Why coercive religious politics undermine Christianity and democracy

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A semi-independent audit of American Catholic dioceses released Jan. 6 said that diocesan officials are mostly complying with new anti-abuse rules. But abuse victims' groups are skeptical of the study. The study was conducted by the Boston-based…

(ABP) – The firing or resignation of 77 missionaries in a dispute over the Southern Baptist Convention's new doctrinal statement topped the news in the nation's second largest denomination in 2003. Editors of Baptist state newspapers chose the missionary terminations…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush is drawing fire from both the left and the right after he made comments in a television interview that appeared simultaneously to endorse a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and support states' rights to…

NASHVILLE (ABP) — A study committee is recommending that the Southern Baptist Convention withdraw its membership and funding from the Baptist World Alliance, the worldwide fellowship of 43 million Baptists, in order to create a more conservative international body. BWA…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Southern Baptist proposal to end a 99-year-relationship with the Baptist World Alliance is a “triumph of ideology over doctrine,” according to BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz. “SBC doctrine is a call to unity among its churches,”…

Please make the following correction in the 4th paragraph of the story “Stacy expected to leave Gardner-Webb divinity school for Jacksonville pulpit” in Dec. 18 ABP: Stacy is serving as interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C., not First…

COLUMBUS, Ga. (ABP) — William Neal, former editor of the Christian Index, said he was ousted from that position earlier this year because he would not carry out the agenda of fundamentalist leaders who had gained control of the Georgia…

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (ABP) — Thirteen Episcopal bishops opposed to the appointment of a gay bishop in New Hampshire are forming a rival network they hope will eventually win recognition as the authentic American branch of the worldwide Anglican church. The…

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Wayne Stacy, dean of the divinity school at Gardner-Webb University, is expected to leave to become pastor of a church in Florida. Stacy, 53, will be recommended Jan. 11 to lead Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville,…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — A specially appointed judicial panel, led by a former Alabama governor, will hear Roy Moore's appeal after Moore's former state Supreme Court justices withdrew from the case. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) announced Dec. 16 that…

HOUSTON (ABP) — The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans may not make it to the Super Bowl this year, but Texas Baptists plan to be there anyway. They hope to share the gospel with many of the 200,000 people, including…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The State Department's annual report on the status of religious freedom across the globe is out, and its chief villains have some familiar faces. According to the report, released Dec. 18, China, Burma and North Korea remain…