BOSTON (ABP) — According to a new study, people who live in states with high church-attendance rates buy as much Internet pornography as their more secularized counterparts — but they are less likely to subscribe to an adult website on…
Senate scandal divides state Democrats over race
CHICAGO (ABP) — Calls for embattled Sen. Roland Burris to resign from the Senate are dividing his fellow Illinois Democrats along racial lines. Burris, the only black United States senator, is under fire for conflicting statements about his relationship with disgraced…
Faith-based leaders say budget is major shift in poverty policy
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama's first proposed budget signals a dramatic shift in prioritizing domestic poverty, centrist and liberal Christian leaders said in a teleconference with reporters March 2. Nonetheless, some expressed concerns that portions of the proposal did not…
Justices decline to upend decision barring N.J. coach from prayers
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A New Jersey high-school coach will not be able to participate in his football team’s prayers after the Supreme Court’s March 2 refusal to review a lower court’s decision. Opponents of government-sanctioned school prayers praised the justices’…
HERITAGE: Bright eyes
Everybody loves Gracie Kirkpatrick, the vivacious, bubbly, compassionate community missionary of the Richmond Baptist Association. For 31 summers she has directed the association’s unique ministry known as Camp Alkulana. When the camp opens this summer for its 94th season, Gracie…
African-Americans more religious than most others in United States
WASHINGTON (RNS) — African-Americans surpass others in the United States in a range of expressions of faith, from praying more to attending religious services more frequently, a new report shows. “Compared with other racial and ethnic groups, African-Americans are among…
OUT LOUD
“I am a Christian. Through the centuries we have had many people who have done terrible things in the name of Christianity. They have perverted the religion.” Hillary Rodham Clinton The secretary of state was responding to a question in…
SECOND OPINION: Apologetics and apologies
Dwight L. Moody, the great 19th-century American evangelist, once said that of 100 people, one would read the Bible, and the other 99 would “read the Christian.” Let’s face it: Christianity has an image problem. When you hear the word…
EDITORIAL: Pewboy celebrates Lent (and Ash Wednesday)
Altarego: Hey, Pewboy, look at the mess you’re making. Pewboy: I know, but it’s got to be done. I don’t know why calendars have to designate a day to clean out our fireplaces, but there it is plain as day:…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
BTSR plans 20th anniversary banquet. To launch its 20th anniversary celebration, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will sponsor a banquet on Thursday, March 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The banquet, to be held in Lingle Hall on the BTSR campus, is…
Center for Baptist Heritage plans film festival to highlight story
The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies will sponsor the Key Film Festival, designed to allow Baptists an opportunity to share the Baptist story through video. The Festival is in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Baptists as an expression…
Top 100 churches in gifts to Virginia Cooperative Missions in 2008 listed
First Baptist Church in Alexandria led churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia last year in contributions to Virginia Cooperative Missions. Rounding out the top 10 churches in total Virginia CM gifts were Bon Air Baptist Church in…