Religion Today Summaries - October 12, 2011

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Crosswalk.com | Published: Oct 11, 2011

Religion Today Summaries - October 12, 2011

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.

In today's edition:

  • Iranian Supreme Court Returns Nadarkhani's Case to Lower Court
  • Poll: Three in Four Pastors Say Mormons Aren't Christian
  • Cain on Presidential Run: 'God's Been in This From the Beginning'
  • Once an Abortion Mill, Now a Pregnancy Resource Center

 

Iranian Supreme Court Returns Nadarkhani's Case to Lower Court

Iran's Supreme Court sent back the case of Yousef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor awaiting execution for apostasy, to the lower court that tried him and issued his death sentence, saying there had been insufficient investigation before the original trial, Reuters reports. The court will issue a new verdict, and if Nadarkhani appeals it the case will be sent again to the Supreme Court. Christian leaders worldwide have been calling on Iran to spare Nadarkhani's life, but Iranian leaders deny that the Islamic Republic pressures religious minorities.

Poll: Three in Four Pastors Say Mormons Aren't Christian

As a prominent evangelical pastor and supporter of Texas Gov. Rick Perry is taking heat for calling Mormonism a cult, a newly released poll says most Protestant pastors agree that Mormons aren't Christians, the Religion News Service reports. Seventy-five percent of pastors surveyed by LifeWay Research disagreed with the statement that Mormons were Christians. The poll was conducted in October 2010 but was not released until Oct. 9, 2011, the day after Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, called Mormonism a "theological cult" and told Fox News that evangelicals "ought to give preference to a Christian [candidate] instead of someone who doesn't embrace historical Christianity."

Cain on Presidential Run: 'God's Been in This From the Beginning'

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain says he didn't want to run for president, but God wanted him to, OneNewsNow.com reports. That's why, Cain says, he believes "God's been in this from the beginning." He said when he felt God calling him to run for president, he resisted like Moses did after being called by God to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Like Moses, Cain said he told God: "You've got the wrong person. You can't be talking about me." He said it then took many "conversations with God" to overcome his reluctance to run. A poll released Tuesday shows Cain and Mitt Romney tied for first place -- each favored by 21 percent of Republicans surveyed -- while former frontrunner Rick Perry has dropped to 11 percent.

Once an Abortion Mill, Now a Pregnancy Resource Center

An abortion clinic in La Puente, Calif., that recently closed its doors for good will be transformed into a pregnancy resource center, OneNewsNow.com reports. Norma Murakami, executive director of A Women's Care Center, credits the clinic's closing to a pro-life campaign, 40 Days for Life, during which people prayed outside its doors and talked numerous women out of their scheduled abortions. Murakami is currently negotiating a lease for the new center, which will "take back the land" that was used for abortions for 30 years; she plans to "get rid of ... any kind of reminder of what was there in the past." The pro-life pastor of the nearby Calvary Chapel has offered support and partnership, and the new facility could open as early as December 2011 or early 2012.

Publication date: October 12, 2011

Religion Today Summaries - October 12, 2011