Current Events

Agape love is the central premise of Protestant Christian theology. According to The Oxford Handbook of Theological Ethics, “Luther’s rediscovery of the primacy of agape was the linchpin of the Reformation and the rediscovery of genuine Christian ethics.” (See G. Meilaender and W. Werpehowski, The Oxford Handbook of Theological Ethics, 2007, p. 456.)

Many confuse the concept of agape love with the concept of caritas, or charity, but these are two separate ideas. The concept of agape love is the love of God reaching down to save humanity through grace, while caritas is about humans reaching upward toward God through works.

On May 5, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court released its opinion in Galloway v. Greece (click for text) that since opening prayers are permissible as a tradition of Congress and state legislatures, Marsh v. Chambers(1983), they are also permissible at town council meetings so long as they don’t condemn or try to convert people who are not members of a particular religion.

Today, without comment, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of a New Mexico photography studio and its owners. The highly-publicized case of Elane Photography v. Willock involved a photographer who refused on religious grounds to photograph a lesbian couple’s commitment ceremony.

In a rare showing of bipartisanship, U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner and his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, both Catholics, have both issued invitations for Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress.

Last month Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a law making homosexuality a crime punishable by life in prison. According to a recent report by Mother Jones, which features extensive video clips, Museveni said the measure had been “provoked by arrogant and careless western groups that are fond of coming into our schools and recruiting young children into homosexuality.”

What is Happening in Ukraine? [dc]T[/dc]he recent events in Ukraine have captured news headlines around the world. Here is some background information on Ukraine, relevant history regarding the recent events, […]

Palm Beach, FL, February 7, 2014… John Henry Weidner, a Dutch hero who helped save more than 1,000 individuals, including approximately 800 Jews, from the Holocaust, has been posthumously honored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) with the ADL Jan Karski Courage to Care Award.

Established in 1987 to honor rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust era, the award was presented at the ADL National Executive Committee Meeting in Palm Beach to Dr. Kurt Ganter, Executive Director of the John Weidner Foundation for the Cultivation of the Altruistic Spirit, who accepted on behalf of Weidner’s wife, Naomi, who could not be present.

By Lucan Chartier – Rep. Lynn Luker of Idaho has recently placed two bills before the state’s House of Representatives. HB 426 prohibits the denial, revocation, or suspension of “any professional or occupational license or registration” based upon the exercise or expression of religious belief. HB 427 would amend § 73-402 of the Idaho Code – the state’s mini-Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) – to also provide relief against “any person relying upon any government action, enactment, or law” that substantially burdens a sincerely held religious belief.

By Michael Peabody – Parties to these kinds of disputes should be well-served if they cooperatively seek solutions by identifying and respecting those specific personal areas which are non-negotiable and cordoning them off, while respecting the freedom of the areas in between where both sides must intersect. Identifying and preserving these areas of respect and finding opportunities for accommodation is not an easy process in today’s ideologically divided world, but the results will be much more profitable for both sides than engaging in perpetual conflict in the public arena. At the same time, the religious rights of the participants on both sides to belief and practice would be honored and protected.

By Barry Bussey – The hypersensitive response over Canada’s first openly Christian law school at Trinity Western University (TWU) has led to a demand that law societies across Canada not allow TWU law graduates to practise law – because of the religious belief of TWU concerning marriage. In essence, a religious test to determine one’s suitability to practise law.