(The Guardian) — Months of negotiations involving participants across two continents has resulted in a deal in which 82 Chibok schoolgirls—who were seized from their dormitories in April 2014 and held captive for more than three years by the Islamist group Boko Haram—have been released in exchange for five militant leaders. But joy at their […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared the state’s opioid crisis a public health emergency on Wednesday amid pleas for the government to intervene. “The individuals struggling with drug use are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends and each tragic case leaves loved ones searching for answers and praying for help,” he said […]
(Christian Institute) — An American couple who rejected pressure from medics to abort their conjoined twins have spoken of their delight in the decision they made. Doctors did not believe Callie and Carter Torres would survive past the eleventh week of pregnancy, but they were born by Caesarean section at 37 weeks. Mother Chelsea spoke […]
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 […]
MADISON, Wisc. — A prominent professing atheist organization has filed suit against President Donald Trump over his religious freedom executive order, which directs the IRS not to enforce the federal Johnson Amendment, a law passed in 1954 that prohibits electioneering (favoring or disfavoring any political candidate) from the pulpit. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) […]
CINCINNATI, Ohio — A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit filed by two homosexual men who sought damages against Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis for denying them a marriage license because her name would be on it. As previously reported, U.S. District Judge David Bunning dismissed all outstanding legal challenges against Davis in August after […]
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Officials at a school district in Tennessee have temporarily shut down a Bible club at a local elementary school following a complaint from a prominent atheist activist group. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently sent a letter to Bartlett City Schools after learning that a Bible club was being held on the […]
WASHINGTON — Faith-based groups across the nation are divided in their opinions over how much of an impact that President Trump’s newly-signed executive order will actually have on the protection of religious liberty in the nation. “Federal law protects the freedom of Americans and their organizations to exercise religion and participate fully in civic life without […]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WKMG) — An arson investigation is underway after a fire caused $5,000 worth of damage at a Volusia County church, the Daytona Beach Fire Department said. Someone intentionally set a fire in Master’s Domain Church around midnight Thursday then put it out, according to a news release. The pastor called the fire […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 217 to 213 on Thursday to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, reducing—but not completely eliminating—funding for the abortion and contraception giant Planned Parenthood for one year in the process. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) will strip Planned Parenthood of $390 million […]