News Religion

Briefs: Pastor's bisexuality spurs softball league boycott

St. Louis — The new pastor at St. John United Church of Christ in the eastern Missouri town of St. Clair doesn't play softball, but members of his church do. Or at least they did until their pastor's sexuality prompted a boycott within their church league.

Ronnie McBrayer: Calm path to faith often effective

I have heard some Mennonites use the term "nonviolent evangelism." It is a way of sharing faith that does not harm those with whom they share it. It is built on mutual respect, love for others, and a commitment to the other person's freedom.

Maronite patriarch makes historic visit

Detroit — The Maronite patriarch, the spiritual leader of Catholics in the Middle East continues his visit through Metro Detroit today.

Vatican tomb exhumed for clue in'83 cold case

Rome — Forensic police swarmed the crypt of a Roman basilica on Monday to exhume the body of a reputed mobster as part of an investigation into one of the Vatican's most enduring mysteries: the'83 disappearance of the teenage daughter of one of its employees.

Holocaust-era ghetto horrors still emerging

Even after decades of in-depth Holocaust research, excruciating details are only now emerging about more than 1,100 German-run ghettos in Eastern Europe where the Nazis murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews.

Ronnie McBrayer: Mother's love reflects God's love for us all

My mother shared a lot of well-worn but accurate expressions with me as I was coming along. You heard these words of wisdom, too: "Money doesn't grow on trees. … When you have your own house you can make your own rules. … Quit running with that or you will put your eye out. … If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. … Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it has been. … Always wear clean underwear. … If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it, too?"

Backers promote Michigan bills banning Sharia, foreign laws

Lansing— Supporters are turning up the heat to try and move legislation that would ban the implementation of foreign laws such as Islamic Sharia law in Michigan.

'Religious Census' widens demographic

Chicago — Counted together, independent evangelical congregations comprise one of the largest religious groups in the nation, after their evangelical compadres in the Southern Baptist Convention and the biggest group, Roman Catholics.

Metro Jewish council hosts national session

Detroit — Representatives from 125 Jewish Community Relations Councils from across the country will meet in the city beginning today for the 2012 Plenum, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs' (JCPA) annual policy conference .

Ronnie McBrayer: We can't forget the forgetful

When the magnificent Pat Summitt announced last month that she was stepping down as coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers, it was the end of what Summitt called "a great ride."