Book On Evolution - Popular creationist Ken Ham is quoted as follows in the 9/18 Christian News: "Recently I heaved a heavy sigh of disappointment when I heard Mike Trout, James Dobson's announcer, highly recommend a book for teenagers on the creation/evolution issue titled It Couldn't Just Happen at the end of a Focus on the Family radio program (an interview between Dr. Dobson and Philip Johnson). This book is also listed in Focus on the Family's master book list as one that `offers solid, biblical answers to questions about the Big Bang Theory, dinosaurs and much more.' My heart sank as I pictured thousands of eager moms and dads buying this book for their children. And, what would they learn? 1. Noah's Flood could be local or worldwide we can't know for sure. 2. The days of Creation could be ordinary days or millions of years we can't know for sure. 3. The Earth could be thousands or billions of years old we can't know." -(Calvary Contender, hereafter -CC)

Half Of RC Priests May Be Homosexuals - We have seen this charge made before, and from various Catholic sources (11/1/99 CC), and also the estimate that one-third of Episcopal priests are "gay" (7/1/97 CC). Now we see in the 9/18 Christian News a report from the 8/15 The Remnant stating: "A leading American churchman is claiming that the Roman Catholic priesthood has become `primarily a gay culture'." Father Donald Cozzens says an exodus of experienced priests from the church, many of them to marry, has drastically altered the gay-straight ratio. The report says the RC Church in America has paid out millions of dollars in child sex abuse cases. It says figures for the number of homosexual priests in the American Church are very difficult to pin down. Cozzens says estimates range up to 60 percent. -CC

Nun, Hindu Offer Prayer In Congress - Just two days after the first Catholic nun opened the U.S. House of Representatives with a prayer, the Roman Catholic House chaplain invited a Hindu priest (for the first time ever) from Ohio to offer the prayer, Sept. 14 (9/25 CN). Guest chaplains are recommended by members of Congress. Farewell, Christian America, when our leaders seek wisdom/guidance from false gods! -CC

Weigh Down Fires Baptist Who Wouldn't Attend Its Church? - Thomas Nelson Publishers on Sept. 8 halted publication of a new book by Gwen Shamblin, founder of Weigh Down Diet, due to dissension over her doctrinal positions (9/25 C. News). She said: "If God wanted to refer to himself, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as the `trinity,' he would not have left this word out of the Bible." She has ties to the Church of Christ, and helped start a new church in Nashville (1/99) which has about 80 (mostly Weigh Down Workshop) employees. At least 35 WDW employees have been pressured to quit their jobs, and a Southern Baptist employee says she was fired, because they would not attend Shamblin's church. -CC

Gangsta Rap Is Now Mainstream - Hard core gangsta rap is laden with bad language, explicit sex, and violence, and breeds a culture of crime. It is obsessed with a "disrespect-me-and-I'll-kill-you" attitude, the swaggering macho bragging of impregnating and abusing women (9/23 World). Eminem is the meanest, most violent and lawless. -CC

Tipper Keeps Changing Her Tune - Tipper Gore, who severed ties with the Parents' Music Resource Center which she co-founded in 1985 to have warning labels on sexually explicit and violent rock music, apologized to West Coast entertainment executives (9/15/99 CC) and tried to atone for her original "fault" by drumming with a lesbian rock band at a homosexual rights event (8/15 CC). After raising huge showbiz funds from California, it now seems politically correct to have her join Lieberman and revert back to the original Tipper. This whole thing smacks of hypocrisy. [Mrs. Gore has been a member of Peace Links, a far-left disarmament lobby (8/1/92 CC).] -CC

Hate-Crime Law May Criminalize Religious Speech - The "hate crime" law may ultimately be used to punish Christian pastors who preach that homosexuality is sinful that is, a sermon against sodomy could be considered as hate speech. The law would make some victims more worthy than others, thus denying Equal Protection. The way liberals seem to apply it is that to murder a homosexual would likely be a hate crime, but for a homosexual to murder someone would likely not be. -CC

Baptist Respond To New Mormon Temple - Over 100 people from several denominations (SBC, Lutheran, Assembly of God, etc.) distributed literature last month across the street from a new Mormon temple near Birmingham. They were not there to protest but to educate people attending open house about Mormonism's deceptive claims. "The Mormons are out there saying, `We're Christians,' and we're saying, `Not according to what the Bible teaches,'" a spokesman said (9/7 Ala. Baptist). He added, "They have a right to be there, but don't pretend you're something you're not." - CC

Steve Allen A Secular Humanist - Famous humorist and author Steve Allen created the Tonight Show and has written numerous books/songs. He recently commendably voiced disgust at TV filth, sex and violence, winning Jerry Falwell's praise on the latter's TV show. The Lutheran Layman's League last year featured Allen on a program. The National Religious Broadcasters gave Allen a Distinguished Service Award when he spoke at NRB `87, saying he "stresses Christian values." (3/1/91 CC) But Allen has served on globalist boards and has been a major promoter of humanism. He has done radio/TV spots urging people to join the American Humanist Ass'n (9/27/99 CN). He signed the Humanist Manifesto 2000. He attacked God in a decade-old book, and said the Bible contains error. Allen is hardly worthy of Christian praise. - CC

Aids Orphans - AIDS deaths have orphaned 13.5 million African children. Over 22 million Africans are infected with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, compared to 1.5 million Americans (9/9 World). Half of South Africa's youth are infected. The AIDS epidemic is largely a preventable tragedy caused largely by a sinful lifestyle. -CC

UN Ignores Abstinence In Fighting Aids - The United Nations is pushing contraception to fight AIDS in Africa, ignoring Uganda's successful abstinence strategy. It is trying to make condoms available to every man, woman, and child in Africa. The larger goal is to make contraceptives available to 95 percent of the world's young people by 2010 (9/9 World). But new evidence suggests that condoms may actually spread the disease and increase the number of HIV/AIDS transmissions through failure, and by discouraging essential lifestyle changes (abstinence, monogamy) which worked in Uganda. -CC

Gambling Causes Suicide, Divorce, Poverty - Nevada, the gambling center of America, has the highest gambling addiction, suicide and divorce rates of any of the 50 states (Life Light). Where money is highest in priority, lives are poorest in quality. Lottery gamblers with household incomes under $10,000 bet nearly three times as much on lotteries as those with incomes over $50,000. -CC

Catholics Say They Are Superior - The Vatican's pronouncement last month that Roman Catholicism is the only "instrument for the salvation of all humanity," that all "other" Christians are "deficient," and Anglican and Protestant churches "are not churches in the proper sense" has left non-Catholic religious leaders around the world in a state of shock. Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, leader of 70 million Anglicans, is dismayed. Some ecumenical evangelicals plan to just "ignore" the supremacist boasting in the 36-page document and to move ahead with local unity and dialogue pursuits with Catholics even though the document states that in such "inter-religious" dialogue, the presupposition of equality "refers to the equal personal dignity of the parties in dialogue, not to doctrinal content, nor even less to the position of Jesus Christ." The document repeatedly states that "the [Roman Catholic] Church," to the exclusion of other churches, is necessary for salvation. It states: "it would be contrary to the faith to consider the [RC] Church as one way of salvation alongside those constituted by the other religions even if these are said to be converging with the [RC] Church." The document states that it is proper to attribute "salvific efficacy" to the sacraments. The more Rome changes the more it remains the same [Rev. 18:4]. -CC

So. Baptist University Hosts Gorbachev - Union University, Jackson, Tenn., has announced that Mikhail Gorbachev will speak at its annual scholarship banquet, Oct. 10. The 9/1 Sword of the Lord reported this and we confirmed it with Union by phone. Union Pres. David Dockery explained (in Unionite) that Gorbachev has been one of the pivotal figures of the 20th century, and his actions have changed the world for the better. This is amazing a sad sign that someone is abysmally bereft of spiritual discernment. We must not forget that Gorbachev, "the butcher of Afghanistan," is an avowed lifelong Leninist/atheist. He spoke at the UN Millennium Peace Summit last month (9/15 CC) promoting a globalist Earth Charter rooted in the writings of his Green Cross environmentalist group. His Foundation sponsored a 1995 State of the World Forum (12/15/95 CC) and again last month at the UN. We agree with Sword Editor Dr. Shelton Smith that Gorbachev is "no hero" for freedom. -CC

CBF `Theological Chaos' - Conservative Southern Baptist Russell Moore reported on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's recent annual meeting in Orlando, describing it as "a bizarre mix of 19th century Romantic liberalism, postwar European neo-orthodoxy, 1960s protest politics, and contemporary pop New Age mysticism." We quote/excerpt from his report in the Oct. Baptist Banner to document some of the apostasy in the CBF: CBF participants were livid at Southern Baptist attempts to evangelize Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and others. One said she would take great offense if she were told she needed Christ to avoid hell. An awkward silence followed when Alliance of Baptists director Stan Hastey was asked whether unbelievers across the world who never come to Christ will go to hell. He finally answered, "I don't know." He did know, however, that Baptists should not be aggressive in evangelizing those in world religions. Hastey hailed same-sex marriage and other gay issues as defining social justice issues to be embraced by Baptists. The CBF is steeped in liberalism. This is but the tip of the iceberg. -CC

Hasty Celebrity Trap - In 1997, abortion clinic operator and open homosexual Eric Harrah testified of conversion in an Assembly of God church and left his Pa. abortion mill (9/2 World). During 1998 and 1999 he was the anti-abortion hero, the trophy convert, the hottest new face in pro-life fund-raising. Media divisions of Focus on the Family, Life Dynamics, Coral Ridge Ministries, Life Issues Institute, and The 700 Club all ran stories on him. But early this year, he was forced to abandon pro-life activism under a cloud of unstable behavior and suspected theft, lying, and drug abuse. Now, at 32, he has renounced Christianity and returned to homosexuality. -CC

Christians Seek Counsel From Dr. Laura - Jeff Griffith writes in Friend of the Family: "I often listen to Dr. Laura Schlesinger on the radio and I am amazed at the number of callers that identify themselves as Christians, sometimes even fundamental Christians. Although Dr. Laura is a professed [Orthodox] Jew who turned her back on the `teachings of Jesus Christ' and has openly criticized the Apostle Paul, still Christians call seeking her advice. Because she appeals to their morality and they like [what she says], they seek her counsel." -CC

BWA Cozy With Casto - Baptist World Alliance leaders, at the July 3-9 BWA General Council meeting in Cuba, had "an excellent" almost three-hour "very important" meeting with Cuba's communist leader Fidel Castro (see 8/1 CC). They seemed to have been used by Castro for propaganda purposes. The BWA resolution that gained the most publicity was the unanimous resolution calling for the end of the blockade of medicine and food products to Cuba. A BWA report says "Baptists of the world stated very clearly that they thought it was unfair to punish the poor people of Cuba by such a blockade." Why not a resolution against Castro's "unfair" denial of freedom to poor Cubans? If Southern Baptists are as conservative as they claim, why do they remain members and major supporters of such a left-wing organization as the Baptist World Alliance? -CC

Catholic Church Cooperates With WCC - The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 337, in more than 100 countries in all continents from many mainline liberal denominations. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany. He spoke at the recent World Peace Summit at the UN. The WCC has been involved with the UN over the years and supports its basic values and goals. -CC

Billy Kim Says Doctrine Not What Unites BWA - New Baptist World Alliance President Billy Kim, at the BWA General Council meeting in Cuba (see 8/1 CC), encouraged Baptists worldwide to emphasize prayer, mission and evangelism. He emphasized: "This is what unites us as Baptists, not doctrine." The BWA report said: "Again and again at all our BWA meetings Kim emphasized one word. `Unity! Unity! Unity!'" Kim gave the opening address at Billy Graham's recent Amsterdam 2000 conference. He has also in years past spoken for Falwell, MacArthur, MBI, and the NRB. -CC

PK Still Going But No Longer Fills Stadiums - Promise Keepers in 1996 marked its highest cumulative attendance of about 1 million men at 22 events. In Oct. 1997, nearly 1 million men gathered on the Washington Mall for the "Stand in the Gap" prayer meeting (9/4 CT). This year, about 13,000 attended PK's 100th conference at Pittsburgh. PK rallies today have largely moved from stadiums to arenas. PK cut staff members from a peak of about 400 to about 90 this year. Its annual budget has gone from around $100 million to about $30 million now. -CC

Potter Books Not Harmless Fantasy - All witchcraft comes from a non-God source so witches and wizards are not just harmless fantasy. The occult settings, ghoulish characters, and menacing atmosphere of Harry Potter leave a creepy aftertaste. "In Harry's dark world of spells and curses, where it's Halloween all the time, it's hard to get a grip on good" (7/22 World). Yale Prof. Harold Bloom says it's horribly written and says kids are better off not reading at all than reading Potter (USN&WR). -CC

Homosexual Issue Divides Liberal Churches - Homosexuality has emerged as the single most contentious issue facing mainline Protestant churches since the ordination of women (7/10 Chr. News). It dominated the May convention of the United Methodist Church. Episcopal Church delegates (July) approved a resolution recognizing "life-long committed relationships" other than marriage that are founded on fidelity and monogamy. It made no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual relationships (7/22 H. Times). Presbyterian Church (USA) delegates at its June meeting, by a very close 263-251 vote after an emotional debate, passed an amendment that would prohibit same-sex union ceremonies. And such is the case when "unity in diversity" includes perversity. -CC

Mainstreaming Of Porn - Pornography is a $56 billion business and growing (6/24 World). Porn companies trade on the stock exchanges. Two years ago, 8,948 hard-core videos hit the U.S. market, up from 1,275 in 1990. AT&T has become a top provider of pornography, and has transformed the image of "Ma Bell" into a harlot. -CC

Supporters Of The Left-Wing NCC - The United Methodist Church is the largest contributor to the National Council of Churches, with the Presbyterian Church (USA) the second largest. The Southern Baptist Convention and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are not members of the NCC but have long had links with it. The NCC's constitution says that any denomination, which has divisions or boards associated with NCC divisions, must maintain that it is "one in Christ" with all members of the NCC (7/17 Chr. News). The NCC still promotes leftist causes. It is tragic that the NAE now approves NAE denominations also being members of the pro-homosexual and pro-abortion NCC. -CC

Southern Baptists Join Ecumenical Event - It is with sadness, not glee, that we continue to report problems with the conservative-led SBC at all levels. Some SB friends say more time and patience are needed, but the trend toward compromise seems to be increasing, not decreasing. A recent case in point is the June 11 Pentecost 2000 in Birmingham. The July 13 Alabama Baptist said of this ecumenical event: "It included singers, dancers and other performers from many denominations who came together to praise God as one family of faith. The Birmingham Baptist Association and several area Baptist churches participated." Peggy Sanderford, associate pastor for Christian Growth at Southside Baptist Church (B'ham), said: "Our belief systems are different, but we're united in our faith in our God." Participants included Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, and mainline liberal denomination representatives. "Father" Walter Burghardt said: "Doctrine divides but service unites. What we dare not do is act as competitors." Some/most of the SBC reps may be from the liberal CBF wing of the SBC, but even if so, things such as this should hasten a long overdue split. -CC

All Liquor Is Poison - Forty-one people died in San Salvador recently because of alcohol poisoning. (Newsday.com, 10/8/00) The liquor was reported as being contaminated with methyl alcohol. Police have closed more than 50 stores where the alcohol was sold in and around San Vicente. Every liquor store in America should be closed for the same reason. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency, 105,000 Americans die annually from alcohol-related causes which could include everything from falls to drunk driving accidents to cirrhosis of the liver. For comparison sake, there are 365,000 tobacco-related deaths in the U.S. each year. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Prov. 20:1) - (W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM.)

Gay-Rights Advocacy Group Lobbies Public Schools - A gay-rights advocacy group plans to lobby school districts across the country to stop sponsoring Boy Scout troops unless the organization reverses its ban on gays. The initiative is a centerpiece of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's annual conference, which began Friday in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. M.K. Cullen, the group's public policy director, said the goal is to end the "unique and special access" the Boy Scouts get to schools. "The Boy Scouts can present in someone's homeroom, they can get the school lists of students, they can have posters in the halls," she said. "It's a very unique, special access that most other clubs do not enjoy, and at the same time they are a discriminatory club." (Lubbock A-J, 10/7/00) Not only is the paths of all that forget God going to perish, so also is the hypocrite's hope. (Job 8:13) All who want to lift biblical restrictions are joining the gay-right advocacy group in destroying America. "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us," (Psa. 2:3) is the cry of every God defying scheme. - WWM

Boy Scouts Grow In Spite Of Gay-Rights Group - Boy Scouts enjoy the overwhelming support of the American people. One poll showed that 56 percent agree with the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the Scouts. In fact, the Boy Scouts are in more demand today than ever. According to a Washington Times report, membership is nearing record levels, with more than 6.2 million participants. That's a 7 percent increase in just three years. The last time the Scouts had this much activity was back in the early `70s. But it gets even better. Believe it or not, the fastest-growing metropolitan Boy Scout Council in America is in San Francisco the very heart of homosexual activism. The politically correct power structure there refuses to let Scouts use public property because of their commitment to remain "morally straight." (Baptist Press, 9/8/00) - WWM

Rock Music Still Rules In Young People - In 1998, the last year for which statistics are available, gospel music which includes a variety of musical styles showed the greatest market growth for the top-selling genres, moving from 4.5 percent of all music sold to 6.3 percent. (San Antonio Exp. News, 7/21/00) Music set to the rock beat has enhanced these statistics. Care to guess why? Rock `n' roll discovered America in the 1950's and still rules. It accounted for 32.5 percent of sales in 1998. Those who claim they only listen to the `beat' and not the words still have a problem with the effect. - WWM

Billy Graham's Fire Of Commitment - At the Evangelical conference in Amsterdam Evan. Billy Graham made this challenge: "Let us light a fire of commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth, using every resource at our command, and with every ounce of our strength." (LAJ, 8/7/00) The famous evangelist said in an interview with Robert Schuller that the lost pagan "...may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something they don't have, and they turn to the only light they have, and I think they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven." (Calvary Contender, 10/15/97) The Apostle Peter placed much more emphasis on the name of Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) - WWM

Clinton's Sessions With Hybels - President Clinton claims his monthly, hour long discussions with Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church pastor, has "helped shepherd him through several highs and lows." (Daily Herald, 8/11/00) The Pres. referred to his affair with Monica Lewinsky as being "the terrible mistake I made." (He did not say whether this was a `high' or `low.') Did his "shepherd" call his sin of adultery, sodomy, and lying only a mistake? What a disregard of biblical warning against sin. Hybels and Pres. Clinton fit well into Isa 30:10: "Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." - WWM

ACLU Defends Non-Photograph Drivers License - "Muslim women in West Virginia routinely can be photographed with traditional veils covering all but their eyes," says Hilary Chiz, Exec. Director of the ACLU. (Religion) And we thought ACLU was against all religious practices. In reality the ACLU is only against biblical principles and practices. When it comes to false religious practices they are right there to the rescue. - WWM

Wicca Religion Defended By ACLU - This is the same malicious legal organization that has fought to prohibit the Ten Commandments from being posted in public schools and government offices. "An ACLU lawsuit in Michigan convinced school officials to change a policy that prohibited students from wearing pentacles. The ACLU acted on behalf of 17-year-old Crystal Seifferly, an honor student at Lincoln Park High School and a member of the Wicca religion. Wiccans, or witches, consider pentacles five-pointed stars enclosed in circles an important icon." (Religion) Not only did Lincoln Park High reverse it policy banning the wearing of the five-pointed star, but also paid Seifferly's legal fees. - WWM

One Religion Good As Another? - Even some Baptist(?) would answer affirmative. Rest assured Catholics denounce this. The Vatican rejected last year the idea that all religions are equal. The Catholic religion has rejected this all along. The cover up for Pope John Paul II's inter-religious dialogue for the past 22 years? The Vatican's policy of equality refers only to the "personal dignity" of individuals and not their religious doctrine. (Reuters, 9/9/99) A religion that has murdered countless numbers of true believers, especially of the Lord's true church, can hardly claim any knowledge of "personal dignity." One false religion is indeed as good as another in damning lost souls to eternal hell. All works for salvation religions are no good at all and all equal. - WWM

Another Murder Tool - "The government on Thursday approved use of the abortion pill RU-486, a major victory for abortion-rights advocates that could dramatically alter abortion in this country." (Lubbock A-J, 9/29/00) This is no less than a home remedy murder method for unwanted pregnancies. The pro-abortion crowd must be cheering with glee that America is now listed with "France, Britain, China and 10 other countries" using this method of murder. This is the same bunch who assemble together when murderers are convicted and are electrocuted or put to death in the gas chamber. I doubt that their eyes would be opened even if they could see the face or hear the cry of partial-birth aborted babies. - WWM

Man-Made Miscarriage - "Complications are rare," is the claim for the lately approved abortion pill in America. (Lubbock A-J, 9/29/00) There are ridged(?) requirements before this pill can be acquired. "The FDA restricts its use to doctors with certain training." Now American doctors must have another "MD" (Doctors of Murder) degree. Wicca religion has been accepted in a public school and the Ten Commandments removed. Now high school pregnancy can be terminated by murder medicine. "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine." (Exo. 21:22) Where is the man who impregnated and the judge who would impose the death penalty for this murder? - WWM

Pope An Exorcist? - "Pope John Paul II performed an impromptu exorcism on a teenage girl who flew into a possessed rage at the end of an audience in St. Peter's Square, said the chief exorcist for the Diocese of Rome." (Catholic News Service, 9/11/00) The pope spent more than half an hour praying over the girl and ordering a demon to leave her, but failed to fully cure her. The Apostle Paul, who claimed to be the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), had no problem with such a task. (Acts 16:16-18) Could it be that the pope has not considered repenting of sin and turning to Jesus Christ for salvation? Graham, Bright, Robertson, Dobson and other new evangelicals consider Catholic leaders as brothers. (Calvary Contender, 11/15/99) This certainly includes the pope. - WWM

The Catholic Revised Rite of Exorcism - "For the first time since 1614, the Vatican issued a revised rite of exorcism on January 26, 1998,..." (Nat'l. Catholic Reporter, 9/11/00) The revision title "Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications" carries a new warning that exorcists "first of all, must not consider people to be vexed by demons who are suffering above all from some psychic illness." Maybe the pope mis-diagnosed the problem in his failed attempt in exorcism. Or it could be that Mark 3:23 comes into play at this malfunctioned manipulation. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" The latter is likely the better choice of why the operation was a failure. - WWM