Baptist Press Archive

Friday, October 30, 2009

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  • Fight over abortion funding nears in push for health care
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    WASHINGTON (BP)--The Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives unveiled its 1,990-page health care bill Oct. 29 with funding for abortion intact, setting the stage for a battle with pro-life members of its own party.

    "Explicit language must be added to this health care bill to prevent unprecedented federal funding of abortion."

    -- Pro-life leader Charmaine Yoest

          A House floor vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, may occur as soon as Nov. 5.

          As expected, the massive legislation includes a "public health insurance option" managed by the federal government that would fund elective abortions and a federal subsidy program for private plans that cover abortion, pro-life organizations reported.

          There are indications Democratic pro-lifers may have enough votes to block passage of the health care measure by defeating the rule governing consideration of the legislation. The House leadership is expected to try to bring the bill to the floor under a rule that would prevent a vote on a pro-life amendment that would bar federal funds from paying for abortions in both the public and private plans. If the procedural vote on the rule fails, the legislation will not be able to go to the floor for consideration.

     
          Rep. Bart Stupak, D.-Mich., leading the Democratic pro-life effort to amend the bill, and Democrats for Life of America (DFLA) both have signaled they have enough votes to defeat the rule and block the health care proposal if their allies don't change their minds. Speaking to CNSNews.com, Stupak has said there are about 40 Democrats who have agreed to vote with him, while DFLA Executive Director Kristen Day said Oct. 29 there are about 43 Democrats committed to joining Stupak.

    Pro-lifers have little margin for error. There are 256 Democrats and 177 Republicans in the House, with two vacancies to be filled Nov. 3 in special elections. If the vote takes place before the two vacancies are filled and if all 177 Republicans and 40 Democrats oppose the rule, it would fail 217-216.

    "Anyone voting to forbid amendments to this bill is in effect voting to set up a federal government program that will directly fund abortion on demand, with federal funds ... Read More

  • ELECTION 09: N.J. among key ballots Nov. 3
    by Michael Foust, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    TRENTON, N.J. (BP)--When New Jersey voters go to the polls Tuesday, they'll decide not only who gets to reside in the governor's mansion the next four years but possibly also the future of "gay marriage" in the state. Read More

  • CP EMPHASIS: Diverse profiles reveal a common passion for cooperation
    by Marilyn Stewart, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Across the ocean, and coast to coast, Southern Baptists are responding to the call to make the Gospel known. By putting their love in action through the Cooperative Program, these five churches are demonstrating that no gift is too small, no effort too little when Southern Baptists join together to reach the world to Christ. Read More

  • CP EMPHASIS: Seminarians speak up
    by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    EDITOR'S NOTE: In recognition of the SBC's October emphasis on the Cooperative Program, Baptist Press will provide readers with extra news and information detailing the scope and depth of the Cooperative Program and its impact for the Kingdom. Using vignettes and profiles of churches and individuals, as well as historical and ongoing accounts, our intent is to explain the Cooperative Program not just as a funding channel but as one of the critical ties that bind Southern Baptists in voluntary fe... Read More

  • BP journalism conf. ventures to the Web
    by Tim Ellsworth, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Christian journalists should excel at their work and give non-believers reason to consider the Gospel, a Baptist newspaper editor told collegiate journalists Oct. 29.

    "Colossians 3:23 says, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as unto the Lord and not to men,'" said Jennifer Rash, managing editor of The Alabama Baptist. "That's what we're called to do. If you're a believer, we're called to be different. We're called to a higher standard. We need to work at ... Read More

  • CULTURE DIGEST: Vatican invitation could mean married priests
    by Erin Roach, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An invitation by the Vatican for Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical heritage could mean an increase in the number of married Catholic priests, leading to a possible reexamination of the celibacy requirement altogether.

    During a news conference Oct. 20, the Vatican announced a desire for the Catholic Church to serve as a refuge of sorts for conservative Anglicans who disagree with the church's recent... Read More

  • Mo. board authorized to act on suits against 5 breakaways
    by Staff, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--Messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention's annual meeting voted overwhelmingly to expand the executive board's authority to make decisions between MBC annual meetings regarding the lawsuits against five breakaway entities.

    By a 764-226 vote, messengers "supplemented and clarified" the scope of the executive board's decision-making authority in adopting a motion brought jointly by the MBC's Agency Recovery Group and a unanimous vote of the executive board. The mov... Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: A prom to remember
    by Tim Ellsworth, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    ST. LOUIS (BP)--Tim Sitek was as excited as you'd expect any 3-year-old to be about seeing Fredbird, the burly, red St. Louis Cardinals mascot. Read More

  • El vodka no podría ser un buen aliado para los misioneros que sirven a los musulmanes lezgi
    Por Don Graham, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Carl Stroller* no bebe vodka. Pero su ministerio pudiera no ser el mismo sin éste.

          Stroller y su esposa Amy* son misioneros bautistas del sur que dejaron su tierra natal en Carolina del Norte hace 10 años para compartir el Evangelio con el pueblo musulmán conocido como lezgi.

          Más de 600,000 lezgi viven entre las cimas nevadas de las Montañas del Cáucaso, ubicadas entre los mares Negro y Caspio. La mayoría son pobres, según los estándares occidentales, sobreviviendo como granjeros y pastores. Aunque su cultura es islámica, la creencia en Dios de los lezgi tiene raíces profundas en el animismo (alabanza de espíritus). Muchos han escuchado el nombre de Jesús, pero sólo lo conocen como un buen hombre que hizo cosas buenas.

          En terrenos rocosos como este, Stroller dice que compartir la verdad de Cristo exige paciencia para construir relaciones fuertes. Cuando no está involucrado en proyectos de desarrollo comunitario, -como la enseñanza del idioma inglés- la mayoría del tiempo Stroller habla sobre Dios mientras otros beben una botella de vodka.

          El alcohol, al igual que el animismo, está fuertemente ligado a la sociedad lezgi. El compartir un trago con un vecino, amigo o compañero de trabajo es un evento cotidiano—durante las comidas, en el trabajo, después del trabajo. La influencia rusa ha hecho que el vodka sea el licor preferido, sin mencionar que es el fuego que inflama las llamas del alcoholismo.

          Pero el deseo que tienen los lezgi por beber tiene un detalle de valor redimible—presenta una oportunidad para que Stroller explique por qué él no bebe.

          "Rechazar una bebida siempre es una respuesta rara para ellos," dijo Stroller. "No pueden creer que alguien no quiera beber, pero a menudo lleva a la oportunidad para… compartir tu testimonio y lo que Dios ha hecho en tu vida."

          "Lo más cómico es lo que ellos consideran como alcohólico y como no alcohólico. Yo no tomo vodka ... y me traen una cerveza o vino. Entonces vamos de regreso a mi testimonio acerca de por qué no bebo." Read More

  • Los ejecutivos estatales ofrecen al GTRGC su visión, criterios sobre la CBS, resurgencia
    Por el Personal, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    DALLAS (BP)--En lo que podría ser discutiblemente la más significativa reunión hasta ahora para el Grupo de Trabajo de la Resurgencia de la Gran Comisión, 22 directores ejecutivos de las convenciones estatales bautistas del sur se reunieron con ellos el 27 de octubre, para ofrecer algunas contrapropuestas, algunas posturas complementarias y visión sobre la Convención Bautista del Sur y lo que es necesario para la resurgencia de la Gran Comisión. Read More

  • Hunt: El PC no es solo una puerta a la CBS
    Por Erin Roach, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    DALLAS (BP)--Johnny Hunt, presidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur, dijo que las donaciones substanciales al Programa Cooperativo no es la única manera de participar en el trabajo de la convención y que los bautistas deben dejar de usar el porcentaje de donaciones como una vara de medir el compromiso con la Gran Comisión. Read More

  • COMPENDIO CULTURA: La invitación del Vaticano pudiera representar sacerdotes casados; ...
    Por Erin Roach, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Una invitación extendida por el Vaticano a los anglicanos para que entren en completa comunión con la Iglesia Católica mientras preservan elementos de su herencia litúrgica pudiera significar un aumento en la cantidad de sacerdotes católicos casados, conllevando a una posible reexaminación del requisito del celibato.

    Durante una conferencia de prensa el 20 de octubre, el Vaticano anunció su deseo de que la Iglesia Católica sirva como un tipo de refugio para los angli... Read More

  • EDITORIAL: Podemos ayudar
    Por Fermín Whittaker, posted Friday, October 30, 2009 (14 years ago)

    FRESNO, Calif. (BP)--Ayudando a los pobres es importante. Jesús siempre tenia interés in ayudar a los pobres. Muchos venimos de pobreza. Nuestros padres hacían sacrificios por nosotros, a veces haciendo todo lo posible para que sus hijos tuvieran los alimentos adecuados para la salud. Read More