The Pew Research Center provided the following facts about the National Day of Prayer: • The National Day of Prayer (May 7) was enacted in 1952 by Congress and President Harry S. Truman. • In 2011, The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in federal court. • Some 55% of Americans said they pray every day, according to a 2013 Pew Research survey, while 23% said they pray weekly or monthly. Another Pew survey conducted in 2012 found that 76% … [Read more...]
Religious liberty should go beyond freedom of worship
WASHINGTON (WNS) – The new State Department ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom articulated a robust view of religious liberty in his first testimony before Congress. Rabbi David Saperstein’s comments came at a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing convened to discuss his office’s budget and role in combating religious persecution. Saperstein’s predecessor, Suzan Johnson Cook, served two-and-a-half ineffective years in the role and often only defended freedom … [Read more...]
Race summit urges view of God’s image
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Racial reconciliation in the church calls for a strong view of the image of God in all people, a deep commitment to understanding others and an intentionality in achieving diversity, speakers said on the second day of a Southern Baptist-sponsored leadership summit. Christians must see the image of God in all people without minimizing their differences, African-American speakers said.Black, white, Asian and Iranian pastors and leaders addressed racial disunity Friday … [Read more...]
Ind. bill affirms ‘inclusion’ of religious beliefs
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (BP) – Indiana's leading Republican lawmakers pledged today (March 30) to introduce language to the state's new religious freedom bill to clarify it does not allow discrimination against homosexuals, but seeks inclusion of religious diversity. House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long said at today's press conference that backlash generated by the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), signed into law March 26, is based on a … [Read more...]
IRS notice may benefit ministers
JEFFERSON CITY – A recent announcement from the IRS may help ministers around the state save on their taxes, according to Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Human Resources and Guidestone specialist Gene Foster. According to Foster, this IRS announcement made clear that ministers—and other taxpayers—who have individual medical plans and who have reported their healthcare premiums as taxable income for 2014 no longer need to do so. “For some guys, that is $13,000 or $14,000 of income that … [Read more...]
SBC presidents send open letter to Obama
NASHVILLE (BP) – In an open letter, Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd, along with the support and signatures of 16 former SBC presidents, called on President Obama to "take the necessary actions now" against ISIS terrorists. "Since ISIS is a continuing threat to world peace in a way unknown to us since the Nazis of World War II, we humbly call upon you to use the influence and power of your distinguished office to take the necessary actions now in this urgent hour to … [Read more...]
Moore: SCOTUS will ‘probably’ OK gay marriage
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court likely will legalize gay marriage nationwide, labeling it a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment, Southern Baptists' lead ethicist told state convention executives and Baptist state paper editors Feb. 11. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was "probably right" in his apparent prediction that the Supreme Court's recent denial of a stay to halt legalized same-sex marriage in Alabama "is a signal of what the court intends to do," … [Read more...]
Michigan judge mocks Bible over same-sex marriage
DETROIT – A U.S. District Judge mocked the Bible in a decision that validated 300 same-sex “marriages” that took place in Michigan last year. “In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder,” said Judge Mark Goldsmith in his Jan. 15 decision. The ruling came after nearly a year of uncertainty regarding same-sex couples who were “married” the day after a different judge said Michigan’s marriage law was unconstitutional. The 2014 decision was put on hold, … [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...]
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...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- …
- 28
- Next Page »