An Orange County jury Monday awarded $2 million for past and future damages to the granddaughter of a founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, finding that her grandmother acted “outrageously” to allegations that the plaintiff was molested when she was 13 by a TBN employee. Jan Crouch died in May of 2016. Carra Crouch will […]
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — A volunteer youth worker at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church has been arrested on allegations that he committed lewd acts with two teenage boys. According to reports, officials at the church called police after being informed that mentor Ruven Meulenberg, 32, had engaged in indecent behavior with a 14-year-old boy. An investigation […]
(The Christian Institute) — The Church of Scotland has taken steps to allow its ministers to perform same-sex “weddings,” after debating a report in its General Assembly. The report, put forward by the influential Theological Forum, acknowledged that the Bible condemns same-sex acts, but claimed Scripture was framed by cultural context. Marriage was redefined in […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — A group known as “Concerned Clergy for Choice” and others recently gathered in the New York state capital to advocate for access to abortion and contraception, and to express support for the sexually-centered organization Planned Parenthood. “As pastors, we believe in New Yorkers’ ability to get the health care that is supported […]
FATIMA, Portugal — Jorge Bergoglio, the Roman Catholic leader known as Pope Francis, has “sainted” two of three Portuguese shepherds who purportedly saw an apparition of Mary a century ago and are credited with two miracles following their death. The occasion, which is widely accepted among Catholics worldwide, is rejected by evangelicals, who note numerous conflicts with […]
Iowa City, Iowa — A campus minister at the University of Iowa is facing possible censure from United Methodist leadership for officiating a same-sex ceremony for another female clergy member. Anna Blaedel, the executive director of the university’s Wesley Student Center, presided over the ceremony in Oklahoma on April 4, despite knowledge that doing so […]
MANAGUA — A young Nicaraguan minister and four of his members have been sentenced to 30 years in prison after a woman died following an exorcism attempt that resulted in burns on more than 80 percent of her body. “The suffering that Trujillo was subjected to is something no human being should go through,” said […]
EASTRY, Kent — A retired vicar with the Church of England has “wed” a young Romanian model 54 years his junior, and now wants the Church to get with the times in regard to same-sex relationships. Philip Clements, 78, tied the knot to Florin Marin, 24, last month at the registry office in Ramsgate after meeting […]
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — A former youth leader in Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to impregnating a teenager who had looked up to him as a father figure in her life. “I want to say I am deeply sorry for the way my weaknesses have hurt [the victim] and my family,” Jacob Malone, 35, and married father of […]
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Representatives for prosperity preacher Benny Hinn have confirmed that the federal government is “reviewing certain operations” following a raid on Hinn’s Texas office. “As has been widely reported, Benny Hinn Ministries is cooperating fully with the governmental entities that are reviewing certain operations of the Church,” a social media post released on Thursday […]