians who want Jerusalem to remain under Israeli control by denomination:
Protestants- 53%
Catholics - 44%
Evangelicals - 62%

Source: The Joshua Fund

Obama's Gifts to Charities

Among Barack Obama's charitable donations reported on his 2007 tax return was a $26,270 gift to Trinity United Church of Christ. The former pastor of the church has created problems for Obama because of his controversial sermons. The Obamas' largest charitable donation was $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund. They also gave $35,000 to CARE.

Barak Pastor To Texas

Barack Obama's former pastor plans to speak at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas on April 27th. Jeremiah Wright will help the congregation celebrate the 25th pastoral anniversary of pastor Frederick Haynes. Wright decided to skip plans to speak in the area last month after controversial remarks he made from the pulpit became known around the country.

Teacher Refuses to Remove Bible

A rally for an embattled science teacher brought out some 75 people to the town square of Mount, Vernon, Ohio today. John Freshwater was ordered to remove the Bible and a collage that included the Ten Commandments. He took the collage off the way but not the Bible from the desk. He’s taught at Mount Vernon Middle School near Columbus for more than two decades. School district officials haven’t decided what step to take next.

Benedict at the White House

Full text of Pope Benedict's White House Remarks

Actor Dumps Scientology

Acotr Jason Beghe has left the Church of Scientology. He took courses from the organization for 14 years and even appeared in promotional spots. But in a YouTube video he calls Scientology “destructive” and a “rip-off." Beghe played Demi Moore’s love interest in the movie G.I. Jane and has been featured in numerous TV dramas.

Seeing Gray

Pastor Adam Hamilton tells the story of a parishioner who wrote him a letter describing her teenage pregnancy, the pressure from her parents to have an abortion and her decision not to do so. That letter was from his mother. It’s one of the stories he tells in the book Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White. But what will surprise many readers is that the Kansas evangelical megachurch pastor supports abortion rights – and wants Christians on both sides of the issue to join forces to reduce the number of them. He argues that ministers are responsible to try "to support people no matter what decision they make."