March 10, 2008

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Evangelicals rebuff GOP-only image
Rebecca Rosen Lum/Contra Costa Times (03/10/2008)
Some Democratic evangelicals are crying foul over the media practice of asking only Republicans in primary exit polls whether they are born-again Christians. The fundamentalist voting bloc that helped propel Ronald Reagan into the White House may be falling apart, but news executives continue to assume all born-again Christians are politically conservative, says an organization of progressive evangelicals.

Most Arab-Americans support Obama
Tamara El-Khoury/St. Petersburg Times (03/10/2008)
Many feel a kinship with the Democrat, who they say can repair America's reputation abroad.

ENVIRONMENT
Southern Baptists Back a Shift on Climate Change
Neela Banerjee/New York Times (03/10/2008)
Signaling a significant departure from the Southern Baptist Convention’s official stance on global warming, 44 Southern Baptist leaders have decided to back a declaration calling for more action on climate change, saying its previous position on the issue was “too timid.”

God Save the Earth
Daniel Stone/Newsweek (03/10/2008)
Some choose to give up worldly harm for Lent.

DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE
Vatican lists new sinful behaviors
Associated Press (03/10/2008: cnn.com)
ROME, Italy -- A Vatican official has listed drugs, pollution and genetic manipulations as well as social and economic injustices as new areas of sinful behavior.

Church of England sex guide no Christian Kama Sutra
Reuters (03/10/2008)
LONDON - Faced with rising divorce rates and poor communication between couples, the Church of England says it is time to talk about sex. The Anglican Church is publishing a course and a guide to marriage called "Growing Together" that encourages married couples to be open and frank with each other.

CHURCH AND STATE
Obama Pastors' Sermons May Violate Tax Laws
Suzanne Sataline/Wall Street Journal (03/10/2008)
On Christmas morning, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. compared presidential candidate Barack Obama's impoverished childhood to Jesus Christ's. Mr. Wright wasn't at a convention or a campaign stop. He was standing at the pulpit before the mostly African-American congregation of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, where Sen. Obama has worshiped for more than 20 years.