INSIDER
White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald Trump's presidency
Read full article: White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald Trump's presidencyFormer President Donald Trump once again won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters in his election to a second term.
Fire causes partial collapse at First Baptist Churchās secondary chapel in downtown Dallas, reports say
Read full article: Fire causes partial collapse at First Baptist Churchās secondary chapel in downtown Dallas, reports sayA Dallas fire captain said the fire caused First Baptist Dallas' secondary chapel to "largely" collapse.
Christian-nation idea fuels US conservative causes, but historians say it misreads founders' intent
Read full article: Christian-nation idea fuels US conservative causes, but historians say it misreads founders' intentLarge numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation.
Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero
Read full article: Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a heroFor eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that has often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.
Cruel or harmless? Pastors mixed on GOP migrant transports
Read full article: Cruel or harmless? Pastors mixed on GOP migrant transportsAs Republican governors ramp up their transports of migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions, the practice is getting a mixed reaction from Christian faith leaders ā many of whom, especially evangelicals, have supported GOP candidates by large numbers in recent elections.
Supreme Court throws abortion fight into center of midterms
Read full article: Supreme Court throws abortion fight into center of midtermsThe Supreme Court has agreed to hear a potentially ground-breaking abortion case, probably this fall, and the news is energizing activists on both sides of the contentious issue.
Vaccine skepticism runs deep among white evangelicals in US
Read full article: Vaccine skepticism runs deep among white evangelicals in USA recent photo posted online of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Americaās largest evangelical denomination, getting the COVID-19 vaccine drew more than 1,100 comments.
VIRUS TODAY: Lag in vaccinations underscores lack of support
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Lag in vaccinations underscores lack of supportThe state Department of Public Health says the number raises the state's death toll since the start of the pandemic to 29,233. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)Hereās whatās happening Sunday with the pandemic in the U.S.:ā Public health officials have complained for months that they do not have enough support or money to get COVID-19 vaccines quickly into arms. As they work to ramp up the shots, state and local public health departments across the U.S. cite a variety of obstacles, most notably a lack of leadership from the federal government. The Capitolās attending physician notified all lawmakers Sunday of the virus exposure and urged them to be tested. With the virus transforming consumer spending habits, economists believe some portion of these service jobs wonāt return even after the economy has regained its footing.
Anti-abortion faith leaders support use of COVID-19 vaccines
Read full article: Anti-abortion faith leaders support use of COVID-19 vaccinesAs the first vaccines neared approval last year, some Catholic bishops warned they might be morally unacceptable. āThe Church, on multiple levels, has said that itās morally acceptable to receive the vaccines that are currently available. Among Protestant evangelical leaders, who generally have strong anti-abortion views, thereās been relatively little anti-vaccine rhetoric, according to the Rev. In the past, the council has ruled that some vaccines for other diseases were unacceptable because they used pork-derived gelatin. But on Friday the council gave its approval to Chinaās Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for its distribution in Indonesia.
Religious right eyes Biden warily after Trump's good favor
Read full article: Religious right eyes Biden warily after Trump's good favorAs his administration draws to a close, some of those backers are approaching President-elect Joe Biden with skepticism, but not antagonism. During the Obama administration, Graham attended a conversation Biden convened among faith-based advocates about gun legislation. However, some groups such as Perkins' may find occasional opportunities to work with the Biden administration even while remaining critical of it in their messaging to members and fundraising, according to evangelical writer and analyst Napp Nazworth. Meanwhile, evangelicals outside those most closely associated with Trump already are identifying commonalities where they could partner with Biden. The Trump administration had slashed the refugee target to historic lows.
Most US clergy avoid hellfire threats over abortion politics
Read full article: Most US clergy avoid hellfire threats over abortion politicsThey have a message in common for members of their faiths: Voting for Democrats who support abortion rights is an evil potentially deserving of eternal damnation. Most members of the clergy, including foes of abortion, steer clear of overt endorsements or denunciations of political candidates. Numerous denominations try to frame their stance on abortion in ways that respect multiple viewpoints. Both the Conservative and Reform branches say abortion is acceptable under various circumstances, and the decision is up to the woman involved. Abortion is generally frowned on if poverty is the motive, but accepted if a womenās health is at risk.
White evangelicals hope to keep changing Texas red for Trump
Read full article: White evangelicals hope to keep changing Texas red for TrumpDuring a break between morning church services, Beverly Sides, right, with the Prestonwood Cultural Impact Team shows Suzie Brewer election voter guides for various north Texas counties at Prestonwood Baptist Church Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Plano, Texas. He spoke in the parking lot of a pizza place in McKinney, Texas, the county seat. Jeffress, the leader of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, also sees the changes underway in his state. Despite the United Statesā troubles with the pandemic and economic crash, white evangelicals remain among the presidentās most loyal supporters. Texas evangelicals expect Barrett, whose confirmation hearings are underway in the U.S. Senate this week, to uphold more limits to abortion.
Churches amid the pandemic: Some outbreaks, many challenges
Read full article: Churches amid the pandemic: Some outbreaks, many challengesYet from the earliest phases of the pandemic, and continuing to this day, some worship services and other religious activities have been identified as sources of local outbreaks. Union County, with a population of 25,000 people, had recorded fewer than 25 cases during the pandemic prior to the church outbreak. Also in June, West Virginias health department announced outbreaks linked to five churches in different parts of the state. The diocese announced Thursday that the church would be closed indefinitely after a priest who celebrated Mass this week tested positive. Greg Abbott issued an order requiring people wear face masks in most public settings with several exceptions, including participants in religious services.
Virus loans helped entities tied to Trump evangelical allies
Read full article: Virus loans helped entities tied to Trump evangelical alliesVice President Mike Pence, left, greets Senior Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress, right, after Pence spoke at the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas during a Celebrate Freedom Rally in Dallas, Sunday, June 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Virus loans helped entities tied to Trump evangelical allies
Read full article: Virus loans helped entities tied to Trump evangelical allies(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)NEW YORK Churches connected to President Donald Trump and other organizations linked to current or former Trump evangelical advisers received at least $17.3 million in loans from a federal rescue package designed to aid small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Graham, whose megachurch claims more than 42,000 members, is not related to Trump evangelical adviser Franklin Graham, son of the late Rev. Other program beneficiaries connected to veteran evangelical Trump allies include The Faith & Freedom Coalition, founded by conservative strategist Ralph Reed, which got a loan of between $150,000 and $350,000. King Jesus International Ministry, the Miami megachurch where Trump launched his evangelical outreach push ahead of Novembers election, received a loan of between $2 million and $5 million according to the data. That church's pastor, Guillermo Maldonado, was also among a group of faith leaders who met and prayed with Trump at the White House last fall.
Pence following through with Texas visit to Dallas church as pandemic rages
Read full article: Pence following through with Texas visit to Dallas church as pandemic ragesBut the coronavirus situation in Texas has deteriorated quickly in recent days, and Pence indicated Friday that his Texas visit will at least partially focus on the outbreak now. Texas was one of the states the task force highlighted during the meeting as a site of a concerning outbreak. At First Baptist, Pence is participating in an event billed as "Celebrate Freedom Sunday." It remains to be seen how large the First Baptist event will be and what precautions the church is taking coronavirus cases increase. There is currently no occupancy limit for religious services in Texas, though it is unclear if the First Baptist event fits that category.