COVINGTON, Ky. — A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed a lawsuit filed by three atheist organizations that challenged tax provisions for churches and members of the clergy. United States District Judge William O. Bertlesman, appointed by then-President Jimmy Carter, threw out the suit lodged by American Atheists, Atheists of Northern Indiana and Atheist Archives of […]
Santa Barbara, Calif. — At least six people were killed and thirteen injured in a stabbing and shooting rampage near the University of Santa Barbara Friday night. The assailant was also found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, and a YouTube video recorded by the suspect is now being analyzed by the local police. Elliot Rodger, 22, […]
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Controversy is brewing in Texas over a Catholic-run hospital that is accused of enabling the last remaining abortion facility in South Texas to remain open. Under a recent Texas law that took affect in November, those who perform abortions are required to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital within a 30-mile radius. […]
Several U.S. states are rejecting proposed science education standards which would promote several controversial issues, including evolution and man-made global warming. In addition to the highly-publicized and hotly-debated Common Core educational curricula, many educators are encouraging states to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) program. Though NGSS is not directly affiliated with Common Core, […]
TULSA, Okla. — An appeals court has ruled that the rights of an Oklahoma police captain that was punished in 2010 for refusing to attend an Islamic service were not violated. As previously reported, three years ago, Captain Paul Fields was ordered to attend “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day,” which was hosted by the Islamic Society […]
BATON ROUGE, La. — Legislators in Louisiana have passed a bill requiring abortionists to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital, a move that some say will shutter most abortion facilities in the state. HB 388, proposed by Rep. Katrina Jackson (R-Monroe), passed the Louisiana House of Representatives overwhelmingly on Wednesday 88-5. It had passed […]
A number of city councils and county commissioners nationwide have decided to add prayer to their public meetings following this month’s Supreme Court ruling that declared invocations at government gatherings constitutional. As previously reported, in a divided 5-4 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld prayers predominantly in Jesus’ name amid a lawsuit filed by the […]
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Republican governor of Pennsylvania has decided not to appeal a federal ruling striking down the Commonwealth’s ban on same-sex ‘marriage,’ stating that he felt it would be ‘extremely unlikely’ that he would succeed. “As a Roman Catholic, the traditional teaching of my faith has not wavered. I continue to maintain the […]
An American pastor incarcerated in Iran was recently beaten at a local hospital and returned to prison, according to reports. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) issued an update on Tuesday that the family members of Saeed Abedini confirmed that the pastor had been “severely beaten” at an Iranian hospital and “forcibly returned […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, has enrolled its first Muslim student and is defending its decision to accept the applicant despite concern and criticism. According to reports, Ghassan Nagagren, a Palestinian Muslim, recently completed his first year of studies at the Christian seminary as he […]