Christian authors blast Amazon for banning their books, selling pedophilia titles

Christian authors who once identified as gay or lesbian are highlighting the double standard Amazon is applying by removing their books from the platform while continuing to sell titles that promote pedophilia.

Restored Hope Network Executive Director Anne Paulk and pastoral counselor Joe Dallas both saw their books removed from the retail giant. Amazon told some authors that their books, which detail how Jesus transformed their lives and sexual identities, were in "violation of our content guidelines."

Paulk, the author of Restoring Sexual Identity: Hope for Women Who Struggle with Same-Sex Attraction, said in a statement to local media on Thursday that she's not surprised books like her's and Dallas' have been banned by the retailer.

“But it is literally criminal what the site still offers for sale,” she said.

Nigerian priest killed as car set ablaze

A Catholic priest was killed in Nigeria this week when the car he was driving was set ablaze.

Fr. David Tanko was traveling within the Jalingo diocese of Nigeria, near the country’s border with Cameroon, when he was attacked Aug. 29. The priest was traveling to a “peace meeting” of local clergymen to discuss a conflict between the local Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups.

“We received the news of his death with shock. This is sad. The diocese is mourning,”  Bishop Charles Hammawa of Jalingo told local media.

“We have been preaching peace and making efforts to bring both parties in crisis in the area to a roundtable discussion,” the bishop added.

Shiban Tikari, chairman of Taraba State Council, told local media that a Tiv militia carried out the attack.

Hammawa encouraged a peaceful response to Tanko’s killing.

“Our basic concern now is to give him a befitting burial,”  the bishop said.

“We don’t want any group to go on reprisal. Going on reprisal will only worsen the situation.”

The bishop announced a Vigil Mass for the priest on Monday, Sept. 2; and burial the following day at the diocesan cemetery in Jalingo.

Death row inmates appeal to North Carolina Supreme Court, citing racial bias

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The Supreme Court of North Carolina is set to hear the case of six death row inmates who say a repealed state law should still allow them to be resentenced to life without parole, since they were able to successfully demonstrate that racial bias was a factor in their death sentences.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments Monday and Tuesday in the cases of four death row inmates who briefly were resentenced to life without parole when state legislators approved the Racial Justice Act in 2009, the AP reports.

10th Avenue North Frontman: Stop Begging to Know God's Will for Your Life

After years of wrestling with his obsession to know God's will for his life, Tenth Avenue North lead singer Mike Donehey came to an "aha" moment. God had not revealed His plan to Donehey because God Himself was the plan.

Donehey had to ask God to change his will to seek the Lord first and focus on serving Him. And it all began with his prayer life.

Bishops praise proposal to clarify religious exemptions for federal contractors

Leaders at the U.S. bishops’ conference have praised a U.S. Labor Department proposal to clarify protections for religious employers seeking federal contracts.

“Faith-based groups should have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field as they seek to partner with the federal government to provide critical social services,” said the heads of three committees for the U.S. bishops.

Holy Spirit Shows Music Industry Veteran What Our Culture Gets Totally Wrong About Success

Mark Maxwell is an entertainment lawyer and a music business veteran, but he's also a committed Christian with a unique and refreshing perspective on integrity and success.

Maxwell was once a record label executive, but he doesn't approach life in the stereotypical way some might expect from an attorney and music industry pro. Rather than putting business, money and materialism first, he follows a totally different blueprint.

Migrant families to face longer detention under new Trump rule; faith groups concerned

Christian advocacy groups are speaking out after the Trump administration announced a new regulation Wednesday that would allow for undocumented migrant children to be detained without limit in immigration detention facilities.

The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services unveiled the new rule that opens the door for the Trump administration to detain migrant families who cross the U.S. southern border indefinitely.

Hong Kong student leader: Catholics should take 'major role' in peaceful protests

Protesters hold placards during a rally in Chartered Garden on August 16, 2019 in Hong Kong, China.

The acting president of the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students told CNA this week that he would like to see Catholics and other Christians take on a larger role in ongoing protests against the government, amid fears of a crackdown by Chinese authorities.

"For this movement, it's a great chance for the Catholics and [Protestant] Christians to cooperate with each other," Edwin Chow, a student studying Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University, said in a statement.

Are You Rebuking Satan the Wrong Way?

Is it enough to just rebuke the enemy?

Are we missing an important element of prayer? We've all heard people say, "I rebuke you, devil" or "I rebuked the enemy."

But, are we following up those words with an action we want the enemy to take as Jesus did? Are we binding and restricting our situation or storms and then speaking to it and declaring over our situation what it should do?

This Spiritual DNA Is Vital for a Healthy Marriage

When we come at our marriage to be served instead of to serve the other person, we are setting ourselves up for significant, unnecessary pain. If a man or woman is not a servant, he or she is not ready for marriage.

If there is not a servant at the very core of who you are, you have totally missed why you are here on planet Earth, and why you are married and received a family. Each responsibility is designed to expand your ability and capacity to serve with excellence and a great attitude.

Survey on Catholic belief in the Eucharist prompts calls for better catechesis

After a recent survey found that two-thirds of Catholics do not believe Church teaching about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Catholic commenters are stressing the importance of better faith formation.

“We should never assume that ‘everyone here knows the basics.’ We have to constantly reiterate the basics and take every advantage that we have to catechize,” said John Bergsma, a professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

VP Mike Pence: Spend more time in prayer than online

Vice President Mike Pence is urging people to spend more time on their knees in prayer than they do online, particularly when faced with challenges.

Speaking at Alliance Defending Freedom's fireside chat Tuesday, the vice president addressed the controversy that surrounded his wife, second lady Karen Pence, earlier this year when it became known that she was returning to teaching art part-time at a Christian school in northern Virginia where she previously taught when he was a Congressman.

Is Loving Yourself Selfish?

While loving yourself as God loves you is an important experience and practice, many can struggle and wonder, Will this lead me to become selfish? Will loving myself lead me to become self-centered?

In this video, I want to address the question that asks, "Is loving yourself something that can lead you to becoming selfish?" I want to help you apply some wisdom so you can address this issue with fruitfulness, balance and grounded living.

I will address the tension between loving others sacrificially and also tending to the needs of your own heart. I will share what loving yourself is not while also getting to some of the core issues we need to address when it comes to loving God, loving yourself and loving others.

White roses fall inside Roman basilica to mark 4th century Marian miracle

White rose petals fell from the ceiling of St. Mary Major Basilica Monday, as Romans celebrated the anniversary of a 4th century Marian miracle.

The miracle, which inspired the construction of the papal Marian basilica, involved a miraculous snowfall in Rome on Aug. 5 in the year 358.

The Dormition Fast: The Eastern Christian season leading to the Assumption

Theophanes the Greek's Dormition of the Mother of God (1392).

Each year the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as other Eastern Christians, participate in a fasting season Aug. 1-14 in preparation for the Aug. 15 feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (which is celebrated as the Assumption in the Latin rite).

Traditionally, during the strict fourteen day fast, Eastern Catholics abstain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil on weekdays, with some relaxation on the weekends and on the feast of the Transfiguration. The fast is relaxed for children and the elderly, or for those with a medical condition.

Coalition of left-leaning pastors warn against Christian nationalism

The Right Rev. Michael Curry, the first African-American Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

A coalition of mostly left leaning pastors have joined a campaign warning against Christian nationalism.

Among the endorsers of the campaign's statement is bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, the Rev. Michael Curry, a supporter of same-sex marriage who presided over the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.