NEWSTALK 860 » Religion

Defense of Marriage Act Goes Before Supreme Court

Chris Chaberski — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:23:39 +0000

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard its second day of arguments on the issue of same-sex marriage, specifically a challenge to the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This follows Tuesday's case concerning California's Proposition 8.

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New Pope Elected — Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, Now Called Francis I

Chris Chaberski — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:23:05 +0000

Jorge Bergoglio, the 76-year-old archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been elected as pope. He is the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. Bergoglio, who has taken the name Francis I, is also the first Jesuit priest to become pope.

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What We Know About Pope Benedict's Resignation

Chris Chaberski — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:22:07 +0000

In stunning news, Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday morning from the Vatican that he will resign his position as head of the Catholic Church, effective on February 28. This has already set off a flurry of speculation, largely because no pope has voluntarily done so since the year 1415.

The news is still coming in, but here's what we know so far:

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Christian Hobby Lobby Stores Sue ObamaCare

Jim Bell — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:18:23 +0000

It's reported that the Christian-oriented Hobby Lobby Stores chain has filed a federal lawsuit over a mandate in the health reform law that requires employers to provide coverage for the morning-after pill.

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Bill Nye the Science Guy vs. Creationism: 'I'm Not Attacking Religion'

Nick Romano — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:45:57 +0000

Bill Nye the Science Guy has taken the internet by storm with Twitter rumors that he was killed in a balloon accident (sparked by The Onion) and his new Web series for Big Think. Most recently, however, our favorite childhood TV scientist sparked a lively debate through his video blog, pitting science against creationism, and America, obviously, had something to say about it.

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Lon Morris College Suspends Fall Classes

Jim Bell — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:53:25 +0000

Worst has come to worst at the oldest two-year college in Texas. Officials at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville have suspended the entire fall term of classes.

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English Hotel Throws Gideon Bibles Out

Jim Bell — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:01:10 +0000

In just one more example of the way Christianity is getting kicked out of public and private life, USA Today reports a small hotel in England has taken the Gideon Bibles out of all its rooms, and you won't believe what has replaced them.

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Serpent-Handling Pastor Dies of Snake Bite

Jim Bell — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:56:37 +0000

Without comment, we present the story of a charismatic serpent-handling West Virginia preacher who died Sunday -- after he was bitten by one of the rattle snakes he was handling during his church service.

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Update: Longview Presbyterians Vote to Quit Denomination

Jim Bell — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:48:20 +0000

Even though only about half the registered members were present to vote, Longview's First Presbyterian Church has voted to leave its current denomination and start the process of joining another.

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Longview Presbyterian Church May Quit Denomination

Jim Bell — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:56:05 +0000

In one of the first local referendums on gay rights in the church, members of the First Presbyterian Church of Longview will vote Sunday on whether to leave the Presbyterian Church USA over the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals as priests.

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E-Tex Man Gets Anecdote in Reader's Digest

Jim Bell — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:01:01 +0000

Bill Denham, who lives in Grapeland over in Houston County, is enjoying his 15 minutes of national fame, by virtue of the funny story he submitted to Reader's Digest. It got published in the magazine's May edition.

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Perry Calls for Prayers for the President

Jim Bell — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:54:16 +0000

Speaking to the National Day of Prayer observance in Austin, Governor Rick Perry called on Christians and people of all faiths to pray for our country, and to pray for our President.

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Texas Not in Top 10 of Most Religious States

Jim Bell — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:25:37 +0000

If you think Texas is more religious than most of the country, a new poll says you're wrong. That poll indicates the rest of the Bible-belt, including Mormon-heavy Utah out west, is ahead of the Lone Star State on a list of the country’s most religious states.

Texas isn't even in the Top Ten.

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A New Name for Houston Baptist University?

Jim Bell — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:05:31 +0000

Half a century after it was founded by the Baptist General Convention of Texas as "a Christian college of the highest order," Houston Baptist University may soon erase the religious designation in its name.

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Student Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion

Jim Bell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:51:35 +0000

Did you know that America's total student loan debt now surpasses the nation's total credit card debt? It's true. Sometime last year, credit card debt actually declined a little, as more and more people stopped using credit cards. But student loan debt keeps going up, and up, with no sign of stopping. Worse, there's almost no chance that any of it will ever be paid off.

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New Theory: CO2 Makes You Fat

Jim Bell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:33:38 +0000

Don't laugh. This is serious stuff. Researchers in Denmark have announced a theory that may not only explain why people all over the world are getting fatter and fatter, but it could also serve as a warning of serious consequences for life on Earth if pollution caused by CO2 emissions isn't reduced.

The theory states that CO2 -- carbon dioxide -- contributes to making us fat. Oh please.

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Christians Reach Out to Help Atheist

Jim Bell — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:06:11 +0000

This is a great story. A Henderson County atheist who went to court to get a nativity scene removed from the County Courthouse has fallen on hard financial times because of bad health. Care to guess who is stepping up to help him? The Christian community, of course.

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Record Numbers of Churches are Foreclosed

Jim Bell — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:52:10 +0000

Banks are foreclosing on America's churches in record numbers -- as lenders lose patience with religious groups who defaulted on their mortgages. The surge in church foreclosures shows many banks are no longer willing to show forbearance with struggling churches.

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Pat Robertson: Prayer Could've Stopped Tornadoes [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:40:46 +0000

Evangelist Pat Robertson knows why tornadoes decimated parts of the Midwest last week: people didn’t pray hard enough.

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Church Workers Not Eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness

Jim Bell — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:41:00 +0000

Did you know that if you got through college and/or seminary on federally guaranteed student loans, and went into any kind of ministry or church work after graduation, you have been cut out of the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program?

We didn't either, but it's true, and church leaders all over the country are concerned and protesting the change.

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