News-Record.com

LAS VEGAS, March 4 — When the cheering section for Joe Darger is at full strength, it includes his father, his mother, his 18 siblings and his father's other wife.
They wear red T-shirts, blow on red noisemakers and wave red pompoms. They appear no different from any other group in the U.N.L.V. family section - only larger and louder.
"We cheer for all the players," said John Darger, Joe's father. "We like to get a little rowdy."
John Darger is married to Carollee Darger, Joe's mother. He is also married to Elizabeth Darger, the mother of eight of his children. He calls himself a polygamist.

"Charlie Martin, senior pastor of the 6,000-member First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, said Stanton was infringing on the rights of his employees.
"To call him a her, when he's really a she, is trampling on our religious convictions," he said. "I believe we are created in God's image."

Enjoy.

Chain hopes fish sandwich will reel in business.

It's early, but who do you expect will get the 'faith' vote?

"In the cell phone call, Pace said, her daughter could hear the child in the background saying, 'Mommy, come get me, come get me.'"

From the Associated Press:A Southern Baptist leader said Tuesday that evangelical voters might tolerate a divorced presidential candidate, but they have deep doubts about GOP hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who has been married three times.

Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, told The Associated Press that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover.

"I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."

From the Associated Press:A Southern Baptist leader said Tuesday that evangelical voters might tolerate a divorced presidential candidate, but they have deep doubts about GOP hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who has been married three times.

Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, told The Associated Press that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover.

"I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."

"There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards," Newt Gingrich tells James Dobson in an interview confessing he had an affair while he and other Republicans pushed for the impeachment of Bill Clinton. "There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards."

"What I found difficult in going through all this is (that) I don't believe in situational ethics ... that this was right and this was wrong and changing the rules to ... justify what I have done."

"I was praying and doing things I felt was wrong, but I was still doing them."

He believes his actions were "not related to what happened" with the impeachment of Clinton.

"The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge. ... (He) deliberately committed perjury, (which) is at the very heart of our legal system."

"If you don't tell the truth under oath, the whole system breaks down."

At the time, he thought "I'm not going to judge Bill Clinton as a person. ... I'm not going to cast the first stone and I clearly know I can't cast the first stone."

"I drew a line in my mind (that) ... even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law I have no choice except to move forward (with Clinton's impeachment) and say 'you cannot except felonies or perjury by highest government officials.' "

MIAMI, March 9 — One of two Roman Catholic priests accused of stealing and misappropriating as much as $8.6 million donated by parishioners in South Florida sought to end an audit of church finances, complaining to diocesan officials that the financial scrutiny was undignified and a waste of money, according to documents released by prosecutors.

The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has incurred sharp attacks from both the left and right by suggesting that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified, the Associated Press reports.

I recently wrote a column on the 2006 Social Capital report issued last week -- an attitude and action survey of local residents. With places of worship ranking so high in a person's daily life, I wondered how places of worship could work with the city on shoring up its perceived weaknesses.

How much do you know about religion?

P&G wins $19 million over 'satanism' rumor.

First modification: a new look?

"Black widow" and self-described Christian missionary has N.C. connection.

The 90-minute visit.

When I look at the ending for this missing child and this missing child, I wonder what can be really said about the power of prayer. Weren't people praying for both of them?

He goes before the church, here.

If a church can buy a $3.65 million parsonage, should the parsonage be tax free?

Hearts are in the right place but I'm not surprised the city is taking this stand.

On the The Sports Guy's basketball blog (last item):

"I wanted to write you without my name or anything, just as a student of UNC. Our loss last night was tough -- some might say heartbreaking. But what's worse is that it may overshadow the death of a true Tar Heel. Jason Ray, our mascot, died this morning. He was the very first person I met at UNC. He was helping freshmen move into the dorms as a part of Intervarsity (a Christian ministry on campus).

Students log off 'MySpace' for lent.