religion

Kentucky 'Religious Freedom' Bill Goes to Beshear, Critics Warn It May Gut Civil Rights Protections

Rae Hodge — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:48:24 +0000

After a lengthy partisan battle that lasted hours into the night, a bill that would allow Kentuckians to ignore laws that they say violate their religious beliefs cleared the state Senate.

Supporters say the "Religious Freedom Act" sponsored by Rep. Robert Damron, D-Nicholasville, would protect religion from government encroachment. WFPL's Phillip Bailey reported earlier this week:

Judge Sets Hearing in Christian Health Care Group Controversy

Gabe Bullard and The Associated Press — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:22:05 +0000

The dispute between a Christians-only health plan and the Kentucky state government will result in a court hearing later this month.

Medi-Share is a Florida-based ministry. Members can pay into the plan, then withdraw funds to pay medical bills. The state Supreme Court has classified Medi-Share as an insurance company that is not allowed religious exemptions to state law. Recently, the dispute garnered the attention of local tea partiers, who took Medi-Share's side.

Southern Baptists Elect First Black President

Gabe Bullard — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:37:24 +0000

The Southern Baptist Convention has elected Fred Luter as its new president, making Luter the first African-American to lead the 167-year-old denomination.

From the AP:

The Rev. Fred Luter Jr. was elected president of the nation's largest Protestant denomination on Tuesday at its annual meeting. He is the pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.
The historic move comes as the denomination tries to expand its appeal beyond its traditional white Southern base. Membership and baptisms have been generally declining in recent years.