Tonight my wife and I went to a local theater that was showing Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 satire, “Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” It’s a hilarious film–but sobering, at the same time. Lots of people love the Bomb. They express their love whenever anyone criticizes Truman’s decision to…
I don’t care what the critics say … I liked “There Be Dragons.” As in “The Mission,” Joffe juxtaposes two contrasting characters. He portrays men of faith (Fr. Gabriel in “The Mission” and Josemaria Escriva, here) sympathetically, without Hollywood cynicism. He may not be a believer, but he creates believable stories in which people of…
Navy Chief of Chaplains rescinds policy that would have permitted chaplains to perform gay marriages in chapels if permitted by state law. This now causes other problems, as I see it. Chaplains of liberal denominations that permit gay marriage will be able to argue that chapels are available for all other religious rituals, but not…
A Chabad rabbi was accepted as a chaplain in the Army Reserve, but the acceptance letter was rescinded the next day because he has a beard. The Army has granted beard waivers for others, but is apparently saying he would have to shave first and then ask for a waiver. This is ridiculous.
The Navy has decidedthat chaplains whose denominations approve of gay marriages can use Navy chapels for the weddings in those states where gay marriage is legal. Some are sensationalizing the story and suggesting that chaplains will be pressured now to perform such weddings. I’m not worried. Regulations on the rights and responsibilities of chaplains are…
It was fifty years ago this September that John F. Kennedy spoke to some ministers in Houston: I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for…
Houston mayor Annise Parker has called for a “Census Sabbath” this weekend, asking religious leaders to proclaim her message of the necessity of filling out census forms. As a pastor, when I teach about church/state relations, I affirm our obligation to be good citizens, to give Caesar the things that belong to him. Obeying the…
Last week at North, and this week at Spring Creek, I’m preaching on religious liberty, using an updated version of a sermon I preached two years ago at Houston International: “Show Me the Money!” Seventh-day Adventists have always been strong advocates of religious liberty for all, and strict separation of church and state (see Liberty…
In Harrisburg: State lawmakers Wednesday held up voting on a resolution in recognition of a Muslim group’s upcoming convention after a legislator protested that “the Muslims do not recognize Jesus Christ as God.”Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican from Butler County, north of Pittsburgh, said he opposed the House’s formal recognition of this weekend’s 60th annual…
Deal Hudson has a new book out: Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States. He does a bit of self promotion here, and describes the growth in the Catholic/Evangelical political alliance. I glanced at it at Barnes and Noble this afternoon (I’d be happy to receive a…
Some pastors in New Jersey want a law to ban Sunday morning sports. I think instead they should be seeking to persuade their youth and their parents to say no to games on Sunday. That’s what Adventists and observant Jews have to do on Saturday. It’s an uphill battle these days, but that doesn’t mean…
Susan Comstock asked that she be able to divert her union dues because of the union’s advocacy of homosexual marriage. She’s now been turned down at the third level, the Federal Court of Appeal. She sought accommodation under a provision that exists for those who have religious objections to unions. She’s in a bind, however,…
The Third Court of Appeals has ruled against the state of Texas, saying it had no right to take children from the FLDS community, and has no right to keep them.
The state of Minnesota has called for changes at a Minneapolis charter school accused of promoting Islam.
A court case in Virginia concerns who gets the property when a congregation leaves a denomination. A post-Civil War law in that state allows the congregation to keep it, regardless of the denominational polity. Several denominations have filed amicus briefs, arguing that this injects the secular courts into theological matters outside their competence. The court…
Catholic Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas has made public what he calls a “pastoral action,” telling Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that she is not to present herself for communion. This action is taken as a quid pro quo for her recent veto of a piece of legislation the Bishop favored. News report.…
Mitt Romney has given another church/state address. Jeffrey Weiss at DMN thinks it “more sophisticated” than his last one. I’d say it looks like he has indeed done further reflection and learned and grown as a result. As you know, I gave a speech about religious liberty during the height of my campaign. This was…
Jeffrey Weiss thinks there’s an easy way to solve problems between churches and the IRS–remove the tax exemption. He doesn’t think that’s going to happen, though.
Feddie at Southern Appeal makes some good points about Senator Grassley’s investigation of certain ministries. He quotes from a letter recently sent by some Christian leaders, Catholic (Deal Hudson) and Protestant, raising concerns about Grassley’s tactics. Via Mark Shea.
I got an e-mail today from a religious liberty organization which, ironically, commented on the pope’s visit without saying anything about his remarks on religious liberty! Let’s take a look at what he said on this topic, shall we? Remarks at the White House: Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the…
Now that Pope Benedict XVI has concluded his first visit to the United States, we can begin to reflect on the themes he addressed. My reflections are rooted in my own perspective as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who, nonetheless, spent many years as a member and a lay leader within the Catholic Church. As I…
Text of his address (he began in French–the English translation of this part is about halfway down the page). Discernment, then, shows that entrusting exclusively to individual States, with their laws and institutions, the final responsibility to meet the aspirations of persons, communities and entire peoples, can sometimes have consequences that exclude the possibility of…
Americans United has complained about many pastors and churches for alleged violations of election law–now a Houston pastors’ group has filed a complaint against AU, accusing the organization of illegally attempting to influence an election.
Allegations that tax payers are funding an Islamic school in Minnesota — no complaints have been made by Americans United. Here, though, are responses a school official gave to the author of that column. Update: The state is now investigating. Also in that article, mention that the school is not flying the US flag, as…
At First Things, law professor Michael Scaperlanda says the Catholic bishops in Oklahoma missed an opportunity. HB 1804, passed late last year, makes it illegal to “conceal, harbor, shelter, transport, or move illegal immigrants in the state,” and allows confiscation of assets of those so involved. Scaperlanda thinks Christians are right to be alarmed, because…
Morristown, NY, officials in First Amendment dispute, charged with selective prosecution of Amish members for alleged building code violations.
This story would seem to demonstrate not only a lack of freedom of religion in the UK, but active persecution of a Christian leader for upholding fundamental Christian teaching: The Anglican bishop of Hereford has been ordered by a court to undergo “equal opportunities training” and pay a fine of £47,345.00, the equivalent of $92,106.00…
It had appeared the University of Wisconsin had given in and agreed to give the Catholic student organization their fair share of student funds–but despite a $250,000 payout last year, the university is still discriminating against them, say the student leaders and the Alliance Defense Fund. NCR article dated January 25 is out of date,…
Colorado legislature is considering legislation that would stipulate that any agency that accepts state funding cannot base hiring decisions on religion. Archbishop Chaput is crying foul. He says the state is interfering with the church’s mission. He makes a threat: When it can no longer have the freedom it needs to be “Catholic,” it will…
Clifford Goldstein reviews Gregory Boyd, Myth of a Christian Nation.
Advent Hope 
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