"On the whole, generally speaking, the policy is freedom," says Han Wenzao, president of the China Christian Council. In America to speak with church officials here, Han held a press conference to publicly contradict a U.S. State department report and comments by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that religious persecution in China is on the rise. (See Christianity Today's July 1998 cover story, " A Tale of China's Two Churches")

At least 40 more people were killed last week in continuing Muslim-Christian violence in the Moluccas archipelago.

Based on a book by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and starring Scientologist John Travolta, the film contains "sophisticated subliminal messages … to get their movie patrons into Scientology and buy Scientology products," claims F.A.C.T.Net. Even if the subliminal accusations are untrue, the film does have strong Scientology ties, as reported by The Washington Post in an extensive article last November. And the Church of Scientology will reap the profits of the movie's merchandise, says Reuters.

Bill Cabe and Shelton Shirley each face 16 counts of money laundering and nine counts of wire fraud. With their HisWay Ministries, the two allegedly promised up to 500 percent return on investments in three months. Cabe earlier told the press, "We've been violated by the crook, and we've been violated by the government."

Christianity "may do more to stimulate ...