Thursday’s roundup

President Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, calling for antagonists in the culture wars to be civil to each other. Or, in more theological terms: “Progress comes when we look into the eyes of another and see the face of God. That we might do so — that we will do so all […]

President Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, calling for antagonists in the culture wars to be civil to each other. Or, in more theological terms: “Progress comes when we look into the eyes of another and see the face of God. That we might do so — that we will do so all the time, not just some of the time — is my fervent prayer for our nation and the world.” He also criticized people who question his nationality and called Uganda’s anti-gay bill “odious.” As we reported earlier this week, the breakfast has been mired in controversy because of its sponsors ties to an anti-gay bill in Uganda.

Meanwhile, Americans United for Separation of Church and State say Obama gave the mistaken impression in his remarks this morning that the constitutional problems endemic in the White House faith-based office have been fixed. The WaPo managed to unearth a detail or two about Obama’s spiritual life, and also reported that the president will meet with the Dalai Lama in February.

Americans have donated more than $644 for relief efforts in Haiti, but donations are slowing down, and massive problems persist. Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the actions of the ten U.S. baptists (not to be confused with American Baptists, the denomination) “unfortunate” and said they should have followed proper procedures. The missionaries are scheduled to appear before a prosecutor today. The AP says stories told by Haitian parents about giving their children to the missionaries contradict statements by the American group’s leader. The Haitian pastor who gave the missionaries permission to take the children says he acted “with a good heart.”


A number of groups have filed amicus curiae briefs in California’s Prop 8 case, including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and, on the other side, the United Church of Christ.

A Muslim chaplain was arrested and charged with trying to smuggle razor blades and scissors into a city jail, the diocese of Vermont will sell its headquarters and a children’s camp to pay for settlements with victims of clergy sexual abuse. Southern Baptists are trying to get multilingual Bible CD’s into 9 million Texas homes by Easter. I wonder if you can put a mark on your door if you want to be passed over?

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit from members of Tony Alamo’s sect alleging their religious freedom was trampled when Arkansas officials took their children.

Egyptian activists are calling on the government to give Christians equal rights. A Brazilian court has overturned a ban on displaying religious symbols during the Carnival parades. Pope Benedict XVI blamed indifference for the millions of deaths caused each year from malnutrition.

French authorities denied citizenship to a man who forced his French wife to wear a face-covering veil.

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