April 30 Today’s Prayer
Lord, help us to overcome evil and to be strong, knowing that Your word lives in us. Rid us of any lust in our hearts. Amen.
April 29 Today’s Prayer
Make Your love complete in us, dear Lord. Teach us to walk in Your ways, loving others as You have loved us. Amen.
April 28 Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for providing an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Help us to obey Your commands daily. Amen.
Notre Dame-Obama controversy continues
Mary Ann Glendon, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and respected bioethicist has told the University of Notre Dame that she will not accept the prestigious Laetare Medal because of President Obama’s scheduled commencement address, the Religion News Service reported today.
Glendon (pictured at right) said she had been “profoundly moved” when she was first told of the honor last December, but said Notre Dame’s decision to invite Obama and give him an honorary degree caused her to change her mind.
The university has come under withering criticism from conservatives, including nearly 50 U.S. bishops such as the bishop of the Tulsa Diocese and the archbishop of the Oklahoma City archdiocese, who say the school is ignoring the bishops’ guidelines that Catholic universities should not honor politicians who support abortion rights.
Glendon, who teaches at Harvard Law School, said she had tried to revise her planned remarks after Obama’s invitation became public, but decided she didn’t want to engage in a war of words on the commencement platform, according to the RNS.
“It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision … to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice,” Glendon wrote to Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins.
The RNS said Glendon’s letter was posted online by the conservative journal First Things, where she is a member of the editorial and advisory board.
Jenkins, in a statement, said the school was “disappointed” by Glendon’s decision but said “it is our intention to award the Laetare Medal to another deserving recipient, and we will make that announcement as soon as possible.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
April 27 Today’s Prayer
We confess our sins, knowing You are faithful and just. Please forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. Amen.
April 26 Today’s Prayer
You are pure light. With You there is no darkness. Please bring us out of the dark so we may have fellowship with You. Amen.
Dave does the Bible
Finance guru Dave Ramsey’s recent presentation at LifeChurch.tv was filled with references to Scripture.
Hey, it appeared that most folks appreciated the guy preaching a mix of money 101 and Bible study.
He was at a church, right?
When in church, do as the church folks do …
Actually, this was on par with what Ramsey teaches. He has always been up front about the fact that many of his finance tips are based on biblical principles.
The nationally syndicated radio show host is known for his financial management books and his popular classes Financial Peace University, which are taught in many places, including lots of churches.
I talked to a couple of people after the town hall here in Oklahoma City and they said they loved Ramsey’s talk that night, especially his use of Scripture. They mentioned appreciating the fact that he praised Christian business leaders like Oklahoma’s own David Green, owner of Hobby Lobby.
Here’s a sampling of what Ramsey’s said:
“As a Christian and a person of faith I knew what was going on. I had encountered a spirit of fear. Fear is not a fruit of the Spirit.”
“Hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“The Bible says rejoice in your suffering because suffering produces perserverance …”
“I believe in prayer, but for some Christians prayer is a code word for not facing reality. You can pray while you’re working. … not pray and sit around watching Oprah …”
“The Bible says the diligent prosper.”
“Hope doesn’t come from Washington. Hope comes from me and you. Hope comes from God. Hope comes from the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ.”
By the way, Craig Groeschel called Ramsey “a man who has been prepared for a time such as this” — a reference to the Book of Esther.
From the applause Ramsey received throughout Thursday’s gathering, I think lots of people agreed with Groeschel.
(Photo above by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman: Dave Ramsey participates in a dress rehearsal for his Town Hall for Hope Thursday at LifeChurch.tv in Oklahoma City.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
April 25 Today’s Prayer
Lord, give us courage to warn others from their wicked ways, knowing if they do not turn, we have given them warning. Amen.
April 24 Today’s Prayer
Lord, may we always be willing to listen to You. May our hearts be softened and yielding to Your instruction. May Your will be done. Amen.
Carrie Prejean carries on
Here’s an update on the Carrie Prejean saga that just continues to gain momentum.
In a previous blog posting I told how Prejean (pictured at right), Miss California USA had been ridiculed by a pageant judge for her answer during the Miss USA Pageant on Sunday. Pageant judge Perez Hilton asked Prejean if she thought other states should follow Vermont’s example and legalize same-sex marriage. In her answer Prejean stated that she believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Hilton, apparently outraged, taped a video rant in which he called the contestant a “dumb b—-.”
The Internet is still abuzz about the incident and subsequent Hilton and Prejean interviews though it all happened several days ago.
In one e-mail, I learned that Prejean is to appear at the 40th Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards Show tonight on the Gospel Music Channel.
The issue regarding Prejean, who didn’t win the Miss USA title, has been the subject of much debate, judging from other e-letters and news releases. See for your self:
Brent Childers, executive director for Faith In America, wrote an open letter to Prejean in which he cited his conversation with Mildred Loving, a white woman who se marriage to a black man was deemed against the law in 1966 by the Virginia Supreme Court. The ruling was overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. Childers said he wanted to believe Prejean meant no offense by her comments, but “just imagaine if the question had been about Mildred Loving’s marriage to her husand Richard?’
“I asked Mildred what she thought about those people who had used their Bible to justify prejudice against her. She said it obviously hurt her but that the pain didn’t penetrate deeply because she knew in her heart that God doesn’t want us to use religious teaching to look down upon others as inferior, unworthy or undeserving.”
Meanwhile, Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com and SaveAmerica.com, said “The bad guy here is homosexual activist Perez Hilton, who never should have been allowed to be a judge.Carrie Prejean was unfairly discriminated agaist and viciously punished just because she knows and believes that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman.”
SaveCalifornia.com describes itself as a pro-family organization “dedicated to defending and representing the values of parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens who believe in family, faith, and freedom.”
The mission of Faith In America, according to its Web site, is the emancipation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from bigotry disguised as religious truth.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
