
Notre Dame sues over Obama birth control mandate: SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The University of Notre Dame is suing Obama administration officials over the mandate requiring most employers to cover birth control. The school said Monday that the ...Full story

The Pulpit Blog

Reporter Mark Barna has covered religion since 1994, first for national magazines and then for regional newspapers.

Religious Events

Event: Religion: Help or Hindrance on the Spiritual Path at Armstrong Hall Room 234 Colorado College, Sat, Jun 23 9:00a
Event: "Cruzin' to Calvary Car Show" at Rocky Mountain Calvary Church, Sat, May 26 8:00a
Event: Teens of the Rockies Encounter Christ Car Wash/Bake Sale Fundraiser at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Sat, Jun 2 9:00a

Religion

Pro-life center celebrates motherhood with tea

Ayden Vance's mom, Valerie Vance, enjoys a spot of tea while attending a mother's tea on Saturday, May 19, 2012. The tea was for new mothers and was given at The Pregnancy Center by a group of women from Pulpit Rock Church.

MARY SHINN

Crystal West’s first child was three months old when she found out that she was pregnant with her daughter.The child’s father didn’t want her to have a second child and so West visited Planned Parenthood to get an abortion.But...... Full story

Military class suspended for its view on Islam

In this photo taken, Thursday, May 10, 2012, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon. A course for U.S. military officers was teaching that America is at war with Muslims, suggesting the U.S. ultimately may have to wipe out Islamic holy cities like Mecca and Medina just as it destroyed Hiroshima in World War II. That teaching is counter to repeated assertions by U.S. officials over the last decade that the U.S. is at war against terrorists who distort Islam _ not against the religion itself. The Defense Department suspended the course at the Joint Forces Staff College last month due to the inflammatory materials, but details of what was taught were first revealed Thursday. Dempsey called the material objectionable, irresponsible and against American values on freedom of religion.

PAULINE JELINEK AND ROBERT BURNS

WASHINGTON — A course for U.S. military officers has been teaching that America's enemy is Islam in general, not just terrorists, and suggesting that the country might ultimately have to obliterate the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...... Full story

Day of Prayer event Thursday in downtown Springs

MATT STEINER

Mayor Steve Bach, other Colorado Springs officials and members of the city’s religious community will gather Thursday on the steps of city hall to participate in the National Day of Prayer. Pastor Bill Cole, of First Presbyterian Church in...... Full story

Perry says God forgives people for 'oops moments'

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, then-Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks at his notes during a Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Republican primary campaign is already fading into memory. Remember Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan? Newt Gingrich's

AUSTIN, Texas — God forgives people for their "oops moments" even if the American electorate does not, failed Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said Wednesday at a breakfast to celebrate the National Day of Prayer. The Texas...... Full story

Church fire under investigation

DENVER — A Denver firefighter has been injured while fighting a fire at the Greater Temple of Jerusalem. Fire department spokesman Lt. Phil Champagne said Wednesday the injuries are not serious. According to the Denver Post...... Full story

Longmont church burglars took equal-opportunity approach

LONGMONT — Longmont police are investigating burglaries at churches that netted burglars hundreds of dollars in cash and gift cards. Police say the burglars have damaged door locks and broken into safes since the burglaries began on April...... Full story

Pastor: Man opened fire after crashing near Aurora church

Police investigate where an off-duty police officer killed a gunman who fatally shot a woman Sunday afternoon outside a church in Aurora at New Destiny Christian Center at 10686 E. Bethany Drive. (RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

P. SOLOMON BANDA

AURORA — A man crashed his car outside a Colorado church and opened fire on people who had come to his aid, fatally wounding the mother of the church's pastor before an off-duty officer attending service shot him dead. The pastor of Destiny...... Full story

Supreme Court won't hear school 'God banner' case

POWAY, Calif. — A San Diego County schoolteacher has lost his battle to display banners referring to God in his classroom. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case last month without comment. Westview High School math teacher...... Full story

Texas church expecting 20,000 for Tebow's Easter speech

The mania over former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has not slowed. Tebow will deliver an Easter speech on Sunday in Georgetown, Texas for what is expected to be a crowd of 20,000, according to nbcsports.com. The Celebration Church is...... Full story

Ohio school to let gay student wear T-shirt 1 day

This photo released by Lambda Legal shows Maverick Couch Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Couch, a gay student whose southwest Ohio high school prohibited him from wearing a T-shirt designed to urge tolerance of gays is suing the school, saying it's violating his freedom of expression right. (AP Photo/Lambda Legal)

CINCINNATI — A gay student suing his Ohio high school for prohibiting him from wearing a T-shirt designed to urge tolerance is being allowed to wear the shirt for one day. Sixteen-year-old Maverick Couch's lawsuit charges that Waynesville...... Full story

3 states investigate minister for secret videos

JACKSON, Miss. — Authorities in three states are investigating a traveling Baptist minister they say is suspected of making secret videos of women in bathrooms. Sam "Sammy" Nuckolls, 33, has been charged with felony counts of voyeurism in...... Full story

California woman gets prison for fake Christian concerts

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A federal judge has sentenced a Southern California promoter of Christian rock concerts to more than four years in prison for a Ponzi scheme involving nearly $1 million. Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that 43-year-old...... Full story