Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Survey: Christians Differ From Jesus on Abortion, Gay Marriage
- Komen Foundation Reverses Decision to End Planned Parenthood Grants
- Missionary Couple Killed in Mexico
- Bombs Strike Evangelical Bible School in Sudan
Survey: Christians Differ From Jesus on Abortion, Gay Marriage
A new study of Christians' views of political issues found that conservative and liberal Christians alike believe their views on abortion and same-sex marriage would differ from Jesus' views of the same issues if He were on earth today, the Christian Post reports. Liberal and conservative Christians both said Jesus' views of morality-related issues like abortion and gay marriage would be stricter than theirs, and also both said they believed Jesus would be more compassionate than they were toward illegal immigrants and the poor. Conservatives believed Jesus would be more open to reducing economic inequality, but both groups said the issues most important to them would be of the same importance to Jesus. The study apparently shows that people's political views are often separated from the teachings of their faith. "There is a reality that conservatives are more religious than liberals," Ross said. "It's more important for [conservatives] to reconcile their views with their religion."
Komen Foundation Reverses Decision to End Planned Parenthood Grants
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation's leading breast-cancer charity, announced today it was reversing its decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood, after facing increasing pressure from pro-abortion lawmakers and accusations that it had given in to political influences, Fox News reports. "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," the organization said. "The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not."
Missionary Couple Killed in Mexico
A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Jan. 31 at their home near Monterrey, Compass Direct News reports. John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their home and stole a safe, televisions and ministry vehicles, along with other items. The area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks; drug traffickers in Mexico oppose the message of Christ because it turns people away from their business, and thus Christians have been among their targets. Christians noted that the assailants would not have needed to kill the Casiases in order to rob them. They are survived by 10 children who have reportedly said they hope to continue their parents' ministry of founding churches, holding daily vacation Bible schools and youth camps, and emphasizing Bible study and music.
Bombs Strike Evangelical Bible School in Sudan
A Bible school backed by the American ministry Samaritan's Purse was destroyed in the latest bomb attack to hit Sudan's South Kordofan state, CNN reports. On Feb. 2, Heiban Bible College's first day of classes, at least eight bombs were dropped in the area, destroying two of the school's buildings and starting fires. No injuries were reported. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, blamed Sudan's air force for the strike, and called on the international community to establish a no-fly zone in the region. "We are deeply concerned for the welfare and lives of the people of South Kordofan, and we condemn the bombing of ... Christian facilities," he said. At least four churches in the area have also been destroyed in recent months, and more than 78,000 people have fled South Kordofan and the neighboring Blue Nile state since clashes between Sudan's government and an armed rebellion broke out in August.
Publication date: February 6, 2012
