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House Democrats say they are hammering out agreements on health care legislation but whether or not there are enough votes to pass the measure remains in doubt.

A Mississippi school board has decided to cancel a high school prom over a girl’s desire to bring another girl as her date to the dance.

The events surrounding disgraced Rep. Eric Massa’s exit from Congress grow thicker with allegations and sexual innuendo.

About 200 people have been arrested in the brutal attacks on Christian villagers in Nigeria last weekend. Of those arrested, 49 are facing murder charges. Up to 500 people were killed — estimates of the number of victims differ — and scores more have fled their homes since the attacks by Muslim gangs on the villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Ratsat.

“American Idol” is down to its Top 12 qith a quirky combination of talents.

Tiger Woods’ return to golf is imminent, but it is unclear where it will before The Masters during the first weekend of April.

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Mark Driscoll, James MacDonald raise funds for Haiti churches

Two of the country’s most well-known evangelical pastors have created a group to help churches rebuild in the wake of disasters. Mark Driscoll of Seattle’s Mars Hill Church and James MacDonald of Chicago’s Harvest Bible Chapel … Read more

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Two large quakes shake Chile, Indonesia

A 6.6 magnitude aftershock shook Chile earlier today, sending people in the streets and forcing hospital evacuations. The quake was the largest since last Saturday’s 8.8 magnitude quake severely damaged the city of Concepcion. Doctors at … Read more

Secretary Clinton encourages Brazilians to legalize abortion

This past Wednesday in an interview with Brazil’s Globo Network in Sao Paulo, Secretary Hillary Clinton encouraged Brazilians to consider legalizing abortions. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, she has always been a pro-choice … Read more

Chile relief situation poses several challenges

Saturday’s 8.8. magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile has resulted in slow going when it comes to relief efforts reaching resident in the country’s second largest city, Concepcion, which was hardest hit by the quake. … Read more

Aid organizations mobilize for Chile

International aid groups are mobilizing efforts to assist victims of Saturday’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile. Christian humanitarian organization World Vision is assessing the damage in the capital of Santiago and hardest hit city, Concepcion. … Read more

Californians urged to stay off beaches with tsunami

Residents of California are being asked to be cautious and stay from beaches as the tsunami generated by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile churns northward. Effects in Hawaii have been mild, but … Read more

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College president sues school’s sponsoring denomination

Erskine College of South Carolina is embroiled in a power struggle with its sponsoring denomination, the Associate Reform Presbyterian Church. The college’s president is suing the denomination after it removed the majority of the board of directors. At the heart of the conflict are long-running disputes over the church trying to push the school in a more conservative direction than many educators are comfortable with.

‘Under God’ in Pledge of Allegiance upheld by federal appeals court

A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the use of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, rejecting arguments on Thursday that the phrases violate the separation of church and state. “The Pledge is constitutional,” Judge Carlos Bea wrote for the majority in the 2-1 ruling. “The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded.”

Among evangelicals, only Americans skeptical of climate change

A meeting of the World Evangelical Alliance exposed divisions between American evangelicals and their counterparts in the rest of the world about climate change. Conservative American evangelicals were far more skeptical of the reality and severity of climate change than people from any other country. “They know it is real,” said Deborah Fikes, executive advisor of the World Evangelical Alliance – a global alliance of churches in 128 nations and over 100 international organizations commenting on the opinions of other countries. Perception of other evangelicals around the world interpret the denial of climate change as an indication Americans are “self-absorbed” and “lack [the] spiritual will” to change their lifestyle to help solve a problem that is life threatening, she said.

Nigerian police charge 49 with murder in attacks on Christian villagers

Secular historians increasingly interested in studying religion

Religion has become a hot topic for professional historians to investigate, leading to supposition that a secular view on religious theories might provide the best scholarship. “The practice of history is best served by many historians working from all their separate angles,” said Rick Kennedy, president of the Conference on Faith and History (CFH) and a professor of history at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. “What is good about the new surge in religious history is that something that was neglected is now gaining its rightful place.”

Barring new charges, remaining Haiti missonary likely to be freed

Unless new charges are filed against her, the last of 10 Southern Baptist mission volunteers jailed in Haiti on suspicion of child kidnapping will have to be released, according to an expert on Haiti’s legal system. The Haitian judge overseeing the case involving the mission team composed mostly of members from two Idaho Southern Baptist congregations released the ninth team member, 24-year-old Charisa Coulter, on March 8.

Faith council submits recommendations to White House

The faith council advising the White House on policy prescriptions for a range of social issues submitted its final report Wednesday. Abortion reduction and religious hiring issues, two of the most contentious issues where faith and government intersect, was left off the table. The next council will be named in late spring/early summer, according to Faith Office Director Joshua Dubois. He said he doesn’t expect the next council to address the same issues this one did.

Gay marriage in D.C. raises questions about faith, funding

In response to the new gay marriage law in Washington, Catholic Charities closed its adoption and foster care programs and cut spousal benefits to future employees—to avoid providing services to homosexual couples. If a church or other religious charity receives government funding, should it follow all government rules, including those against discrimination based on sexual orientation? Or should government exempt such organizations from requirements that violate particular religious beliefs?

Outcry builds in wake of Nigeria attack on Christian villagers

An Anglican Archbishop in Nigeria lamented Sunday’s attack on Christians near the city of Jos and pleaded for an end to the bloodshed between Christians and Muslims. “Some of these communities may never again be recognized in history because generations have been wiped out,” said the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican Archbishop of Josin a statement. “Hundreds of corpses of men, women, children and grandchildren littered the burned houses, roads, bush paths, farm areas and hiding places,” he said.

World Vision staffers killed in Pakistan attack

Six World Vision staffers were killed early Wednesday by militants who stormed an office in northern Pakistan and executed the employees. The Christian humanitarian organization temporarily suspended its operations in Pakistan. The attack took place in Oghi, a small town 40 miles north of the capital Islamabad.

Obama relies on a spiritual cabinet for faith guidance

President Obama has a spiritual cabinet of sorts he relies on to give him guidance in his faith and how it meshes with public policy. Included in the group is Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter. Hunter, 61, pastors the 12,000-member Northland Church outside Orlando, and leads a new crop of centrist pastors calling for a cease-fire in the culture wars. He’s also pushing to broaden the evangelical agenda to include issues like poverty, immigration and the environment.

Third suspect arrested in California church shooting

A third suspect has been arrested in the shootings of a man and a boy during a Richmond, Calif., church service on Valentine’s Day. Richmond police this morning took into custody Marcel Buggs, 18, on charges including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm. The Richmond resident had been under surveillance for more than a week, according to Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French.

Renewed activism by bishops on abortion shaping health care debate

The influence of Catholic bishops in the health care debate has been noticeable and a break from laity who either don’t see abortion as a make-or-break issue or who conversely don’t embrace any reform whatsoever. The stance of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to call for reform with strict limitations on abortion has distanced them from past political deal-making and toward renewed activism.

Nigeria uneasy after attacks on Christians

Tensions in Nigeria remain high in the aftermath of the killing of nearly 400 Christians by Muslim gangs armed with machetes. This latest conflict continues ongoing violence between Christians and Muslims in Africa’s most populous and most diverse country. The dead, in a freshly dug mass grave, included a pregnant woman and at least one infant. A few miles away in Jos, a city of a half-million at the crossroads of Nigeria’s Muslim north and predominantly Christian south, troops patrolled the outskirts and set up checkpoints.

Habitat for Humanity begins Chile operation

Habitat for Humanity is beginning work at doing its part to help victims of the Chile earthquake recover. The Christian humanitarian organization is clearing ground on the first of 36 homes it plans to build in the country rocked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Only local volunteers are being used at this time because of transportation difficulties.