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For weeks now, Matt McCarron has been unable to muster the strength to go to Sunday Mass. A lifelong Catholic, he’s often found solace in prayer. And though young, he tries to give faithfully for the needs of the church, $20 a week when he was employed full time.McCarron, 19, lost his job as a machinist last month and is back at the pizza joint where he worked in high school. He moved in with his parents to save money. "I just feel let down," said McCarron, who’d prayed that God would spare his job and is embarrassed that he…
Lilada Gee’s deep faith and the support of her Madison church helped her confront the childhood sexual abuse that has haunted her for years and gave her the strength to write about it in her 2006 memoir "I Can’t Live Like This Anymore!"Gee will share her story with Milwaukee-area religious leaders in an upcoming workshop, thought to be the first of its kind in Wisconsin aimed at helping faith leaders address sexual assault and abuse in their communities.Read more of this story.
(UNDATED) Digital podcasts and streaming video might bring Christian audiences inspirational messages in the future, but they aren’t bringing in the cash that broadcast ministries need to weather a painful economy. To make ends meet, religious broadcasters are tightening their belts and going back to basics. That means sticking with time-tested formulas, postponing innovations and counting on loyal (largely senior) audiences to keep donating even when it hurts. Read more of this story. MORE COVERAGE:Thousands Gather for Media Convention – Christian Post
WASHINGTON — Want to be almost certain you’ll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont.A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people — 85% — say yes when asked "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"Read more of this story.
When President Barack Obama announced his Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, he made one thing clear: He will keep church and state separate and not show any favoritism. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, the president said the common ground of his faith-based office will be that all religions teach people to care for one another.Read more of this story. Obama Talks God at National Prayer Breakfast – Jake Tapper, ABC NewsWhite House Faith Office to Expand – New York TimesObama Tries to Renew Faith in a Faith-Based Office – TIMEObama’s Faith List – Washington Times Belief…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Jerry James took a right to the chops for Jesus the other night.Clad in sweats, boxing gloves and headgear, the former standout amateur boxer stood inside the ropes during the homily Saturday night at New Life Church in Sioux Falls.The church bulletin referred to it as "Saturday Night Slam." But Pastor Alex Klimchuk’s intent in turning his altar into a boxing ring was more enticement than entertainment. "We try to reach out to those who aren’t already going, who think church is boring," says Klimchuk, 30. "The truth is, the church is having problems getting young…
In turbulent economic times, the watchwords are usually: Cut back. Live frugally. Hunker down and put money in safe places!But here in Boston, small groups of churchgoers have been applying a different message to money management. During the past two years, they have studied what the Bible teaches about money and wealth, discussed their personal budgets, and taken concrete steps aimed at four commitments: “Living gratefully, spending less, buying justly, and giving more.”Read more of this story.
More than 6,000 people showed up in Cary, NC, Friday for the funeral of Kay Yow, who had been the women’s basketball coach at N.C. State University for 34 seasons before losing a two-decade battle to breast cancer last week at the age of 66.Yow deemed her faith the most important thing in her life, so it’s no surprise that she would want the gospel message preached at her funeral. But what was a surprise was that she gave the message herself in this 25-minute video, a remarkable, moving farewell recorded some time before her death.Read more of this story.
NEWS RELEASEWith the main part of its new home now ready, Dane County’s busiest food pantry will move into its freshly built space and open there on Monday, Feb. 2. The customer-choice food pantry that has been operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 1309 Culmen St. in the town of Madison closed Jan. 27. Volunteers and staff have since been moving food, shelving, coolers, freezers, carts and other equipment into the pantry’s new, larger space next door, at 2033 Fish Hatchery Road.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A highly touted pro-life commercial that has aired on BET and features President Obama won’t be seen during the Super Bowl because NBC rejected it, saying it involved political and issue advocacy.Sponsored by CatholicVote.org, a project of the Fidelis Center, the ad begins by showing an active unborn baby during an ultrasound. As music plays, words on the screen read: "This child’s future is a broken home … he will be abandoned by his father … his single mother will struggle to raise him … despite the hardships he will endure … this child will become the 1st…