Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Near-unanimous House votes to sanction China for organ harvesting, two GOP members dissent
The House voted 413-2 Monday in favor of a measure to sanction China's trade in human organs. Published March 27, 2023
Republicans, religious freedom advocates oppose rollback of faith-based student group protections
A dozen House Republicans led by North Carolina's Virginia Foxx on Friday blasted a Biden administration proposal the lawmakers said would gut protections for faith-based student groups. Published March 27, 2023
Southern Baptist pastor cites 170 women in leadership roles in violation of doctrine
A Southern Baptist pastor spearheading a drive to ban women from serving as church leaders has released a report noting 170 women in pastoral jobs in violation of the denomination's men-only doctrine. Published March 27, 2023
Inside the contentious fight to outlaw evangelical Christianity in Israel
Israel's parliament, called the Knesset, was considering a bill that would outlaw attempts to persuade people to consider changing their faith, including online outreach, mail and any other means. Convicted proselytizers would face up to two years in prison. Published March 24, 2023
Anti-Defamation League tracked historic levels of antisemitic incidents in United States in 2022
The ADL said the numbers were the most since it began tracking incidents in 1979. The league's announcement noted "an upward trendline of hate and vitriol" toward American Jews the past five years. Published March 23, 2023
Netanyahu blocks anti-proselytizing bill after evangelical Christians, others protest
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shut down efforts to outlaw evangelism in the land where Christianity was born 2,000 years ago, following outrage and criticism by evangelical Christians around the world. Published March 23, 2023
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to share faith at Liberty University convocation April 14
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will share his faith at a student convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 14, the evangelical Christian school announced Wednesday. Published March 22, 2023
Nicaragua’s campaign against Catholic Church draws rebuke
A leading congressional voice on human rights said he hopes a hearing highlighting abuses by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's regime will push the Biden administration and Congress to take even tougher measures against the leader. Published March 22, 2023
Religious charities’ conscience protections obliterated under new Biden proposal, critics say
The Biden administration is hailing new rules aimed at protecting the religious liberty of clients of faith-based charities, but critics say the proposed changes would obliterate protections for religious charities that receive federal funds. Published March 22, 2023
Texas VA clinic removes ‘Remember Our Veterans’ metal cross after watchdog complains
The Department of Veterans Affairs quickly removed a metal cross incorporating emblems of the military branches from public display in its Austin, Texas, VA Clinic roughly 90 minutes after a watchdog group raised a complaint. Published March 20, 2023
Former school president Falwell sues Liberty for $8.6 million pension payment
Jerry Falwell Jr., the disgraced former president of Liberty University, has sued his former employer seeking nearly $8.5 million in retirement benefits he said the school improperly denied him. Published March 19, 2023
Maryland, West Virginia Methodist congregations sue denomination over departure payments
Thirty-eight United Methodist Church congregations in Maryland and West Virginia have sued the Baltimore-Washington Conference and its leader, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, claiming the regional body is extorting a "financial ransom" of half their church property value as they seek to leave the denomination. Published March 19, 2023
Jews popular in U.S. despite increase in antisemitic attacks
Judaism is the most favorably viewed religion in the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center study, despite a rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. Published March 15, 2023
Jewish parents, schools sue California over funding for disabled students
Three Jewish couples and two Orthodox Jewish schools have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that California discriminates against religious children with disabilities and their schools. Published March 15, 2023
Supreme Court to review 1977 decision on religious accommodation
Larry Hardison's name was chiseled into American legal history 46 years ago, when the Supreme Court ruled against him in a landmark religious accommodation case. Published March 14, 2023
Pope Francis says married priests possible, calls celibacy a ‘temporary prescription’
Pope Francis has called celibacy for priests a "temporary prescription," signaling a potential end to a centuries-old requirement of the Roman Catholic Church that the clergy should not marry. Published March 13, 2023
Lay Catholics campaign to deny Communion for pro-abortion politicians
A group of lay U.S. Roman Catholics has launched a mass-mailing campaign to persuade clergy to deny Communion for pro-abortion politicians. Published March 8, 2023
New York family agency to pay Christian adoption group $250K to settle lawsuit
New York state's Office of Children and Family Services will pay $250,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by New Hope Family Services after a court ruled that the agency is not subject to closure because it only places children with married, heterosexual couples. Published March 7, 2023
Christianity scores most favorably in religion poll, with Scientology and Satanism at bottom
Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism are each positively viewed by Americans, survey results reveal, but individual denominations within Christianity fare less well in public opinion, the YouGov survey showed. Published March 6, 2023
British pro-life advocate again arrested for ‘thoughtcrime’ of silent prayer near abortion clinic
Police in Birmingham, England, have again arrested a woman praying silently outside a closed abortion clinic, a little more than two weeks after an acquittal on the same charges, her attorneys said Monday. Published March 6, 2023
