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The British terrorist who took four people hostage inside a Texas synagogue ranted about the “f***ing Jews” in the final phone call he made to his family during the siege, a recording obtained exclusively by the JC reveals. In a chilling conversation with his brother in Blackburn from inside the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Malik Faisal Akram, 44, said: "I'm opening the doors for every youngster in England to enter America and f*** with them”. Addressing fellow jihadists, he shouted: “Live your f***ing life bro, you f***ing coward. We’re coming to f***ing America. F*** them if they want...

Evangelical Lutherans are making a move.It’s been said culture is defined by morality, and morality is informed by religion.But sometimes, it works in the reverse.Have hell-and-brimfire preachers gone the way of the dodo bird and thus society’s less legalistic, or is it the other way around?Whether the chicken or the egg, on Saturday, history was hatched.The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) installed its first transgender bishop.As relayed by The Associated Press, Rev. Megan Rohrer will now lead one of ELCA’s 65 church councils (known as “synods”), putting the minister in charge of nearly 200 Nevada and Northern California congregations.Megan...

A gang of social justice warriors, roaming the streets in search of more monuments to topple, fell upon a group of Presbyterians holding an outdoor church service on Sunday and attacked them. The protestors apparently mistook the worshippers for a group of statues. Members of First Elect Reverent Presbyterian Church were holding an outdoor worship service Sunday morning and were standing in an open courtyard next to the church when the activists approached. Just as the motionless figures completed a 23 minute period of silent confession, parishioner Calvin Archibald opened his eyes and saw dozens of picketers charging toward them....

Pro-choice Pastor Roger Paynter, in a sermon to his congregation: “… Abortion is not the automatic breaking of God’s will… In general, we should say that God is against the ending of all life, but that in some tragic circumstances, he understands – even allows – and certainly forgives the choices we have to make.” Robert M Baird and Stuart E Rosenbaum, editors The Ethics of Abortion, 3rd edition (Amherst, New York: Prometheus books, 2001) 236

Church Members Mistreat Homeless Man in Church Unaware It Is Their Pastor in Disguise

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they didn't support President Bush, members said. The nine members were voted out at a Monday meeting of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in this mountain town about 120 miles west of Charlotte. WLOS-TV in Asheville reported that 40 other members resigned in protest. "It's all over politics," said Selma Morris, the church's treasurer. "We've never had a pastor like that before." Pastor Chan Chandler had told the congregation before last year's presidential election that anyone who planned to vote for...

AN offshore bank account has been established by supporters of one of Australia's most hardline Islamic clerics to raise donations in Saudi Arabia to help pay for a $2.65 million mosque in southwestern Sydney. Supporters of Sheikh Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud are trying to raise the funds before next month's settlement date on the property, which is near their existing small prayer hall in Lakemba. Monitored by ASIO, the prayer hall has been at the centre of controversy. Members of its congregation include alleged terrorism suspect Faheem Khalid Lodhi, charged with preparing a terrorist attack and recruiting for a terrorism...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Americans are far more likely to believe in God and to attend religious services than people in most other developed countries -- particularly countries in Europe where philosophers have written that "God is dead." However this new Harris Poll finds that underneath a broad consensus, belief in God varies quite widely among different segments of the American public. And most people attend a religious service less often than once a month. These are some of the results of a survey by Harris Interactive(R) based on a nationwide sample of 2,306 adults surveyed online between September 16 and...

Gay choir leader's firing turns into a test of faith Dismissal of popular director has brought disharmony to the flock at Rockford parish By Colleen Mastony Tribune staff reporter Published July 9, 2003 ROCKFORD -- The new choir director was one of the best things that ever happened to Holy Family Catholic Church. Everyone said so. He brought together businessmen and blue-collar workers, students and senior citizens to make music that lifted the whole parish--until last month, when church officials learned he is gay. A lawyer and two priests confronted Bill Stein on June 17 and asked him to renounce...