Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Physicians Believe God Can Help Patients Get Healthy
- American Life League President Sees Anti-Life Trend among Catholic Politicians
- Muslim Cleric Threatens Suicide Attacks
- Southwestern Seminary Trustees Approve Dean of Women's Programs
Physicians Believe God Can Help Patients Get Healthy
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a majority of American doctors believe God - or another supernatural being - intervenes in patients' health. The finding is a result of a University of Chicago nationwide survey of 2,000 physicians. According to the report, almost 40 percent of doctors believe religion and spirituality assist in prevention of heart attacks, infections and even death. Not surprisingly, religious doctors were more likely than nonreligious doctors to believe this, and to report that patients bring up religious issues. More data from the study indicates: 54% believe God intervenes in patients' health; 76% believe God helps patients cope with and endure illness and suffering; 74% believe God gives patients a hopeful state of mind.
American Life League President Sees Anti-Life Trend among Catholic Politicians
According to OneNewsNow.com, the president of the American Life League (ALL) is joining other pro-life leaders in voicing outrage over the fact that the sponsor of a California bill that would legalize assisted suicide claims to be a Roman Catholic. "We should be troubled that Fabian Nunez -- who has worshipped here in this cathedral, is a Catholic -- somehow has not understood and grasped the culture of life but has allowed himself to get swept into this other direction, the culture of death," said Cardinal Roger Mahoney of the Los Angeles diocese. Judie Brown of the ALL echoed the Cardinal's criticism of Assembly Speaker Nunez, the bill's sponsor. Brown believes Nunez is, unfortunately, in the same boat as many other Catholic politicians. She said, "Unfortunately, there is a trend among Catholic politicians who favor deadly solutions to human life such as abortion and euthanasia to defy church teaching, believing that they can get away with it and that they will not be punished."
Muslim Cleric Threatens Suicide Attacks
A hard-line Muslim cleric has threatened to unleash a wave of suicide attacks if the Pakistan government tries to counter his bid of enforcing Islamic laws in the federal capital through vigilante Islamic courts that he announced he would set up, ASSIST News Service reports. Maulana Abdul Aziz made the threat while addressing the Friday congregation in the Red Mosque located of Islamabad. “The government has been saying that an operation against us is the last option, I want to tell the government that suicide attacks are our last option,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
Southwestern Seminary Trustees Approve Dean of Women's Programs
Baptist Press reports that trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have approved the new position of dean of women's programs, expanded the academic administration in the provost's office, elected 10 faculty members and approved a new master's-level program in archaeology. Noting the strength and expanded offerings up to doctoral-level studies in women's programs at Southwestern, trustees elected Terri Stovall as dean of women's programs and associate professor of women's ministries. Stovall has taught adult education and church administration in Southwestern’s school of educational ministries and has been the director of women's programs since 2002. "This is a new dean position at Southwestern," said Craig Blaising, provost and executive vice president.
