RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Abortion is the most pressing moral issue of the day, said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican candidate for president, at a recent GOP debate. So much so, the Catholic senator continued, that he doesn't think…
Opinion: Licensing death on the road
Probably the most interesting moral issues are those raised by practices we take for granted. No one asks about the morality of playing baseball, wearing socks, or taking showers. Likewise, no one asks about the morality of driving cars. Well,…
Texas convention, Buckner forge church-based immigration ministry
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas and Buckner International are partnering to create the first nationwide effort for local, church-based ministry to help immigrants become U.S. citizens. Through their new Immigration Service and Aid Center, the…
Supreme Court denies taxpayers ability to sue Bush over faith-based funding
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A closely divided Supreme Court ruled June 25 that a group of taxpayers do not have the legal standing to challenge President Bush's promotion of religious charities just because they think it violates the First Amendment. In…
High court decision in ‘bong hits’ case concerns religious leaders
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court just isn't down with “Bong Hits 4 Jesus,” man. But an unusual coalition of conservative religious and civil-liberty groups aren't down with the court's majority in a June 25 decision on the free-speech rights…
Baptist college association elects Thomas Corts as executive director
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (ABP) — Board members of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities have elected Thomas Corts, president emeritus of Samford University, as executive director of the association. The new post is effective immediately. Corts, 65, succeeds Bob…
Evan Almighty refreshes moviegoers with faith-affirming themes
(ABP) — A flood is coming, warns character Evan Baxter, a modern-day Noah in the new movie Evan Almighty. But in Baxter's case, the threatening waters offer a swell of inspiration for audiences watching through the eyes of faith. Like…
Embattled trustee McKissic resigns from Southwestern Seminary board
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — Dwight McKissic, the Southern Baptist pastor frequently at odds with fellow trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has resigned from the board of the Fort Worth, Texas, school. Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in nearby Arlington,…
Bush, as promised, vetoes stem-cell bill but commends other research
WASHINGTON (ABP) — For the second time in as many years, President Bush vetoed a bill June 20 that would have expanded federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. However, in order to soften the political impact of nixing the popular…
Nation’s largest African-American religious group tackles AIDS
ST. LOUIS (ABP) — For the first time, the nation's largest African-American religious body has corporately addressed the HIV/AIDS crisis. AIDS awareness and prevention figured prominently on the agenda for the annual meeting of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc….
CBF’s Hester to retire after seven years of new church starts
ATLANTA (ABP) — Phil Hester, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship specialist for new churches, has announced he will retire at the end of this year. During his seven-year tenure at the fellowship, Hester helped start churches in 21 different states, including…
Anti-Muslim bias skyrocketed in U.S. in 2006, report claims
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Complaints of anti-Muslim bias in the United States shot up by 25 percent in 2006 as compared to the previous year, according to an annual report by an Islamic group. The annual report of the Council on…