WASHINGTON (RNS)—Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith. Mike Huckabee and his “Christian leader” ads. John McCain and John Hagee. Hillary Clinton and her “prayer warriors.” Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. To put it mildly, the 2008 election has featured an…
Pastors ask town to ban Sunday morning sports
HANOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. — It is a weekly ordeal at the Rev. Donald Mossa's church. The moment the youth choir sings its last note, a swarm of parents descends to rush their kids to soccer games. Or they call to…
Pastor challenges couples to marry
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Daneisha Dunbar was never so happy to see her children cry. But there they were: 13-year-old Jheran, 10-year-old Aryn and 5-year-old Taryn, shedding tears and squealing with joy at the news that their mommy and daddy are…
Conservatives warn of gay marriage lawsuits
WASHINGTON — California's decision to legalize same-sex marriage could “spawn lawsuits all over the country,” trampling states' rights and limiting religious freedom, a coalition of conservative groups warned May 29. The Washington-based Family Research Council issued that warning the same…
Narnia creators seek to turn beloved books into accessible movies
NEW YORK (RNS) — C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia book series is so revered by Christian readers, adapting the books into film becomes a delicate tightrope. Changes risk alienating fans, but what works in the books doesn't always translate well…
You’ve got (spiritual spam) mail
MOBILE, Ala. (RNS) — The messages are simple enough. Some include a prayer. Others offer stories or pictures. Then, slipped into the cyber-epistle, the reader comes across the kicker: If you love God and/or are not ashamed of your religious…
Evangelicals lament a politicized faith
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Evangelical Christians should be defined by their theology — and not their politics — to avoid becoming “useful idiots” of a political party, a group of leaders said May 7 in a new statement. The document, “An…
Methodists vote to retain policies on homosexuality
FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) — The United Methodist Church at its General Conference in Fort Worth held to its traditional rules on homosexuality, refusing to support or celebrate same-sex unions and maintaining language that calls homosexual activity “incompatible with Christian…
Spirituality plays significant part in children’s happiness
TORONTO (RNS) — Spirituality contributes significantly to a child's overall happiness — even more so than for adults, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. The study tested 315 children ages 9 to 12, measuring spirituality…
Most Americans believe sin exists; they just can’t agree which acts are sinful
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The vast majority of Americans believe sin exists, but they differ on which behaviors are sinful, according to a new survey by Ellison Research. The Phoenix-based marketing research company found 87 percent of Americans believe in the…
Chaplain launches ‘adopt a terrorist’ prayer campaign
WASHINGTON (RNS) — An Army Reserve chaplain has decided to do his individual part in the war on terror. He co-founded an Internet ministry to pray for terrorists. “Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer” was launched in March and features a…
Key evangelical leaders endorse reconciliation
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Several prominent evangelical leaders have endorsed a “Reconciliation Referendum” that says Sen. Barack Obama's recent address on race did not go far enough and pushes church leaders to speak up more about the need to address racism….