U.S. pastors seek political office in 2016

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One Sunday two years ago, Pastor Rob McCoy, who believes in banning abortion and gay marriage and putting prayer back in schools, stood at the pulpit of his California mega church and announced he was endorsing a political candidate: himself.

CHR Comment: The American Renewal Project, organized by David Lane, seeks to have 1,000 conservative, evangelical pastors run for local political offices. The goal is to support a local, grass roots effort to change the cultural and political direction of the United States toward more conservative, traditional, and Christian values. However, the movement may face the risk of having churches lose their tax exempt status, according to reporter Michelle Conlin.

Source: For God and country: more U.S. pastors seek political office in 2016 | Reuters

Chocolatiers Work on a 220 Pound Chocolate Nativity Scene

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Renowned Italian chocolatiers have taken on the challenge to create a 220 pound chocolate crèche for a charity procession taking place in Genoa.

CHR Comment: Many Italians take their food and their faith seriously, but with a smile! The video shows the chocolatiers creating this beautiful nativity to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Merry Christmas indeed.

Source: Chocolatiers Work on a 220 Pound Chocolate Nativity Scene – NBC News

Why Chicago Pastors Reject Mayor Emanuel’s ‘Olive Branch of Peace’

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Several Chicago pastors held a press conference this morning, demanding that footage depicting another white police officer shooting an unarmed black teenager be released to the public.

CHR Comment: Three pastors are circulating a petition to remove Mayor Emanuel from office due to the handling of an investigation into a police shooting. While the pastors express concern for social justice, the mayor is likely concerned to keep civil order in a tense situation.

Source: Why Chicago pastors reject Mayor Emanuel’s ‘olive branch of peace’ – CSMonitor.com

Unmarried Couples Today Need No Nups Agreements

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Couples who won’t say ‘I do’ to marriage need to say ‘I will’ to financial planning, or they could find themselves in legal, and financial, trouble.

CHR Comment: Financial issues naturally arise when there is no legal basis for two persons living together. Marriage and sex are automatically about family and property rights. As long as those rights are unclear, individuals and households are at risk. A good illustration of why the Bible teaches marriage as the blessed estate.

Source: Forget prenups: Unmarried couples today need ‘no nups’

A Pastor and an Imam Bridge a Religious Divide

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They were once bitter foes. But two Nigerians, a Christian and an Muslim, are now preaching unity.

CHR Comment: Terrorism has been most deadly in Nigeria in 2015 due to the activities of Boko Haram, which persecutes Christians but also Muslims and other religious persons that disagree with them. The pastor and Imam pictured here run a mediation center together in an effort to foster peace and understanding in their nation.

Source: A pastor and an imam ‘programmed to hate one another’ bridge a religious divide | Public Radio International

Vatican Says Catholics Should Not Try to Convert Jews

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Catholics should not try to convert Jews and should work with them to fight anti-Semitism, the Vatican said on Thursday in a major document drawing the Church further away from the strained relations of the past.

CHR Comment: On the fiftieth anniversary of the papal document Nostra Aetate, which helped initiate Jewish-Catholic dialogues, this announcement is not too surprising. Catholic theologians hold that Jews and Christians worship the same God. They also teach that one does not have to be a Christian to receive salvation (doctrine of anonymous Christians).

Source: Vatican says Catholics should not try to convert Jews, should fight anti-semitism | Reuters

Atheist Anti-Church Billboards: Are They Effective?

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Billboards placed by an atheist group in different parts of the US are drawing strong reaction from both atheists and Christians alike.

CHR Comment: American Atheists is the group that pays for the billboards. They target Christmas as the most widely celebrated holiday by the majority religious group: Christianity. Their goal is to separate belief in charity and morality from religion.

Source: Atheist anti-church billboards land: Are they effective?

Religion in the American Culture Wars

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Muslims, like Catholics and Mormons, fall victim to our persistent fear of those who worship differently.

CHR Comment: Professor Stephen Prothero of Boston University gives his views on the role that religion has played in American life and politics. He mentions the suspicions Protestants had about Roman Catholics and Mormons as a lens through which to see how conservative Christians are speaking about Islam today.

Source: Trump’s religious bigotry is as American as apple pie: Column

Why Catholic Schools Are Reconsidering Common Core

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In light of recent backlash against implementation of the controversial learning standards in public schools, private Catholic schools around the country are reconsidering Common Core and how it may fit within the Catholic mission.

CHR Comment: Mission is the key element in these changes. Common Core is designed to prepare children for college, which is important. But Roman Catholic educators wish to reestablish the spiritual goals of their work: creating faithful believers who will go to heaven.

Source: Why Catholic schools are reconsidering Common Core – CSMonitor.com

Pope Francis Declares Extraordinary Jubilee

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Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy — a special Holy Year, amid heightened security. More than 10 million pilgrims are expected.

CHR Comment: While visiting the Central African Republic, Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee. According to the article, a jubilee of mercy and indulgences typically occurs every 25 years. But Pope Francis has declares this new one after only 15 years.

Source: Pope Francis opens Holy Door to begin Jubilee of Mercy