Mark A. Kellner
Articles by Mark A. Kellner
Jon Kent, Superman’s son, comes out as bisexual in upcoming comic
Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane and his father's superhero successor, came out as bisexual Monday, which also happens to be the 33rd National Coming Out Day, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Published October 11, 2021
Adventist Church sees rate of growth tumble due to pandemic: Report
Membership in the Maryland-based Seventh-day Adventist Church grew in 2020 despite the global pandemic, but church officials reported the lowest annual increase in 16 years at its annual business meeting Sunday. Published October 11, 2021
William Shatner’s real-life star trek delayed
Projected high winds, not the rapidly multiplying "Tribbles" of a famous "Star Trek" episode, will delay 90-year-old actor William Shatner's first real-life space flight by a day, a Sunday announcement from the firm revealed. The trip would make the legendary actor the oldest person to have flown to space, Blue Origin said. Published October 10, 2021
Pelosi meets with the pope amid abortion debates
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday met with Pope Francis amid criticism from several bishops for her support for abortion which some view as at odds with her Catholic faith. Published October 9, 2021
Biden taps Joseph Donnelly, former U.S. senator and congressman, as Vatican envoy
President Biden on Friday nominated Joseph Donnelly, a former one-term U.S. senator from Indiana, to be the new U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. Published October 8, 2021
No Christmas light display this year at Maryland Mormon Temple, church says
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Friday it has canceled the annual Christmas lights display at its landmark temple in Kensington, Maryland. Published October 8, 2021
Former Atlanta fire chief, fired for views on marriage, to aid other ‘cancel culture’ victims
The Atlanta fire chief fired for expressing his views on marriage and sexuality in a book for his church's Bible study will work to aid other victims of "cancel culture," Kelvin J. Cochran said Friday. Published October 8, 2021
Author Charles Spencer sees a distant mirror in forgotten medieval shipwreck
Charles Spencer won't tune in when CNN airs its multipart series on his late older sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, who would have celebrated her 60th birthday this year. Published October 8, 2021
Ben Carson: Vaccination mandates have no place in free society
Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon and former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said Wednesday evening that mandated vaccinations against COVID-19 is "a bigger issue" than the public health merits of the jabs. Published October 6, 2021
Minority religions see ‘rapid decline’ under Taliban control, U.S. rights official says
Minority religious communities in Afghanistan have suffered "a rapid decline" and now face "near extinction" since the Aug. 15 capture of Kabul by the hardline Islamist Taliban movement, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's chairwoman said Wednesday. Published October 6, 2021
Grants to fund pastor sabbaticals go to 10 churches in D.C. region
A philanthropic organization will provide grants for 10 churches in the greater D.C. area to pay for their pastors to take sabbaticals from their congregations. Published October 5, 2021
Evangelicals in danger of losing prophetic focus, David Jeremiah warns
Evangelical Christians risk letting societal divisions divert their focus from biblical prophecy, a popular evangelical pastor and broadcaster says. Published October 4, 2021
Non-meat ‘pork’ is a dish too far for observant Jews, Muslims
Jewish and Muslim leaders say that, although a new plant-based product that looks and tastes like ground pork isn't really meat, it isn't really kosher or halal, either. Published October 3, 2021
Evangelical broadcasting pioneer Pat Robertson, 91, steps down as ‘700 Club’ host
Pat Robertson, who started the Christian Broadcasting Network in a Tidewater Virginia storefront 60 years ago, said Friday he's hanging up his microphone as host of "The 700 Club," the network's flagship daily talk show, which he has hosted since 1966. Published October 1, 2021
Most Americans support ‘bathroom bills,’ segregating sports by sex, not gender identity, poll says
An increasingly large majority of Americans support laws requiring people to use the bathroom and be on sports teams corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity, a new survey reveals. Published September 30, 2021
Allies flock to Texas death-row inmate asking for chaplain at execution
John Henry Ramirez, awaiting execution at Texas' Huntsville Unit prison, wants the same thing Americans granted convicted Nazi war criminals facing the gallows after the Nuremberg trials: a chaplain to pray with at the hour of death. Published September 28, 2021
COVID-19 vaccines are ‘from God to us,’ N.Y. governor tells Brooklyn megachurch
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told a Brooklyn megachurch that vaccines against the COVID-19 virus come "from God to us," and appealed for "apostles" to spread the word among less-smart vaccine skeptics who she said are ignoring God. Published September 27, 2021
Texas official asks court to grant permanent approval for prayer before hearings
A Texas justice of the peace is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to permanently allow the voluntary prayer sessions that begin his court's proceedings, according to an appeal filed last week. Published September 27, 2021
White evangelicals lag in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, survey finds
U.S. counties with high populations of White evangelical Christians have low COVID-19 vaccination rates, according to a new survey. Published September 24, 2021
Free speech vs. LGBT rights: Website maker seeks Supreme Court hearing on anti-discrimination law
A Colorado website designer who fears the state will prosecute her for not creating a same-sex wedding design -- or other websites promoting messages her faith does not support -- asked the Supreme Court on Friday to hear her case. Published September 24, 2021
