The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of a 19th century Belgian priest who ministered to leprosy patients in Hawaii, opening the way for him to be declared a saint.
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The usual suspects have come out for the Republican nominee — except for James Dobson. Dobson, Baptist Press reports, is in California working on a book and passed on an opportunity to meet with McCain.

The United Methodist Church hasn’t yet released its attendance and membership statistics for 2007, but preliminary data suggests that both numbers will be down.
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By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press Writer
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Barack Obama showed his religious audience he was comfortable talking their talk, calling his faith “a personal commitment to Christ.” And then he promised that if elected president he’d use tax dollars to help them do “the Lord’s work.”
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Brad Greenberg at the Jewish Journal says Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association had a major blooper on his website.

Lexington, Kentucky Methodists were headed for church camp when the collision occurred in Dothan, Alabama.
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Presbyterian assembly votes to drop gay clergy ban
By ERIC GORSKI
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), bitterly divided over sexuality and the Bible, set up another confrontation Friday over its ban on ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians.

The denomination’s General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., voted 54 percent to 46 percent Friday to drop the requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”
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Statement on the Global Anglican Future, backed by the Anglican church’s key conservative factions, declares: “do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the archbishop of Canterbury.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Conservatives from the world’s largest Anglican provinces who are angered by liberal thinking in churches in North America and elsewhere plan to create a global fellowship that challenges worldwide Anglican unity but stops short of a formal split.
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An extraordinary story out from James Carroll of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Read the rest of this entry »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kelly Oliver or
June 27, 2008 Megan Franko

Anglican Churches Win on Constitutional Grounds
Va. Court Upholds Constitutionality of Virginia Division Statute to End Episcopal Attempt to Seize Control Over Church Property

By the Anglican District of Virginia
FAIRFAX, Va. (June 27, 2008) – The 11 churches sued by The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia celebrated today’s Fairfax County Circuit Court ruling that confirms the constitutionality of Virginia Division Statute (Virginia Code § 57-9). The 11 churches named in the lawsuit are members of the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV).
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If you haven’t heard about surfing sensation Bethany Hamilton she’s got quite a story. The Kauai teenager, who just graduated from high school, lost an arm in a shark attack. She now shares her story, and her faith, around the world.

I saw a video, “Heart of a Soul Surfer” about Hamilton’s life. It’s amazing.

Read this post and the one below and you may notice a couple of trends. 1.) God is mentioned a lot after bear, gator and grizzly attacks. 2.) NBC’s Today Show is spending a whole lot of time covering wild animal attacks.

Florida man loses limb after being attacked by a 11-foot-long alligator. Credits God with saving his life.

By AOMAR OUALI
The Associated Press
ALGIERS, Algeria — Two men who converted from Islam to Christianity went on trial Wednesday on charges that they illegally promoted the Christian faith in Algeria.
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Next to high-speed Interstate police chases, there’s nothing local television news crews enjoy more than a “Jesus” spotting. Jesus on office windows in Florida. Jesus on a tortilla in the Southwest. Mother Theresa on a cinnamon roll in Tennessee, etc. etc.

So it’s no surprise that South Florida TV stations are jockeying to cover the appearance of “Jesus” in a woman’s sonogram.

Take a look and see if you can spot a bearded Messiah in the photo. Supposedly he’s there. Personally, I don’t see it. I suppose it’s only a matter of time ’til this picture ends up on eBay.