WASHINGTON (ABP) — New Jersey has become the second state to authorize human cloning for therapeutic purposes. New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey (D) signed a bill Jan. 4 authorizing what supporters call “somatic cell nuclear transplantation,” but banning cloning for…
New Afghan constitution omits full religious freedom, critics say
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A council of regional and tribal leaders has given approval to a new Afghan constitution containing provisions that fail to protect religious freedom, say international human-rights activists. About 500 delegates to the loya jirga, or grand assembly,…
Fired missionaries tops Baptist news of 2003
(ABP) – The firing or resignation of 77 missionaries in a dispute over the Southern Baptist Convention's new doctrinal statement topped the news in the nation's second largest denomination in 2003. Editors of Baptist state newspapers chose the missionary terminations…
Bush comments appear to back Federal Marriage Amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush is drawing fire from both the left and the right after he made comments in a television interview that appeared simultaneously to endorse a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and support states' rights to…
SBC set to withdraw from BWA; issues charge of ‘aberrant theology’
NASHVILLE (ABP) — A study committee is recommending that the Southern Baptist Convention withdraw its membership and funding from the Baptist World Alliance, the worldwide fellowship of 43 million Baptists, in order to create a more conservative international body. BWA…
BWA’s Lotz labels SBC proposal ‘triumph of ideology over doctrine’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Southern Baptist proposal to end a 99-year-relationship with the Baptist World Alliance is a “triumph of ideology over doctrine,” according to BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz. “SBC doctrine is a call to unity among its churches,”…
CORRECTION:
Please make the following correction in the 4th paragraph of the story “Stacy expected to leave Gardner-Webb divinity school for Jacksonville pulpit” in Dec. 18 ABP: Stacy is serving as interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., not First…
Fired editor said ‘darkest day’ came when personal faith was questioned
COLUMBUS, Ga. (ABP) — William Neal, former editor of the Christian Index, said he was ousted from that position earlier this year because he would not carry out the agenda of fundamentalist leaders who had gained control of the Georgia…
Annual State Department report lists religious-freedom violators
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The State Department's annual report on the status of religious freedom across the globe is out, and its chief villains have some familiar faces. According to the report, released Dec. 18, China, Burma and North Korea remain…