Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
God ‘does not disown’ LGBTQ people, Pope Francis says in handwritten letter to U.S. priest
Pope Francis said "God is Father and he does not disown any of his children," telling an inquiring American Jesuit priest it is the most important thing for LGBTQ people to know about God. Published May 9, 2022
Virginia attorney general decries vandalism at Manassas pro-life clinic, to monitor probe
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares on Monday decried vandalism at the Life First pregnancy resource center in Manassas, Virginia. Published May 9, 2022
Health issues may ‘postpone’ Pope Francis’ June trip to Lebanon: Reports
Pope Francis will likely postpone a scheduled June trip to Lebanon because of health issues, according to reports Monday. Published May 9, 2022
Faith-based abortion opponents to boost emphasis on pregnancy care, options if Roe overturned
Faith-based groups opposed to abortion plan to increase their emphasis on helping people facing crisis pregnancy situations if the Supreme Court reverses its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Published May 6, 2022
Majority of Americans say abortion should be legal, but many support restrictions, Pew poll shows
Americans remain divided on the question of abortion, but not always in the pro-choice/pro-life divide often portrayed, a new poll from the Pew Research Center revealed Friday. Published May 6, 2022
Three new Christian colleges face federal Title IX probes over gay, transgender complaints
A group supporting gay and transgender students announced Wednesday that federal civil rights officials have agreed to investigate allegations of discrimination at three Christian universities, including Virginia's Liberty University. Published May 6, 2022
Pope tells Japanese prime minister use, possession of nuclear weapons ‘inconceivable’
Pope Francis told Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that the possession and use of nuclear weapons is "inconceivable," the official Vatican News agency reported. Published May 4, 2022
Religious school athletes sue over Alabama officials’ refusal to switch Sabbath basketball game
Students at a Seventh-day Adventist high school went to federal court Tuesday asking a judge to back their right to play basketball and observe the Sabbath. Published May 3, 2022
Pope seeks Putin meeting, warns Orthodox leader not to be president’s ‘altar boy’
Pope Francis said he wants to meet with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics also warned Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill not to be an 'altar boy' for Mr. Putin. Published May 3, 2022
Employer challenge to transgender-care mandates gets federal court hearing
Opponents of the Biden administration's mandates requiring religious employers to provide health care coverage for "gender transition surgeries, procedures, counseling, and treatments" had their day in court Monday as a federal judge heard arguments in a suit calling for an end to such mandates. Published May 2, 2022
Rare ‘Wicked Bible’ found in New Zealand, four centuries after publication
A copy of the rare 1631 "Wicked Bible," containing one of the most famous printing errors in literary history, has surfaced in Christchurch, New Zealand, four centuries and thousands of miles removed from its British birthplace. Published May 2, 2022
Turn off social media for 10 days to detoxify, says spiritual renewal advocate
A spiritual renewal advocate is urging evangelical Christians to take a 10-day "social media fast" to reconnect with God and share the gospel with others. Published May 2, 2022
Israel decries Russian diplomat’s claim that Hitler ‘had Jewish blood’
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday condemned remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, calling "untrue" the Moscow diplomat's claim that Adolf Hitler "had Jewish blood." Published May 2, 2022
Pope Francis says he suffers, weeps over ‘barbarically’ bombed Ukarinian port of Mariupol
Pope Francis told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Sunday of his deep anguish over the "macabre regression of humanity" in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol -- "Mary's City," as he described it. Published May 1, 2022
Finnish prosecutor revives ‘Bible Trial’ hate speech charges against Christian politician
A Finnish evangelical Christian who is a member of parliament was recently acquitted of hate speech charges for saying homosexuality is a sin, but she is not yet off the hook. Published April 29, 2022
Ukrainian orphans, displaced children need aid, not adoption, advocates say
Tens of thousands of displaced children in Ukraine -- as well as refugee children in surrounding nations -- need financial and medical assistance from overseas and not adoption bids, experts in the field said this week. Published April 28, 2022
Florida city ordered to pay church $250,000 in legal fees over parking lot dispute
A federal court in Tampa ordered the City of St. Pete Beach to pay more than $250,000 in fees to attorneys representing a church in the small enclave of Pass-A-Grille Beach that allowed beachgoers to use its 70-space parking lot when the congregation was not holding services. Published April 27, 2022
Law students sue U. of Idaho alleging religious discrimination over ‘no-contact’ order
Three evangelical Christian law school students this week filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Idaho, saying the school barred them from speaking to another law student "because of the religious content and viewpoint of their speech." Published April 27, 2022
St. Jude’s, Salvation Army top choices for evangelical Christian donors: survey
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the top charity for evangelical Christians, followed by The Salvation Army, according to a new survey of charitable donors. Published April 27, 2022
Theologically conservative congregations set to break away from United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is set to become less united in the coming months, as dozens of congregations are expected to defect over the denomination's stance on same-sex marriage, gay clergy and other LGBTQ issues. Published April 26, 2022
