WASHINGTON (ABP) — Although pledging not to tolerate torture of prisoners by American soldiers or law-enforcement agents, Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales also repeatedly refused Jan. 6 to renounce a controversial memo his office authored in 2002 supporting the legality…
Sudanese government, southern rebels sign long-awaited peace accord
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In what many hope will be the beginning of the end of a bloody conflict fueled by ethnic and religious differences, Sudan's Arab-dominated government signed a peace agreement Jan. 9. Meeting in neighboring Kenya, Vice President Ali…
Supreme Court sidesteps case on Florida adoption ban
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court has declined, without comment, to hear a challenge to Florida's ban on adoptions by homosexuals. Returning to the bench from their month-long winter break Jan. 10, the justices turned away an appeal in Lofton…
Wife of former Baptist executive, Bettye Cothen, dies in Miami at 83
MIAMI (ABP) — Bettye Cothen, 83, wife of former Southern Baptist executive Grady Cothen, died Jan. 10 in a Miami hospice. She had Parkinson's disease. For 63 years, she was married to Grady C. Cothen, retired president of the Southern…
Rick Warren to write column for Ladies’ Home Journal
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren, whose books on spirituality have dominated secular best-seller lists for the past two years, will now write a monthly column for Ladies' Home Journal. The column, which debuts in the…
Louisiana College trustees nominate president, but lawsuit may block vote
Editor's Note: This updates and corrects a story released Jan. 6. PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) – Trustees of embattled Louisiana College will meet Jan. 17 to try again to elect a president, but they likely will be sued to prevent him…
CBF issues worship resources for tsunami remembrance
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is providing worship resources for churches to use in remembering those affected by destructive tsunamis in Asia. The resources, compiled by CBF's initiative for congregational life, are available on the Fellowship's website, www.thefellowship.info….
Newdow refiles ‘under God’ case, asks for halt to inaugural prayers
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The famous atheist who failed last year in his attempt to get the phrase “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance is trying again. California physician and attorney Michael Newdow filed a lawsuit in federal court…
$1 billion in federal money spent through faith-based groups in 2003
WASHINGTON (ABP) — According to documents released by the White House, “faith-based” organizations received about $1.17 billion in federal grant money in 2003. That was about 8 percent of the $14.5 billion for which religious groups were eligible. Since taking…