TOPEKA, Kan. (ABP) — A fundamentalist Baptist church known for picketing funerals of fallen soldiers argued in a U.S. Supreme Court brief filed July 7 that its actions are protected by the Constitution. Margie Phelps — attorney of record for…
Baptist church claims funeral protests protected by 1st Amendment
TOPEKA, Kan. (ABP) — A fundamentalist Baptist church known for picketing funerals of fallen soldiers argued in a Supreme Court brief filed July 7 that its actions are protected by the Constitution. Westboro Baptist Church members picket in Beverly Hills,…
Louisiana governor signs guns-in-church bill into law
BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) — Louisiana will join six other states that allow people to carry concealed handguns to church, thanks to a bill that Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has signed. Bobby Jindal (U.S. Congress photo) His office announced late…
’20/20′ airs update on pastor convicted of murder
NEW YORK (ABP) — ABC's primetime news magazine "20/20" program aired an updated story July 9 about a former Baptist pastor from Texas convicted of murdering his wife and trying to make it look like a suicide July 9. The segment…
’20/20′ to air update on pastor convicted of murder
NEW YORK (ABP) — ABC's primetime news magazine "20/20" program is airing an updated story July 9 about a former Baptist pastor from Texas convicted of murdering his wife and trying to make it look like a suicide. The program…
Westboro Baptist Church claims military funeral protests are protected by the First Amendment
TOPEKA, Kan. (ABP) — A fundamentalist Baptist church known for picketing funerals of fallen soldiers argued in a U.S. Supreme Court brief filed July 7 that its actions are protected by the Constitution. Margie Phelps — attorney of record for…
Comprehensive immigration reform boasts broad array of Baptist backers
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the immigration debate is re-stoked by legislation before Congress and the controversial anti-illegal-immigrant law Arizona recently passed, an unusually broad array of Baptist leaders and groups is backing comprehensive immigration reform. President Obama delivers a July…
Mormon influence, imagery run deep through ‘Twilight’
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Ever since Bram Stoker’s Dracula began haunting the imagination in 1897, popular culture has identified Christian symbols — crucifixes, holy water, Communion wafers — as weapons to ward off a blood-thirsty vampire. Kristen Stewart (Bella) and…
Mormon imagery seen in ‘Twilight’
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Ever since Bram Stoker’s Dracula began haunting the imagination in 1897, popular culture has identified Christian symbols — crucifixes, holy water, Communion wafers — as weapons to ward off a blood-thirsty vampire. Kristen Stewart (Bella) and…
Invitation strikes sour note for Christian music festival
OSHKOSH, Wis. (ABP) — A five-day Christian music festival that kicked off July 7 in Wisconsin is being criticized for inviting progressive evangelical activist Jim Wallis to speak. At least one sponsor has pulled out of Lifest — an annual…
Jim Wallis invitation stirs controversy for Christian music festival
OSHKOSH, Wis. (ABP) — The organizers of a five-day Christian music festival that kicks off July 7 in Wisconsin are being criticized by some conservatives for inviting progressive evangelical activist Jim Wallis to speak. Jim Wallis At least one sponsor…
Virginia Baptist Foundation grants scholarships to 51
RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Foundation awarded 51 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students May 23, totaling $112,860. The recpients were honored at a reception that day at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center, hosted by the Foundation’s scholarship committee. The…