Tag: politics

Religion News Service

When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?

Those who study the issue say it’s hard to tell exactly how such rules governing adoption affect the numbers of children placed in “forever” homes.  By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers may soon sanction private adoption agencies turning away same-sex couples and other prospective parents who don’t meet their religious criteria, a possibility cheered by the Roman … Continue reading When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

Texas city council members censure colleague over anti-Islam Facebook post

By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service PLANO, Texas — The city council of heavily Republican Plano has voted to censure one of its members for an anti-Islam Facebook post — a post for which he has apologized but over which he refuses to resign. The 7-1 vote Sunday was a decisive repudiation of the kind of exclusionary rhetoric that President Trump himself … Continue reading Texas city council members censure colleague over anti-Islam Facebook post

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

Amid partisan din, Sen. James Lankford walks a fine line: Pastor and politician

Second Place, Election Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY — As music plays softly and the Quail Springs Baptist Church prepares to sing “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling,” the guest speaker urges the crowd to bow and pray. “Here’s my very simple invitation,” the fill-in preacher tells the congregation. “There’s a God who loves you … Continue reading Amid partisan din, Sen. James Lankford walks a fine line: Pastor and politician

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

The pope praised him for providing for his parents; now Texas may want to deport them

By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service FORT WORTH, Texas — For the past two years, Mexican immigrant Ricardo Ortiz felt he had an advocate. Pope Francis, speaking via satellite, had praised Ortiz for “the way you gave everything you could as a boy, when you supported your family.” Now, the 21-year-old Ortiz — like numerous other Hispanics in Texas  — worries about how the Lone … Continue reading The pope praised him for providing for his parents; now Texas may want to deport them

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

Under new Texas law, faith-based adoption agencies win protections

Despite opposition from gay-rights groups, Lone Star lawmakers passed the Freedom to Serve Children Act. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle ABILENE, Texas — At age 17, Jennifer Griffith discovered she was pregnant. The daughter of a pro-life advocate, Griffith knew she couldn’t abort her baby. Instead, the unmarried teen turned to Christian Homes and Family Services for help. The 55-year-old ministry — based … Continue reading Under new Texas law, faith-based adoption agencies win protections

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service, USA Today

As major cities crack down on panhandling, many wrestle with their consciences

In a number of cities, the ordinances are sparking legal battles with civil liberties advocates, who accuse communities of treating the homeless as ‘human blight.’ Third Place, Government Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) Driving to his downtown clothing business, Hans Herman Thun finds it impossible to ignore the beggars. They catch his … Continue reading As major cities crack down on panhandling, many wrestle with their consciences

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

Bible Belt state with nation’s highest execution rate considers death penalty flaws

The Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission recommends that the moratorium on the death penalty be extended. Third Place, Criminal Justice Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) Most Oklahomans believe the devil is real. State Rep. Mike Ritze thinks that’s why they overwhelmingly support capital punishment, despite highly publicized problems with lethal-injection drugs that prompted state … Continue reading Bible Belt state with nation’s highest execution rate considers death penalty flaws

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

They are friends in Congress — and brothers in Christ

The only two members of Churches of Christ in the U.S. House share a special bond. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle When two U.S. congressmen visited a small, English-speaking Church of Christ in Brussels, one of them left Sunday worship with something that didn’t belong to him. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chuckles as he recalls his friend and brother in Christ — Rep. Ted … Continue reading They are friends in Congress — and brothers in Christ

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

Elephant in the pews: Is the GOP the party of Churches of Christ?

National survey highlights political affiliations of major U.S. religious groups. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Seventy percent of Mormons and 64 percent of Southern Baptists lean toward or identify with the Republican Party — but only 50 percent of members of Churches of Christ do, the Pew Research Center reported this week. Those findings surprised Stephen Morris, a law and political studies … Continue reading Elephant in the pews: Is the GOP the party of Churches of Christ?

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.