Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Liberty University agrees to independent sex assault probe, advocates claim
Advocates for sexual assault victims at Liberty University announced Thursday that the school's president, Jerry Prevo, agreed to ask the evangelical Christian institution's board of trustees Friday to approve an independent investigation into the school's handling of assault cases. Published November 4, 2021
Protest set Thursday at Liberty, day after school president promises to address sex-assault concerns
Students and alumni plan to converge on the Lynchburg, Virginia, campus of Liberty University Thursday to demand administrators take more aggressive action on sex-assault complaints. Published November 3, 2021
Using flamethrower of satire, ‘Babylon Bee’ roasts ‘wokeness’ in new book
Being woke means never having to say you're sorry, according to "The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness," a new book released Nov. 2 by District-based Salem Books. Published November 3, 2021
‘Christmas with The Chosen’ sets theater sales record, adds screens
"The Chosen," a streaming video series that captured 200 million views by the end of its second season, has set a record for early ticket sales with its special Christmas presentation set to open in more than 1,500 theaters on Dec. 1, the series creator and executive producer said. Published November 2, 2021
U.S. to honor Pete Seeger, Katharine Graham, Title IX on stamps
U.S. postage stamps, generally given to benign images of astronauts, deceased actors, and the periodic visage of a bighorn sheep, will get a bit of an edge next year with a trio of new issues honoring a crusading newspaper publisher, an anti-war folksinger and a civil rights law. Published November 1, 2021
Calif. pro-life group claims narrow victory over vaccine protest ban
A federal judge has partially blocked a new California law banning protests near facilities offering vaccinations. Published November 1, 2021
D.C. police probe antisemitic vandalism at GWU fraternity
The Metropolitan Police Department said Monday it is investigating a break-in and vandalism at a George Washington University fraternity in which a replica of a sacred Jewish text was damaged. Published November 1, 2021
Ratio Christi gets win at University of Houston, days after lawsuit is filed
Ratio Christi, the evangelical Christian organization which sued the University of Houston-Clear Lake on Monday claimed a win five days later when the school said it would grant the group "recognized student organization" status. Published October 29, 2021
Rubio, Cruz back Christian website designer seeking Supreme Court hearing
The Denver-area Christian website designer seeking to block Colorado from compelling her to design websites with same-sex messages violating her beliefs got some powerful support Friday as supporters -- including 45 lawmakers such as Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas -- asked the Supreme Court to review her case. Published October 29, 2021
Activists seek climate ‘Day of Prayer’ for Manchin on All Saints’ Day
An interfaith group in the home state of West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III plans to hold a Day of Prayer on Monday, urging him to support government efforts to slow climate change. Published October 29, 2021
Global pro-life coalition marks anniversary minus Biden, U.S.
A 36-nation coalition marked the first anniversary Thursday of a document defending women's health, life and the family -- without the official sanction of the United States, where President Biden withdrew U.S. assent to the Geneva Consensus Declaration soon after he was inaugurated. Published October 28, 2021
Afghans have less religious liberty under new Taliban regime, U.S. watchdog group says
Members of minority Muslim religious communities in Afghanistan -- as well as non-Muslims, atheists and converts to Christianity -- are "at grave threat" under the Taliban's rule, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said Thursday. Published October 28, 2021
Utah board asks to rename Dixie State University, despite no Civil War connection
Utah's Board of Higher Education unanimously voted Wednesday to ask legislators to rename a 110-year-old university in the southwestern part of the state because its name has "racist" implications. Published October 27, 2021
Liberty University president blasts ex-spokesman’s lawsuit for ‘false’ allegations
Liberty University President Jerry Prevo on Tuesday accused the school's former spokesman of "falsely" alleging in a lawsuit that university officials "attempted to mishandle" a raft of sexual abuse complaints. Published October 26, 2021
Jehovah’s Witnesses sentenced to prison for ‘extremist’ religious activity in Russia
Four Russian members of the Jehovah's Witnesses received stiff prison terms Monday in what the American-based movement calls the "longest, harshest" sentences imposed on its believers since the 2017 designation of the group as "extremists." Published October 25, 2021
Liberty University sued over alleged ‘whistleblower’ firing in school’s sex-abuse probe
A former top Liberty University official is suing the evangelical Christian school, alleging he was fired for blowing the whistle on what he said was the mishandling of students' and staffers' sexual abuse complaints. Published October 25, 2021
Evangelical group sues University of Houston over registration
An evangelical Christian group sued the University of Houston-Clear Lake on Monday, claiming that the school violated its religious freedom in refusing to grant it "recognized" status as a campus organization. Published October 25, 2021
Daniel Darling, ousted NRB spokesman, to lead cultural center at Baptist seminary
Daniel Darling, the former National Religious Broadcasters spokesman fired Aug. 27 for telling evangelicals they should get COVID-19 vaccinations, has a new job. Published October 25, 2021
Bartholomew I, Orthodox patriarch, out of D.C. hospital, Biden meeting on track, spokesman says
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world's 200 million Eastern Orthodox Christians, is recovering from an illness and might not make his scheduled meeting with President Biden at the White House on Monday. Published October 25, 2021
Mount Zion UMC, District’s oldest Black church, awarded with preservation grant
Three D.C. churches, including the District's oldest Black congregation, have won several thousand dollars in grant funding for preserving their buildings. Published October 23, 2021
