Texas televangelist Benny Hinn refused entry to Britain
Joe Skipper/Reuters An American preacher has been turned away from Britain, leaving thousands of people stranded at an evangelical rally in London this weekend. Benny Hinn, from Texas, who draws large crowds to his Pentecostal revival rallies, was turned back at Stansted airport under new rules on visiting ministers of religion. Many thousands of Pentecostal... Continue Reading
Supreme Court Lets Stand Ruling in Illinois Choose Life License Plate Case
by Steven Ertelt On Oct 5, 2009, the Supreme Court let stand a ruling in a case involving Choose Life license plates in Illinois. The decision means that the Illinois officials who declined to issue the license plates in Illinois have won a legal victory against the pro-life advocates who wanted the plates to raise... Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court Begins New Term
From World Magazine: The high court begins its new term with three justices who have yet to draw their lines in the sand /Emily Belz WASHINGTON—The highest court in the United States will hear a number of potentially landmark cases this year, and still three of its members haven’t pursued a landmark decision. The Supreme... Continue Reading
Does Obama’s Agenda Include Religious Freedom?
When the Dalai Lama came to Washington two years ago, he was feted with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, as President George W. Bush and a bipartisan delegation looked on. But as the exiled Tibetan leader returns for another visit to the nation’s capital next week (Oct. 5-10), there is a... Continue Reading
Queen ‘appalled’ at Church of England moves
Queen ‘appalled’ at Church of England moves, claim Vatican moles. When Pope Benedict visits this country next year, he is expected to stay at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. The warmth of her welcome will come as no surprise to the Pontiff, if senior sources at the Vatican are to be believed.... Continue Reading
Faith-based Fraud
When church leaders want to raise money for building programs, they often turn to companies like Indiana-based Alanar, which trains these leaders to sell bonds to fellow church members. In Alanar’s training is advice to open meetings with prayer, quote Scripture during the sales call, and “never sell the facts, sell warm stewardship and the... Continue Reading
Are U.S. churches stingy?
By Angela Abbamonte, Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) Are U.S. churchgoers stingy? That’s one possible conclusion from a newly updated report that shows if parishioners tithed the biblically recommended 10 percent of their income—instead of their current 2.56 percent—an extra $161 billion would be flowing to charity. The report, published by Illinois-based research firm empty... Continue Reading
School bans cheerleader signs, community rallies
Christian Examiner staff report FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. —More than 500 people turned out Sept. 29 for a support rally for a north Georgia school cheer squad who has been banned from using religious messages in their football game banners. The policy change came after a spectator complained that the teens used a large banner reading... Continue Reading
Justice Thomas Speaks About His Silence on the Bench
Miriam Rozen, The Texas Lawyer For a U.S. Supreme Court justice who remains mum during oral arguments, Clarence Thomas shared a lot on Wednesday during a 90-minute conversation before an audience of 2,300 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Appearing on stage with Theodore B. Olson, former U.S. solicitor general, Thomas began the evening with... Continue Reading
Legendary mission innovator Margaret Flory dies at 95
by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE — Margaret Flory, a visionary Presbyterian leader who created a number of seminal programs that connected Christians around the world with each other, died Oct. 1 in Asheville, N.C. She was 95. During her 36 years on the national staff of the former United Presbyterian Church... Continue Reading