Court strikes down Louisiana Ten Commandments law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ABP) — California legislators narrowly defeated a bill June 2 that would have made that state the first in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage legislatively. The 37-36 vote in favor of the bill, although a narrow majority,…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Congressional leaders have re-appointed three long-time advocates for religious liberty to a federal panel charged with monitoring worldwide conditions for freedom of conscience. The leaders re-appointed Felice Gaer, Ricardo Ramirez and Nina Shea to the United States…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Former President Bill Clinton cautioned both Democrats and Republicans on their use — or lack thereof — of religious language in a television appearance June 1. Appearing on CNN's popular “Larry King Live” program, Clinton told conservatives…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A unanimous Supreme Court upheld a federal law May 31 that makes it easier for prison inmates — and others — to assert their religious freedom. The justices validated the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and…

ATLANTA (ABP) — The officers of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's governing Coordinating Council have appointed a seven-member search committee to fill the position of Global Missions coordinator, a position vacated by Barbara Baldridge June 1. Jack Snell, Global Missions associate…

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABP) — Two governors have vetoed gay-rights bills passed by their states' legislatures. On May 27, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens (R) vetoed a bill that would have banned private employers in the state from discriminating on the basis…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The controversy over alleged bias in favor of evangelical Christians at the United States Air Force Academy grew May 31, as the school's top cadet sent a graduation-eve e-mail message laced with religious references to thousands of…

ATLANTA (ABP) — Barbara Baldridge, coordinator of global missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will resign effective May 31, citing unspecified personal reasons. Baldridge, 54, has served in the top CBF missions post since 1999, first jointly with her husband,…

FOREST CITY, N.C. (ABP) — A North Carolina Baptist pastor has reversed course, removing a sign outside his church suggesting the Muslim holy book should be put in a toilet. In the face of national media attention and overwhelmingly negative…