Theology and Society

Czech Police Respond to Neo-Nazi Women's Group; Arrest 15 Members of Resistance Women Unity Org.

2012-02-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Prague Daily Monitor website reports today (February 14, 2012) that Czech police have started criminal proceedings against 15 women believed to be part of a women's neo-Nazi organization.

Police said the women -- aged between 21 and 32 -- participated in the ideas of the neo-Nazi Resistance Women Unity (RWU) movement, which is the non-registered women's offshoot of the Nazi group National Resistance.

Some of the RWU's actions were aimed at providing help to neo-Nazi members who have already been jailed.

If the 15 women are found guilty, they could face up to eight years in prison, police said.

Marine General Apologizes for Nazi Flag Photo; Marines Posed in Front of SS Flag in Afghanistan

2012-02-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

The photo of U.S. Marine snipers in Afghanistan -- who posed in front of a Nazi flag last week -- has prompted the top Marine officer to start a review of sniper protocol and training, the Christian Science Monitor website reports today (February 13, 2012).

Gen. James Amos also issued an apology "to all offended by this regrettable incident."

A Marine Corps spokesman said the snipers were not aware of the flag, and thought the SS on the flag referred to "sniper scouts." (The SS -- or Schutzstaffel -- was the notoriously murderous arm of the Nazi party.)

Members of the SS pledged an oath of loyalty to Adolph Hitler and carried out many crimes -- including torture and murder -- against Jews, gypsies, and others during World War II.

Netanyahu Blames Iran for Today's Two Attacks; Israeli Embassy Cars Hit in New Delhi, Tbilisi

2012-02-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran today (February 13, 2012) for twin attempts to bomb people affiliated with the Israeli embassies in New Delhi, India and Tbilisi, Georgia, according to the Washington Post website.

The wife of an Israeli official in New Delhi and her driver were injured and hospitalized today in a blast from explosives slapped on their car by a passing motorcyclist. Around the same time, a grenade-type device was found duct-taped to the bottom of a car affiliated with the embassy in Tbilisi. It was defused without anyone being injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incidents. But Netanyahu pointed a finger at Iran, which has vowed revenge against Israel for recent assassinations of scientists involved in its nuclear program.

Iran denied it had anything to do with either one of today's attacks.

Turkey PM Erdogan's Comment Sparks Furor of MPs; Told Parl. "We Want to Raise a Religious Youth"

2012-02-13T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (February 13, 2012) that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comment that government wants to "raise a religious youth" has touched a nerve in society by fueling debates over an alleged "hidden agenda" to Islamize secular Turkey.

"We want to raise a religious youth," said Erdogan, during a parliamentary address last week, which has been criticized by several members of parliament (MPs).

Erdogan's remarks also angered the staunchly secular Republican People's Party -- founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk -- with its leader calling the prime minister a "religion-monger."

"It's a sin to garner votes over religion. You are not religious but a religion-monger," said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, accusing Erdogan of polarizing the country by touching its faultlines.

Nevada Judge Halts New Menu for Kosher Inmates; Kosher Menu Would Cost an Added $1.5M a Year

2012-02-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency website reports today (February 12, 2012) that a federal judge in Nevada has ordered that the state's Department of Corrections refrain from serving a new menu to inmates who keep kosher, thus saving the state about $1.5 million a year.

In an injunction on February 10, Judge Gloria Navarro prevented the department from serving a new "common fare" menu to inmate Howard Ackerman, 51, an Orthodox Jew.

Ackerman -- who is serving a life sentence for kidnapping -- said in a lawsuit that the meals will not be kosher, which violates his First Amendment right of religious freedom.

Jacob Hafter -- Ackerman's attorney who is also an Orthodox Jew -- said the new menu includes sausage, which renders it non-kosher. The judge set a hearing date on the case for April 18.

Christians Around World Pay Tribute to Houston; Whitney Remembered for Singing Praises of Jesus

2012-02-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Christian Today website reports that Christians around the world today (February 12, 2012) are paying tribute to renowned singer Whitney Houston, who died last night at the age of 48.

Al Sharpton -- civil rights campaigner and former presidential candidate -- led prayers for Houston during today's Sunday service at the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Houston was the daughter of Gospel singer Cissy Houston and grew up singing in church.

In a tribute to Houston, pastor Joe Carter of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey -- where Houston sang in the choir as a teenager -- said, "What I remember best is her singing the praises of Jesus Christ."

Teenage Tibetan Nun Sets Self on Fire in China; Did So to Protest China's Policies toward Tibet

2012-02-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

An 18-year-old Tibetan nun set herself on fire in western China in the latest such protest against Beijing's handling of the vast ethnic Tibetan regions it rules, the Associated Press website reports today (February 12, 2012).

Free Tibet -- an overseas activist group -- said in a statement that the nun had died after setting herself ablaze yesterday.

The young woman -- identified as Tenzin Choedon -- was a nun at the Mamae Nunnery in Sichuan province's Aba prefecture, Free Tibet said.

At least 18 monks, nuns, and ordinary Tibetans -- in protest against China's policies toward Tibet -- have set themselves on fire over the past year, and 12 have died from their injuries.

COMMENTARY: President Obama Must Trash His Contraceptive Coverage Rules

2012-02-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama was subject to much criticism this week -- especially by Christian clergy -- as a result of his recent ruling to force religious institutions to pay for contraceptive coverage, including birth control, the morning-after pill, and other services to people who work for them.

New York Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan -- obviously infuriated by Obama's ecclesiastical ruling -- went so far as to tell Obama to back out of "intruding into the internal life of a church."

House Speaker John Boehner was also angry at Obama's "religious ruling," and said that the House of Representatives will end this ruling if Obama does not cancel it.

In America's traditional separation of church and state, it is clear that the federal government must not interfere in church affairs and that the church must not interfere in American politics.

But Obama's "religious ruling" unquestionably violates this church-state covenant. One would expect President Obama to know better -- he does have a law degree from Harvard Law School -- because in such a ruling, the federal government is overstepping its authority by formulating ecclesiastical policy that it is ordering the church to follow. This federal government intrusion on the church can be compared to the church having the right to order the federal government to stop subsidizing abortions.

As a result of the plethora of criticism he has received regarding his "religious ruling," Obama has now attempted to "soften the blow" of it by providing a compromise, which would require the insurance companies to pay for workers' contraceptive coverage, rather than the religious institutions themselves.

This compromise has only outraged Christian clergy and others all the more so, as they believe that it just adds insult to injury.

In the final analysis, Obama must trash his entire contraceptive coverage rules -- or indeed Congress or the courts will trash them for him.

Victoria's Secret Model Quits to "Honor the Lord;" Says New Mission Is to Honor Christian Beliefs

2012-02-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (February 11, 2012) that Kylie Bisutti -- who was chosen in 2009 over 10,000 other women to be a model for Victoria's Secret -- said yesterday that she has decided to leave the lingerie company, in order to honor the Lord.

The 21-year-old model said showing off her body left her feeling convicted.

"I'm definitely going to pursue modeling; I just want to be more wholesome about it," Bisutti said.

In 2009, Bisutti was a newlywed and just beginning to grow in her Christian faith. She said she is now on a new mission to honor her Christian beliefs and be a good example to others.

Abp. Dolan to Obama:Don't Intrude on Church Life; Boehner: Obama Reverses Church Rule or House Will

2012-02-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Washington Times website reports today (February 11, 2012) that New York Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan said this week: "The federal government should do what it has traditionally done since July 4, 1776; namely, back out of intruding into the internal life of a church."

Dolan made the comment in reference to President Barack Obama's recent ruling to force Catholic institutions to pay for birth control, the morning-after pill, and other services to people who work for them.

Dolan received the support of House Speaker John Boehner, who said either Obama reverses the policy or the House will.

"The federal government has drifted dangerously beyond its constitutional boundaries. The attack by the federal government on religious freedom in our country must not stand and will not stand," Boehner said.

Wash. State Legislature Approves Gay "Marriage;" State's Catholic Governor to Sign Bill into Law

2012-02-10T17:58:00.000-08:00

The New American website reports today (February 10, 2012) that the state of Washington is one step away from legalization of homosexual marriage, following passage of legislation in the state house of representatives on February 8 by a 54-43 vote.

The same-sex marriage bill -- which had been aggressively promoted by Governor Christine Gregoire -- passed the senate on February 1 by a 28-21 vote margin, and with Gregoire's expected signature on the bill early next week, Washington will become the seventh state to legalize same-sex partnerships as "marriage," joining New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Iowa, as well as the District of Columbia.

"This is truly a historic day in Washington state, and one where I couldn't be more proud," Gregoire said. She added, "With today's vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love. We tell every child of same-sex couples that their family is every bit as equal and important as all other families in our state."

Gregoire -- who identifies herself as a Roman Catholic -- apparently has chosen to disregard what the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality.

Putin Favors Compulsory Rel. Classes in Russia; Says They Must Be Taught by Priests, Theologians

2012-02-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

The RIA Novosti (Russian) website reports today (February 10, 2012) that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week came out in favor of robust religion and secular ethics classes in Russian schools, saying they should be taught by theology specialists or priests.

Banned during the Soviet communist era -- from 1917 to 1991 -- religion classes returned to middle schools in selected Russian regions in 2009.

Under Putin's plan, students would choose to study the history of one of the four traditional religions -- Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism -- or more general courses such as "basics of secular ethics."

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov proposed making religion classes compulsory in all of Russia as of September 2012.

UN Human Rights Head: Send Syrian Leaders to ICC; Over 5,000 Syrians Killed in 11 Months of Protests

2012-02-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

The United Nations human rights office said today (February 10, 2012) that Syrian officials -- who are suspected of committing or ordering crimes against humanity -- should face prosecution in the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to the Reuters website.

"This would give a very, very strong message to those running the show (in Syria)," said a spokesman for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.

Pillay will address the UN General Assembly session on Syria being held in New York on February 13.

The UN has stopped issuing a death toll for Syria, because the large number of people killed recently has made it impossible to provide a reliable figure. The UN did say that more than 5,000 people had been killed in Syria as of December 12, 2011, as a result of the 11-month uprising calling for the removal of Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria.

EWTN Files Suit to Block Contraception Mandate; Asks Court to Declare the Federal Rule Unconst.

2012-02-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

The National Catholic Register website reports that the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) filed a lawsuit today (February 9, 2012) in U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Alabama, seeking to halt the federal government's imposition of its contraception mandate and to have the court declare the federal rule unconstitutional.

The lawsuit names Kathleen Sebelius -- the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- and other federal agencies as defendants.

EWTN is the first lay Catholic organization to challenge the constitutionality of the HHS final rule, approved by the Obama administration on January 20. North Carolina's Belmont Abbey College and Colorado Christian University -- based in Denver -- have both filed suit.

All three are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty -- a public-interest law firm. Becket is representing EWTN free of charge.

Austrian Altruist Opens His Brothel to Homeless; Offers 10 People Free Rooms Due to Extreme Cold

2012-02-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

The Austrian Times website reports today (February 9, 2012) that homeless people are lining up for rooms in an Austrian brothel, after owner Peter Laskaris said it would be unfair not to do everything he could during the current cold spell.

Laskaris -- owner of the Red Rooms Laufhaus in the Austrian capital Vienna -- has opened his door to the homeless as temperatures of 20 degrees below zero hit the city.

He is offering 10 people a night a bed in his brothel for free, including a hot shower and a hot meal. Laskaris also said each homeless guest will get clean bedding and fresh towels each day.

But he added: "Other services are not included."

FBI Releases File on Apple Cofounder Steve Jobs; Took Illegal Drugs, Twisted Truth to Attain Goals

2012-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

The Mercury News website reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a file today (February 9, 2012) that it kept on Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, in which interview subjects -- who were contacted for a background check on Jobs -- discussed his drug use and tendency to "twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals."

Several of the interview subjects told the FBI agents that Jobs' ethics could bend depending on the situation. One subject described Jobs as "a deceptive individual who is not completely forthright and honest; two former Apple employees said, "Jobs has integrity as long as he gets his way."

In an FBI interview with Jobs, he told agents that he "experimented with marijuana, hashish, and LSD" from 1970 to 1974.

The FBI released its documents on Jobs today because the Freedom of Information Act -- which allows the FBI to make its files public after a person's death -- was used by a reporter to gain access to Jobs' files.

Jobs died October 5, 2011 at the age of 56 as a result of a long battle with cancer.

COMMENTARY: Gisele Bundchen's Unkind Words Come Back to Haunt Her

2012-02-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday night -- following the New England Patriots 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl -- Gisele Bundchen, the Brazilian supermodel and wife of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, acted unprofessionally.

As she was leaving the stadium after the game, some Giants' fans were belittling her husband, because of the Patriots' loss. Bundchen replied to them, "You need to catch the ball when you're supposed to catch the ball. My husband cannot [expletive deleted] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times."

Several people in the Patriots organization said that Bundchen's remarks were out of line and violated a "code of brotherhood" by bashing Brady's teammates.

Although she was annoyed by the Giants' fans bad-mouthing her husband, Bundchen would have been wiser if she just ignored them, and left the stadium without responding to them.

By responding to them -- and especially since she used the "F" word in doing so -- Bundchen lost the respect of many of her former followers. Moreover, she was out of line in blaming Patriots' receivers for the Patriots' loss.

On Tuesday -- two days after the Super Bowl -- New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs told reporters that Bundchen "just needs to continue to stay cute and shut up."

While we do not agree with Jacobs' crude choice of words regarding Bundchen, we do believe that it would behoove Bundchen if she kept her opinions to herself in the future, instead of being critical of Patriots players.

Then and only then will Bundchen be able to regain the plethora of respect that she has lost, as a result of her unrefined and unprofessional words after the Super Bowl.

PA Vending Machine Provides "Morning-After" Pill; Shippensburg Univ. Has the Only One in the Nation

2012-02-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

The Cybercast News Service website reports today (February 8, 2012) that students at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania can get the "morning-after" pill by sliding $25 into a vending machine -- an idea that has drawn the attention of federal regulators and raised questions of how accessible emergency contraception should be.

The student health center at Shippensburg -- a secluded public institution of 8,300 students tucked between mountain ridges in the Cumberland Valley -- provides the Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive in the vending machine along with condoms and pregnancy tests.

"I think it's great that the school is giving us this option," junior Chelsea Wehking said yesterday.

Shippensburg's vending machine is believed to be the only one in the United States to dispense the "morning-after" pill, which can prevent a woman from becoming pregnant if she takes it soon after having intercourse.

Hasidic Jew Admits Setting Neighbor on Fire; Did So Because Man Wasn't Praying with Community

2012-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Huffington Post website reports today (February 8, 2012) that a Hasidic Jewish man from New York state pleaded guilty to assault yesterday for setting a Jewish neighbor on fire -- leaving the man badly burned -- because he wasn't praying with the rest of the community.

Shaul Spitzer, 18, of New Square, New York, admitted to lighting Aron Rottenberg ablaze after learning that he had disobeyed a prayer order by the Grand Rebbe of the Hasidic enclave about 35 miles north of New York City.

Spitzer -- who worked for Grande Rebbe David Twersky at the time of the incident -- admitted in court that he used a heavy-duty propane lighter to set Rottenberg on fire in May 2011. Rottenberg spent more than a month in the hospital recovering from severe burns.

Spitzer -- who will be sentenced in April -- faces up to 10 years in prison. Rottenberg also has a pending civil lawsuit against Spitzer and Twersky -- as a result of the incident -- in which he is asking for $2 million.

Conn. Catholic School Bans Skirts from Uniform; Parents Upset Girls Must Now Wear Khaki Pants

2012-02-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

The Shine Yahoo website reports today (February 7, 2012) that St. Bernadette Catholic School in New Haven, Connecticut will be updating the girls' uniforms next fall.

After many female students have been rolling up their plaid skirts to make them shorter, the school has decided to ban their current skirts and jumpers, and replace them with khaki pants. Parents are upset that they'll have to shell out more money for new uniforms, but they're also angry that their daughters will look less feminine.

Principal Sherry Steines recently wrote a letter to parents claiming the new dress code is the result of "many conversations and input from the school survey." Some parents said they never took any such survey and were not consulted about the dress code. Consequently, about 20 parents signed a petition to meet with the principal about the changes, but they were turned down.

Parent Brenda Abel said tuition is costly enough and she would prefer not having to buy new uniforms. Her daughter, Jessica, is in the sixth grade and keeps her skirt at the required knee length.

France Inaugurates 1st Municipal Muslim Cemetery; Muslim Head:"Historic" Moment for French Muslims

2012-02-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (February 7, 2012) that France inaugurated its first municipal Muslim cemetery in the city of Strasbourg yesterday -- a move hailed by Islamic leaders as a step in recognizing one of the country's largest minority groups.

Local officials and Muslim leaders attended a ceremony in the northeastern French city to launch the cemetery, which has space for about 1,000 graves.

Mohammed Moussaoui -- head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith -- hailed the ceremony's opening as a "historic" moment for Muslims in France.

France has more Muslims -- over 6,200,000 Muslims -- than any other country in all of Europe.

More New Women Priests Than Men for First Time; Church of England Ordained More Women in 2010

2012-02-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

The Telegraph (British) website reports today (February 7, 2012) that more female priests have joined the Church of England than male priests for the first time.

Official figures show that 290 women were ordained in 2010 -- the most recent year for which figures are available. By contrast, only 273 men entered the priesthood.

The new figures have become available less than 20 years since the Church of England first allowed women to be priests.

Overall, there were still more than twice as many ordained men (8,087) as women (3,535) in 2010. The figures also reveal that most of the women priests are "self-supporting" rather than having full-time clergy jobs.

Judge to Rule on Slavery Protection for Whales; PETA Claims They Are Forced to Live Like Slaves

2012-02-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

A federal judge -- for the first time in U.S. history -- heard arguments today (February 6, 2012) in a case that could determine whether animals enjoy the same constitutional protection against slavery as human beings, the Associated Press website reports.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller called the hearing in San Diego after Sea World asked the court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that names five orcas as plaintiffs in the case.

PETA claims the captured whales are treated like slaves, in that they are forced to live in tanks and perform daily tasks at Sea World's parks in San Diego, California and Orlando, Florida.

Jeffrey Kerr -- PETA's attorney -- said, "this case is on the next frontier of civil rights." Theodore Shaw -- Sea World's attorney -- said animals "were not included in 'We the people' ... when the Constitution was adopted."

Brady's Wife Rips Receivers for Patriots SB Loss; Patriots Org.:She Violated "Code of Brotherhood"

2012-02-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

The New York Post website reports today (February 6, 2012) that Gisele Bundchen -- the Brazilian supermodel -- ripped into the Patriots' receivers for failing to catch the ball on several occasions when it was thrown to them by her quarterback husband Tom Brady at last night's Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

After the game, fans could be heard yelling to Bundchen "Eli owns your husband" as she was leaving the stadium, following the Patriots' 21-17 loss to the Giants. The fans were referring to Giants' quarterback Eli Manning, who was named the most valuable player of last night's game.

Bundchen answered back to the fans: "You need to catch the ball when you're supposed to catch the ball. My husband cannot [expletive deleted] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times."

Several people within the Patriots organization said today that Bundchen was out of line and violated a "code of brotherhood" by bashing Brady's teammates.

Norway Killer Demands Medal at Court Hearing; Killed 77 People in Norway's Worst Massacre

2012-02-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

The right-wing extremist -- who has admitted killing 77 people in Norway's worst peacetime massacre -- told a court today (February 6, 2012) that he deserves a medal of honor for the bloodshed and demanded to be set free, according to the Associated Press website.

Anders Behring Breivik smirked as he was led into the Oslo district court -- handcuffed and dressed in a dark suit -- for his last scheduled detention hearing before his trial begins in April.

He stretched out his arms in what his lawyer Geir Lippestad called "some kind of right-wing extremist greeting."

Reading from prepared marks, the 32-year-old Norwegian told the court that the July 22 massacre -- carried out with a bomb, a rifle, and a handgun -- was a strike against "traitors" who are embracing immigration to promote "an Islamic colonization of Norway."

Eight Sailors Discharged by Navy for Hazing; Assaulted, Choked Sailor in an Initiation Rite

2012-02-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

The Global Post website reports today (February 5, 2012) that eight sailors have been discharged from the Navy over a hazing incident aboard a San Diego-based amphibious assault ship.

A Navy spokesman said that the eight allegedly assaulted and choked a fellow sailor aboard the Bonhomme Richard on January 17 as part of an initiation rite.

The assault was videotaped and the victim treated for injuries, Lt. Commander David McKinney said.

The sailors -- all from junior ranks -- received general discharges following a "captain's mast" proceeding held by the ship's commander, Capt. J.L. Harnden.

File Sharing Recognized as a Religion in Sweden; Church of Kopimism Info, Copying Viewed as Holy

2012-02-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

The Swedish Wire website reports today (February 5, 2012) that Swedish authorities have granted official religious status to the Church of Kopimism -- which considers CTRL+C and CTRL+V (shortcuts for copy and paste) to be sacred symbols -- and agreed that information is holy and copying is a sacrament.

Isak Gerson -- the self-appointed spiritual leader of the movement -- said the church's religious roots go back to 2010 and that it formalized a community of file sharers that already has been "well spread" for a long time.

Gerson added, "The community of kopimi (pronounced "copy me") requires no formal membership. You just have to feel a calling to worship what is the holiest of the holiest information and copy."

Church services consist of "kopyactings," whereby the "kopimists" share information with each other through copying and remixing.

COMMENTARY: Man Must Not Deceive His Fellow Man in Order to Acquire Money

2012-02-04T17:46:00.000-08:00

This week, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi from Maryland pleaded guilty in federal court to mail and wire fraud -- subjecting him to a prison sentence of up to 40 years -- because he made up stories of having unique Torahs that date back to the Holocaust, and sold them to innocent believers for more than $862,000.

Rabbi Menachem Youlus, 50, made up some fantastic, dramatic stories to prospective customers, saying that he had gone to Auschwitz, Poland and other parts of Europe to obtain invaluable Torahs. The fact is that Youlus had never even gone to Europe.

Many of those who purchased the Torahs from Youlus were children and grandchildren of some of the six million Jews who had been killed during the Holocaust in the 1940s. Youlus, however, felt no shame in deceiving these innocent believers: His only concern was to get as much money from them as he could.

What makes this scenario even more frightening and incredible is that Youlus was a rabbi -- and an Orthodox Jewish rabbi no less -- when he committed these heartless, selfish, and disgusting crimes.

Somehow, we feel that Youlus' deception of his fellow Jews can be closely associated with Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Judas -- one of the 12 Jewish apostles of Jesus -- betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas betrayed Jesus despite the fact that the Jews were God's chosen people.

Judas betrayed Jesus for the silver bribe by identifying Him with a kiss -- often referred to as the kiss of Judas -- to arresting soldiers of the High Priest Caiaphas, who then turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate's soldiers, resulting in Jesus' crucifixion.

In both the Judas and Youlus situations, an obsession for money was the primary reason for their inhumane and disgusting actions.

It was nearly 2,000 years ago when Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Today, the Youlus scenario conveys that man has still not changed his priorities to respect the life and integrity of his fellow man, instead of deceiving him to attain money.

Indeed, it is now time for man to show more respect toward his fellow man -- a respect in which love, kindness, and integrity transcend any selfish desire an individual might have to illegally amass money by deceiving someone.

Church Cancels Night Services Due to Super Bowl; Megachurch in S.C. Is a Victim of Football Game

2012-02-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Christian Post website reports today (February 4, 2012) that New Spring Church -- a five-campus megachurch in Anderson, South Carolina -- is canceling its Sunday night services on February 5, so that its parishioners can stay home and watch the Super Bowl football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants on television.

Lead pastor Perry Noble said, "I've been in church work for over 20 years and the one thing I can say is that attendance on Super Bowl Sunday night in church has always been awful."

The megachurch's two Sunday morning worship services are still being held.

Apologist Chris Rosebrough told the Christian Post, "Scripture teaches that the job of a pastor is to preach the Word. That doesn't matter if God sends two or 3,000 people -- the job of the pastor is the same."

Head of Greek Church Says Austerity Is Deadly; Warns PM Greece Is on Verge of "Social Explosion"

2012-02-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

The Orthodox Church Info blog reports today (February 4, 2012) that Archbishop Ieronymos -- the head of the Orthodox Church of Greece -- has taken the rare step of writing to Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to express serious concerns about the effectiveness of the government's fiscal policy and the effect it is having on Greek people.

In his letter, Ieronymos raises doubts on whether Greece should agree to further austerity measures to receive its next bailout by the European Union, suggesting that they are "large doses of medicine that is proving deadly."

Ieronymos also expresses concern about the impact of the economic crisis -- including a rise in suicides, homelessness, and unemployment -- and the desperate state in which an increasing number of Greeks find themselves.

He warned the prime minister that this was creating a dangerous situation in Greece, and that the possibility of a "social explosion" cannot be ignored.

Milwaukee Archdiocese Faces 550 Abuse Claims; Has Already Paid $30M for Clergy Sexual Abuse

2012-02-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

About 550 people have filed claims for restitution for alleged sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Associated Press website reports today (February 3, 2012).

The Milwaukee Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection last year, saying pending sex-abuse lawsuits could leave it with debts it could not afford.

The archdiocese has already paid more than $30 million in settlements and other court costs related to clergy abuse.

Peter Isely -- the Midwest director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- said the number of filings was "extraordinary tragic." He added that it represented only a small portion of people abused by Catholic clergy.

Family Group Opposes Retailer's Lesbian Choice; Asks J.C. Penney to Replace DeGeneres as Spokesman

2012-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

The One News Now website reports today (February 3, 2012) that One Million Moms -- an American Family Association's advocacy group -- is challenging J.C. Penney's efforts to improve its sales by hiring a lesbian as its spokesperson.

J.C. Penney has hired lesbian Ellen DeGeneres as its spokesperson. The comedian and talk-show host is slated to appear in five commercials in an ad campaign starting this spring.

Ron Johnson -- new CEO at J.C. Penney -- said his company is going with DeGeneres because "Ellen is someone we all trust. She's lovable, likabale, honest, and funny."

On the other hand, Monica Cole -- director of One Million Moms -- said hiring DeGeneres might backfire, since only an estimated 1.7 percent of the American population is homosexual. She added that One Million Moms is asking people to call J.C. Penney to politely ask that DeGeneres be replaced as its spokesperson.

MD Rabbi Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Torah Trick; Rabbi Youlus Sold "Holocaust Torahs" to Believers

2012-02-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post website reports today (February 3, 2012) that an Orthodox rabbi and owner of a Jewish bookstore in Wheaton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in New York to mail and wire fraud, as a result of making up dramatic stories of rescuing Torahs lost during the Holocaust, and selling them to believers for more than $862,000.

Rabbi Menachem Youlus, 50, had solicited donations to his nonprofit organization -- the Save a Torah Foundation -- by fabricating fantastic adventures of saving the sacred scrolls, and using the stories to inflate the value of old Torahs.

Youlus told Judge Colleen McMahon that "between 2004 and 2010, I falsely represented that I personally obtained vintage Torah scrolls from Europe and Israel," including sacred fragments in a metal box buried in Auschwitz. He admitted that he had never been to Europe and that he defrauded scores of victims, including private equity billionaire David Rubenstein.

Each of the two counts against Youlus carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Judge McMahon scheduled sentencing for June 21.

Obama: "My Policies Are an Extension of My Faith;" Wanting Wealthy to Pay More Taxes Reflects Jesus

2012-02-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama said today (February 2, 2012) that his Christian faith is a driving force behind his economic policies -- from Wall Street reform to his calls for the wealthy to pay higher taxes -- the Associated Press website reports.

Obama's remarks at today's National Prayer Breakfast -- held at the Washington Hilton's International Ballroom -- were his most explicit account of how his personal religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation's pressing problems.

Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual breakfast, Obama said "faith and values" should play as much of a role in tackling the nation's challenges as sound decision-making and smart policies.

He said, for example, that his own call for fairness in the tax code -- in which wealthy Americans would be required to pay more taxes -- is both economically sound and consistent with the teachings of Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus tells His disciples, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24

Church of Scientology Convicted of Fraud in France; Church Fined $800,000, Five Members Also Fined

2012-02-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

The Voice of America website reports today (February 2, 2012) that a Paris court has fined the Church of Scientology in France for fraud, and handed five of its members fines and suspended sentences.

The appeals court ruling confirms a 2009 fraud charge that the Church of Scientology in France pressured its members to pay for books, courses, and so-called "purification remedies" or questionable medical treatments. It fined the church and its bookshop a total of 600,000 euros or nearly $800,000.

The five Scientologists fined and given suspended sentences included Alain Rosenberg -- the head of the French church -- who received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of nearly $40,000.

Founded in the United States nearly 60 years ago, the Church of Scientology is legally a religion in the United States, Sweden, and Spain. But in France, Belgium, and Germany, Scientology is considered a sect or cult.

Its members include American actors John Travolta and Tom Cruise.

COMMENTARY: There Is No Justification for Murder in Our Society

2012-02-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

Last week, a jury in Ontario, Canada found an Afghan father, his wife, and their son guilty of killing three teenage sisters and a co-wife in what the judge called a "twisted concept of honor."

The three sisters -- aged 19, 17, and 13 -- were killed because they "violated Islamic rules of dress, dating, and socializing." The co-wife was killed because of fear that Canadian authorities might discover the husband's polygamous relationship, and force his family to leave Canada.

The fact that the parents did not kill their 21-year-old son in this scenario conveys a double standard: Young Islamic women must not socialize with others, but it is all right for young men to socialize.

If the parents wanted to punish their three teenage daughters for living an anti-Islamic lifestyle, they could have done so by taking less severe action, such as not allowing them to socialize with others.

In the final analysis, the parents and son of these murders need to realize that in a civilized society there is no justification for murdering people -- even if the reason for murder may be sparked by a desire to support religious teachings.

US Abp.: Catholic Pop. in Iraq Has Collapsed; It Fell from 800,000 in 2003 to 150,000 Today

2012-02-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

The California Catholic Daily website reports today (February 1, 2012) that Archbishop Timothy Broglio -- the U.S. Archbishop for Military Services -- said the collapse of Iraq's Christian population is among the legacies of America's invasion in 2003.

Archbishop Broglio made his comments only one month after the final pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, where they remained following the invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Aid agencies estimate that over the course of eight years, the Catholic population of Iraq fell from more than 800,000 in 2003 to fewer than 150,000 today.

Archbishop Broglio said he believes Catholicism suffered after the U.S. invasion because of a perceived closeness to its previous ruler. He added that Saddam Hussein tended "to trust Catholics, and gave them positions of responsibility."

John Piper:God Gave Christians a "Masculine Feel;" Evangelist Says God Did So for Humans to Flourish

2012-02-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Christian Post website reports today (February 1, 2012) that evangelist John Piper -- in his address to the Desiring God Conference for Pastors in Minneapolis yesterday -- said, "God revealed Himself in the Bible pervasively as king not queen; father not mother."

He also said, "Second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son not daughter; the Father and the Son create man and woman in His image and give the name man, the name of the male."

Piper continued, "God appoints all the priests in the Old Testament to be men; the Son of God came into the world to be a man; He chose 12 men to be His apostles; the apostles appointed that the overseers of the Church be men; and when it came to marriage they taught that the husband should be the head."

Piper concluded that God has given Christianity a "masculine feel" for our maximum flourishing -- both male and female.

Pepperdine Univ. in Calif. Rejects an LGBT Club; Says Club's Mission Is Not in Line with U's Belief

2012-01-31T17:55:00.000-08:00

The New American website reports today (January 31, 2012) that homosexual activists are up in arms over a Christian university's rejection of an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Club.

Pepperdine University -- a California liberal arts school affiliated with the conservative Church of Christ denomination -- announced this month that it would not allow the homosexual support group Reach Out to meet on the college's campus.

Mark Davis -- the school's dean of students -- explained that the club's mission did not line up with the university's belief that sexual relations should be limited to a man and woman who are married to one another.

In response to the university's decision, several students have launched a petition drive insisting that university officials overturn the ban. As of today (January 31), the petition drive has gotten nearly 4,000 signatures of individuals calling on the university to rescind its ban of the homosexual group.

Clerk Stole $1M from NY Archdiocese Ed. Money; Anita Collins Is Sentenced to Community Service

2012-01-31T14:13:00.000-08:00

An Archdiocese of New York clerk has been arrested on charges of manipulating the church's accounts payable system to steal more than one million dollars in education money, the Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (January 31, 2012).

Anita Collins wrote checks to herself or a relative, but recorded them as payments to legitimate vendors.

The archdiocese says its staff and outside auditors spotted the theft and alerted persecutors.

Collins -- who had been fired in December -- was sentenced to community service and five years' probation.

Several Destructive Incidents Occur in FYROM; Muslims Angry Christians Wore Masks at Carnival

2012-01-31T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Balkan Insight website reports today (January 31, 2012) that arsonists last night set ablaze a Greek Orthodox Church near the city of Struga in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the latest in a series of ethnic and faith-related incidents in the area.

Firefighters fought until midnight to douse the fire at St. Nicholas Church in the ethnically mixed village of Labunishta near Struga. Police today said the 200-year-old church was saved, but nearby facilities -- including the parish dining hall -- burned to the ground.

The recent trouble between FYROM's Christians and Muslims goes back to January 14 at the annual carnival in Vevcani, where Orthodox Christians wore masks supposedly representing Muslim believers, including women in burqas.

The masks -- deemed insulting to Muslims -- have sparked several destructive incidents in FYROM since January 14, including last night's church fire, the burning of a FYROM flag, and the stoning of a bus.

Bin Laden Informer Afridi Charged with Treason; Is Pakistani Who Helped US Locate Osama Bin Laden

2012-01-30T17:14:00.000-08:00

The Eurasia Review website reports today (January 30, 2012) that Dr. Shakil Afridi -- the Pakistani who helped U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six locate and kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden -- is facing treason charges in a Pakistani court for working with America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Dr. Afridi was accused of participating in a CIA-run operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden was killed by a U.S. special forces unit.

A panel of Pakistani officials ruled that Dr. Afridi should be tried for treason -- a charge that could result in a death sentence if he is found guilty.

Dr. Afridi -- a confidential informant -- was arrested shortly after the operation carried out by U.S. special forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad on May 1, 2011.

Islamic Parents Guilty of Murdering 3 Daughters; Killed Them for Violating Islamic Social Rules

2012-01-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

The One News Now website reports that a jury in Canada yesterday (January 29, 2012) found an Afghan father, his wife, and their son guilty of killing three teenage sisters and a co-wife in what a judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honor."

The jury took 15 hours to find Mohammad Shafia, 58; his wife Tooba Yahya, 42; and their son Hamed, 21, each guilty of four counts of first-degree murder.

The three defendants declared their innocence in the killings of sisters Zainak, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammod, 52, Shafia's childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.

The bodies were found June 30, 2009, in a car submerged in a canal in Kingston, Ontario. Prosecutors said the defendants killed the three sisters because they violated Islamic rules on dress, dating, and socializing. Shafia's co-wife was killed because the polygamous relationship with Shafia -- if known by Canadian authorities -- could have resulted in their deportation from Canada.

COMMENTARY: Anti-Semitism in Our Society Must Not Be Tolerated

2012-01-29T19:40:00.000-08:00

A 19-year-old man in New Jersey was arrested last week and charged with two firebombings of New Jersey synagogues.

Anthony Graziano is being held on $5 million bail and could receive a sentence of up to 95 years in prison, if he is found guilty of the charges filed against him.

What is extremely frightening of the firebombing of the Rutherford, N.J. synagogue is that this synagogue also served as the rabbi's residence on the second floor. The rabbi, his wife, five children, and the rabbi's parents -- a total of nine people -- were sleeping when several Molotov cocktails were thrown into the synagogue in the early morning of January 11.

Fortunately, the rabbi was able to put out a firebomb in his bedroom -- suffering only minor burns in doing so -- thus preventing the death of several people.

The suspect of the firebombings has been described by police as a bitter anti-Semite who hates people of the Jewish faith.

Just what causes an individual to be so hateful and hurtful toward Jews -- especially when Jews have done no harm to that person -- is mind-boggling.

We can only attribute such sinful behavior by a 19-year-old man to be the result of a prejudicial upbringing by his parents, or a hateful view of Jews by his peer group.

In any event, this kind of destructive behavior against Jews -- or any group for that matter -- must not be tolerated in our society.

Indeed, anyone who is convicted of committing such a hateful and destructive crime must be sentenced to several years in prison.

PA Catholic Bishop Blasted for Hitler Comment; Said Hitler Would Love America's Public Schools

2012-01-29T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Religion News website reports today (January 29, 2012) that the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is being criticized for saying Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini would love America's public school system, because it teaches all children just one set of beliefs.

Bishop Joseph McFadden -- in an effort to illustrate the lack of flexibility in America's public schools -- made the remark while advocating for school vouchers during a televised interview last week.

"In totalitarian governments, they would love our system," McFadden said. "This is what Hitler and Mussolini tried to establish: a monolith so all the children would be educated in one set of beliefs and one way of doing things."

McFadden's remarks sparked outrage from the area chapter of the Anti-Defamation League and a rebuke from the legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.

Three Topless Women Detained by Swiss Police; Part of Ukrainian Org. That Protests to Support the Poor

2012-01-28T17:48:00.000-08:00

Three topless Ukrainian protesters were detained by Swiss police today (January 28, 2012) while trying to break into an invitation-only gathering of international CEOs and political leaders to call attention to the needs of the world's poor, according to the Associated Press website.

The Ukrainian women arrived at the entrance to the complex in the Swiss resort town of Davos, where the World Economic Forum was meeting.

With temperatures around freezing in the snow-filled town, they took off their tops and tried to climb over a fence before being detained. They had messages painted across their chests, such as "Poor, because of you" and "Gangsters party in Davos."

The women are among the hundreds of members of the popular Ukrainian organization called Femen, which has staged small, topless protests in various countries to highlight a range of issues, including oppression of political opposition. Women members of Femen protest while being topless, because they believe that doing so attracts more people to support their views.

B'nai B'rith Opposes German Media Prize Nominee; Says Mitri Raheb Views Christians Above Jews

2012-01-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Ecumenical News International website reports today (January 28, 2012) that the Jewish organization B'nai B'rith International yesterday called for the committee of the prestigious German Media Prize to reconsider its recognition of Mitri Raheb, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem.

Raheb is due to be presented with the prize on February 24 in recognition of his creation of schools, health centers, and meeting places.

But B'nai B'rith -- a humanitarian, human rights, and advocacy organization -- said it was opposed to Raheb's views.

It said his views "echo the widely eschewed replacement theology maintaining that Christians have superseded Jews in the Divine plan and have inherited God's promises to Jews."

Cabinet in the Netherlands Votes to Ban Burkas; Women Wearing Them to Be Subject to a $503 Fine

2012-01-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

The cabinet of the Netherlands voted today (January 27, 2012) to ban the burkas and other face-covering garments from public places. Once the legislation is passed in parliament -- where it has a majority of votes for passage -- the Netherlands will become the third country in Europe to ban the Islamic garment, after France and Belgium.

The ban will apply to people wearing balaclavas and full-frontal motorbike helmets on the street as well as the estimated 100 burka wearers in the Netherlands.

Women wearing a burka or a full veil will be subject to a fine of 380 euros ($503).

Liesbeth Spies -- Dutch home affairs minister -- said after the cabinet vote today it is of "immense importance" that burkas are banned. She added people in an open society should communicate with each other openly.

Auschwitz Survivor Dies Today in Oswiecim, Poland; Today Is 67th Anniv. of Camp's Soviet Liberation

2012-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

Kazimierz Smolen -- a 91-year-old Auschwitz survivor who became director of the memorial site after World War II -- died today (January 27, 2012) on the 67th anniversary of its liberation, according to the Associated Press website.

Smolen died in a hospital in Oswiecim -- the southern Polish town where Nazi Germany operated Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II -- said Pawel Sawicki, a spokesman for the Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum.

Today (January 27) is the anniversary of the camp's 1945 liberation by Soviet troops. January 27 was designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the United Nations in 2005.

Two years after World War II ended, Auschwitz-Birkenau became a museum -- and Smolen served as its director from 1955-1990.

AK Airlines Ends Giving Prayer Cards with Meals; Some Customers Did Not Feel Rel. Was Appropriate

2012-01-26T18:27:00.000-08:00

The Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (January 26, 2012) that Alaska Airlines will stop its 30-year tradition next week of passing out prayer cards to passengers with their flight meal.

"Some customers were comforted by the cards and some didn't feel religion was appropriate on the plane and preferred not to receive one," Alaskan Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said.

The prayer cards feature messages from the Old Testament book of Psalms, and were started as a way to set the airline apart from competitors.

"Religious beliefs are deeply personal and sharing them with others is an individual choice," CEO Bill Ayer and President Brad Tilden said in an email announcement yesterday.

Man Charged with Bombing Two NJ Synagogues; Anthony Graziano, 19, Hated People of Jewish Faith

2012-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

The suspect in two firebombings of New Jersey synagogues this month is a bitter anti-Semite, who was so intent on sowing fear and destruction in the Jewish community that he rode his bike to both locations when he couldn't get access to a car, according to the Associated Press website.

Anthony Graziano, 19, of Lodi -- an unemployed recent high school graduate -- was charged with the January 11 attack on a Rutherford synagogue and the January 3 firebombing of a synagogue in Paramus. He is being held on $5 million bail.

The charges include nine counts of attempted murder, bias intimidation, arson, and aggravated arson.

The Rutherford attack -- which caused a fire in the residence of Rabbi Nosson Schuman -- could have caused serious injury or even death to the rabbi and his family.

COMMENTARY: Iowa State U. Was Wrong to Cancel Religious-Themed Business Course

2012-01-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

Iowa State University (ISU) canceled a business management course it had planned to offer this semester, which would have used the Bible for insight into handling the vital issues faced in business.

The course -- titled "Application of Biblical Insight into the Management of Business/Organization" -- was scheduled to have been taught by a professor of finance, but was canceled because some faculty members felt that it was not appropriate to use the Bible as a guide. Consequently, the dean of ISU's school of business made the final decision to cancel this course.

We disagree with the decision to cancel this course.

We believe that the course would have been challenging to its students, in that it would have permitted students to relate to the business world from a Biblical perspective.

It is unfortunate for the ISU students -- who planned to take this course -- that it was canceled just before the semester began.

Indeed, such a course would have had a significant positive impact on its students, because it would have prepared them to enter the world of business with a better understanding of effective interpersonal relationships with their business colleagues and others than would otherwise be the case.

Saudi Woman Driver Defies Ban, Has Fatal Accident; Saudi Arabia Is Only Nation to Forbid Women Drivers

2012-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Agence France-Presse (AFP) website reports today (January 25, 2012) that a Saudi woman -- who defied a driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia -- was hospitalized with several injuries and her passenger was killed when their car overturned in the northern Hael province on January 21.

Ultra-Muslim Saudi Arabia -- whose capital, Mecca, is the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Mohammed -- is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive.

Nonetheless, some women -- despite subjecting themselves to several lashings -- sneak behind the the wheel and drive in rural regions.

Women in Saudi Arabia are also required to wear a veil in public, and are not allowed to travel unless accompanied by their husbands or a close male relative.

Muslim Airline Pilot Fired for Terrorist Links; Tells Court He Was Fired Due to His Race, Rel.

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports that an airline pilot -- who was fired after links were discovered to two suspected terrorists -- told an employment tribunal today (January 25, 2012) that an "air of suspicion" had been created around him because of his race and religion.

The British man -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- was suspended by the major airline after he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in October 2007.

His arrest led to the airline suspending his flight crew pass in order to carry out a full security review of his position, which led to his dismissal in October 2010.

The pilot -- who is claiming racial discrimination at the hearing in Havant, Hampshire -- said he believed that he was targeted because he was Asian and a Muslim.

Turkish PM Erdogan Blasts French Genocide Bill; Bill Makes It a Crime to Deny Turkish Genocide

2012-01-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

The France 24 website reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted French lawmakers today (January 24, 2012) for being "racist and discriminatory" after the Senate passed a bill that would outlaw denying the 1915 massacre of Armenians in Turkey amounted to genocide. Erdogan threatened France that Turkey will retaliate any way it can.

The bill -- which French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to sign into law soon -- includes the massacre of some one and one-half million ethnic Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces in 1915.

Once the bill becomes a law, it will criminalize publicly denying that the mass killing of ethnic Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces in 1915 was a deliberately organized genocide.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said the Senate vote -- which was passed by 127 to 86 -- was a day that "will be written in gold."

Three Convicted for Advocating Death for Gays; Muslim Men Handed Out Pamphlets Urging Death

2012-01-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

The Ethics Daily website reports today (January 24, 2012) that -- in the first court case of its kind -- a British court has convicted three Muslim men of openly advocating the execution of gays.

Jurors in Derby, England on January 20 found Ihjaz Ali, Kabir Ahmed, and Razwan Javed guilty of trying to stir up hatred by handing out provocative pamphlets calling for homosexuals to be put to death.

The pamphlet carried quotations from Islamic texts saying that only through capital punishment could society be cleansed of homosexuality, "this immoral crime."

Conviction carries a maximum prison term of seven years. Sentencing is scheduled for February.

Israel to Warn US Only 12 Hours before Iran Attack; Does Not Trust Obama, Fears He'd Block Attack

2012-01-23T19:06:00.000-08:00

The Mondoweiss website reports today (January 23, 2012) that Israel informed U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey -- during his visit to Israel over the weekend -- that it would not request U.S. authorization for an attack on Iran, and it would give only a 12-hour warning to the U.S. before launching such an attack.

According to a report in Britain's Sunday Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not trust President Obama and believes Obama might do everything in his power to prevent an Israeli attack if informed in advance.

The Sunday Times added that Israel and the U.S. are trying to downplay the crisis, but the two countries appear to be on a collision course.

For example, Dempsey claimed that Israel and the U.S. had recently agreed to postpone a scheduled joint military exercise; however, the fact is (according to an Israeli defense source) that Israel was shocked at the U.S. postponement, as "the exercise had been planned for two years."

Turks March in Paris to Denounce Genocide Bill; Bill Sets Punishment for Denying Turkish Genocide

2012-01-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports that thousands of Turks from across Europe marched through Paris today (January 23, 2012), denouncing a bill that would make it a crime to deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide.

The Turks -- many waving their country's flag -- marched to the Senate, where the bill is being debated today, after passage in December in France's lower house.

The measure sets a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($56,793) for those who deny or "outrageously minimize" the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 by Ottoman Turks as genocide.

France formally recognized the 1915 Armenian killings as genocide in 2001, but provided no penalty for anyone refuting it.

Supreme Court Limits Police Use of a GPS Device; Rules Police Must 1st Obtain a Warrant to Use It

2012-01-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today (January 23, 2012) that police attachment of a GPS device to monitor a suspect's vehicle was a search protected by constitutional privacy rights, according to the Reuters website.

The ruling was a defeat for the Obama administration, which defended the use of global positioning system devices -- without a warrant and without a person's knowledge -- as a legal way to monitor a vehicle on public streets.

The justices unanimously ruled that police must first obtain a warrant to use a GPS device for an extended period of time to covertly follow a suspect.

The American Civil Liberties Union -- and other human rights-oriented organizations -- commended today's Supreme Court ruling, because it support an individual's rights against unreasonable and unlimited searches and seizures of evidence.

Human Rights Watch Rips Egypt's Military Govt.; Says Mil. Govt. Ignores Laws, Is Worse Than Mubarak

2012-01-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

The Global Post website reports that Human Rights Watch (HRW) -- the prominent U.S.-based rights group -- released its annual report today (January 22, 2012) in Cairo, in a move its executive director said is meant to reflect the report's primary focus, with harsh words for Egypt's ruling generals one year after an Egyptian uprising.

"Egypt's military rule started off positively in terms of protecting the demonstrators and facilitating the departure of Mubarak," HRW's executive director, Kenneth Roth, said in Cairo.

Roth added: "But it has taken a very disturbing turn. What we've seen is a series of moves by the military to undermine the rule of law."

In the report, HRW says Egyptians are now "at greater risk of arbitrary arrest and trial before unfair military courts than during the (dictator) Mubarak era."

Afghan Calligrapher Makes World's Biggest Quran; 218 Pages Are 2.28 Meters by 1.55 Meters in Size

2012-01-22T17:42:00.000-08:00

An Afghan calligrapher has created the world's biggest Holy Quran, after working on it for five years, the All Voices website reports today (January 22, 2012).

The pages are 2.28 meters by 1.55 meters in size, and the total weight of the Quran is 500kg (1102 pounds).

It has 218 pages of cloth and paper and is bound inside an embossed leather cover made from the skins of 21 goats. It cost about a half-million dollars to create.

It is now in the library of Afghanistan's cultural heritage and traditions in Kabul.

Indonesian Arrested for Not Believing in God; Faces Maximum 5 Years in Jail If Found Guilty

2012-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Big News Network website reports today (January 22, 2012) that a 30-year-old Indonesian civil servant has been arrested on charges of blasphemy, after he created a Facebook page that said he did not believe in God.

The man -- identified as Alexander -- said he did not believe in angels, devils, heaven, and hell, as well as other myths.

He faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail if found guilty.

Alexander's identity card says that Islam is his religion. More Muslims live in Indonesia than in any other country.

COMMENTARY: Football Games Are Not the Proper Venue for Individual Prayer

2012-01-21T17:54:00.000-08:00

A writer from Virginia this week wrote a journal article in which he compares Tim Tebow -- the Denver Broncos quarterback who prays on the sidelines at NFL games -- to the way the Pharisees prayed on street corners in order to gain attention.

He writes that "Jesus blasted the Pharisees for making a Hollywood production out of praying," and that Jesus would not approve of Tebow's praying in public.

We agree with this writer's viewpoint.

While Tebow must be commended for praying to God often, we feel that his praying should be a private matter between himself and God. In other words, Tebow should not be praying openly on a football field, where thousands of attendants -- as well as the other football players -- can observe him praying.

Jesus does not need -- nor does He want -- this kind of publicity, because a football game is not a venue designed to promote Christianity. Rather, it is a venue for players to play a game as well as they can -- with the objective of winning it -- and to provide the fans at the game and the television viewers with their playing expertise.

Football games are for the enjoyment and fun of a plethora of people; prayer is for a serious, spiritual, and personal relationship between an individual and God.

For a football player to pray openly at a football game -- before thousands of people -- can be viewed as being demeaning to the sanctity and personal nature of prayer. It can also be considered to be a player's desire to receive attention from thousands of fans.

In the final analysis, Tim Tebow needs to focus on his playing techniques -- and not pray publicly -- during football games, while he may pray as many times as he desires at his home, his church, and other appropriate places for worship.

Columnist Rips Tim Tebow for Praying at Games; Says Jesus Would Condemn Him Like He Condemned Pharisees

2012-01-21T14:33:00.000-08:00

The Christian Post website reports today (January 21, 2012) that a liberal columnist from Virginia has written an article comparing Tim Tebow to the Pharisees that Jesus often had to contend with -- saying the way the Denver Broncos quarterback prays on the sidelines at NFL games is just as bad as the way Pharisees prayed on street corners to gain attention.

"Jesus Christ blasted the Pharisees for making a Hollywood production out of praying," Robert Paul Reyes wrote in an article that was published this week by The Student Operated Press.

Reyes says that every time Tebow prays on the football field he violates Jesus' command in Matthew 6:5, which says, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

Palestinian Head Abbas Receives Award in Russia; Is International Fund for Unity of Orthodox Peoples Award

2012-01-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Orthodox Church Info blog reports that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas today (January 21, 2012) was awarded the annual prize of the International Fund for the Unity of the Orthodox Peoples. The award ceremony took place at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow and was led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

This Orthodox award -- presented for the 11th time -- this year went to a Sunni Muslim. Indeed, Mahmoud Abbas can be described as the keeper of Orthodox values in the Middle East.

Valery Alekseev -- who heads the International Fund for the Unity of the Orthodox Peoples - said, "Mahmoud Abbas was picked from among other candidates for the award for being the guardian of Christian values in the Middle East. Mr. Abbas devotes a lot of his time to promoting Christian-Islamic dialogue and encouraging Orthodox pilgrimages and the Orthodox presence in the Holy Land."

Russia's cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the Palestinian Authority in recent years has resulted in reinstating Russian presence in the Middle East to its highest level in many decades.

Obama Admin. Orders Birth-Control Coverage; Non-Profit Orgs. Must Offer It to Women Employees

2012-01-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Reuters website reports today (January 21, 2012) that the Obama administration ruled yesterday (January 20) that religiously-affiliated nonprofit organizations -- including hospitals and universities -- will have to offer birth-control coverage to women employees.

In a decision expected to draw harsh opposition from religious conservatives, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule requiring affiliated groups to provide a broad range of services -- from implanted contraceptive devices to the morning-after pill.

The government's decision does not apply to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and some religiously-affiliated schools, which remain exempt.

But it comes as a blow to the interests of some religious authorities. For example, the Roman Catholic Church considers contraception to be a sin.

Conservative Presbyterians Open New Denomination; Say PC (USA) Is Filled with Internal Conflicts

2012-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Conservative Presbyterians launched a new denomination yesterday (January 19, 2012), saying that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is too consumed by internal conflicts and bureaucracy to nurture healthy congregations, according to the Washington Post website.

"This 'new Reformed body' is intended to foster a new way of being the church, just as traditional, mainline denominations rose to serve in their day," wrote leaders of the new Evangelical Covenant Order (ECO) of Presbyterians.

The creation of the ECO follows the PC (USA's) church-wide vote last year to lift its longtime ban on gay clergy.

The PC (USA) lost more than 500,000 members between 1998 and 2009 -- according to its church statistics -- and now has about two million members.

Religious-Themed Business Course Canceled at ISU; Would Have Used the Bible to Handle Bus. Issues

2012-01-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

Iowa State University (ISU) has canceled a business management course that some faculty say would have advocated an evangelical Christian point of view and used a textbook that advised its readers against doing business with nonbelievers, the Huffington Post website reports today (January 20, 2012).

The course -- Application of Biblical Insight into the Management of Business/Organization -- was to be taught this semester by Roger Stover, a finance professor.

A description of the course says, "The goal of this seminar is to employ the Bible for insight into handling the vital issues faced in a business."

The course was canceled by ISU's dean of the college of business management, after some faculty members objected to it.

Czech Police Arrest Two Men for Robbing Tombs; Raided 70 Tombs Seeking Gold Teeth, Medals, Jewels

2012-01-20T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Prague Daily Monitor website reports today (January 20, 2012) that Czech police have arrested two men suspected of robbing more than 70 graves in northern Bohemia.

The two men -- aged 48 and 38 -- mainly targeted older tombs in the region in search of gold teeth, medals, jewelry, and other relics.

They were arrested last Saturday night at a cemetery in Usti nad Labem in the north of the country, where they were raiding tombs.

Police also took the equipment the men used, including face masks, crowbars and other tools, as well as a short folding ladder that they used to descend into the tombs.

NYPD to Use a Device to Detect Hidden Weapons; Electronic Frisking Tool Can See Through Clothes

2012-01-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

The Yahoo News website reports today (January 19, 2012) that the Department of Defense and the New York Police Department (NYPD) are developing a remote controlled device that could detect if individuals are carrying concealed firearms or explosives.

The device can see through clothes, backpacks, and even walls from as far away as 75 feet.

The "electronic frisking" device uses electromagnetic energy waves and terahertz that bounce off metallic objects, sending back an image of suspected guns and explosives.

Donna Lieberman -- an official with the New York Civil Liberties Union -- said the device "is worrisome because it implicates privacy when the police department tells us that anytime we walk down the street we're going to be subject to a virtual pat down even though we're not suspected of doing anything wrong."

Two Catholic Midwives Refuse Abortion Cases; Tell Scotland Court Rel. Beliefs Oppose Abortion

2012-01-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

Two Catholic midwives are testifying before Scotland's highest civil court that they are being forced to participate in abortions against both their consciences and the law, the Eurasia Review website reports today (January 19, 2012).

Mary Doogan and Connie Wood have been told by the state-run National Health Service in Glasgow that they are expected to supervise and support fellow midwives who perform abortions.

In their January 17 petition to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the women explained that "they hold a religious belief that all human life is sacred from the moment of conception and that termination of pregnancy is a grave offense against human life."

The case is currently being heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Stop Islamization of Nations (SION) Is Created; New Org. Is Determined to Defend Free Societies

2012-01-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (January 19, 2012) that the human rights organizations Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) and Stop Islamization of Europe (SIOE) are merging to create a new global force determined to defend free societies globally: Stop Islamization of Nations (SION).

SIOA and SIOE are the foremost organizations in America and Europe dedicated to defending human rights, religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and the freedom of speech against Islamic supremacist intimidation and attempts to bring elements of Sharia (Islamic Law) to the West.

At the helm of SION as its founding president is the internationally renowned human rights activist and executive director of SIOA, Pamela Geller.

Vice president is the bestselling author and Islam expert, Robert Spencer.

COMMENTARY: Female Feticide Is an Immoral Practice

2012-01-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

Female feticide -- or choosing to abort female fetuses because of a preference for sons -- is a common practice in China, India, Korea, Vietnam, and several other Asian nations.

It is also practiced in Canada, and to a lesser degree, in the United States.

In an effort to diminish this practice, an editorial in this month's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) recommends that Canada should prohibit the disclosure of the sex of a fetus until after 30 weeks of pregnancy.

We agree with this CMAJ editorial. The fact is that a woman who carries a fetus 30 weeks or more is much more unlikely to have an abortion than a woman who carries a fetus for just two or three months.

Female feticide also is degrading to women, because it conveys an illogical message; namely, that a woman who gives birth to a son is luckier than a woman who gives birth to a daughter.

The fact is that a woman should be happy for being able to give birth to a child -- son or daughter -- and thank God for doing so.

Unfortunately, some women who are unable to give birth to a child "would give their right arm" to do so. Many women and men, who are not able to have a child, would be thrilled to be able to adopt a child -- male or female -- and have even gone as far away as Asia to do so.

Female feticide, then, must not be viewed as "a right" of a woman to abort as many fetuses as necessary in order to give birth to a son. In addition to being an immoral practice, female feticide -- as is the case with abortion in general -- must be considered an act of infanticide that seriously violates Christian doctrine.

In the final analysis, a woman must be extremely grateful to God for enabling her to give birth to a child -- male or female -- and to recognize that child as "a bundle of joy" that she will love and cherish for many years, and most likely for the rest of her life.

Rally in Cranston, RI Supports Prayer Banner; Judge Ruled High School Banner Violates Const.

2012-01-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

The Providence Journal website reports today (January 18, 2012) that about 230 people packed the auditorium of a middle school in Cranston, Rhode Island last night -- singing "God Bless America" -- as members of the Cranston School Committee took their seats on stage.

The public meeting became a forum where students voiced their views about the meaning of a school prayer banner affixed to the wall of the auditorium at Cranston High School West.

A federal judge on January 12 ruled in favor of a 16-year-old student who sued the district on the grounds that the banner's display in her public high school violates the constitution.

Patrick McAssey, 17 -- a high school senior and president of the student council -- urged the school committee to appeal the judge's decision, saying "If we're gonna go down, let's go down fighting."

No decision was made to appeal the judge's decision by the school committee, which had met to discuss the school budget.

Amsterdam's Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Is Suspended; Signed Statement Saying Homosexuality Is Illness

2012-01-18T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Dutch News website reports today (January 18, 2012) that Amsterdam's Orthodox Jewish community has suspended indefinitely Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag as its normal chief, because the New York-based rabbi signed a statement describing homosexuality as an "illness" that can be cured.

The declaration -- signed by 162 rabbis and mental health practitioners last year -- states that "homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle" and that "behaviors are changeable."

Rabbi Ralbag -- who lives in New York and visits the Netherlands once or twice a year to rule on legal matters -- signed the statement using all his official functions, including that of chief rabbi of Amsterdam.

The Orthodox Jewish community in Amsterdam said that it rejects Rabbi Ralbag's view on homosexuality. It added that homosexuals are welcome in the Amsterdam Jewish community.

Female Feticide Becomes an Issue in Canada; CMAJ: Don't Reveal Fetus's Gender for 1st 30 Weeks

2012-01-17T18:08:00.000-08:00

Canada should prohibit disclosure of the sex of a fetus until after 30 weeks of pregnancy to combat female feticide -- which is practiced by some ethnic groups in Canada and the United States -- asserts an editorial in this month's CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

The Eurasia Review website reports today (January 17, 2012) that female feticide -- that is, choosing to abort female fetuses because of a preference for sons -- is an issue in several Asian countries, including China, India, Korea, and Vietnam.

It is also practiced by some immigrants in Canada, contributing to a repugnant problem.

Dr. Rajendra Kale -- interim Editor-in-Chief of CMAJ -- said, "This evil devalues women. How can it be curbed? The solution is to postpone the disclosure of medically irrelevant information to women until after about 30 weeks of pregnancy."

Supreme Court Rejects Hearing NC Prayer Case; Lower Court Prohibited Prayer Before Meetings

2012-01-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (January 17, 2012) that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to get involved over public prayer in North Carolina's Forsyth County -- thus allowing a lower court's decision to stand.

County officials used to begin commission meetings with prayer.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that prayers given before the meetings were Christian, and therefore considered a government endorsement of a particular religion.

Mike Johnson -- the attorney who argued the county's case before the courts -- said he was surprised and disappointed at the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case. He added, "We believe that sometime soon, the Supreme Court will have to hear one of these cases to resolve the issue."

Germany Opens Univ. Dept. of Islamic Theology; Three Dept. Professors Selected as Devout Muslims

2012-01-17T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Monsters and Critics website reports today (January 17, 2012) that Germany's Tuebingen University -- a public university where tuition is free -- opened the first university department of Islamic theology in Germany yesterday (January 16), with 36 students enrolled for bachelor's degrees.

The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel faced resistance from conservatives to funding the department, but argued that graduates would be the best antidote to self-taught "hate preachers."

Education Minister Annette Schavan -- herself a graduate in Catholic theology -- said the school was a "milestone for integration" of Muslims who make up 5 percent of Germany's population.

The three professors -- who will be teaching in the department -- had to satisfy an Islamic advisory council that they are devout Muslims.

Jewish Man Arrested, Posted Swastikas on Doors; Family Business Dispute Drove Him to Harass Jews

2012-01-16T20:04:00.000-08:00

A Jewish man was under arrest on hate crime charges today (January 16, 2012), accused of making anti-Semitic telephone calls to his mother and other elderly women, and putting swastikas on apartment doors, the Telegraph website reports.

A family business dispute drove David Haddad, 56, of Manhattan -- who is Jewish -- to make threatening phone calls to his mother, 80, and to two other women, ages 87 and 78, police said.

According to a police spokesman, "He said basically that all Jews should die and go to hell."

Haddad -- who was charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime -- also was accused of taping notes with anti-Semitic symbols including swastikas on five apartment doors and in the hallway of a building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Polish Court Fines Singer Who Insulted the Bible; Said It "Was Written by Someone Drunk on Wine"

2012-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

The One News Now website reports today (January 16, 2012) that a court in Poland slapped a fine on a popular singer who bad-mouthed the Bible -- the latest episode in which authorities grapple with religious defamation in a traditionally Catholic country that is growing increasingly secular.

Dorota Rabczewska -- a singer who uses the stage name Doda -- said in a 2009 interview that she doubted the Bible "because it's hard to believe in something that was written by someone drunk on wine and smoking some herbs."

A Warsaw court today (January 16) ordered her to pay a fine of 5,000 zlotys ($1,450) for offending religious feelings.

The case come months after Adam Darski -- a death metal performer -- was acquitted by another Polish court for tearing a Bible during a 2007 performance. The court deemed his act an "artistic expression."

Imam Gets Life in Prison for Airport Terror Plot; Planned to Explode Fuel Tanks Under JFK Airport

2012-01-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (January 16, 2012) that an imam and leader of the Shiite Muslim community in Trinidad and Tobago was sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to attack a New York airport by exploding fuel tanks and fuel pipelines under the airport.

Kareem Ibrahim and several other co-conspirators believed the 2007 planned attack would cause extensive damage to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

They also believed the attack would hurt the New York economy and kill many people, officials said.

Ibrahim, 65, was convicted in May by a federal jury on multiple terrorism offenses after a four-week trial.

UN Body Allows Sikhs to Wear Turbans in France; France Required Removal of Turbans for ID Photos

2012-01-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

The Worldwide Religious News website reports today (January 15, 2012) that a Sikh man in France has won the backing of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in his fight over religious headgear.

It said France was violating Sikhs' religious freedom by forcing them to remove their turbans when having photos taken for passports and ID cards.

Ranjit Singh, 76, said he had turned to the UN because he found the French policy disrespectful and unnecessary.

The ruling is not legally binding. France was asked to respond to the UN by March.

Only 13 Percent of Spain's Catholics Heed Faith; Poll Shows 14.7 Percent of Spaniards Are Atheists

2012-01-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

The Catholic News Agency website reports today (January 15, 2012) that a new study -- conducted by the Center for Sociological Studies in Spain -- shows that despite over 70 percent of Spaniards identifying themselves as Catholics, only 13.6 percent say they practice their faith and attend church services on Sundays and holy days.

Of all those polled by the survey who say they are believers -- both Catholics and those of other religions -- 58.2 percent "almost never" attend church services.

Those who said they attend religious services "several times a year" came to 17.7 percent of the population, while those who practice their faith "once a month" was 7.3 percent.

The poll also showed that 14.7 percent of Spain's population was comprised of non-believers.

COMMENTARY: Greece Needs to Make Changes for Its Economy to Improve

2012-01-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

The Greek government is digging its own economic grave -- and has nobody to blame but itself -- for its extremely weak economy that may soon result in the nation's bankruptcy.

Despite the fact that Greece's economy is on the verge of collapsing, the Greek government this week added over a half-dozen additional categories to its list of recognized "disabilities." These additional "disabilities" include pedophiles, kleptomaniacs, compulsive gamblers, and pyromaniacs, among others.

The Greek government, in effect, has now added fuel to the fire by including this list of ridiculous "disabilities" for which Greeks may be eligible to receive periodical government financial assistance.

Undoubtedly, some Greeks -- perhaps even many -- will act out the role of being a kleptomaniac, pyromaniac, or other newly recognized "disabled" category, in order to receive payments from the financially-burdened government. This new "disability" categorization, then, will inevitably result in a lose-lose situation for the Greek government and Greece's economy.

In reality, Greece should be ending many of its socialist handouts, which were indeed responsible for getting the country in its present economic predicament.

The fact that Greece received several billions of euros in loans from both the International Monetary Fund and the European Union during the past year has not had a significant impact on Greece's economic recovery.

The Greek government needs to be emphatic and unyielding about withdrawing many of its costly socialist economic giveaways, and encouraging its citizens to work diligently for their money, in order to revive Greece's faultering economy. Then -- and only then -- will Greece's economy improve significantly and remain productively stable.

Greece Recognizes Pedophilia as a "Disability;" More "Disabilities" Help Wreck Greek Economy

2012-01-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

The New American website reports today (January 14, 2012) that the government of Greece is being criticized for its decision to add some questionable categories to its list of recognized disabilities.

Disability groups in Greece were especially outraged over the government's decision to add pedophiles to its list of those that the state recognizes as "disabled" individuals. Other "disabled" categories added to the list were exhibitionists, kleptomaniacs, pyromaniacs, compulsive gamblers, fetishists, and sadomasochists.

Greece's Labor Ministry explained that the new "disabilities" were added for medical assessment and to determine who would receive financial assistance from the government.

Ironically, these additions to the government payments come as Greece is drowning in debt and attempting to stay afloat in an economy that is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Marriages of Foreign Gays in Canada Are Invalid; Affects Gays Who Could Not Marry in Homeland

2012-01-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

The Washington Times website reports today (January 14, 2012) that the Canadian government is abruptly arguing that the same-sex marriages of many foreigners who wed in Canada are not valid -- a move that stunned the gay community and could affect thousands of couples.

In 2005, Canada became one of the first nations in the world to formally legalize gay marriages. Now, Canada says many -- if not all -- the unions involving foreign residents are invalid.

Ottawa made the argument in a court case where two lesbians -- one from England and the other from Florida -- sought a divorce after their 2005 Canadian marriage.

Ottawa says the 2005 marriage in the latest case "was not legally valid under Canadian law" because the women could not have lawfully wed in England or Florida.

Roman Catholic Priest Gets a 3-Year Prison Term; Admitted Embezzling $650,000 from Nev. Parish

2012-01-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

A Roman Catholic priest today (January 13, 2012) was sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to repay $650,000 he admitted embezzling from his northwest Las Vegas parish to support his gambling habit, according to the Associated Press website.

Monsignor Kevin McAulliffe, 59, looted parish votive candle, prayer, and gift shop funds for eight years.

"You have abused a position of trust, Mr. McAulliffe," U.S. District Judge James Mahan said in sentencing the former priest.

McAulliffe had asked the judge for leniency so he could make restitution, help others with gambling addictions, "and atone for what I have done."

Moscow Patriarchate Seeks Christian Pol. Parties; Would Enhance Orthodox Values in Political Life

2012-01-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

The Spero Forum website reports today (January 13, 2012) that Moscow Patriarchate Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin -- head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations -- has proposed that Russia establish "Christian or Orthodox parties or in-party groups."

"The (Orthodox) Church is positive about the prospect of setting up Christian or Orthodox parties, but it won't provide them with exclusive support or bless them. The Church is for all, not for allies of a certain political force," Fr. Chaplin writes in the Orthodox Politics blog.

Kirill Frolov -- head of the Association of Orthodox Experts -- favors such a party, saying "Orthodox values would go to our political life."

On the other hand, Dmitry Oreshkin -- a political scientist -- finds Fr. Chaplin's proposal dangerous, because Russia is a multi-faith society and an Orthodox party could cause interfaith tensions. More than 70 percent of Russians consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians.

Judge: NJ Church Illegally Banned Gay Ceremony; Rules Pavilion Area Is a Public Space for Wedding

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

The Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (January 13, 2012) that a New Jersey judge has ruled that the Methodist Church violated a state law by refusing to allow a same-sex wedding ceremony on its property in 2007.

On January 12, Administrative Law Judge Solomon Metzger said the decision made by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated New Jersey's discrimination laws.

Metzger ruled the pavilion area -- where the couple wanted to hold the ceremony -- is a public space and is advertised as a wedding venue without any religious pre-conditions.

The church -- which may appeal the decision -- argued that the pavilion was an extension of its wedding ministry, but the judge rejected that argument.

Perry's Dad Apologizes for Anti-Semitic Sermon; Had Said "Having Money Makes Jews Jealous"

2012-01-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

The Associated Press website reports today (January 12, 2012) that a suburban Cleveland church -- where the father of pop star Katy Perry was a guest pastor and delivered an anti-Semitic sermon -- has released an apology in which he says he regrets his "hurtful and ugly language" regarding Jews.

Pastor Paul Endrei of the Church on the Rise in Westlake said the Rev. Keith Hudson -- Perry's father -- meant to compliment Jewish people's prosperity when he said "having money makes Jews jealous."

In the apology released yesterday, Hudson -- emphasizing that he is not an anti-Semite -- said, "I apologize for the hurt that I caused my Jewish friends."

The Simon Wiesenthal Center -- a Jewish human rights organization based in Los Angeles -- had earlier denounced Hudson's remarks as being anti-Semitic.

Sweden's Teachers Get OK to Ban Islamic Veils; Ban Limited to Safety Risks, Obstacle to Learning

2012-01-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (January 12, 2012) that teachers in Swedish schools can -- in certain situations -- prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, Sweden's school agency has ruled.

The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers, or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory.

However, a general ban on headscarves has not been approved.

Updated guidelines were issued on January 11 by the Swedish National Agency for Education. The guidance comes in response to a 2009 case in which two women sued an adult education center in Spanga -- a city north of Stockholm -- after they were banned from class for wearing niqabs.

COMMENTARY: UN Needs to Take Action Against Islamic Barbarism

2012-01-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

A Somali woman -- who converted from Islam to Christianity -- was paraded before a cheering crowd of hundreds of people on December 22, 2011, and publicly flogged as a punishment for embracing a "foreign religion."

Sofia Osman -- a 28-year-old Christian from Janale City in Somalia -- had been taken into custody by Islamic extremist al Shabaab militants in November, and held for 30 days. The public whipping of 40 lashes was meant to mark her release.

Osman's whipping left her bleeding and unconscious. Fortunately, her family was able to take her to their home where she was able to recuperate.

We find this kind of physical torture to be barbaric and disgusting, and are surprised that it exists today in a supposedly civilized society.

Actually, Osman's decision to convert from Islam to Christianity four years ago was a personal decision, and one that did not deserve any punishment whatsoever by Somali Islamic extremists or any other Somalis for that matter.

Whether a person in Somalia -- or any other country -- chooses to be a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, or any other faith must be accepted by that country's government as an individual's innate right to do so. A nation has no right, then, in dictating or trying to impose what an individual's religion must be.

We recommend that the United Nations Human Rights Organization investigates this barbaric act in Somalia, and implements punitive action -- such as sanctions and censure against Somalia -- in order to deter this kind of barbarism from occurring in Somalia or any other nation in the future.

NJ Synagogue Residence Firebombed This A.M.; Molotov Cocktails Ignite Rabbi's Rutherford Home

2012-01-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

New Jersey law enforcement officials suspect that more than one person may be involved in a hate crime, after a synagogue where nine people were living was firebombed early this morning, the Associated Press website reports today (January 11, 2012).

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said several Molotov cocktails and other incindiary devices were thrown at a Rutherford home housing a synagogue on the first floor and the rabbi's residence on the second.

The rabbi, his wife, five children, and the rabbi's parents were sleeping. One device ignited in the rabbi's bedroom, and he suffered minor burns putting it out.

This is the fourth anti-Semitic incident to have occurred at a Jewish center or synagogue in northern New Jersey in recent weeks.

Coptic Egyptian Man on Trial for "Insulting Islam;" Posted Bearded Mickey, Veiled Minnie Cartoon

2012-01-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

The Christian Post website reports today (January 11, 2012) that a Coptic Orthodox Christian -- who is a billionaire telecommunications mogul -- is on trial in Egypt over allegations of "blasphemy and insulting Islam."

Naguib Sawiris -- the man on trial -- posted a cartoon of a bearded Mickey Mouse alongside a veiled Minnie Mouse. If convicted, Sawiris could face a year in prison.

"This is a religious agenda being acted out," said Dr. Carl Moeller of Open Doors -- a ministry that focuses on supporting persecuted Christians.

Fr. Bishoy Andrawes -- pastor at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Washington, D.C. -- said this is further proof that Christians in Egypt have it worse now than when dictator President Hosni Mubarak was in power.

Va. Judge Rules Against Break-Away Anglicans; Episcopal Church Owns Churches Anglicans Use

2012-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post website reports today (January 11, 2012) that a Virginia judge has ruled against seven conservative congregations that broke away from the ultra-liberal Episcopal Church in 2006, rejecting their argument that they should be able to keep valuable church property that the national denomination also claims.

The 113-page ruling was handed down on January 10 by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows.

The seven congregations are part of a movement called the Anglican Church in North America, and all believe that they -- not the Episcopal Church -- represent true Anglicanism.

If they decide not to appeal yesterday's ruling, the seven congregations would have to vacate their churches.

Somali Woman Is Whipped for Leaving Islam; Christian Convert Given 40 Lashes, Left Bleeding

2012-01-10T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Compass Direct website reports today (January 10, 2012) that a Somali woman -- who converted from Islam to Christianity -- was paraded before a cheering crowd last month and publicly flogged as a punishment for embracing a "foreign religion."

Sofia Osman -- a 28-year-old Christian from Janale City in Somalia -- had been taken into custody by Islamic extremists in November. Her public whipping was meant to mark her release from her month-long custody in al Shabaab camps.

She received 40 lashes on December 22, while jeered by hundreds of spectators. The whipping left her bleeding and unconscious.

She is now recovering from her whipping at her family's home.

Russians and Militant Muslims Clash in Chechnya; At Least Four Russians and Four Muslims Killed

2012-01-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

The Europe News website reports today (January 10, 2012) that a clash between Russian troops and militants in the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya has left at least four Russian soldiers and four Muslim militants dead.

Chechnya -- although a republic -- is controlled by Russia, and has joined Russian troops in battling an Islamist insurgency.

Russia's interior minister said the firefight -- which occurred on January 8 in the Vedensky district of the Caucassus Mountains -- began when a well-equipped rebel base was discovered.

About 95 percent of Chechnya's population is Muslim, while more than 70 percent of Russia's population is Orthodox Christian.

Pope: Gay Marriage a Threat to Humanity's Future; Marriage of a Man and a Woman Solidifies Society

2012-01-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Reuters website reports today (January 10, 2012) that Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday that gay marriage was a serious threat to the traditional family and undermined "the future of humanity itself."

The pope made the comments against gay marriage in a new year address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican.

He told the diplomats -- from some 180 countries -- that the education of children needed proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."

The pope added, "This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself."

Michigan Pastor Has Tattoo Parlor in His Church; Says He Has It to Reach Out to His Parishioners

2012-01-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Cybercast News Service website reports today (January 9, 2012) that a Michigan pastor has opened a tattoo parlor inside his church.

Rev. Steve Bentley says he is doing everything he can to reach out to the people who have never felt comfortable at a traditional house of worship.

Bentley's church, The Bridge, occupies 3,000 square feet inside a Flint Township shopping center.

Bentley -- who has two tattoos himself -- rejects criticism that a church is the wrong place for a tattoo parlor, calling it a "morally neutral" practice akin to having your ears pierced.

Feds Charge Ex-Kosovo Man in Fla. Terror Plot; Muslim Tried to Bring Terror to "Victims' Hearts"

2012-01-09T13:42:00.000-08:00

A 25-year-old man from the former Yugoslavia was arrested on January 7 and charged with plotting a radical Islamic attack on crowded locations around Tampa, Florida with a car bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives, the Associated Press website reports today (January 9, 2012).

The U.S. Department of Justice said Sami Osmakac -- a naturalized American citizen born in Kosovo -- recorded an eight-minute video shortly before his arrest, explaining why he wanted to bring terror to his "victims' hearts" in the Tampa Bay area.

Osmakac said in the video that Muslim blood was more valuable than that of people who do not believe in Islam.

He added that he wanted "payback" for wrong that was done to Muslims.