Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Debate Shed Light on Anti-Christian Bias in Society, says Comfort
- Christian Conservatives Pledge Support for '08 Thompson Bid
- Anti-Conversion Bill Expected in Eighth Indian State
- The Next Homosexual Priest?
Debate Shed Light on Anti-Christian Bias in Society, says Comfort
Evangelist Ray Comfort says last week's debate between himself, fellow Christian Kirk Cameron and two atheists was a unique opportunity to present the message of salvation to millions, OneNewsNow.com reports. Comfort presented the biblical plan of salvation via the Ten Commandments, while both Comfort and Cameron used creation, DNA, the conscience and conversion to prove God's existence. The atheist debaters said evolution is proof that God does not exist. Comfort asserts that there is no scientific evidence at all for evolution, but belief in it - as well as an anti-Christian agenda - have been pushed by Hollywood media. "Hollywood for years has been pushing an anti-Christian agenda and blaspheming the name of Jesus," Comfort says. "They don't blaspheme Buddha or Mohammad, it's just the name of Jesus."
Christian Conservatives Pledge Support for '08 Thompson Bid
The Washington Times reports that several leading Christian conservatives say they will rally to former Sen. Fred Thompson, who they expect to announce "in a matter of weeks" that he will seek the Republican nomination for president next year. "It's not 'if' but 'when,' he will announce," one Protestant evangelical leader says. A prominent Roman Catholic social conservative says Rudolph W. Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney fall short of social conservatives' expectations, but Mr. Thompson doesn't. "He's right on the issues ... He's better than all of the above." Both the Protestant and Catholic activist, like other Christian conservatives, spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity.
Anti-Conversion Bill Expected in Eighth Indian State
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to enact an anti-conversion law in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri on April 15 said that his government would introduce a law to ban “conversions with allurement or fraudulent means” in the upcoming session of the Assembly, reported a weekly published by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. A representative of the Christian Legal Association told Compass Direct News that the “sole motive” behind proposing anti-conversion bills is to make it easier for Hindu extremists to thwart Christian work, adding that it was “worrisome” that the number of states with an anti-conversion law was increasing.
The Next Homosexual Priest?
James McGreevey, the former governor of New Jersey who resigned in 2004 after admitting he had a homosexual relationship with an aide, now has joined the Episcopal Church and wants to become a priest, Baptist Press reports. McGreevey, 49, was raised Roman Catholic but joined St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan April 30, the Associated Press reported. A spokesman for the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan, an institution of the Episcopal Church, told AP that McGreevey has been admitted to the master of divinity program and will start classes in the fall. The vicar at St. Bartholomew's, meanwhile, said McGreevey is still discerning whether he is called to the priesthood.
