Six in 10 adults living in the United States today identify as Christian, according to Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study. This percentage has decreased gradually as Pew’s longitudinal survey has tracked it over time, dropping from 78% in 2007…
SBC megachurch in Houston settles abuse lawsuit out of court
Champion Forest Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Houston, has settled with “strict confidentiality” a lawsuit alleging church and denominational leadership’s complicity in the sexual misconduct of former youth pastor Timothy Jeltema. Three women, anonymously referred to as “Jane…
All the people the recently proposed Obscenity Act does not protect
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah has proposed the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act. The bill would change the legal definition of obscenity across all 50 states, redefining the term with more vague language than before. It aims to do this by…
‘Our new pope has aura’: Why are Americans enamored with Pope Leo?
The recent election of Pope Leo XIV, born as Robert Prevost, has roused the attention of many around the world, including those who don’t identify as religious. “Our new pope has aura” read one comment on a Tik Tok video…
Texas Senate committee unanimously approves ‘Trey’s Law’ after testimony
Yesterday, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously voted for SB-835, also known as “Trey’s Law,” adopting the preferred language of witnesses in favor of the bill. The hearing included two versions of “Trey’s Law” — the Senate version focused solely on…
Trey’s Law passes in Missouri Senate, moves forward in Texas
On April 29, “Trey’s Law” passed the Missouri Senate as an amendment to HB-737. The child protection bill, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Burger and authored by Rep. Melissa Schmidt, now awaits Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature. Sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson…
‘Trey’s Law’ passes unanimously in Missouri House
“Trey’s Law,” legislation intended to release sexual abuse survivors from nondisclosure agreements, was adopted unanimously by the Missouri House of Representatives April 22. A similar bill is pending in the state Senate. Rep. Brian Seitz filed the bill, HB-709, to…
For first time, a woman alleges sexual abuse at Kanakuk in lawsuit
For the first time, a woman has come forward as a victim of serial child sexual abuser Pete Newman in a lawsuit filed today against Kanakuk Kamps and its leadership. Plaintiff “Jane Doe” of Dallas filed a petition in Missouri…
‘Trey’s Law’ advances in Texas and Missouri
“Trey’s Law” continues gaining momentum in the Texas and Missouri legislatures. The law calls for an amendment to state laws surrounding the use of nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases. If passed, Trey’s Law will make it easier for…
CBFNC focuses on diversity, inclusion and ‘serving together’ amid trying times
Last week’s annual gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, hosted by Pritchard Baptist Church in Charlotte, centered the theme “Serving Together,” bringing forth unity in diversity among North Carolina congregations in the current political, social and economic…
‘Trey’s Law’ makes its way through Missouri and Texas legislatures
Following a hearing in early March where Kanakuk abuse survivors, their families and other activists spoke in front of a Judiciary Committee at the Missouri House of Representatives about nondisclosure agreements, “Trey’s Law” continues to make its way through the…
Robert Morris indicted on child sex abuse charges in Oklahoma
Robert Morris, founder and former pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and previous adviser to President Donald Trump, was indicted on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. The charges relate to alleged child sexual…