Free Republic

The National Council of Churches has a long history of supporting Communist causes -- and condemning the United States and Israel. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 475 Riverside DriveSuite 880New York, NY 10115 Phone :212-870-2227 URL :http://www.ncccusa.org/     Largest coalition of leftwing religious denominations in the United States Has long record of financial support for Communist regimesRemains faithful ally of Communist Cuba  Reserves criticism on moral issues for Israel and the United States Makes common cause with environmentalist radicals Masks leftist politics in faith-based declarations  Earlier this month, the National Council of Churches condemned Israel – a nation plagued in...

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa has come out in support of polygamy and homosexuality - provided they promote the cause of the gospel. Louis Sibiya, the church's bishop, said yesterday that there was not a simple "yes" or "no" answer as to whether a self-confessing gay person could be married and even ordained in the church, or whether a polygamist could be ordained into the ministry. "Rather, we should ask how the acceptance and/or non-acceptance of these promote the course of the gospel," he said, speaking at 30th anniversary celebrations of the church in southern Africa at Kempton...

<p>The Education Leaders Council, a pro-Bush school-reform group, will rely on federal funds to push a national school-improvement agenda since its chief was unable to raise $12.3 million in private funds, according to council documents.</p> <p>Lisa Graham Keegan became the $235,000-a-year chief executive officer of the ELC in June 2001 with the goal of raising $12.3 million from six foundations and other donors over the next three years. Her goal was to match a donation of $600,000 from William J. Hume, a founding benefactor and board member, according to an "ELC Expansion Proposal" she submitted both to Mr. Hume and then-ELC Chairman Jim Nelson, Texas education commissioner.</p>

<p>When Arizona schools superintendent Lisa Graham Keegan and a group of predominantly conservative educators launched the Education Leaders Council (ELC) in 1995, their proclaimed goal was to upset an educational establishment long dominated by the Democrats and left-leaning teachers unions.</p>

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Home to the Vikings of yore, Denmark said Wednesday it will let a group that worships Thor, Odin and other Norse gods conduct legally-recognized marriages. "To me, it would be wrong if the indigenous religion of this country wasn't recognized," Tove Fergo, the minister for Ecclesiastic Affairs and a Lutheran priest, told The Associated Press. Under Danish law, the state Evangelical Lutheran Church has sole authority to recognize other religious communities. The 240-member Forn Sidr, which worships Odin, Thor, Freya and the other members of the Norse pantheon, sought recognition in 1999, said Tissel Jacobsen, the group's...