Americans value freedom but there are differences on what it means

BOSTON (ABP) — The Massachusetts legislature convened an unusual constitutional convention Feb. 11 to consider ways to reverse or limit the state supreme court's recent legalization of gay marriage. With thousands of protesters gathered outside, legislators began debating legal measures…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — The Ten Commandments are back on display in Alabama's judicial headquarters, but their self-appointed cheerleader reportedly isn't happy about it. On Feb. 5, workers installed a display containing a manuscript of the Commandments as well as…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The House of Representatives has turned back a challenge to a bill that would allow religious organizations receiving federal funding to discriminate in hiring. In debate on the bill Feb. 4, Democrats attempted to offer a substitute…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — As far as the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is concerned, a civil-unions bill would be a separate and unequal response to their earlier ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Their latest pronouncement was read publicly for the first time…

DALLAS (ABP) — After initially refusing to show a 30-second advertisement produced by the Baptist General Convention of Texas because it was “too dark,” AMC Theatres tentatively have agreed to show a modified version of the clip. On Feb. 4,…

DALLAS (ABP) — The Texas Baptist Men personnel search committee will nominate Leo Smith to be the organization's executive director at the group's Feb. 27 board meeting. Smith is currently TBM's interim executive director, a position he accepted after resigning…

WACO, Texas (ABP) — A moderate Baptist seminary has revoked a student's scholarship — purportedly because he is gay — and the student and gay-rights groups are calling “foul.” In late December, officials at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological…

HOUSTON (ABP) — The Super Bowl has spring-boarded many athletes to international fame, but Baptists regularly use the event to point people to something even greater. Several thousand Baptists, primarily from Texas, sought to share the gospel with non-Christians by…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Standards of decency on broadcast television are again in the news as the Federal Communications Commission investigates what led to an incident during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII. The show, watched by an estimated 99…

ATLANTA (ABP) — A Baptist chaplain has been awarded the Army's Bronze Star for “exceptionally meritorious service” while serving in Iraq. Maj. Scott Sterling, an ethics instructor at the U.S. Army Chaplain School in Fort Jackson, S.C., received the honor…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The major Democratic candidates for president support faith influencing public policy but differ with President Bush on the role of religious groups in public life, according to a series of interviews conducted by an advocacy group. The…

ATLANTA (ABP) — On a tour of American churches, the head of Baptist World Alliance said Southern Baptist Convention leaders' attacks against his group could be turned on themselves. An SBC study committee recently recommended the denomination break all ties…