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California Highway patrol officers had to cut off a Toyota Prius which reached speeds near 100 miles per hour Monday when the gas pedal stuck and brakes failed to work. The incident happened while Toyota continues to make its case that its massive recalls will solve its numerous technical problems.

A 22-year-old woman missing more than 14 years has been found safe in California, and her mother is accused of abducting her.

With a campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania, President Obama is making a final push for passage of health care reform legislation. Votes are expected in Congress next week.

Disagreement over abortion language in the passed House and Senate health care reform bills remains one of the most significant obstacles to reconcile. Timothy Jost, co-author of the casebook “Health Law,” which is widely used throughout the United States in teaching health law at law schools, insists that no tax dollars can go toward funding of abortions under the Senate bill.

The Supreme Court will decide a free speech case centered on a controversial Kansas pastor whose church demonstrates at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan claiming that God is punishing the United States military for its acceptance of gay service members.

Parts of Nigeria has been placed on a state of alert by its interim president in the wake of the killing of more than 200 Christians in a religious and ethnic slaughter on Sunday.

Farrah Fawcett’s widower Ryan O’Neal was upset by her omission from a memorial segment during the Oscars which highlighted celebrities who have died in the past year. Fawcett dies last year after a long battle with cancer.

Police investigators Monday said they are arranging to interview Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger about sexual assault allegations lodged against him by a young woman, and that they will seek a DNA sample.

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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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Missionary freed from Haitian jail

A U.S. missionary held for more than a month in Haiti on kidnapping charges flew back to the United States on Monday after being released from prison, while the leader of her Baptist group remained in custody. Charisa Coulter, 24, was freed Monday and whisked from her jail cell to the airport by U.S. Embassy staff. Wearing a red tank top and sunglasses, she declined comment as she quickly got into an SUV that took her to the Haitian airport, where she caught a flight back to the United States.

Abortion remains contentious sticking point in health care push

Disagreement over abortion language in the passed House and Senate health care reform bills remains one of the most significant obstacles to reconcile. Timothy Jost, co-author of the casebook “Health Law,” which is widely used throughout the United States in teaching health law at law schools, insists that no tax dollars can go toward funding of abortions under the Senate bill.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki bishops call for nuclear ban

The Roman Catholic bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the only cities in the world that were leveled by atomic bombs—are urging world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons. Nagasaki Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami and Hiroshima Bishop Joseph Atsumi Misue released a joint statement ahead of a nuclear security summit scheduled for April in Washington, and a review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York in May.

Should religion be taken into account for next Supreme Court nominee?

There was a time in the recent past where religious affiliation was a significant factor in the way the Supreme Court was perceived. That is now being brought into question. With the last remaining Protestant on the Court, John Paul Stevens, about to turn 90, it raises the question whether or not President Obama would necessarily need to nominate a Protestant to the judiciary or if such considerations no longer trump legal scholarship and accomplishment.

Oregon couple sentenced to 16 months in faith-healing death

A judge sentenced two Oregon parents to 16 months in prison on Monday, calling their decision to not seek medical care for their 16-year-old son a “crime that was a product of an unwillingness to respect the boundaries of freedom of expression.” The parents, Jeffrey and Marci Beagley, had been found guilty of criminally negligent homicide on Feb. 2 in the death of 16-year-old Neil Beagley, who died in June 2008 of complications involved with a urinary tract obstruction.

Scandals put German churches under scrutiny

Germany’s Protestant and Catholic churches may be facing the biggest credibility crisis in decades after an unprecedented bout of scandal-fueled negative media coverage. Bishop Margot Kassmann, the first woman to lead the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), resigned as leader of German Protestants on Feb. 24 after she was arrested for drunk driving, just four months into office. In the same week, Catholic bishops met in Freiburg to address allegations of widespread sexual abuse of children by clergy that had surfaced late in January, prompting a possible criminal probe by state officials.

Donor fatigue may be settling in after recent quakes

With the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and now Taiwan, relief aid is spread thin. Though Chile’s earthquake was of greater magnitude, the response to the crisis was significantly less. Several news agencies, including the Seattle Times and Naples News, say this is a sign of donor fatigue setting in, especially since most of the globe is in economic crisis.

Religious, ethnic violence start anew in Nigeria

At least 100 people have been reported killed in suspected religious clashes near the central Nigerian city of Jos. Witnesses said several villages just outside of the city were attacked simultaneously overnight Sunday. The area has seen several recent flare-ups between Christians and Muslims. The attack happened before dawn on Sunday morning when gangs of men descended on several communities, centered on the village of Dogo-Nahawa, and attacked people with machetes, reports say.

Release ordered for one of jailed Haiti missionaries

One of the two Idaho missionaries still imprisoned in Haiti for attempting to transport a busload of children across the border with Dominican Republic has been ordered to be released. Charisa Coulter was awaiting being sent home from a Port-au-Prince jail, while the group’s leader, Laura, Silsby, will remain for the time being.

Haitians buoyed by remarkable show of faith

Over the last two months, Haitians have shown a remarkable swelling of faith and determination as they try to survive and move forward from the Jan. 12 earthquake. Christian solidarity among Haitians has been central to their ability to cope with the disastrous surroundings. World Vision’s Laura Blank, who arrived the day after the quake, was amazed by the self-sacrificial attitude of the nonprofit’s Haitian staff. When they passed by destroyed buildings, they often called out the names of friends or relatives who had died there. “I can’t imagine how they cope with the grieving and stress,” said Blank. “They are so used to being helpers, and now they see themselves as survivors who also need help.”

D.C. Catholic Charities under fire for cutting spousal health benefits due to gay marriage concerns

Tim Sawina, who until last July was the chief operation officer for Catholic Charities, lashed out at his former employer for changes to health benefit plans that essentially drop spouses from being eligible for coverage. Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop for the Diocese of Washington, D.C., decided to cut the benefits to deny any possibly gay or lesbian partners of Catholic Charities employees from receiving benefits. Gay marriage became legal this week in D.C.

Atheist group aims to match churchgoers in giving

Foundation Beyond Belief is an organization comprised of secular humanists and atheists urging nonbelievers to give generously to charitable causes to demonstrate they are as giving as religious communities. “The nonreligious are generous and compassionate, but our giving lags behind the religious,” said Dale McGowan, executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief. “It’s time for those of us who are otherwise engaged on Sunday mornings to have our own easy and regular means of giving.”

White House faith panel finalizes set of receommendations

The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships has completed a year-long study and is ready to present recommendations to President Obama. The report will be submitted next week. Recommendations include developing interfaith service projects on 500 U.S. college campuses and in 40 U.S. cities and increased federal funding for programs to promote fatherhood, including among fathers in the military and in prison.

Supreme Court declines to block D.C. gay marriage

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts declined a last-ditch request by opponents of gay marriage to halt ceremonies in the District of Columbia. Same-sex couples are in the nation’s capital are now able to marry based on legislation passed in December.

Iowa teacher suspended for not allowing Wiccan altar

An Iowa shop class teacher has been given an unpaid suspension for not allowing a student to build a Wiccan altar in class. The teacher, Dale Halferty, has disallowed crosses being made in class based on the separation of church and state, but still clearly identified himself as a Christian. “Personally, I think it’s offensive to worship rocks and trees,” Halferty said of Wicca, a religion based on ancient beliefs and a reverence for the Earth. “I am just trying to be moral. I don’t know how we can profess to be Christians and let this go on.”