THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND DEMANDS THAT RUPERT MURDOCK COME CLEA\N...OR
CANTERBURY WILL SELL ITS NEWSCORP SHARES
The Church of England, parent of the Anglican and Episcopal Church, happens to be be an
investor in the Rupert Murdock media empire. The church's Ethical Investment Advisory Group
has put Murdock's News Corp. on notice that it had better have a "full and open inquiry into a
phone hacking scandal" ... or else.
The "or else" is that, if the church is not satisified with Murdock's investigation, it will sell some
$32-million in News Corp that it currently holds. While this is a small portion of the church's
$32-billion portfolio, it sends a clear message that the Church of England demands ethical
behavior on the parts of entities in which it invests.
Rupert Murdock owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post in the U.S.
and the American FBI has launched an inquiry into possible criminal activity of the parts of
Murdock and his colleagues.
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS TO EMBRACE GAY MARRIAGE and REVERSE THEIR OPPOSITION
TO HOMOSEXUALITY. SURPRISED? SO ARE THE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS!
A website belonging to a probably-fictitious group called The Center for Responsible Christian
Living built a website containing the surprising news that the Southern Baptist Convention's
Executive Committee was meeting in "in an extraordinary emergency session" to throw the
denomination's support behind the growing gay rights movement. The SBC says that their
church has been victimized by "an elaborate hoax," with Roger Oldham, vice president for
convention communications and relations for the Executive Committee, responding. He said
that, while the SBC will not advocate for gay rights, its fundamental anti-homosexuality teaching
is both biblical and loving.
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SAVE THE OCEAN "SURFING MADONNA" HAS HERSELF BEEN SAVED!
It is a marvellous work of mosaic art -- but it was ruled to be "graffiti" by the city of Encinitas,
CA. The artwork was mounted under a railroad bridge during broad daylight. In spite of
gaining worldwide attention and approval, the city council still couldn't find it in its heart to make
an exception for the highly-acclaimed work, THE SURFING MADONNA. The art is the work of
artist Mark Patterson, who is going to have to come up with nearly $3,000 to settle his violation
of the city's municipal code. It is perhaps ironic that it was secular authorities who raised the
fuss, with very little objection coming from religious leaders. Patterson retains ownership of his
mosaic mural and is currently seeking another place for it to be displayed.
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"The HEAVENLY FATHER" ISN'T GOD ANYMORE WITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
"God the Father" is not going to be a term in use any longer at the Congregationalist Church -
the United Church of Christ.
In order to both modernize while remaining true to Biblical and church tradition, the
denomination has changed the term "heavenly Father" to Triune God.
The change arises from a review of church terminology by the denomination's Executive
Council's General Synod. The new designation is not being accepted with glee by other
denominations, particularly the conservative wing of Christianity.
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FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MINISTRY STILL REELING FROM FOUNDER'S DEPARTURE
The vintage "Focus on the Family" program has released some 110 employees. The layoffs at
the Colorado-based ministry are reported to be directly related to the departure of its founder,
James Dobson, who left last year do begin his new program, "Family Talk with Dr. James
Dobson". Without the 75 year old Dobson at the helm, donor support has dwindled by what
some sources estimate as amounting to nearly $30-million, precipitating the layoffs. Dr.
Dobson's conservative views include his assertion that the cartoon character Sponge Bob is a
thinly-veiled vehicle to promote homosexuality. Dobson used Focus on the Family website to
proclaim his view that "childhood symbols are apparently being hijacked to promote an agenda
that involves teaching homosexual propaganda to children."
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NOT A NAME YOU'D EXPECT FOR AN ISRAELI BUSINESS!
In view of the obvious reverence to Hitler, a property management company in Israel elected to
adopt the name FUEHRER, which has left many people in Israel and other parts of the world
scratching their heads in view of the odd choice.
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TOUGH LOVE: ATTEND SERVICES...OR FACE BANG-UP FUNERAL RETRIBUTION!
A woman died in the village of Pexeiros Blancos, Spain. When it was time for the deceased's
funeral procession from the church to the cemetery, local priest, Father Eladio Blanco, refused
to go along. He exclaimed, "She has no right to a proper burial because she almost never
came to mass." Some 300 mourners were shocked...and loudly insisted that the priest come
to the cemetery and give the deceased woman a proper burial. STICKING TO HIS GUNS,
Father Blanco pulled out a gun and opened fire. One of his four shots wounded a mourner.
Those of you reading this who are pastors, we do not recommend this form of persuasion to
prompt your parishioners to attend your services!
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ASTOUNDING NEWS!
SAINT ANTHONY RELICS STILL MISSING FROM ST. JOSEPH'S MONASTERY IN
MAINE....BUT THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY!!!
A religious relic is an actual part of a deceased saint, often a shock of hair or, perhaps, a
fingernail. Well, Saint Francis Monastery in Kennebunkport, Maine, had a relic of 12-century
Saint Anthony of Padua. But, it disappeared. In a cruel irony, Saint Anthony is the patron
saint of items that are lost or missing!
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