Wednesday’s roundup

As Haiti was struck once again by a 6.1 magnitude aftershock, U.S. religious groups say they are breaking fundraising records for the troubled Caribbean nation. Still, there are widespread problems, including inadequate infrastructure to deliver aid, the deaths of hundreds of civic leaders, fears of looting and violence, and pre-existing poverty and malnutrition, according an […]

As Haiti was struck once again by a 6.1 magnitude aftershock, U.S. religious groups say they are breaking fundraising records for the troubled Caribbean nation. Still, there are widespread problems, including inadequate infrastructure to deliver aid, the deaths of hundreds of civic leaders, fears of looting and violence, and pre-existing poverty and malnutrition, according an AP report. Meanwhile, a pilot who once worked for Kenneth Copeland says the televangelist has not come through on his promise to form an aviation-humanitarian ministry.

Military officials said they will look into whether a Michigan company that printed references to Bible verses on rifle sights broke the law. Critics say the $15-25 processing fees for Virginia’s “Choose Life” license plates might be going to unqualified Christian pregnancy clinics. Gay rights advocates are upset that the University of Notre Dame’s student newspaper ran a cartoon that makes light of violence against gays.

The Ohio teenage runaway who converted to Christianity has reached a court settlement allowing her to stay in a foster home instead of with her Muslim parents. Speaking of Ohio (State motto: With God, all things are possible), an eighth-grade public school science teacher there is accused of burning a cross into the arms of two students and teaching creationism.


As many as 36 Americans who converted to Islam in prison have traveled to Yemen, according to U.S. officials. Eight Malaysians were arrested in connection with the firebombing of a Pentecostal church there last month. Violence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria has claimed 200 lives, according to the AP. Supporters of Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders demonstrated outside of his trial for inciting hatred. “He says what we think,” said one lady. Indonesia has arrested four women for “sexy dancing” on New Years Eve, a law backed by influential Islamists.

Pope Benedict XVI will summon Ireland’s bishops to a Vatican summit next month on the sex abuse scandal. The pope is also praying for “visible unity” with Lutherans. British bishop/Holocaust-denier Richard Williamson said the discussions between the Vatican and SSPX are a “dialogue of the deaf.”

The Galilean town where Jesus turned water into wine is trying to become a tourist destination. Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a 2,000-year-old temple dedicated to the cat goddess, Whiskers. Kidding, the divine feline is called Bastet. Presumably, the New York City woman who lived with 35 cats in her one-bedroom apartment will not be asking for a religious exemption.

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