CINCINNATI (ABP) — Thirteen years after Cincinnati passed the nation's only law banning protection of sexual minorities, its City Council voted overwhelmingly March 15 to reverse the law's effect. The Cincinnati City Council voted 8-1 March 15 to amend the…
House passes resolution condemning Russian religious-freedom violations
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly March 15 to call on Russian officials to work more diligently to protect religious freedom across their nation. The resolution, passed 411-1, expressed the sense of the House that “the Russian…
Satellite images renew interest in search for Noah’s ark
DALLAS (ABP) — Recently released satellite images of an unknown formation or object on Mt. Ararat in Turkey have added fuel to archeologists' ongoing quest to find Noah's ark. The “new and significant development,” an image from a QuickBird satellite,…
Rural Texas pastor bucks the norm, running for legislature as Democrat
COVINGTON, Texas (ABP) — Pastor and politician Kerry Horn has been called an agent of Satan. He has faced country farmers trembling with rage. And his faith has been questioned by members of his own congregation. And that's just the…
Gay activists arrested at Liberty, target 4 other Baptist colleges
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — Styling themselves after the famous Freedom Riders of the civil-rights era, a group of gay-rights activists is targeting Baptist and other Christian colleges with a cross-country bus trip that is part teach-in, part protest. The “Equality…
Body of slain Christian peace activist returned to United States for burial
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The body of a slain Christian peace activist, presumably executed by those who abducted him and his three colleagues, returned to his native United States March 13 in preparation for burial. The body of Tom Fox, 54,…
Secular communicators win awards for excellence in religion news
DALLAS, Texas (ABP) — Some of the top secular media who focus on religion have been named winners of the 2006 Wilbur Awards, an annual competition that highlights excellence in media dealing with religious themes, issues and events. Mindy Marchal,…
Kidnapped Christian peace activist Tom Fox found dead in Baghdad
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The lone American among four Christian peace activists who have been held captive in Iraq since November was found dead in Baghdad March 9, according to multiple news sources. The body of Tom Fox, 54, was found…
Debate about Baylor’s future asks: Should Baptists learn from Catholics?
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Should Baylor University aspire to become the “Protestant Notre Dame”? And, perhaps more importantly, what can Roman Catholics teach Baptists? Since former university President Robert Sloan led the school to adopt its Baylor 2012 long-range plan…
Bush touts charity-funding figures at odds with non-partisan study
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In response to growing criticism of his “faith-based initiative,” President Bush touted White House figures March 9 showing growth in federal funding of religious charities last year. The figures give a different picture than a recent study…
Three students arrested, charged with nine Alabama church fires
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Law enforcement officials arrested three men March 8 in connection with a string of nine fires at Baptist churches in rural Alabama. Benjamin Nathan Moseley and Russell Lee Debusk, both 19-year-old students at Birmingham-Southern College, said…
Lotz to retire as BWA exec; Kazakh Baptists withdraw
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Leaders of the Baptist World Alliance found out March 8 their longtime executive would retire and the Baptist Union of Kazakhstan has decided to leave the international federation. BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz made the…