Catholic bishops endorse Calif. gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California’s Roman Catholic bishops are urging parishioners to support a fall ballot measure that seeks to overturn the court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

The California Catholic Conference issued a statement strongly encouraging parishioners “to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8.”

In the statement, the bishops say their position is based partly on the presumption that while all people deserve to be treated with dignity, being raised by a married mother and father is “the ideal for the well being of children.”

The conference’s executive director said the bishops plan to develop materials that parish priests can use to address the topic between now and election day.

The conference represents the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco and the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Stockton.

http://www.cacatholic.org/

Christian Exodus leader stepping down, group still focusing on S.C.

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) — A group that aspires to create an independent Christian nation has lost its executive director but will continue its efforts from its base in South Carolina.

Cory Burnell has stepped down as leader of Christian Exodus, a group that was supposed to move members to South Carolina to influence elections and possibly secede from the United States.

Burnell said he chose South Carolina because of its location, economic prospects, Christian influence and conservative voting history.

Burnell, a financial planner, had planned to move to Anderson, in the state’s northwest corner. But he said a job offer with a local company was withdrawn after his affiliation with the group was discovered.

Burnell cited the pressures of self-employment and family as factors that have kept him from being an effective leader — although he will remain as the group’s board chairman.

While the broad focus of the organization remains to create an independent Christian nation, the more direct focus of the group would be to help members move toward self-sufficiency, said Keith Humphrey, the group’s new executive director.

http://www.christianexodus.org

Church gas subsidy means long lines at pumps

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Motorists in Morristown got some religion along with their regular.

Congregants at the Liquid Church of Morristown were at the pumps of an Exxon station, where the church was subsidizing gas sales Sunday.

Instead of the full price of $4.15, about 300 people got their fuel for 99 cents.

For the congregation, it was a chance to do a good deed — and maybe a little recruiting.

Church members handed out water and doughnuts to the people who waited in line as long as three hours for the discounted fuel.