Moore: The Family A Baptist Distinctive
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--When the church's view of the family is awry, the Gospel is being falsely presented, theologian Russell Moore said during Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's third annual Baptist Distinctives Conference.

Pope's Robe Cut & Sold As Relics
Fragments of a cassock worn by Pope John Paul II are being offered for sale to the faithful, causing concern in the Vatican over the resurgence in the veneration of relics. Devotees of John Paul can apply via e-mail, fax or post for fragments of a white cassock to augment their prayers. A cassock worn by John Paul has reportedly been cut into 100,000 pieces to satisfy demand.

Jena Prosecutor Praises Jesus Christ
(AP) A prosecutor confirmed Thursday that he will no longer seek an adult trial for a black teenager he once charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate, part of a case that drew tens of thousands of protesters here last week. District Attorney Reed Walters also credited the prayers of people in this small central Louisiana town with averting a "disaster" during the demonstration.

Islamic Group Honors Religious Left
At its recent convention in Chicago, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) honored the National Council of Churches’ top interfaith official with its “Interfaith Unity Award.” Undoubtedly, the award was well deserved! The NCC, like most of the Religious Left, defends or accommodates radical Islam, even as it denounces “fundamentalist” Christianity and condemns Israel.

Congregations Asked To Skip Church
CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Next month across the United States several hundred Christian congregations plan to tell their faithful to skip coming to church -- and head out into the community to help those in need. Ministering to the hungry, sick and needy is a central tenet of Christianity and other faiths, but it isn't always visible and can become fragmented in today's busy lifestyles, backers of the church-closing effort believe.

Dems OK With Gay Text Books
A fairy tale about two princes falling in love sparked a backlash — and a lawsuit — against a teacher and a school last year when it was read to a second-grade class in Massachusetts. But the three frontrunners in the Democratic presidential race suggested Wednesday night at their debate in New Hampshire that they’d support reading the controversial book to children as part of a school curriculum.