Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Santa’s tomb? Researcher says Church in Turkey burial place for original St. Nick
Renovations at a church in Demre, Turkey, uncovered what a local preservationist said is the burial place of St. Nicholas, the local bishop who became known throughout the world as "Santa Claus," a Turkish news agency reported. Published October 19, 2022
Catholic priests worry about bishops’ support in event of false abuse accusations: study
Catholic priests in the United States worry about false accusations of abuse and how much their bishops would support them if that were to happen, according to the largest survey of its kind in more than 50 years. Published October 19, 2022
Baltimore regulations violate abortion protester’s First Amendment rights, lawsuit says
A Maryland man has sued the city of Baltimore claiming violations of his rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion. Published October 14, 2022
Ivanka Trump volunteers for Christian group cooking meals for hurricane relief workers in Florida
First responders cleaning up after Hurricane Ian in Florida received hot meals Wednesday from volunteers with CityServe, a Christian organization that supports local churches in meeting human needs. Published October 14, 2022
Court says no free lunch for homeless, Good Samaritans must register before sharing food
A three-member panel of federal judges says no free lunch for the homeless in St. Louis until churches register and pay a $50 fee for permits before handing out sandwiches. Published October 13, 2022
Sikhs’ appeal to start boot camp with beards, long hair, turbans gains sympathy at D.C. hearing
Three Sikhs who want to keep their religiously mandated uncut hair, beards and turbans during Marine Corps basic training brought their case to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday afternoon. Published October 12, 2022
Inflation hitting America’s churches hard, pastors say in new survey
More than half of American pastors surveyed last month said inflation is hitting their churches in the balance sheet, despite "stable" giving patterns. Published October 12, 2022
Vatican II impact still felt 60 years later as generation that participated passes
Six decades have passed since Pope Saint John XXIII announced his intention to "open the windows" of the Roman Catholic Church by convening a gathering of bishops known as the Second Vatican Council. Published October 11, 2022
Southern Baptist leader’s remarks on church sex-abuse cases fall far short, says survivor
The new president of the Southern Baptist Convention should have spoken out more forcefully on widespread charges of abuse and sexual misconduct by church figures in the organization on Sunday's "60 Minutes," says an abuse survivor. Published October 10, 2022
Postal Service files plans to raise first-class letters to 63 cents come January 2023
The U.S. Postal Service announced a parcel of rate increases Friday afternoon, the latest in a series of semi-annual rate hikes officials say the quasi-governmental corporation needs to keep pace with inflation and maintain a balanced budget. Published October 7, 2022
West Virginia’s top court upholds private school scholarships in victory for parents, advocates say
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is lauding a state Supreme Court ruling that upholds the state's Hope Scholarship Act, a year-old law allowing parents to send children to private and often faith-based schools. Published October 7, 2022
End is near, new Bible prophecy books assert as market demand surges
Two noted Christian writers this week released new books claiming we're at the end of time. Neither the Rev. Michael Youssef nor the Rev. David Jeremiah -- both evangelical pastors with large television and radio teaching ministries -- suggest it's time to max out the credit cards. Still, each is unusually concerned about present trends. Published October 6, 2022
70 years later, ‘Power of Positive Thinking’ finds new generation of readers
A folksy self-help book that drew derision when it was first released has survived in print for seven decades and now is finding a new generation of readers. Published October 6, 2022
AOC, five other N.Y. Dems call on Orthodox Jewish university to recognize gay student group
New York's Yeshiva University should "recognize" a gay student group, a group of congressional lawmakers including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told the orthodox Jewish school in a two-page letter recently. Published October 4, 2022
Donations not needed for Yom Kippur observance at Bethesda Chabad, rabbi says
No ticket, or annual donation, is required to worship on Yom Kippur with Chabad of Bethesda, Rabbi Sender Geisinsky said Tuesday. Published October 4, 2022
Christian network TBN to feature weekly news/analysis show from Jerusalem
Beginning Thursday, Trinity Broadcasting Network will air a new weekly news and analysis program from Jerusalem hosted by evangelical author Joel C. Rosenberg. Published October 4, 2022
Catholic school can fire guidance counselor in same-sex marriage, federal district court rules
Religious schools have the right to require that their teachers should reflect the values of the institution, a federal judge in Indiana ruled Friday, rejecting a discrimination lawsuit filed by a gay teacher fired by a Roman Catholic high school. Published October 3, 2022
Mormon leader, 98, acknowledges aging as he sits at podium during two-day event
Russell M. Nelson, the 98-year-old president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced plans for 18 new temples to be constructed across the globe, including five new U.S. locations, at the group's biannual General Conference Sunday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Published October 2, 2022
LDS Church leader, 98, decries abuse in global talk, but turns heads for sitting at the podium
Russell M. Nelson, the 98-year-old president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decried sexual abuse in a brief message to the group's biannual General Conference Saturday in Salt Lake City. Published October 1, 2022
Newsom’s pro-choice billboards citing Bible verse draw rebukes from religious leaders
Gov. Gavin Newsom's inclusion of a Bible verse on two billboards in conservative-led states advertising California as an abortion sanctuary is drawing sharp denunciations from religious leaders on the right. Published September 30, 2022
