Free Republic

Desmond Tutu has supported calls for a rethink on the Church of England’s stance on assisted dying claiming life should not be preserved “at any cost”. The retired Anglican archbishop said laws to stop people being allowed help to end their lives removed their “human right to dignity”. Tutu branded the treatment of Nelson Mandela, who was kept alive through a long and painful illness which saw him wheeled in and out of hospital and forced to take part in PR-driven photo shoots, an “affront to Madiba’s dignity”. He claimed he did not want his own life to be “prolonged...

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The leader of one of Dallas’ largest congregations is facing some criticism, based on statements he made on a national newscast. After Pastor Robert Jeffress offered an assessment on the border crisis involving unaccompanied minors, some accused him of invoking scripture in an inappropriate manner. Dr. Jeffress told CBS 11’s Steve Pickett while Jesus loved children, he also respected the law. In that context, Jeffress believes a complete act of compassion for these children starts with tightening the border they’re allowed to cross.

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- There are atheists and liberals, some who are both, who believe there is no need for God in order for morality to be maintained in a society. They argue that people can act morally apart from a supreme authority. I agree that people can act morally apart from God's standard. However, the real question is why should they? If there is no supreme authority -- no God -- then why behave morally? If there is no God, there are no objective standards for moral behavior. The logical progression leads to anarchy. Everyone does what is right...

The Bible doesn’t mention anything about contraception or abortion, but this hasn’t stopped 89 million American evangelicals acting as if “thou shall not consume a pregnancy pill” were one of the Ten Commandments. For the benefit of my mostly American audience, it’s not. In fact, the first four of the Hebrew God’s Decalogue amount to nothing more than “maniacal throat clearing,” to steal a phrase from the late Christopher Hitchens. The decision of the five conservative justices to rule in favor of Hobby Lobby, thus granting religious personhood to 90 percent of U.S. corporations, which means that certain for-profit companies...

At a press conference Thursday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said people with religious beliefs who disagree with the ObamaCare contraception mandate can choose their faith or “you don’t have to form a corporation.” “You’re born with a religion or you adopt a religion. You have to obey the precepts of that religion and the government gives you a wide penumbra—you don’t have to form a corporation,” Schumer said. Schumer claims the Supreme Court’s decision that closely-held firms have a right to deny coverage for certain types of birth control they find objectionable under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was...

“A lot of people are saying that he's actually playing into Barack Obama’s hands, that he's playing by Obama’s handbook,” Scarborough said. “He’s actually playing by another person's handbook, Jesus’ handbook. I mean, this is -- Jesus was very clear. He said the people that are blessed are those that understand I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I needed clothing, and you gave me clothes.” “What Glenn Beck is doing is the most Christ-like thing anybody can do, and so for a lot of people on the right who...

“I happen to believe in [the] refugee program, not just because Jesus was a refugee -- because I was also myself a refugee,” said Negash, who was named to his post by the Obama administration in 2009. “Yes I was once described as an alien myself, if that’s a proper term to use,” Negash said.

The man who heads the federal agency responsible for many of the 50,000 unaccompanied alien children from Central America who have entered the U.S. illegally in recent months told attendees at a conference on Tuesday that those working with refugees should look to Jesus Christ as a role model.

Pro-abortion pastors from different “Christian” denominations distributed condoms outside a Hobby Lobby store to protest this week’s Supreme Court decision giving it and other companies the ability to opt out of the Obamacare HHS mandate that compels them to pay for abortion-causing drugs for their employees. This comes after a NARAL board member suggested abortion activists have sex in Hobby Lobby stores as a protest. The Chicago Sun Times has more on what happened: hobbylobby27Christian clergy and activists from different faiths protested outside a Hobby Lobby on Route 59 Wednesday in protest of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that says...

Over the last two decades, more than three-fourths of Iraq’s Christians have fled the country, driven out by a combination of Muslim fanaticism and economic and social collapse. Iraq, however, isn’t the only place to experience a mass Christian exodus in recent years. Look at the Presbyterian Church (USA), the 10th largest denomination in this country. But you’d better look fast. The PC(USA), which is the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination (at least for now), is driving out members through its own brand of leftist fanaticism. From a high of more than 4 million members back in 1965, the Louisville-based PC(USA)...

A Baptist congregation in Kentucky has garnered national headlines for its intention to hold a gay wedding at its facility, despite most of their fellow Baptist churches' disapproval. Highland Baptist Church of Louisville recently announced their intention to hold a same-sex wedding for David Bannister Jr., 29, and Steven Carr, 25. It is scheduled for next May. Joseph Phelps, pastor at Highland Baptist, told The Christian Post that the gay couple "have been active and faithful members of the congregation for over five years." "Our deacons concluded that conscience would not allow us to welcome gay and lesbian members as...

An apostate former Southern Baptist pastor, who endorsed homosexuality in a recent sermon, has been invited to attend a ‘gay pride’ reception at the White House with President Obama. As previously reported, Danny Cortez leads New Heart Community Church in southern California. Earlier this year, Cortez surprised his Baptist congregation by declaring that he has accepted a pro-homosexual position. In his letter, Cortez further explained that his 15-year-old son came out as “gay” soon after he changed his mind on the homosexuality issue. Now, according to reports, Cortez and his son have been invited to attend a reception at the...

Almost every day conservative Christians are told that if we don't become more enlightened and progressive, we will become irrelevant to society as our numbers continue to decline. In reality, the opposite is true: We will only be relevant to the extent we honor God and hold fast to biblical truth, which is why the more "progressive" and "enlightened churches" are the ones losing members the most rapidly. God will back His gospel, not some man-made, watered-down message. God will back the exaltation of Jesus, not some muddled, every-path-leads-to-God nonsense. God will back the call to take up the cross...

The left-leaning protestant denomination United Church of Christ announced that it will sponsor the sporting event "Gay Games 9" in August as the first mainline denomination to provide major financial support. The event, which takes place every four years and attracts LGBT athletes, will be hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the UCC's national headquarters, where church leaders will help organize events for 30,000 participants in an effort to embrace the LBGT community. "Serving as a major sponsor of Gay Games 9 is a perfect fit because of the UCC's longstanding commitment to social justice issues," said the Rev. Dr....

A United Methodist Church pastor defrocked for officiating his son's same-sex marriage had his clergy credentials reinstated by a church court on appeal. Frank Schaefer, a Pennsylvania pastor defrocked last December, was reinstated Tuesday courtesy a decision from the Northeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals. In a statement following the decision, Schaefer called the appeals committee's decision "a hopeful sign for our LGBTQ community." "They recognized that I was wrongfully punished for standing with those who are discriminated against," said Schaefer immediately following the decision. "Today's decision shows that the church is moving toward love over legalism. It is the path...

The Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly has been making a lot of news on the same sex marriage issue. But this vote has my eyebrows raised. The convention voted no on protecting babies born alive after a failed abortion. From the failed motion: 1. Call for the Presbyterian Mission Agency and member congregations to enter a two-year season of reflection upon the plight of children unwanted by human society, both born and not-yet born, and to purposefully seek to enter the pure worship of God by offering aid, comfort, and the Gospel to those responsible for the care of our...

The Presbyterian Church USA has voted to endorse Kermit Gosnell. Delegates meeting in Detroit at the 221st General Assembly of the 1.8 million–member Presbyterian Church (USA) voted down a measure that would have the church endorse care for babies born alive after abortions.From World Magazine: Also Thursday, 78 percent of the PCUSA General Assembly struck down a resolution condemning the killing of babies born alive during abortions, as occurred with notorious abortionist Kermit Gosnell. Initiated by the South Alabama presbytery, it called for inclusion of pro-life Presbyterians and an investigation into doctrinal and financial support of abortion. Dissenters cited pro-abortion...

Rev Andrew Cain puts wedding pictures on Facebook as first cleric to marry same sex partner stripped of permission to work as a priestA second priest has defied the Church of England's official line to marry his same sex partner. On Saturday, the Rev Andrew Cain, vicar of St James church in West Hampstead, London, posted on Facebook pictures of his wedding to Stephen Foreshew. The wedding took place as the first priest to marry his partner, Canon Jeremy Pemberton, confirmed that he had been stripped of the permission to work as a priest in the diocese of Southwell and...

Presbyterian Church (USA) on guns: Among other things, the Assembly’s action calls for: formation of support, healing and advocacy groups for those who have experienced gun violence in their families; opposition to legislation that exempts gun manufacturers and marketers from legal liability and/or financial accountability for the medical and security costs of predictable gun misuse and availability to criminals, the unstable, and the self-destructive; opposition to “stand your ground” and other legislation that may entitle gun owners to shoot before taking alternative measures (such as relying on law enforcement and/or other de-escalation techniques) in perceived defense of persons or property;...

Gay marriage: Top US Presbyterian Council Approves Same-Sex Weddings Substantial majority on national assembly votes to recognise unions of 'two people' and let ministers hold ceremonies 19 June 2014 The top legislative body of the Presbyterian church in the US has voted by a large margin to recognize same-sex marriage as Christian in the church constitution, adding language that marriage can be the union of "two people," not just "a man and a woman". The amendment approved by the Presbyterian General Assembly requires approval from a majority of the 172 regional presbyteries, which will vote on the change over the...