Bush-Religious Broadcasters Bush to address religious broadcasters about war on terror

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) President Bush addresses the war on terror today in a speech at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

The president is looking ahead to next week's fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, and insisting recent progress there must not be squandered.

At the NRB convention's opening session, Christian singer Michael W. Smith said he visited Bush at the White House last month, and then met with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army hospital.

Smith said Bush has made mistakes, but "has a heart for God" and needs people's prayers.

It was 25 years ago this week that President Reagan told a religious convention that the Soviet Union was "an evil empire" and "the focus of evil in the modern world."


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00:33 "" Steve Coleman President Bush addresses the war on terror today in a speech at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tennessee. AP religion editor Steve Coleman is there.

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00:22 "or not" Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith urges Christian broadcasters to keep the president in their prayers. ((longer version of cut used in wrap; note length of cut))


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00:20 "for him" Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith says he visited with President Bush at the White House last month.

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00:23 "go back" Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith says that after visiting the White House last month, he went to meet with wounded soldiers. ((longer version of cut used in wrap))


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00:03 "modern world" Archive audio of President Reagan In 1983, President Reagan told Christian leaders that the Soviet Union was an evil empire.

Southern Baptists-Environment Southern Baptist policy chief won't sign environmental statement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm isn't signing on to a statement by the denomination's president and other leaders on Global Warming.

The Reverend Richard Land says he rejects the statement's contention that Southern Baptists have been "too timid" on environmental issues.

Land, who heads the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, notes that Southern Baptists voted last June not to urge government to address "human-induced global warming." The resolution they approved instead called it a matter of "debate in light of conflicting scientific research." Land suggests that Baptist leaders who signed the new statement should have encouraged change "through private discussion and dialogue to reach new consensus rather than public critique."


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00:14 "in creation" Jonathan Merritt Jonathan Merritt, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative, says Southern Baptists want to take their stewardship of the Earth more seriously.

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00:11 "my heart" Jonathan Merritt Jonathan Merritt, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative, says he felt a call to action while sitting in a theology class.

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00:09 "document says" Jonathan Merritt Jonathan Merritt, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative, says he respects that some Southern Baptists aren't ready to sign a declaration on the environment and climate change.

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00:15 "and disenfranchised" Danny Akin Danny Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, says environmental stewardship is a way to love thy neighbor.

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00:15 "momentum build" Danny Akin Danny Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary was asked why the declaration on the environment and climate change is not more specific about what steps to take.

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00:00 "" Steve Coleman, AP religion editor The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm isn't signing on to a statement by the denomination's president and other leaders on global warming. AP religion editor Steve Coleman reports.

Christians-Home Schools Christians alarmed at California ruling on home schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Christian legal advocates are scrambling to overturn or limit the impact of a California appeals court ruling that only certified teachers can educate their own children.

Christians attending the National Religious Broadcasters convention say that effectively bans home schooling for an estimated 166,000 families in California.

Michael Farris, chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association, says the California Supreme Court will be asked to overturn the decision or rule that it only applies to the family named in the case.

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00:31 "" Steve Coleman Christian legal advocates are scrambling to overturn or limit the impact of a California appeals court ruling that says only certified teachers can educate their own children. AP religion editor Steve Coleman reports.

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00:13 "in California" Michael Farris Michael Farris says home school families and groups were blindsided by a recent ruling.

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00:06 "the children" Michael Farris Michael Farris says the California ruling allows only certified teachers to educate their own children.

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00:08 "that effort" Michael Farris Michael Farris says his organization is leading efforts to overturn or limit the impact of a California appeals court ruling that could ban most home schools. ((cut used in wrap))


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00:07 "other families" Michael Farris Michael Farris says the ruling should either be overturned or be limited to the family involved in the case.

Vatican-Sins Vatican official updates list of sins

VATICAN CITY (AP) In the Vatican's latest update on how God's law is being violated in today's world, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, whose office deals with matters of sin and absolution, has told the Vatican newspaper what in his opinion are the "new sins." He cites pollution, genetic experiments, mind-damaging drugs and the imbalance between rich and poor sins that he says have a "social rather than individual" dimension.

It's not the first time that the Vatican has sought to put a modern spin on sin. Last year, the Vatican took on the problem of highway accidents, issuing a kind of "Ten Commandments" for drivers against the sins of road rage, alcohol abuse and even rudeness behind the wheel.

Shrine Vandalized Mormon missionaries accused of vandalizing Catholic shrine

SAN LUIS, Colo. (AP) A spokesman for the Mormon church says three of its missionaries "were evidently responsible" for mocking and vandalizing a Roman Catholic shrine in Colorado in 2006.

Photos posted on the Internet showed young men holding the broken head of a statue, preaching from the Book of Mormon at an altar and pretending to sacrifice one another.

The damage at the Chapel of All Saints, which overlooks the town of San Luis, wasn't discovered until recently because the head had been placed back on the statue.

The Mormon church issued a statement Monday offering "profound regret and sincere apologies" to Catholics. Bruce Olsen, a spokesman for the church in Salt Lake City, says Mormon officials also have given authorities the names of the missionaries believed to have been involved, and adds that all three will face church discipline.

Lawmaker-Anti-Gay Comments Oklahoma legislator's anti-gay comments stir hostile reaction

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A Republican member of the Oklahoma Legislature says she has received death threats since telling a political group that "the homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation" and poses a bigger threat to the U.S. than terrorism or Islam.

State Representative Sally Kern, the wife of a Baptist minister, made the remarks at a GOP gathering. They were recorded and posted on YouTube by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

On Monday, Kern said her comments were edited and taken out of context. Kern said they were directed at politically active homosexuals who contribute money to gay and lesbian candidates.

The only openly gay member of the Oklahoma Legislature, Representative Al McAffrey, said there's no gay agenda and that Kern's comments have alarmed gay voters in her district and elsewhere.

Congressman-Obama Republican defends views on Obama, terrorists, despite McCain rebuke

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Republican congressman who predicted that terrorists would celebrate a Barack Obama presidency is defending his views, despite a rebuke from John McCain, the GOP's apparent presidential nominee.

Iowa Congressman Steve King said Friday that if Obama is elected, al-Qaida "would be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11th because they would declare victory in this war on terror." King said Obama would "be viewed as a savior for them" because of his pledge to pull troops out of Iraq, his father's Muslim roots and his middle name, Hussein.

Obama's campaign criticized King's comments and asked McCain to disavow them, which the Arizona senator's aides did Monday. But King says he'll wait and see what happens if Obama is elected.

Suburban Sacrifices Judge rules against man who challenged animal sacrifice ban

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A federal judge has ruled against a Santeria priest who said a ban on slaughtering animals violated his right to perform religious sacrifices in his suburban home.

Judge John McBryde said the Fort Worth suburb of Euless, Texas, was protecting public health by banning animal slaughter in the city limits, and that Jose Merced could do the rituals elsewhere.

In 2006, a Euless police officer and animal control officer went to Merced's house after receiving a tip that goats were being sacrificed. Merced told them he would not sacrifice any animals at a ceremony the next day, but later tried to get a city permit for the ceremonies.

When Euless denied his request, Merced filed a federal lawsuit.

Last year, the officials said Merced could kill chickens, which city law allows, but not goats. Merced declined.

Santerians believe in spiritual forces whose survival depends on blood sacrifices.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 03-11-08 0230CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list