Theists in the news

Modern stories and links of the many weird things religious people do that make news.

See Also

• Theists in the news (archive) for many more stories
• Priest Abuse
• It's a miracle

Theists in the news

• Belief in god associated with poor mental health.[1]
• The chaplain of Milan’s San Vittore prison, 51-year-old Fr Alberto Barin, has been arrested for sustained sexual assault with multiple aggravations and for abuse of authority. Six non-Italian prisoners have accused him of demanding sexual acts in exchange for favours ranging from items of food to living conditions in the prison. Officers investigating the allegations were able to document the incidents by placing a videocamera in the chaplain’s office in the prison.[2]
• Rev. Ryan J. Muelhauser, Ex-Gay Counsellor, Arrested For Molestation Of Two Young Men[3]

• Priest embroiled in ivory smuggling controversy.[4]
• New Orleans pastor who was appointed in April to a local economic development board charged with seven counts of molestation of a juvenile[5]
• Pregnant Teenager in Dominican Republic dies after doctors withold cancer treatment because the chemotherapy would harm her unborn child.[6]
• Christian musician Randy Travis, who claimed in 2009 his faith in god allowed him to quit drinking in his 20s, was found naked and drunk in Texas, and arrested after he threatened to kill a law enforcement officer[7]
• A Northern California jury has awarded $28 million in damages to a woman who said the Jehovah’s Witnesses allowed an adult member of a Fremont, Calif., church to molest her when she was a child. [8]
• Christian school rejects admission of Mormon pupil[9]
• Family Battle Offers Look Inside Lavish TV Ministry[10]
• Court ruling: Jesus doesn't cure cancer.[11]
• Heralded "Miracle" toddler found in the wreckage of tornado, dies in hospital[12]
• Christian fringe group intimidates Lowes into pulling advertisement from a reality show portrary Muslims as decent people[13]
• 6 HIV sufferers die after their pastor told them to stop taking their medication, because god would heal them.[14]
• Brazil rocked by abortion for 9-year-old rape victim: Church excommunicates mother and doctors – but not accused rapist[15]
• Pentecostal Bishop Charles E. Brown indicted on rape, sexual battery charges[16]
• Killings in Norway spotlight anti-Muslim thought.[17]
• Austrian's religious headgear gives authorities a headache.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14135523" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Pray For Newark claims amazing results as its Christian volunteers "prayer walk" the Newark city streets, seeking to pray down crime. Then murders rose 71%http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/3/91235/90609/" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Preacher sells debt removal through prayer[18]
• Authorities have arrested a 52-year-old man they say committed a hate crime against a man he learned was a Muslim. They were having a conversation when the victim admitted he was a Muslim, which prompted the other man to stab him in the neck with a pocket knife.http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/st-pete-man-accused-of-hate-crime-against-muslim/1149809" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_alabama_governor_christians" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• The Salvation Army says it refuses to distribute Harry Potter and Twilight toys collected for needy children because they're incompatible with the charity's Christian beliefs.http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/2010/12/08/16478111.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• A couple who prayed for their sick toddler rather than take him to a doctor before his pneumonia death are on trial in Philadelphia, charged with involuntary manslaughter.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101207/ap_on_re_us/us_prayer_death_toddler" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Archdiocese wants to recoup legal fees after a suit alleging abuse by priest in Burnsville was dismissed.[19]
• Minister, elders guilty of not reporting sexual abuse of a child - sought to have immunity from criminal liability in failing to report the case of suspected child abuse, "arguing that they acted in good faith in persuading the parents and the perpetrator to make report of abuse."[20]
• A Catholic Priest Charged with Sexually Assaulting Boy in ’08 Was Rearrested Last Week and Charged with Hiring Someone to Kill His Alleged Victim.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7307344.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Baby dies as family jumps out of window to get away from the devil.http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/10/24/15810081.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Lamar advertising company will sell billboards to hookers but not atheists.http://www.bnet.com/blog/advertising-business/lamar-sells-billboards-to-hookers-but-not-to-atheists/2412" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Religious teen shoots and murders an atheist teen over an argument; judge does not consider it a hate crime and reduces the murder charge; parents outrages.http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-doyle-family-shooting-100810,0,3732283.story" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Study shows atheists and agnostics are more knowledgeable about religion than religious people themselves.http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Bishop Eddie Long, a powerful anti-gay pastor becomes ensnared in his own sordid same-sex scandal[ref]
• Deaf victim of sex abuse is suing popehttp://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/23/deaf-victim-of-sex-abuse-is-suing-pope-and-going-public-with-his-story-for-the-first-time/" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• A fourth young male member of Bishop Eddie Long's megachurch is suing the prominent pastor, claiming Long coerced him into a sexual relationship. The lawsuit was filed by Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte. New Birth Charlotte is a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, N.C. The lawsuit said Long told LeGrande "I will be your dad" and invited the 17-year-old to journey to Kenya with him in July 2005. LeGrande said that Long gave him a sleeping pill on that trip and that the two engaged in sexual acts.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100924/ap_on_re_us/us_pastor_abuse_allegations_lawsuit" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]

• According to a recent study, religious belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide, according to research published today. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article571206.ece" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Pastor George Randall "Randy" Scott, of the Bethel Temple Assembly Of God Church in Bryan, Texas, was arrested after returning from a trip to Sweden with his wife on for allegedly pretending to be a teenager online to meet other minor boys and then blackmailing them into having sex. http://www.kbtx.com/local/headlines/100500214.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Giant Jesus statue struck by lightning and destroyed. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/15/jesus-statue-struck-by-lightning/" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Thinking he was possessed by the devil, American cage fighter rips out still-beating heart of his training partner.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1282647/American-cage-fighter-rips-beating-heart-training-partner-fearing-possessed-devil.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Christian singer leaves his wife and family and admits hes gay, while continuing his Christian musical career.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/us/15religion.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Nun Excommunicated For Allowing life-saving Abortion[21]
• Janine Denomme, Woman Ordained As Catholic Priest, Denied Catholic Burial By Churchhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/19/janine-denomme-woman-orda_n_582423.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Guns, high-powered ammunition and explosives equipment have been seized in raids on 12 properties in and near Adelaide linked with the Agape Ministries of God.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/20/2904812.htm" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• City of Miami uses prayer group to ward off bad weather.[ref]
• Jehovah's Witness Couple Disown Son For Receiving Blood Transfusion.http://news.peacefmonline.com/religion/201005/42722.php" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Noah's ark found, says evangelical filmmaker.http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/pc-certainty-of-noahs-ark-discovery-on-mount-ararat/story-e6frfku0-1225858591328" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• British court punishes atheist for leaving flyers in the prayer room of the John Lennon airport.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7624578/Atheist-given-Asbo-for-leaflets-mocking-Jesus.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Islamists have warned the creators of TV show South Park they could face violent retribution for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8636455.stm" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• An episode of “South Park” that continued a story line involving the Prophet Muhammad was shown Wednesday night on Comedy Central with audio bleeps and image blocks reading “CENSORED” after a Muslim group warned the show’s creators that they could face violence for depicting that holy Islamic prophet. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/south-park-episode-is-altered-after-muslim-groups-warning/" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Catholic church admits Norwegian Bishop resigned last year after admitting he was involved in child molestation.[22]
• Pope coordinated assignment of pedophile priest back into circulation.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/world/europe/26church.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]

• The Roman Catholic Church’s account of Pope Benedict XVI’s handing of a serial paedophile was called into question today when new documents emerged suggesting that his office was kept informed of the offender’s rapid return to working with children. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7077196.ece" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Pope Sexual Abuse Scandal: Benedict Implicated In Cover-Up Of Wisconsin Abuse Casehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/pope-sexual-abuse-lawrence-murphy_n_512483.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Atheist group throws party for teens who had their prom canceled rather than allow a same-sex couple to attend the dance sponsored by religious schoolhttp://www.examiner.com/x-8928-Philadelphia-Atheism-Examiner~y2010m3d12-Atheist-group-offers-to-hold-gay-friendly-prom" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Religious massacres continue in Nigeriahttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704869304575109962258328770.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Vatican chorister sacked for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for papal gentleman-in-waitinghttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/04/vatican-gay-sex-scandal" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Baby starved to death because he didn't say "amen."http://www.smh.com.au/world/baby-starved-to-death-because-he-did-not-say-amen-20100225-p4el.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Pakistan's president sacrifices a goat each day to keep evil awayhttp://www.palibandaily.com/2010/02/23/a-goat-a-day-keeps-the-evil-away-pakistans-president-and-his-addiction-to-sacrifices/" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Haiti's prime minister said Monday it's clear to him that the 10 U.S. Baptists who tried to take 33 children out of his quake-ravaged country without permission "knew what they were doing was wrong."http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100201/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_americans_detained" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• A jury has found Scott Philip Roeder, 51, of Merriam, Kansas, guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in the slaying of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller.http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/27216" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• Jeff and Marci Beagley have been charged with criminally negligent homicide for not providing medical treatment to their 16-year-old son, who died of an untreated urinary tract blockage. The family belongs to Followers of Christ Church, whose members shun medical care in favor of prayer.[23]
• A Republican member of the Iowa Legislature is proposing lawmakers should be required to say "so help me God" when being sworn into office.[24]
• Members of a Roanoke church have voted to leave the country's largest Lutheran denomination over its policy to allow gay clergy.[25]
• Matt Baker, 38, a former Baptist minister, has been indicted for allegedly drugging and suffocating his wife Kari, whose 2006 death was initially ruled a suicide.[26]
• A government witness said Wednesday that the five young woman who testified last year that evangelist Tony Alamo took them as a "wife" and sexually abused them as minors should receive $2.7 million each for physical and mental pain suffered.[27]
• Three American Evangelical Christians go to Uganda and teach thousands (including police, national politicians, etc.) how gays and their agenda are trying to destroy Ugandan families and sodomize their children. Result: a bill to impose a death sentence for homosexual behavior.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]
• School board opts to fire public school teacher who refused to teach evolution, taught creationism and burned crosses into the arms of studentshttp://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/21/Freshwater_decision.ART_ART_06-21-08_A1_ABAI539.html" rel="nofollow" title="Source">[ref]