This Congress has among its illustrious members the first Hindu to ever serve in Congress and the first Buddhist to serve in the Senate.

Read the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life’s report: “Faith on the Hill”

Read The Washington Post’s story on the subject: “113th Congress: First Hindu, First Buddhist in Senate …” 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

Why?

Simple: the pastors shared their opinions about President Barack Obama’s recent statement supporting same-sex marriage.

The story ran in the May 27 Sunday Oklahoman.

It took me a couple of weeks to get a good mix of clergy leaders, but I think the results were well worth the wait. And get this: not one pastor expressed hesitation about voicing his views. That’s not always the case when I do what I call “round-up” stories involving gathering the opinions of several local religious leaders on a particular topic.

Obama’s May 9 statement of support for same-gender marriage created a stir when he made it and the clergymen’s views   — whether they agreed with him or not – seemed to emphasize how controversial the statement was.

Thanks to all the pastors who took the time to answer my phone calls and emails in order to weigh in on this important topic.

It’s about about the conversation … keeping it flowing. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

Baptist Press reports that Southern Baptist leaders wrote a column published in The Washington Post in which they voiced their opposition to the contraception mandate. They called the mandate, a  ”blatant and outrageous encroachment on religious freedom.”

The column was co-signed by Richard Land, The SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission president; SBC President Bryant Wright; and GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins.

Land has visited Oklahoma City at least once over the last several years as a guest speaker for various events sponsored by Oklahoma Southern Baptists.

Read the Washington Post column, posted on the Post’s On Faith blog: “Why Baptists stand with Catholics on birth control mandate”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

Here’s a round-up of the latest news and information, just a few thought-provoking tidbits I thought to share:  

MSN.com: Jesus in Wal-Mart receipt

USA Today’s Faith & Reason blog: “Alert, Dudes: ‘The Big Lebowski’ Gets a Bible” 

Washington Post’s On Faith blog: “Rick Perry’s Pastor Problem?”

Associated Baptist Press: “Gaddy Chastises TV station for belitting Mormonism”

Albert Mohler’s (Southern Baptist seminary leader) blog: “Reparative Theraphy, Homosexuality and the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

NOTE: It’s important to note that I am not personally endorsing any of the ideas and thoughts expressed in these stories and commentary. I am merely passing them on because the topics are interesting.

Have a good Friday and a good weekend.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

In a pre-taped segment, which I watched via an online clip,  children are shown and heard saying the Pledge of Allegience and ‘under God’ was not included.

I’m not sure if I would have noticed it without it being brought to my attention beforehand, but I am thinking that I would have. We all know the pledge so well, that any omission would stand out — and obviously it did.

Read on for links to stories on this issue and some others that are being discussed around the water coolers today:     

Los Angeles Times: “Prejudice Against Morman Candidates Persists, poll says”

HuffPost Religion: “NBC and ‘Under God’”

Yahoo Sports: “NBC apologizes for omitting ‘under God’”

Faith & Reason blog: “Miss USA Contest Evolves ‘Huge Science Geek’ Wins”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The highlight of the evening is keynote speaker Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate.

 Most of the time, Palin’s political views are quoted. However, she’s expected to share her faith testimony at tonight’s event. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

A spokeswoman with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, said the event can not be held because the state Capitol building will not be open on Wednesday due to a predicted snowstorm.

Rose Day draws hundreds of the faithful to the state Capitol each year as they seek to discuss sanctity-of-life issues and legislation with their state legislators. They present red roses, which symbolize the sanctity of the unborn, to their legislators.

This year’s featured speaker was to be Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director whose new book “Unplanned” was just released.

No word yet if Rose Day activities will be scheduled for a later date.

(File Photo by Jaconna Aguirre, The Oklahoman: Brenda Arambula with St. James Catholic School prepares to deliver roses to legislators during the 2008 Rose Day activities at the state Capitol. )

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

That’s according to the “Moral State of the Union” survey results released today by the Religion News Service and Public Religion Research Institute.

The results come just as President Barack Obama’s third State of the Union address draws near.

The “Moral State of the Union” survey found that about 38 percent of Americans would give the country’s moral climate a “C.”  Thirty-seven percent of the survey respondents said they would give America’s moral climate a “D” or “F” while only 22 percent said they would give the current climate a grade of “A” or “B.”

Survey responses showed a partisan divide as well.

Perhaps this shouldn’t surprise anyone.

“We find Americans view the country moral climate through a partisan lens” said Robert P. Jones, CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute. “Both Republicans and those who identify with the Tea Party Movement are more than twice as likely as Democrats to give the nation’s moral climate a ’D’ or ‘F.’”

Read more about the survey results here: “Survey: Only 1 in 5 Give ‘Moral State of the Union’ High Marks.”  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Of note is the ”Guest Voices” commentary by Randy Roberts Potts, the grandson of renowned televangelist and Oklahoma native, the late Oral Roberts. Randy Roberts Potts, described at the end of the commentary as Oral Roberts’ gay grandson, talks about the way Christians see homosexuality: “Jesus’ message for homosexuals: It gets better.” 

The blog also features ”Guest Voices” commentary by Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Awad’s subject is State Question 755 approved by voters Tuesday. It prohibits Oklahoma courts from considering international law or Sharia law when making decisions: “What banning Sharia law means for Oklahoma Muslims.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Perhaps it’s because Friday is just around the corner.

Whatever the deal is, I find that on Thursdays I can take a little more time than usual to search out some of the religion news of the week that you may or may not have read about:

1. Just found out that Johnny Cash  is to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  Here’s a link for more information about Cash and his connection to gospel music: Cash and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.    

2.  The Washington Post’s “On Faith” blog has launched a new video series about religion and politics. The series discusses “The God Vote” in its first foray into faith and politics: “The God Vote” video.

3. I’m an avid fan of  ”Top Chef,” the  BRAVO reality TV series that pits chefs against one another (all in good fun) for cash and prizes. Just found out that Gail Simmons, the host and consulting producer of the new “Top Chef: Just Desserts”  is Jewish. I saw her name on  the Forward  50, an annual list released today by the Forward, a national weekly Jewish newspaper covering current, national and international news. The weekly put together the list of 50 men and women who the editors have chosen as people who have made a significant impact on the Jewish story in the past year.

According to Forward, Simmons speaks passionately about her mother’s Jewish cooking though her love of Jewish food is rarely evident on “Top Chef.”

Here’s a link to the list: Forward 50. 

Incidently the list includes an additional two people who the editors think might surprise some folks. I featured them a few months ago on this blog. Look at the list to find out who they are and why they made the Jewish weekly’s list.

4. This isn’t news yet, or at least the story has made it to the newsstands or computer screen just yet, but it’s coming. Look for information about the new pastor of Crossroads Church in Saturday’s Oklahoman. The Rev. Terry Barriss was elected pastor by the south Oklahoma City congregation in September. Longtime Oklahoma City residents may remember that Crossroads Church is also known as Crossroads Cathedral, one of the first megachurches in the metro. It was founded by the late Rev. Dan Sheaffer, who died in September.    

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor