Thursday, October 8, 2009

Graham Gets More than $1 Million

Evangelist Franklin Graham earned more than a million dollars from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse in 2008. He received $669,000 from his father’s organization and $535,000 from Samaritan's Purse. Charity watchdog Guidestar says that’s more anyone else at a US-based international relief agency. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has gone from revenue of $126 million in 2005 to $93 million last year. Earlier this year, the organization laid off 10% of its staff (55 people). Graham along with four members of the Graham family are on the board of directors, though none are part of the compensation committee. Graham says he plans to stop to halt contributions to his retirement plans from the two ministries. CEOs at the nation's biggest charities saw a 7% drop in compensation in 2008, according to the Journal of Philanthropy.

Getting to Know.. Rod Parsley

Preaches prosperity gospel at World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio
  • His $40 million-a-year Breakthrough TV ministry is on 1,400 TV stations and cable affiliates

  • Dropped out of Circleville Bible College in his second year, completed his BA at Ohio Christian University and was given an honorary doctorate from Liberty University

  • Lives on a 21-acre compound in a $1 million home

Connecticut's Suicide Laws

A report from WTNH-TV in New Haven on physician-assisted suicide.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Demon Possession on Campus

A student at Georgia’s Berry College says he cast a demon out of a former student at a dorm room, igniting a debate over religion at the school. The student newspaper says people at the private school near Rome “are afraid we're going to be looked at as some sort of radical, right-wing school."

High Court Hears Cross Arguments

Observers say the Supreme Court looks divided over the issue of a whether a cross should stay on public land. The 6 1/2-foot monument is a memorial to those who died in World War I. During this morning's questioning, some justices indicated they would favor having Congress transfer ownership of the land to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, removing the issue. Justice Antonin Scalia showed he was at odds with an ACLU lawyer who suggested the cross only honored Christian war dead. Scalia told him it is a “common symbol of the resting place of the dead.” This is the first time the court led by John Roberts will deal with what the First Amendment means when it says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The case is Buono v. Salazar.

Fake Check in Offering

Police are looking for a Pittsburgh-area woman who put a fake check in the offering at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday that came from a stolen checkbook. She also stole a member’s wallet, using it to buy items from a New Brighton store.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Abortion Ad Rejected

A Wisconsin student newspaper is rejecting anti-abortion ads. Student editors at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Advance-Titan say the advertisement from the Human Life Alliance as too controversial. The ad includes information about abortion, its side effects, contraception, the development of a pre-born child and adoption. Pro-Life Wisconsin accuses the paper of censorship, saying the decision shows bias.

Monday, October 5, 2009

High Court Turns Aside Church

The Supreme Court has turned away an appeal from LA’s St. James Anglican Church. The breakaway Episcopalian congregation is fighting with its former national church over who owns the church's sanctuary and property. The congregation voted to split from the national church after the consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. St. James is now allied with an Anglican diocese in Uganda.

Prayer Harassment Lawsuit

The founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is suing over the prayers of a Dallas-based religious group. Mikey Weinstein, who is Jewish, says the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches is harassing him with their prayers. The suit says the group should "stop asking Jesus to plunder my fields ... seize my assets, kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations." Weinstein points to former Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt who denies he’s incited anyone to make death threats, throw feces at Weinstein’s house or leave animal carcasses on his doorstep as Weinstein claims.

High Court Considers Cross