Fourteen of the world's 15 Orthodox Patriarchs meet despite ancient and personal rivalries. The only one who missed was too ill to attend. Today is the Christmas for the Orthodox, who follow the Julian calendar.
Wednesday, after Ted Turner and Jane Fonda announced they were separating. Apparently, she is becoming a Christian. Conservative Web site WorldNetDaily reported yesterday that Jane Fonda has become "born again" and that her conversion in part prompted the couple's marital strife.
Supporters claim government-backed "naming ceremonies" are "merely providing a service," according to Catholic news site EWTN. But Catholics charge the program is meant to lure people away from the church.
In a short Washington Post piece, religion writer Hanna Rosin reports that Christian organizations groups are lobbying Congress to investigate the FBI's "overblown" warnings that Christians may become violent on New Year's Day. (See the report in PDF format on the FBI
Web site or in HTML on a myriad of other sites
.)
After being fired by the Eglise Evangelique Baptiste Eben-Ezer (Eben-Ezer Baptist Evangelical Church), pastor Fils-Aime Jean changed the church locks and took direct control of the church's finances. Board members tell the Montreal Gazette, "Jean's behaviour and attitude the past six months have alienated parishioners, which has resulted in a substantial drop in the weekly collection—the church's only source of income."
Azerbaijani offensive shatters 33-year effort at nation-building, depopulating majority of enclave from fear of genocide. Despite depression, Bible Society leader says, “God will not abandon us.”
Jayson Casper
An Extraordinary Orthodox Christmas and Other News
Music experts say we don't need more "manly songs," but we do need to help lower voices find their place
Jesus’ mercy is in his complete understanding of our hurt, not only in his ability to solve it.
Azerbaijani offensive shatters 33-year effort at nation-building, depopulating majority of enclave from fear of genocide. Despite depression, Bible Society leader says, “God will not abandon us.”
