Current Concerns:

Evangelist Todd Bentley resigns as Fresh Fire Ministries after discovery of his "unhealthy relationship on an emotional level" with a female staff member (better known as "having an affair.") Bentley's claim to fame was his Christian tatoos and exorcism antics of kneeing sick people in the stomach or kicking them with his biker boots. (Aug 17, 2008) Vancouver Sun

Walmart illlegally pressures employees to vote Republican (Aug 15, 2008) MSNBC

Secular Coalition Group wants Atheists included in Democratic National Convention Interfaith Service, contends the service is devisive because it alienates nonreligious Democrats at a time when the party need to unite. (Aug 15, 2008) Colorado Springs Gazette

250 rape cases settled against Chicago Archdiocese. $65 million over the past 30 years (Aug 13, 2008) Washington Post, CBS News

Residents rally to protect family of young man murdered on Greyhound bus from Baptist protesters who insist the boy's death was wrath of their god (Aug 8, 2008) Winnipeg Free Press

Rev. Darrell Gilyard Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church

Baptist pastor's sexual conversations with teens used in court (Aug 6, 2008) News 4 JAX More info about Baptist pastors

Christians rally their troops to fight the evil gay marriage amendments in CA, AZ and FL. "All this to invalidate legal same-sex marriages in California and prevent other committed gay and lesbian couples from being legally married -- and having their commitment recognized and protected under the law like everyone else."
(Aug 1, 2008) People For the American Way

Starbucks still not out of business after Christian boycott in May, 2008. (Aug 1, 2008) World Net Daily

Cub Scout leader jailed for child molestation. Harry Taylor of Lawrenceville, Georgia is also accused of photographing the boy while undressing after swimming. (July 30, 2008) Atlanta Journal
More about Boy Scouts of America

Evangelist charged with killing wife and keeping her body in a freezer. Mother-of-eight, Arletha Hopkin's body was found after beeing missing for three years. Preacher Anthony Hopkins was charged with rape and sodomy of another woman. Inspirational Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Mobile, Alabama (July 30, 2008) Alabama Live, My Way

Bishop Catherine Roskam slams church leaders from developing countries exposing wife-abuse by clergy, sparks outrage from Angelican church (July 30, 2008) Telegraph UK

Teacher at Christian school pleads not guilt to charges of statutory sodomy and statutory rape. Christian School of Springfield, Missouri (July 30, 2008) KY3 News

Blend of Catholicism and Santeria cause for new police handbook to address animal sacrifices (July 30, 2008) Miami Herald

FLDS physician charged with sexual assault of minors out on bond. Four others, all charged with sexual assault of children, remain jailed. Justice of the Peace advised Lloyd Barlow (accused) to avoid his victims and not leave the state. (July 30, 2008) Salt Lake Tribune

Grand jury charges god-fearing Republican Ted Stevens (US Senator, Alaska) with hiding gift money from oil companies. (July 29, 2008) New York Times

AP photo

Christopath opens fire on Unitarian congregation during a children's performance, kills two, wounds eight. The shooter, Jim Adkisson, an unemployer Christian, had issues with the churchgoers for their "liberal social policies." (July 28, 2008) Yahoo News Statement from Rev. William G. Sinkford President of the Unitarian Universalist Association MSNBC video If you wish to express support for the people hurt by this incident, please visit "Supporting Our Friends in Knoxville"

Children under orders from god (and a man they met at a Christian event with whom they studied the bible) kill parents. (July 28, 2008) News 24

Rev. Colin Pritchard admits to four assaults of underage boys, St. Andrews Church, Wellingborough (July 28, 2008)

Family resolves to take fight over exorcism to Supreme Court. Repeatedly, over two days, the youth pastor, his wife and others held a 17-year-old girl down on the floor of the Pleasant Glade Assembly of God Church in Colleyville, TX even as she (Laura Schubert Pearson) screamed, fought and begged to be released.
The Texas Supreme Court dismissed her lawsuit claiming the courts can't get involved in a religious debate over church doctrine. Pearson responded with: "You can't use your religious beliefs to get away with harming a child." (July 28, 2008) Star-Telegram

Bush redefines birth control as abortion, seeks Congressional approval
Bush administration wants to require all recipients of federal aid to certify tht they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and birth control.
The proposal defines abortion as follows: “any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.”
(July 15, 2008) New York Times
Sign online petition to stop him

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Adoption bans for unmarried and "unstraight couples" to be on November ballots in addition to bans on same-sex couple, courtesy of Christians (July 14, 2008) National Organization for Women

Antonie Dixon: "God told me to behead women." Dixon told the Auckland High Court that he heard the voice of God before a violent spree that left a man dead and two women with horrific injuries. Said Dixon, he "had no part of this world" due to his upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness. (July 14, 2008) One News, New Zealand, New Zealand Herald

Priest admits he pursued troubled teen (Fr. Paul Evans, a Catholic teacher facing multiple sex charges) (July12, 2008) Live News

Mormon facing disciple for shirtless calendar. Chad Hardy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created "Men on a Mission," a calendar featuring shirtless males Mormon missionaries. Senior members of the church are threatening excommunication, probation or exoneration. Hardy says, "I just feel like my right to free speech is being violated." (July 11, 2008) MSNBC

Court rules against Jehovah's Witness parents to save two-week-old baby's life."The parents' religious belief did not allow blood or blood products to be administered to them or their children. They knew their refusal meant signing the death warrant for the child." (July 11, 2008) IOL International

Statutes of limitations protected ex-priest James Janssen from criminal charges on dozens of accusations of horrific child molestation from decades ago. But lies he allegedly told in 2006 and 2007 mean the defrocked Janssen now will face criminal charges. Janssen also served as Boy Scout Chaplain. (July 11, 2008) Quad City Times

"Totally Gay Happy Meals Did you know the American Family Association (AFA) recently boycotted McDonald's? That's right, this once semi-powerful tub of right-wing brain-caulk recently declared a comestible fatwa against America's foremost purveyor of toxic foodstuffs because, apparently, some high-ranking McD's VP just joined the board of directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, which, to the AFA, somehow translates directly into free pink condoms and mind-controlling rainbow flags in every toxic God-fearing Happy Meal.
"Did you read about that? No? Of course you didn't. Here is why: No one cared." (July 11, 2008) San Francisco Gate
Also see: American Family Association and Focus on the Family call for (ineffective) boycott of McDonald's claiming the fastfood chain is pro-gay. Washington Post (July 4, 2008), Think Progress

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Joelle Casteix of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) fights for Catholic church sex-abuse victims while pursuing her own abuser. As Southwest Regional Director, it’s Casteix’s responsibility to act as an ever-available ear to the thousands of people sexually assaulted by the Catholic Church’s various employees: priests, nuns, bishops, lay workers, volunteers. (July 10, 20008) Orange County Weekly

Prayer in school - Here it comes: Teacher suspended for punishing children who did not pray to Allah (June 9, 2008) Telegraph

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"Victims are only in it for the money," says Catholic Archdiocese of Denver. The diocese recently agreed to a $5.5 million sexual abuse settlement covering 18 claims. Records show that the archdiocese knew of the abuse and moved priests from parish to parish. (July 8, 2008) Denver Post

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Update: Town split over teacher accused of burning crosses into students' arms. Christians rally and erect sign saying: "If the bible goes, the school board should follow." (July 8, 2008) MSNBC Ohio school board fires teacher for burning crosses on students' arms. Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater was unanimously dismissed for preaching Christian beliefs in class and using a device to burn the image of a cross on student's arms. Freshwater, who has demonstrated contempt for teaching evolution, has had previous complaints about him and said the crosses burned onto kids arms was to demonstrate a high-frequency generator. (June 20, 2008) Yahoo News

Christian bible publishing company (Zondervan) faces $60 million federal lawsuit on claims that homosexuals have suffered due to the misinterpretation of the bible. The suit is centered around Zondervan's wording of 1 Corinthians 6:9 which states that homosexuals, among others, will not "inherit the kingdom of heaven" due to their "wickedness" and "unrighteousness."(July 8, 2008) MSNBC
Hopefully the suit will also mention that the book says that homosexuals are to be murdered: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death." (Leviticus 20:13)

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Scott Grose, Indiana Sex Offender Registry If you have any information on the whereabouts of Scott Grose, you are asked to call the Sellersburg Police Department at (812) 246-4491.

Child molestor Scott Grose met victims at First Baptist Church, Sellersburg, Indiana, where he was a youth volunteer. "According to the Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Clark Superior Court, during youth events at the church Grose played hide-and-seek with the girls.  'He would hide with one of them in the basement and abuse her,' said county prosecutor." (July 7, 2008) NBC Wave News 3

Christian at their finest: On your mark, get set, SEND HATE MAIL! South Carolina Christians chomping at the bit over oppostion to Christian license plate (July 6, 2008) Columbia Free Times

Unitartian Minister receives threats from Christians

Americans United for Separation of Church and State files federal lawsuit to prevent South Carolina from issuing Christian state license plates. Suit was filed on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor, a rabbi, and the Hindu American Foundation. Republican House Speaker Bobby Harrell said residents asked for a way to express their beliefs. Chuch attendance, praying, and Jesus Fish bumper stickers have apparently become inadequate. South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford (a Christian) declined to sign the bill. Sanford remarked, "The largest proclamation of one's faith ought to be in how one lives one's life." (June 19, 2008) Yahoo News, Santa Barbara Independent South Carolina to issue Christian license plates at no extra cost (June 6, 2008) MSNBC video

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