Federal judges have invalidated the will of millions of Americans who voted to amend their state constitutions to define marriage as a union of a man and a woman. I am shocked at the lack of outrage no matter where you stand on the issue. These judges have robbed citizens of the sacred right of voting and upset the balance of powers between the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. These federal judges are not elected and are given lifetime appointments, often by … [Read more...]
Mohler: Evangelicals should expect persecution
LOUISVILLE (SBTS) – “Opposition from the world is an opportunity to witness,” said R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, during a special Heritage Week chapel service, Oct. 15. “The opportunity of greatest Christian witness is not when we think the world loves us, but when the world quite openly hates us.” Preaching from John 15:18-27, Mohler said, “This passage is, of course, not completely unfamiliar to us as evangelical Christians in the United … [Read more...]
Gov’t to ministers: marry gays or go to jail
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit and a motion for a temporary restraining order Oct. 17 to stop officials in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from forcing two ordained Christian ministers to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples. City officials told Donald Knapp that he and his wife Evelyn, both ordained ministers who run Hitching Post Wedding Chapel, are required to perform such ceremonies or face months in jail and/or thousands of dollars … [Read more...]
Sen. Cruz: Caesar has no jurisdiction over pulpit
Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined together to speak out against the recent subpoenas targeting Houston area pastors. In response to these pastors being asked to turn over their sermons, Ted Cruz made his position clear: "Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit, and when you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.” Share this video and article to show your support for the Houston pastors! … [Read more...]
Reaction: Houston sermon subpoenas
WASHINGTON (BP) – The city of Houston has "no business" in issuing subpoenas for the sermons of pastors who oppose a new homosexual-transgender rights ordinance, says Southern Baptist Convention's lead ethicist Russell D. Moore. Opposition to the ordinance is based in part on concerns it will violate the religious freedom of business owners and others who disagree with the measure. Also, foes think it will make women and children vulnerable to sexual predators by permitting people to use … [Read more...]
Kagan urged to recuse herself from gay marriage cases
WASHINGTON – Citizen activists are demanding that Justice Elena Kagan recuse herself from any Supreme Court case determining the future of same-sex “marriage” after she officiated a homosexual “wedding” – a call seemingly endorsed by fellow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. On Sept. 21, Kagan presided over the ceremony of her former law clerk Mitchell Reich and his partner Patrick Pearsall in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Analysts say that calls into question her ability to give both sides of the case … [Read more...]
Court considers pastors’ housing allowance
CHICAGO (BP) – Supporters of the ministerial housing allowance should be hopeful about a federal appeals court’s anticipated ruling on the 60-year-old provision, a religious liberty lawyer said after oral arguments in the case. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago appeared Sept. 9 to lean toward either dismissing the case because the allowance’s challengers lack legal standing or upholding the allowance as constitutional, a lawyer with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty … [Read more...]
ERLC: Town’s sign code violates church freedom
WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Convention's religious freedom entity has called for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a municipal sign ordinance it says violates a church's free speech and assembly rights. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) joined in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Sept. 22 that contends the sign code of Gilbert, Ariz., discriminates against churches while favoring political and ideological messages. The brief, filed by the Christian … [Read more...]
MBC asks Supreme Court for a sign – of freedom
The Missouri Baptist Convention has filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in joining other religious groups asking for a sign – that religious freedom trumps local sign codes which discriminate against churches and church plants. The case, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, originating the Phoenix area, is potentially the most important religious freedom case on the Supreme Court's docket in the new term beginning Oct. 6. Michael and Jonathan Whitehead, a father-son legal team in Kansas City, … [Read more...]
Stand for religious liberty
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptists must boldly proclaim the Gospel as they fight for religious freedom in the United States and globally, David Platt said in an interview conducted by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Platt, newly elected International Mission Board president, participated in an interview with Dan Darling, vice president of communications for the ERLC, focusing on religious persecution. The ERLC posted the interview, which took place during … [Read more...]
Atheists’ win could help churches
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) – An atheist group reached a settlement last month with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over stronger enforcement of policies against “church politicking,” and at least one religious freedom group voiced optimism, claiming the IRS investigation could be “a good thing” in the long run. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has been campaigning to overturn the portion of the tax code that prohibits nonprofit organizations from “intervening in political campaigns as a … [Read more...]
Veto session, conservatives, Obama Care, a farewell
Lawmakers will gather in Jefferson City Sept. 10 for this year’s veto session. They will consider overriding vetoes of two pro-life bills by Gov. Jay Nixon. The first veto was of legislation that expands the waiting period for having an abortion from 24 hours to 72. The second was a bill that increases tax credits available for pregnancy resource centers, food pantries and maternity homes. The government has a duty to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Under current state law, woman … [Read more...]
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