Religion

In the birthplace of the Southern Baptist Convention, no less. Christian Today reports: While most Christian churches across the United States are strongly opposed to homosexuality and same-sex marriage, the First Baptist Church of Greenville in South Carolina has taken a totally different route: It has decided to allow not just gay unions, but also the ordination of gay and …

Organizers claim that the rally is not anti-gay and is not meant to protest the Obergefell ruling. “This rally will be a peaceful but strong statement that Kentuckians want ALL that is good for America and for ALL American citizens. The one thing they cannot allow is any loss of religious liberty or freedom of conscience.”

Hemant Mehta recaps last night’s show at The Friendly Atheist: I know it’s cliché at this point to say John Oliver and his staff at Last Week Tonight are amazing, but screw it: What they did last night was incredible. In a twenty-minute segment, Oliver exposed the ridiculous IRS rules that allow tax-exempt churches to form all too easily, the …

Early this month Swiss Bishop Vitus Huonder gave a speech in which he declared that Catholic doctrine “unambiguously” supports biblical passages which call for executing homosexuals. Several days later a Swiss LGBT rights group filed for criminal hate speech charges against him. Huonder has now issued a formal written apology. The Local reports: In a three-page letter sent to 800 …

The Lexington Herald Leader has published a BLISTERING editorial which attacks the finances and motives of the Liberty Counsel in their defense of renegade county clerk Kim Davis. An excerpt: Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has chosen to prolong her moment in the limelight by defying a federal judge’s order to issue marriage licenses to legally qualifed people who apply …

Gay Star News reports: A Catholic priest has come up with one of the strangest analogies yet for gay sex, claiming it is like cramming a piece of bagel in your ear. Preacher John Riccardo was speaking at a conference in Michigan on Wednesday, called Welcoming and Accompanying Our Brothers and Sisters with Same-Sex Attraction. It was a Catholic conference …

With her cuckolded husband at her side, today a tearful Michigan state Rep. Cindy Gamrat declared that she was not going to resign just because she got busted having an affair with a fellow representative of Christ Himself in the state legislature. Last week Rep. Todd Courser tried to throw attention off their affair by spreading a rumor that he’d …

“Target has caved to gender ideologues and has removed information identifying whether their products are intended for ‘boys’ or ‘girls’ in many of their sections. If you oppose this blatant act of political correctness, sign our letter to Target’s customer relations department, asking them to reverse their decision! Just a few months ago, Target defended gender-identifying signage, pointing to research …

“Stuart Shepard runs into some trouble when applies for a job as a county court clerk in Kentucky. In his Stoplight® commentary, he has a question for Gov. Steve Beshear, one that every reporter should be asking.”

The ugly battle for local LGBT protections in Alaska’s largest city has been going on for years. Today we get news of another attempt, this time with apparently broad carve-outs for religious beliefs. Via Alaska Dispatch News: Anchorage Assembly member Bill Evans has introduced a local ordinance to expand protections under they city’s equal rights laws to include sexual orientation …

“Jack will be required by the government to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. If he denies anyone service, he will be required to explain why. He is also expected to retrain his staff in the state’s anti-discrimination policies – including his 88-year-old mother. It sounds like the government wants to round up Phillips and his staff and haul them …

Twenty-five year old Jerusalem Pride stabbing survivor Yarden Noy says that Israeli police have made multiple blunders following last month’s attack. The New York Daily News reports: Noy handed over his blood-soaked shirt to paramedics and gave a fresh statement to police after Yishai Schlissel drove a knife through his ribs from behind and punctured his lung during last month’s …

“Kim Davis did not sign up as a clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Her job duty was changed by five lawyers without any constitutional authority. At a minimum, her religious convictions should be accommodated. Judge Bunning’s decision equated Kim’s free exercise of religion to going to church. This is absurd! Christianity is not a robe you take off when …

Yet another big win for the good guys! Via the Denver Channel: The Colorado Court of Appeals says a Lakewood bakery owner cannot refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. The appeals court reaffirmed the Colorado Civil Rights Commission order from May that Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips cannot refuse to prepare wedding cakes for gay couples. Phillips’ attorneys …

Yeah, this story isn’t about actor Jim Caviezel. World Net Daily reports: A 73-year old Christian man trying to emulate Jesus by going without food for 40 days and 40 nights has reportedly died a month into his abstention from all nourishment. “He was a very spiritual man. It’s unfortunate he had to die this way,” said a close relative, …

Late yesterday Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis was ordered to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples. Yet this morning her office turned away two gay couples. Via the Associated Press: A Kentucky clerk’s office has turned away two gay couples seeking marriage licenses, defying a federal judge’s order that dismissed her argument involving religious freedom. Hours after the judge’s …

A member of Israel’s Knesset has proposed several sweeping LGBT rights bills that would legalize civil unions and ban “ex-gay’ torture in the name of murdered teen Shira Banki.  The Jerusalem Post reports: MK Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) proposed a legislative package of gay rights bills in memory of the 16-year-old who was stabbed at the Jerusalem LGBT parade, a …

“The unjust and unequal ‘Equality Act’ was introduced in Congress as H.R. 3185 and S. 1858 just before summer recess. This legislation jumps way beyond any previous anti-discrimination bill and would essentially wipe out free speech and religious liberty on the issues of homosexuality and gender change by declaring these behaviors to be civil rights in America. Christianity is now …

Brian Tashman writes at Right Wing Watch: Televangelist Pat Robertson regularly cites the Book of Leviticus as proof that homosexuality is a grave and evil offense, doing so as recent as Monday. But it seems that homosexuality may be the only area in which Robertson still thinks Old Testament admonitions still apply. The host of “The 700 Club,” who has …

Watch out, you gay witches! One Million Moms is asking for help in their campaign to tell “unsaved” teenagers the truth about homosexuality and sorcery. Monica Cole writes: During the week of August 10-14, American Family Radio and Revival Fires International will host the Fifteenth annual “Truth For Youth” Week across the nation. In a very effective and unique evangelism …