A pastor described by police as charismatic and controlling pleaded guilty Wednesday to numerous counts of child rape and molestation involving five young girls in Kitsap County . Robbin Leeroy Harper, 60, leader of The Church, faces more than 26 years in prison, though prosecutors and his own lawyer have agreed to recommend a 23-year term when Harper is sentenced April 9. "We're happy with this," said Brenda, the mother of one victim, who asked that her last name not be published in order to shield her daughter's identity. "Everybody is relieved. My daughter is happy about it, too." The young woman, now 20, called police last fall to report that Harper had been molesting her since she was 12. He told the pre-teen -- as well as 7- and 8-year-old victims -- that he was showing them pornographic material and teaching them to perform oral sex on him as preparation for marriage, according to court documents. "I'm not really about revenge," said Bre...

By Linda Stanton The re-awakening of atheism in America is going to make for some very interesting times. Leaders of the Christian Right have spent years trying to cast themselves as the voiceless victims in a secular society, but the scapegoating is over. (Want to talk marginalized? How many atheists have there ever been in Congress or the White House?) Nonbelievers know a lot about Christianity and Judaism, most having been raised in religious families. Believers, however, are somewhat less clued-in about atheists. Here are a few simple truths about who they are, and aren’t. Atheists are well-behaved. Atheists seem to play well with others overall. They’re not in the news for getting caught doing things they tell others not to do. Most co-exist peacefully with believing family and friends. They pay taxes. Atheists don’t start wars on behalf of atheism. They do join the military, however, and contrary to the cliché, they are found in foxholes. In fact, there is a lawsuit now against D...

A Decatur pastor faces at least 25 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated sexual battery and child molestation of his 15-year-old foster child, authorities said. DeKalb County prosecutors contend Bishop Frederick Kelley, who headed Greater New Macedonia Church of God in Christ , had a history of child molestation and rape involving family members going back 35 years. Kelley has vehemently proclaimed his innocence. He was in the DeKalb jail Sunday awaiting a sentencing date after a jury found him guilty Friday of two counts of sexual battery and four counts of child molestation. The minimum sentence is 25 years. The jury acquitted him of rape. Kelley was arrested in January 2007 on charges of rape and molestation involving a 15-year-old foster girl in his house. The pastor proclaimed his innocence in a TV news broadcast. The newscast prompted three of his relatives to tell police that he molested or raped them years before, said Peter Boehm, the DeKalb prosecutor who hand...

Some think so! See http://barackobamaantichrist.blogspot.com/ . Here's what an article in the New York Sun had to say: Let us start by saying that hope is good, political involvement is to be applauded, and young people are not all shallow sheep, flocking to the latest hip thing, be it a tattoo, tongue stud, iPod, or, ahem, presidential candidate. Okay, so now I can ask: Is the Obama campaign becoming a cult? It's hard not to sense something a little strange going on, considering the nearly unprecedented swell of love and fervor the man is inspiring. Contributions are pouring in. Endorsements are raining down. Even people are falling down: At six of Mr. Obama's rallies, people have fainted. That's just not what happens with most campaigns. "I would not say that Obama fits the pattern of a cult leader," a religious studies professor at the University of Denver, Carl Raschke, said. "But there is a very cult-like situation: a population longing for absolute...

PROSPEROUS pastor Benny Hinn flew into Brisbane a multimillionaire. He left, 28 hours and three shows later, an estimated $800,000 richer. The Queensland capital was a goldmine for the flamboyant televangelist who left with cash, cheques and the bank account and credit card details of more than 50,000 Australians fans. Some attendees, who travelled from as far away as Hong Kong and Perth , handed over gold earrings and wedding rings instead of cash. An Australian Taxation Office spokeswoman said Pastor Hinn's Australian haul – part of an estimated $110 million donated to the World Healing Centre Church each year – was seen as a "love offering". "The tax office is unable to comment on individual tax matters," the spokeswoman said. "However gifts received by churches aren't usually tax-exempt unless they're given in a personal capacity. It's a very complicated issue." An Australian Customs Service spokeswoman said Pastor Hinn's visa al...

Dr. Winell discusses with Rich Sanchez of "Out in the Open" the shooting attack on New Life Church in Colorado Springs by Matthew Murray . She says many are hurt and angry about religious abuse, because some churches teach toxic ideas and are all about conformity and fear.

Controversial Southern Baptist Pastor Wiley Drake has again urged his followers to pray for the deaths of staff members at Americans United for Separation of Church and State . Last August, Americans United filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service about Drake’s use of church letterhead and a church-based radio program to endorse presidential candidate Mike Huckabee . Federal tax law forbids tax-exempt groups from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. In a Feb. 5 letter, the IRS notified Drake that his First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park is being investigated. In response, Drake issued a Feb. 14 e-mail and website appeal to followers to engage in “imprecatory prayers” (curses) against Americans United and three of its staff members. Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “We deplore Pastor Drake’s reckless and repugnant antics. Introducing this kind of religious extremism into American life is reprehensible. “We have asked t...

HOUSTON — A youth minister who confessed to the unsolved 1994 killing of a convenience store clerk is being widely forgiven by worshipers at his former church who say they admire his courage to finally surrender to police. Calvin Wayne Inman, 29, remains jailed without bond since being charged Wednesday with capital murder in the stabbing death of a clerk during an alleged plot to steal cash and cigarettes. He was 16 at the time. In the first service Sunday at the 800-member Elim Church since Inman was arrested last week, congregants praised the recently ordained minister as a born-again role model taking responsibility for his sin. "He's a hero, really," said Kelley Graham, 24. "I don't know how many people would do what he did. The Bible says you just need to confess to God. Calvin took an extra step." Ordained as a minister in November, Inman's admission broke a cold case for police in suburban Pasadena. He went to authorities on Feb. 5, voluntarily...

In this presidential campaign season, Democrats and Republicans alike have declared their religious faith. They do it, in part, because they believe it wins political points. After all, the latest Harris polls show somewhere between 73 and 80 percent of Americans believe in God. But what about the rest? Agnostics say they just don't know; others say they are firm non-believers. Whichever is the case, non-believers are increasingly outspoken in modern America. By all appearances, the Lows are a tight-knit, loving family. Ron and Alice are devoted parents. Daughters Morgen and Maddy are good students involved in wholesome activities. And there is one other significant fact of their lives: the Lows -- all four them -- are atheists. They say it's the certainty of science as opposed to what they call the "magic" of religion. "I do feel like it's really important the whole world think rationally," Ron Low said. "I think a lot can go wrong when people make...

The Rev. Gregory Clarke , pastor of New Hope Baptist Church , checked in to a federal penitentiary in Atlanta around 8 a.m. Friday morning to begin serving a 21-month sentence for tax fraud. Clarke walked into prison wearing a Crimson Tide jacket and baseball cap. He made the journey on a chartered bus, accompanied by about 50 church members. Other church members and supporters followed in vehicles. A federal jury convicted Clarke in July 2007 on charges he filed false income tax returns for 2000, 2001 and 2002. At trial prosecutors said Clarke underreported $110,000 in earned income and schemes to deceive the government about the money. Clarke has said he was singled out because of his friendship with former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who is serving a prison sentence after he was convicted on seven corruption-related counts by a federal jury in Montgomery in 2006. Here is a video taken before the bus departed for Atlanta. Clarke tells reporters and supporters that he is ready to repo...