MARSHALL – A small town in Missouri briefly became a flashpoint of religious freedom when inconclusive reports hit media outlets that a student at Bueker Middle School here was told he was not allowed to read his Bible during his free time. A seventh grader there told his parents and WDAF-TV in Kansas City a teacher told him he could not read the Bible at school. However, there has not been validation of the accusation and the principal has since made public comments assuring the Bible and … [Read more...]
Lawmaker criticized for bill protecting religious liberty on campuses
JEFFERSON CITY – After he proposed House Bill 104 in the Missouri legislature at the beginning of this session, Springfield Republican Elijah Haahr was smeared with verbal attacks on social media outlets, blog posts and online articles. Some of the bill’s opponents posted angry messages criticizing Haahr and his family, even commenting on photos of his children. Some called him a Nazi. At least one promised to “cheer” should ISIS behead him. Why did this online onslaught erupt over Haahr’s … [Read more...]
Abedini meets with Obama
BOISE, Idaho (BP) – Seeking the release of Saeed Abedini remains a "top priority," President Obama told Naghmeh Abedini during a private 10-minute meeting with her and her children Jan. 21 at Boise State University. Obama pledged to seek his release with renewed energy. "He was holding my hand the whole time. I could see that he cared in his eyes and he kept getting that across, that he cares, and he's doing what he can [to gain Saeed's release]," she said during a radio interview with … [Read more...]
Record crowd attends MBC Legislative Prayer Service
JEFFERSON CITY – Hope remains for Missouri and for the United States even in perilous times, Hannibal-LaGrange University President Anthony Allen told civic and church leaders from around the state during the 10th annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast and Service, Jan. 7. More than 200 people gathered at Concord Baptist Church here for the event, which is sponsored by the Christian Life Commission (CLC) of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Following a prayer breakfast, guests gathered … [Read more...]
Abortion rate down, but fight for life continues
JEFFERSON CITY – This year holds promise for pro-life advocates in Missouri as abortion rates in the state continue to decline. According to the latest report, Missouri’s abortion rate fell to 9,027 in 2012—down from 11,470 in 2007 and from 9,234 in 2011. The steady decline in abortion follows from years of legislative battles in the Missouri General Assembly, resulting in a spate of pro-life bills: In 2010, the assembly passed legislation requiring women who seek an abortion to read a … [Read more...]
Court mum on appeals court ruling on gay marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) –The U.S. Supreme Court made no announcement Monday (Jan. 12) about whether it would review an appeals court decision on the volatile issue of same-sex marriage. It appeared an order regarding a ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on gay marriage might be issued after the justices held a private conference Jan. 9. Since it took no action, the high court may consider the cases in that opinion during its conference Jan. 16. A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit, … [Read more...]
Atlanta fire chief fired over pro-family book
ATLANTA (BP) – Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has been terminated following a city investigation into a book he wrote that calls homosexual behavior immoral. But Cochran said the investigation, which has not been released to the public, produced no evidence of wrongdoing. Allegations of discrimination against homosexuals were "completely unfounded," Cochran said Jan. 6. "The investigation shows that there is no evidence. Under no circumstances have I been discriminatory or hateful … [Read more...]
Fayetteville, Ark., LGBT law repealed
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (BP) – Voters in a northwest Arkansas city have overturned a pro-homosexual/transgender ordinance that many claimed posed a threat to religious liberty. In a special election Tuesday (Dec. 9), residents of Fayetteville – home of the University of Arkansas – approved repeal of the measure by fewer than 500 votes, with 52 percent (7,523) of voters in favor of repeal and 48 percent (7,040) opposed. The result rescinded a law passed by the city council in a 6-2 vote in … [Read more...]
ERLC’s race summit set for March
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity has announced a summit on race relations in the wake of grand jury decisions regarding police killings of black men that have provoked widespread protests and a nationwide discussion. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will hold a leadership summit with the theme “The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation” March 26-27 in Nashville, it announced Thursday (Dec. 11). The ERLC previously had announced the topic of its … [Read more...]
Atheists promote ‘skip church’ Christmas billboards
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis is the among four southern cities targeted by American Atheists’ new billboard campaign attacking Christmas. The billboards, which began appearing Dec. 1, feature a young girl writing a letter to Santa; her letter reads, “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is to skip church! I’m too old for fairy tales.” In addition to the billboard in St. Louis, others are appearing in Memphis; Nashville and Fort Smith, Ark. A fifth billboard in Milwaukee is co-sponsored by the … [Read more...]
Poll: state shouldn’t define marriage
NASHVILLE – About half of Americans are ready for separation of church and state when it comes to weddings. Six in 10 say the government should not define or regulate marriage. And more than a third of Americans—and about a quarter of Protestant pastors—say clergy should get out of the civil marriage business. Those are among the findings of two new studies from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, said Americans disagree about the … [Read more...]
Homeschoolers sue cops after being tasered, kids taken
NEW HAMPTON – A Missouri homeschooling couple has filed a lawsuit against local police after two officers entered their home in 2011 without a warrant, pepper-sprayed them, verbally and physically assaulted them, shot the father with a taser, and threatened to shoot the family dog – all in front of their terrified children aged 8-13. It all began when a child protective services caseworker visited the New Hampton home of Jason and Laura Hagan to investigate a tip about a messy house. When … [Read more...]
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