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The S in SHAPE refers to Spiritual Gifts that can only be possessed by a believer, as even Rick Warren asserts, meaning that only the ‘‘new man” can possess them. However, the Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience (the H,A,P,E in SHAPE) could apply to believers as well as non-believers. The impression is created that there is an attempt to combine the attributes of the new man (the S in SHAPE) and the old man (the H,A,P,E in SHAPE) in what Rick Warren describes as a “custom combination of capabilities.”

Vatican official foresees "pruning" at Catholic collegesNov. 02 (CWNews.com) - A Vatican official has predicted that Pope Benedict XVI might favor "evangelical pruning" of Catholic colleges that are not upholding the faith, the Cardinal Newman Society reports. Archbishop Michael Miller, the secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, told an audience at the University of Notre Dame that "the measure of an institution can be judged by its Catholic integrity." He suggested that if a school has lost contact with its Catholic heritage, "it might be a matter of truth and justice that such an institution is no longer upheld."...

Heetderks is president of the synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, which officially formed in May from the former Dutch Reform Church, the Calvinist Reformist Church and the nation's small Lutheran Church. Dutch Protestant church leaders have tilted to more liberal views in recent decades in an attempt to keep pace with society. The new Protestant Church will grant 'blessings' to gay couples and permit women pastors, but will not force local congregations to accept them. ...Dutch Protestant church leaders have tilted to more liberal views in recent decades in an attempt to keep pace with society, according...

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — With each signature on a parchment document, a group of Dutch clergymen watched their churches pass into history. What emerged — a new church combining three Protestant denominations — is now being watched from India to Indiana as the latest bid to consolidate religious energy at a time of serious challenges for mainline Protestants: shrinking congregations, faith-snubbing youth and deepening rifts about reconciling homosexuality and Scripture. At least six initiatives are under way around the world to bring together various Protestant churches, including a looser, nine-member association in the United States with such influential backers as...

Catholics for a Free Choice Files IRS Complaint Against Denver Archdiocese; Statement of Frances Kissling, President, CCFC 10/25/2004 4:05:00 PM To: National and State Desks, Religion Reporter Contact: Michelle Ringuette of Catholics for a Free Choice, 202-986-6093 ext. 208 or 202-550-1321 (cell) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following statement by Frances Kissling, President, Catholics for a Free Choice (CCFC), regarding CCFCS IRS complaint against the Denver Archdiocese, was released today: "With eight days remaining until Americans choose their next president, Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the Archdiocese...

Bush hunts for way to doom gay marriages By Randall Mikkelsen in Washington The Bush Administration may consider seeking a constitutional amendment to ensure a ban on same-sex marriages, the White House says. President George Bush, who said this week that Administration lawyers were studying ways of banning gay marriages, was also opposed to civil unions as an alternative, said the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan. Asked on Thursday about the possibility of a constitutional amendment, Mr McClellan said: "Obviously that is something to look at in this context." Any official action would depend on the outcome of pending court...