WASHINGTON — Nearly 80 members of Congress have signed a letter to Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, calling for the immediate release of an American pastor who was jailed on an accusation that he is a member of a “terrorist organization.” Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine, who have been living in Turkey for over 20 […]
Continue reading …WASHINGTON — A international committee formed by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine has issued a stamp of approval—with caution—regarding the concept of editing the genomes or germlines of unborn babies in the embryo stage in order to treat or prevent diseases. “Genome editing is a powerful new tool for making […]
Continue reading …An American pastor who had been imprisoned in Iran for three years until he was freed last January in a prisoner swap with the U.S. was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty last year to violating a restraining order sought by his wife, who he filed for divorce from last fall. Saeed Abedini was sentenced to […]
Continue reading …NEWBURGH, Ind. — A former local Democratic Party leader and his homosexual partner have been arrested and now face sexual misconduct charges after allegedly being in a sexual relationship with a teenage boy. Justin Jarvis, 43, and Robert Owen, 38, were arrested on Wednesday following an investigation by the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana. Jarvis […]
Continue reading …CHRISTIANBURG, Va. — A prominent professing atheist organization has convinced the parks and recreation department of a Virginia town to cancel an upcoming field trip to Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Kentucky by asserting that the trip is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently […]
Continue reading …BUFFALO, N.Y. — A medical student in New York has been prohibited from traveling to North Carolina to participate in a pharmacy program due to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ban on non-essential government travel to the state due to his objections to its “bathroom bill,” which restricts men from using women’s restrooms and vice versa. University of […]
Continue reading …ONTARIO, Calif. — While appearing at an event with Baptist news reporters on Wednesday, Southern Baptist International Mission Board President David Platt told those gathered that he was sorry that an amicus brief supporting the construction of a New Jersey mosque had caused division. “I apologize to Southern Baptists for how distracting and divisive this has been,” he said. “I […]
Continue reading …WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to overturn a rule issued by the Obama administration that bans states from defunding the abortion and contraception giant Planned Parenthood. Congress used its authority under the Congressional Review Act, which allows the legislative branch to overturn orders issued within the past 60 days. It agreed 228-188, under […]
Continue reading …OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a ruling against a florist accused of discrimination by providing a referral for a regular customer’s request for the creation of floral arrangements for his same-sex ceremony rather than fulfilling the order herself. “Discrimination based on same-sex marriage constitutes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. […]
Continue reading …PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — A prominent professing atheist organization is seeking to put an end to prayers and Bible readings that are presented by a chaplain during ceremonies at a Air National Guard base in New Hampshire. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently sent a letter to the leadership of Pease Air National Guard […]
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