Religion Today Summaries - May 19, 2009

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Crosswalk.com | Published: May 15, 2009

Religion Today Summaries - May 19, 2009

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

  • Church Wants Jesus in Jeans to Connect with Community
  • Breakaway Group Asks Court to Dismiss Episcopal Church Lawsuit
  • Official: More than 1M Child Prostitutes in India
  • New Hampshire Gov. Says He'll Sign Gay Marriage Bill

 

Church Wants Jesus in Jeans to Connect with Community

Christian Today reports that a Catholic church in Uckfield, England, is determined to show that Jesus is relevant today -- with a new statue of a modern day Jesus wearing jeans. "On the continent you often encounter modern representations of Jesus but it is not so common over here. We wanted a figure of Christ not in suffering but dynamic and welcoming," said Father Buckley, the parish priest of Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri Catholic church. The seven-foot, £35,000 bronze statue will be placed 100 feet high on the bell tower. "The clothing is loosely contemporary in order to connect Christ to his people now as much as to his past. I hope this sculpture will inspire and communicate in very human terms, reaching out and being relevant to both the congregation and local community."

Breakaway Group Asks Court to Dismiss Episcopal Church Lawsuit

The Christian Post reports that the breakaway Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, says The Episcopal Church at large can't sue them in a civil court. The breakaway group has asked for the case to be dismissed, saying the civil court lacks jurisdiction to resolve an ecclesiastical dispute. The breakaway group officially realigned with the more conservative Anglican Church in North America last month, after splitting from The Episcopal Church in November. About 80 percent of the diocese's clergy and parishioners voted to sever ties at that time. The Episcopal Church is suing for the return of "“all property held by or for the Diocese ... for the Church and the Diocese.”

Official: More than 1M Child Prostitutes in India

CNN reports that more than a million of India's children are victims of their own country. According to the country's federal police, about 1.2 million children are caught in prostitution inside the country. Ashwani Kumar, who heads the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), called India a source, transit nation, and destination of the trade all in one. "[S]tudies and surveys sponsored by the ministry of women and child development estimate that there are about three million prostitutes in the country, of which an estimated 40 percent are children," a CBI statement said. Authorities believe 90 percent of human trafficking in India is "intra-country."

New Hampshire Gov. Says He'll Sign Gay Marriage Bill

Disappointing conservatives who say he is reneging from a previous statement to voters, New Hampshire Democratic Gov. John Lynch said Thursday he would sign a bill legalizing “gay marriage” if changes to it are made. Baptist Press reports that Lynch released a statement saying he wants to see the bill’s protections for religious organizations strengthened. Opponents, though, said that the governor's proposal falls far short and that even if he gets his way parental rights and religious freedoms still will be impaired, with “gay marriage” being taught as normative in public schools. The state House and SEnate will most likely adopt the changes to the bill as early as this week.

Religion Today Summaries - May 19, 2009