According to BBC News:
Two male witches in Edinburgh have tied the knot in the UK’s first pagan same-sex marriage. Tom Lanting, 34, and Iain Robertson, 39, were married in a ceremony in the 16th-century vaulted cellars of Edinburgh’s Marlin’s Wynd.
30 contemporary Christian music artists stand “united” – with New Age sympathizer Roma Downey?
Stand Up For The Truth reports:
On January 21st, about 30 of contemporary Christian music’s best-known singers from the last four decades will be joining New Age sympathizer and devout Roman Catholic Roma Downey for a special live online concert called “We Will Stand.” The concert is being presented by CCM United and has a motto of “One Message, Many Voices.’” According to an article titled “We Are United: The Story Behind ‘The Greatest Night In Contemporary Christian Music,’” there could be over a million viewers with a potential reach globally of 40 million.
UCLA broadcasting muslim call to prayer declaring ‘Allah is great’ on campus
Warner Bros. pulls Hillsong movie from schedule
Judge rules South Dakota’s voter-approved marriage amendment unconstitutional
Christian News Network reports:
A federal judge in South Dakota has struck down the state’s voter-approved marriage amendment which enshrines marriages as being solely between a man and a woman, opining that the law is unconstitutional because it excludes homosexuals from having the same opportunity.
Duke University to broadcast Muslim call to prayer declaring ‘Allah is great’
According to Christian News Network:
Concerns are being raised after Duke University’s student paper announced this week that the Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast from university’s bell tower each Friday.
“Members of the Duke Muslim Students Association will chant a weekly call-to-prayer from the Duke Chapel bell tower beginning Friday, Jan. 16,” Duke Today outlined in a report on Tuesday. “The chant, called the ‘adhan,’ announces the start of the group’s jummah prayer service, which takes place in the chapel basement each Friday at 1 p.m.”
Pastor defines his identity not by his same-sex attraction, but in Christ
Christianity.com’s Ryan Hoselton penned a refreshing story about a pastor who’s attracted to members of the same-sex yet he chose to wed a woman. Pastor Allan Edwards says he believes that the center of Christianity is the Bible. After completing a thorough study of the scriptures, he concluded that practicing homosexuality is a sin. Thus, he couldn’t simultaneously follow the Bible and his same-sex attraction.
Irish priest announces he’s gay during mass
According to Christian Headlines:
An Irish priest has made international headlines for his announcement that he is gay during a Mass service.
Christian Today reports Father Martin Dolan of the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra was urging parishioners to support gay marriage in the upcoming Irish referendum when he said, “I’m gay myself.” The announcement was reportedly met with a standing ovation from the congregation.
Southern Baptist leader speaks out against Newsweek’s ‘hit piece’ cover story
Christian News Network reports:
A prominent Southern Baptist leader is speaking out against what he views as Newsweek’s recent “hit piece” against Christians after its December cover story took aim at evangelical Christianity and the inerrancy of the Scriptures.
Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote an article this week expressing disappointment in Newsweek for its decision to run “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin” as it cover story to conclude 2014.
Planned Parenthood: we aborted 327,653 babies in FY2014
CNS News reports:
Planned Parenthood clinics did 327,653 abortions in its fiscal year 2014 (which ran from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014), according to Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s newly released annual report.
That works out to an average of 37 abortions per hour or nearly 1 every 90 seconds.
International Olympic Committee perspective: LGBT ‘rights’ trump Christian persecution
According to One News Now:
In recently passing a non-discrimination policy for LGBT athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continued its years-long campaign to ensure that homosexuals and transgendered individuals are accommodated as much as possible through its policies. But when it comes to the persecution of Christians, the IOC is silent and apathetic, agreeing to hold events in nations with histories of grossly oppressing and even executing Christians.
Florida counties end courthouse ceremonies to avoid performing same-sex ‘weddings’
Pope Francis to issue climate change call to arms for world’s Catholics in measures that will anger Vatican conservatives
According to The Independent:
Pope Francis has declared it his mission to take on climate change in 2015, through a series of speeches, summit appearances and a rare call-to-arms for the world’s Catholics.
According to Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, the chancellor of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope wants to have a direct influence on the vital 2015 UN climate conference in Paris, the culmination of decades of negotiations that will help determine the planet’s future.
“The idea is to convene a meeting with leaders of the main religions to make all people aware of the state of our climate and the tragedy of social exclusion,” Sorondo was quoted as saying in the Observer.
Gay marriage dynamic in U.S. shifted dramatically in 2014
According to the Los Angeles Times:
For the first time, a majority of Americans are living in a state that allows gay marriage. After a year of cascading court opinions tossing out many remaining restrictions, the dynamic in 2014 changed from how many states allow same-sex marriage to how many states don’t.
Now, at the end of the year, same-sex marriage is legally approved in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and court reviews are pending in many others.
State supreme court rules firefighters must participate in ‘gay pride parades’ despite objections
Christian News Network reports:
The Supreme Court of Rhode Island has unanimously ruled that the religious rights of two firefighters were not violated when they were forced to participate in a “gay pride parade” a decade ago despite their objections.
Theodore Fabrizio and Stephen Deninno were assigned by city officials to drive a fire truck in the 2001 parade, but when the men asked if they could be reassigned as they do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, they were refused. The men then carried out their assignment against their will, but state that they experienced sexual harassment, including sexual propositions and “at least 60 profanity-laced anonymous phone calls,” from parade attendees and their co-workers both during and after the event.
Holder decrees cross-dressing protected under federal law
According to Pajamas Media:
Attorney General Eric Holder has issued an edict, through a memorandum [PDF], that cross dressing and transsexualism is now protected under federal civil rights laws which were designed to protect women from sex discrimination. Existing federal law provides no statutory support for treating cross-dressers and transsexuals as the law treats female victims of discrimination.
This means that the Justice Department could now, for example, consider the decision by a school or church to not hire a transvestite as a violation of federal law.
Arkansas voters repeal local law allowing ‘transgendered’ men in women’s restrooms
Christian News Net reports:
Voters in Fayetteville, Arkansas have repealed a law passed by city council earlier this year that would allow men who identify as women to use womens’ restrooms and vice versa.
By a vote of 52 to 48 percent, residents rejected Ordinance 119 approved in August by the Fayetteville City Council, which voted 6–2 for the controversial measure. In addition to making provision for “transgendered” persons to use the restroom of their choice, the law also prohibited landlords from turning away homosexual couples who sought to cohabitate on their property, banned employers from rejecting homosexual applicants, and disallowed businesses from refusing services that pertained to homosexuality. Non-compliance would result in criminal penalties.
Pakistani court orders arrest of Muslim clerics after mob kills couple accused of blasphemy
Christian News Network reports:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the arrest of two Muslim clerics for inciting a mob who killed a couple last month after being falsely accused of desecrating the Koran. Five police officials who failed to protect the couple have also been required to face disciplinary action.
As previously reported, Shama Bibi, 28, and Shahzad Masih, 32, were burnt to ashes after they were encircled by the mob who had been informed over mosque loudspeakers that the couple had been found guilty of blasphemy against Islam.
Pope affirms RC doctrine of Immaculate Conception that Mary was conceived ‘without original sin’
Christian News Network writes:
In one of the feasts and celebrations marked on the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar leading up to Christmas, Catholics around the world observed the Feast of Immaculate Conception on Monday, a day in which those who follow the religion commemorate their belief that Mary was born without sin.
The pontiff known as Pope Francis led Catholics in the annual observance of the holiday, delivering an Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square.
“Oh Mary, our mother, today the people of God in celebration venerates you, the immaculate, preserved from the contagion of sin from the beginning,” he prayed. “Accept the gift I offer on behalf of the church in Rome and throughout the whole world.”
School board allows ‘transgender’ males to play on girls’ teams
Christian News Network reports:
A Minnesota high school sports league’s decision to allow male students who ‘identify’ as females to participate in girls’ sports has elicited concern from many parents and Christians.
On Thursday, the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors approved a controversial “transgender” student policy. Once the policy goes into effect next year, male high school students who “identify” as females will be allowed to participate in female-specific athletic programs.
Researchers use cells from ‘donated human fetuses’ to create smarter mice
Christian News Network writes:
The research, which is now raising ethical questions, involves injecting cells from unborn babies into the brain tissue of baby mice.
“Researchers took the immature glial cells from donated human fetuses and injected them into mouse pups,” the New Scientist reports.
…
It is not known whether the “donated human fetuses” had been aborted or miscarried.
The injection resulted in the creation of smarter mice as compared to ordinary lab mice as the cells assist with memory retention. Scientists compared the outcome to “ramping up” the memory of one’s computer.
Satanic Temple approved for capitol holiday display
CBS Miami reports:
Florida’s Capitol will have a new holiday decoration this year. The Satanic Temple will be among its nativity scenes and secular presentations.
…
The Florida Department of Management Services this week approved the proposed holiday display from the Satanic Temple, which a year ago was rejected because the agency said its proposal was “grossly offensive.”
Town told to keep Christ out of Christmas parade
According to Fox News, the town of Piedmont, Alabama wanted to honor the “reason for the season” but out-of-town atheists objected. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent Piedmont’s mayor a threatening letter stating that the theme “alienates non-Christians and others in Piedmont who do not in fact have a ‘strong belief in prayers’ by turning them into political outsiders in their own community. … The sentiment of ‘Keeping Christ in Christmas’ does not qualify as a secular celebration.”
Legal group: repeal of D.C. amendment will have ‘severe impact on religious liberty’
According to Christian News Network:
A Christian legal organization is warning that the recent repeal of an exemption that allowed private schools in Washington, D.C. to adhere to their convictions about sexuality will have a “severe impact on religious liberty.”
Liberty Counsel reports that the D.C. City Council passed the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014 this week, which does away with an exemption afforded to faith-based schools to live out their beliefs on homosexuality. The exemption is better known as the Armstrong Amendment, which was passed by Congress in the 1980’s.
‘We love Jesus!’ – Iraqi children proclaim love for Christ in face of Islamic beheading
Christian News Network reports:
Four Iraqi children firmly declared their love for Jesus in the face of death when Muslims in the country recently demanded that they convert to Islam.
Andrew White, chaplain of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, relayed the story in a recent video as he shared both about the persecution that Christians face in the country and the bravery of the children in standing up for their faith despite the consequences.