By Alliance Defending Freedom staff KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Missouri court Tuesday rejected the primary claim of a former Catholic diocese ministry worker who sued the diocese for terminating her employment once leadership learned of her same-sex union. The court ruled that the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion means the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph is free to make its employment decisions without court interference. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing the diocese filed a motion for summary judgment last year asking for this result. “A church isn’t obligated to employ those who act contrary to the church’s teachings. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this as recently as four years ago,” said ADF Senior Counsel Erik Stanley. “The district court was on very firm constitutional ground to reject this attempt to drag the government into a church’s theological decisions – the very line the First Amendment says the government cannot cross.” “If churches are forced to employ people who do not follow the religious teachings of those churches, the church will no longer be able to minister consistently or freely in accordance with its faith,” added ADF Legal Counsel Jeremiah … [Read more...]
Reluctant no more, Ryan Rice plants Life Church in his childhood neighborhood
By Jim Burton NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Rice once despised the church. Then he found love. Growing up in greater New Orleans, an aunt read the Bible to him. Rice found the stories about Jesus fascinating. “I was the kid who raised his hand to answer every Bible question,” Rice said of his early exposure to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. When he turned 8 years old, his mother married a man who was an abuser and drug user. As a child just discovering the Bible, he learned about the dark side of life, and he asked a big question for a child, “Where is God?” In middle school, his mother dragged him to church. “I remember sitting there and thinking, ‘This is the worst thing ever. I hate church. I hate the people here.’ That was coming from a lot of hurt,” Rice said. That hurt remained as he grew to become a popular and handsome athlete who was the high school student council president. On the outside, Rice appeared to have his life together. “From every aspect of my life, I was empty on the inside,” Rice said. “I was just broken.” Then he met Seane’ Smooth and her father, Andrew Honore. On the first day of his freshman year at Dillard University in New Orleans, he saw Smooth and knew she was special. … [Read more...]
Closure of Causeway Medical Clinic in Metairie leaves Louisiana with one less abortion clinic
By Staff, Baptist Message METAIRIE -- Louisiana appears to have one less abortion facility in operation, as a clinic in Metairie that performs the procedures seems to have closed, at least for now. According to Louisiana Right to Life, Causeway Medical Clinic has been closed for several weeks and some workers were seen on Wednesday cleaning out the building. It is not known if the clinic will reopen at another location. “Over the years, the Causeway Medical Clinic facility has performed thousands and thousands of abortions, killing unborn children and damaging the lives of women and families,” said Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper. “With alternatives to abortion readily available, we don't need abortion facilities profiting off the destruction of human life. Join me today in remembering the lives lost within that facility, and praying that abortions never resume at that site.” Even with the closure, abortions are still being performed in the adjacent parish at Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Planned Parenthood is building a new $4.2 million, 7,000 square-foot health clinic on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans to perform even more abortions not far from Women’s Health Care … [Read more...]
Reflecting on race, Luter sees church as agent of change
By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS -- Race relations are not better since the election of the first African American U. S. president, but the Church can lead in modeling reconciliation, said Fred Luter, Jr., former Southern Baptist Convention president and the first African American to hold the position. “I really thought this nation was ready to move forward…,” Luter said, pointing to the history-making election of Barack Obama that garnered votes from Anglos as well as diverse ethnic groups. “As much as we needed racial reconciliation in America, I really thought that was the opportunity for our nation to come together and make us one as a nation. But unfortunately…that’s not the case.” The remarks came in a Black History Month video produced by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in which Luter expressed optimism for the future as the Church leads the way as an agent for social change. Luter is pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and an NOBTS national alumni association officer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aH5lHuLWc0&feature=youtu.be In analyzing today’s situation, Luter quoted a pastor-friend who states it this way: “America doesn’t have a skin problem, we have … [Read more...]
During Experiencing God Tour stop in Louisiana, Blackaby encourages joining, trusting God when He moves in major way
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – There are times when a believer comes to a major crossroads – when God issues an invitation to join Him in what He is doing, will you be willing to trust Him. “It’s a crisis of faith,” Tom Blackaby said. “Will you step forward in faith or step back and say I can’t go there, it will cost too much to follow you? You have to decide – is God God? Is He the truly Lord of your life? If you say yes, you have to make major adjustments in your life.” Blackaby spoke on Feb. 16 at the Louisiana Baptist Building about the seven steps for knowing, doing and experiencing the will of God. His two-day stay in the state for the Experiencing God Tour also included Natalbany Baptist Church before coming to Alexandria. He will also speak at Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association office in Shreveport from 1 to 3:30 pm on Feb. 17. He is the second son of bestselling author Dr. Henry Blackaby. He has written or co-authored numerous books, including The Man God Uses, Experiencing God at Home, and 7 Steps for Knowing, Doing and Experiencing the Will of God. He currently is senior pastor of Brookswood Baptist Church in Langley, British Columbia. Blackaby shared the seven steps for … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home issues warning not to donate money to company using them for possible solicitation
By Message Staff The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries is warning others about an email sent from a company that is using the ministry for possible solicitation. Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock said he learned that Cornerstone Kingdom Processing had sent out an e-mail, with the subject line “Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.” He said Cornerstone Kingdom Processing is not endorsed by the Children’s Home and that anyone receiving such an e-mail should disregard the message. Hancock said he called the person who sent the e-mail and notified him to stop sending further messages using the Children’s Home name. “We do not know him and aren’t doing business with him,” Hancock said. “Please delete the e-mail and block the sender.” … [Read more...]
Huckabee won’t endorse anyone: ‘God is good. I did my part’
By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner DESTIN, Fla. (Christian Examiner) - Mike Huckabee is out of the Republican presidential race, but he says he won't stop advocating for his beliefs. However, he has no plans on endorsing anyone, either. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
COMMENTARY: Scalia on Christianity and socialism
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner NEW YORK (Christian Examiner) – Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died unexpectedly on Saturday, often spoke of the intersection of faith and law, politics and economics. During those times, the justice was always certain to issue a disclaimer – he was "speaking as a Christian, and not a federal judge." For those who followed Scalia closely, however, there was little surprise when he extolled the virtues of Christianity. His deep Catholic faith permeated his life, and his friends said his two favorite things were his family and the church. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Justice Scalia’s death should not be an opportunity for President Obama influence court, conservatives say
By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner GREENVILLE, S.C. (Christian Examiner) – The leading Republican candidates for president Saturday night staunchly opposed allowing President Obama to pick a replacement for Antonin Scalia, a towering conservative on the Supreme Court whose death earlier in the day shocked the nation's capital and ensured that the presidential race will be dominated by social issues. Scalia, 79, was nominated by President Reagan and quickly became a hero of the Right, voting in the minority once to overturn Roe v. Wade and later in the minority to uphold state constitutional marriage amendments. He voted in the majority in several cases affirming religious liberty. But it was his sharp intellect, staunch defense of an originalist interpretation of the Constitution, and blunt opinions that truly won conservative supporters. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Hyatt surprised during LC chapel service
By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE – LC officials surprised Leon Hyatt and his wife Ann with a birthday cake during the college's February 11 chapel service, which was the day Leon turned 90 years old. Several times Leon served as an LC trustee, and he was a long-time Baptist pastor in Louisiana. Recently, Leon gave his pastoral library of some 6,000 volumes to the college. "Though I have known Leon for a short time, I have a sincere appreciation for his long-standing service to Louisiana Baptists and for his unswerving love for his alma mater," said Dr. Rick Brewer, LC's president. … [Read more...]
