The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

Beaverton pastor sues blogger

Beaverton church-blogger case goes national!

A local Oregon pastor is suing former members for a half million for their stinging review of their church on their blog. The former members said the church acted cult-like, was “creepy” and used “control tactics” and posted the reviews on Dex and Google review pages. The case is putting the test to free speech and libel. The pastor says its defamation. The blogger said,”I thought, I’m just going to post a review, We do it with restaurants and hotels and whatnot, and I thought, why not do it with this church?”

The case has attracted national attention.

Watch the two videos below.

Video: Black pastors debate Obama marriage stance

CNN brought in two African American pastors to discuss President Obama’s change on same-sex marriage. Below is what they said.

Fight for religious freedom with stage power?

Fight for religious freedom with stage power?
By Saint Luke Productions
Battleground Washington

On April 12, 2012 the U. S. Catholic Bishops called on all dioceses and parishes to sponsor “special events that would constitute a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty.”

Here’s a perfect answer to their call to action:
Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz, performed live by actor Leonardo Defilippis!

This powerful one-man production is touring North America, and performance dates are still available. Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz, performed by Leonardo Defilippis of St. Luke Productions, holds a powerfully relevant message for our culture at a time when religious freedom and values are under attack.

Salem Catholic school triples while others close

By Guest Opinion,

Blanchet Catholic School in Salem, Ore., had 110 students when it opened in 1995; now it has 375 students. But the school is hardly finished with its plans to improve; in fact, it has just finished the first year of a five-year plan to expand its facilities. Rather than attracting new students, the school is attempting to improve the academic experience of the students it already has.

During the 2009-2010 school year, the school studied how to improve, as the administration and board of directors sought to figure out what students and teachers wanted to see changed. Now, the school has a new website and renovated buildings—but it still needs a commons area. In April, Blanchet broke ground for a projected 10,600-square-foot commons building to be the heart of its campus. The building will contain both cafeteria space, kitchens, and locker rooms; students will no longer need to study in the hallways.

Senate Bill supports D-Day Prayer Act

D-Day Landing Prayer Act Introduced in U.S. Senate
FDR’s D-Day Landing Prayer Act is introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Rob Portman of Ohio

The D-Day Landing Prayer Act took another step closer to becoming a reality. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, responding to the wishes of veterans and their families, introduced this legislation which will add FDR’s D-Day Landing Prayer in its entirety to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., and urged his colleagues to pass it quickly.

Senator Portman made the following statement, “On D-Day, courageous Americans risked and sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedoms and end tyranny abroad,” said Portman. “That morning, President Roosevelt asked our nation to come together to pray for the men overseas. His words brought strength and comfort to many during one of the most challenging times for our nation and will forever be etched in our history.

Author counters Thomas Jefferson anti-religion myth

By Brenda Smotherman

Repetition can’t turn slander into truth, and old lies remain false. But when it comes to the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, renowned historian David Barton, who was the #1 trending topic on Google earlier this week, argues that generations of Americans have been deceived into believing slanderous lies about one of the greatest wordsmiths our nation has ever known, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and our third president.

History books routinely teach that Jefferson was an anti-Christian secularist, rewriting the Bible to his liking, fathering a child with one of his slaves, and little more than another racist, bigoted colonist — but none of those claims are actually true.

David Barton is revealing his discoveries about the real Thomas Jefferson in a new book, The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson which is celebrating its second week on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Portland Archbishop to ordian ten priests

Archbishop to ordain ten priests
Archdiocese of Portland

Archbishop John G. Vlazny will ordain ten priests on Saturday, June 9, at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass of ordination will begin at 11:00 am. This is the largest ordination class since 2009 when seven men were ordained priests at one time. Those being ordained are: Deacons Justus O. Alaeto, Arturo Romero-Bautista, Jeffrey M. Eirvin, Jose M. Campos Garcia, James D. Graham, J. Moises Kumul Mac, Matthew A. Libra, Joseph H. Nguyen, Benjamin A. Tapia Ortiz, and Rodel de Mesa.

Church hidden video scare rattles small town

In Aumsville Oregon a man was arrested for having child pornography on his computer. Police discovered also hidden camera videos that were taken inside a church bathroom. The man arrested, Christopher Fowler, was the church janitor and at times a youth leader and bus driver. He had been working at Bethel Baptist Church for six years. Watch the video for more news on this troubling incident.

Chuck Norris magic turns violent film from R to PG-13 (Expendables 2)

Chuck Norris turns violent film from R to PG-13 (Expendables 2)
By Guest Opinion,

The most unlikely of movies have been renewed to fit a PG-13 rating. We are talking about Expendables 2 featuring the Hollywood A-list of brawny stars including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Swarzennegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Stratham, Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris. The first Expendables was a buffet of violence. Thanks to the new star, Chuck Norris, the sequel to Expendables is toned down.    It started as an R-rating prospect and now is a PG-13 rated film.

Here is what Chuck Norris had to say;

Obama OKs same sex marriage, Romney responds, IRS under fire

Below is a CNN video of President Obama speaking for the first time on his changed views on same sex marriage. Romney responded by reaffirming his opposite position for traditional marriage. In similar news Senator Hatch has called for an investigation into the IRS leaking private information showing Romney donating to the National Organization for Marriage.
To see the President’s words watch the video below:

Hall of Fame coach stirs UofP at commencement

By University of Portland

Legendary football coach Lou Holtz mixed humor with inspiration in addressing a record 803 undergraduates participating in the 2012 University of Portland spring commencement exercises on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center on campus.

Holtz’s complete speech is available on YouTube here

“You’re looking at the only guy in the world who’s written more books than he’s read,” noted Holtz, the author of 10 books and currently a college football analyst for ESPN. Holtz receive d an honorary doctorate as part of the school’s 111th commencement.

Adoption groups fear approaching end to tax credit

By Holt International
Eugene based,

Since 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped thousands of American families offset the high cost of adoption. Beginning in 2003, families that adopted children with special needs could claim the full credit, regardless of their qualified adoption expenses.

Ultimately, this credit has made it possible for children to join loving families — families that might not otherwise have been able to afford the cost of adoption. But right now, this important resource is in peril.

The current adoption tax credit is set to expire on December 31, 2012. If that happens, many American families may not be able to afford the cost to adopt. Consequently, fewer children will find the loving, permanent families they deserve. Although the credit remains through 2012, many families will not benefit because it is not refundable. In 2013, the credit will decrease to only $6,000. What’s more, it will only be available to very few adoptive families.

Church center rammed. Next day fire bombed

A Church of God in Christ International Day Care center, Pathways to Learning Child Care, in Tacoma was hit by a van and then later firebombed. See video below.

Oregon stories: Missionary has Elijah miracle

From the book “Our Stories, God’s Glory“
A collection of real life inspiration stories from the NW
How about your story?
Be a part of 1,000 Oregonians sharing their faith story here.

Pastor Dick Scott,
Beaverton, Oregon

One day, when I arrived at the home of José, the native Choco Indian who was helping me translate the New Testament, he took me to his kitchen area and pointed excitedly to his wooden rice barrel—a six-foot wide wooden container about three feet high.

“Look!” he said. “Tell me! How did this happen?”

I stared at the barrel. Suddenly, I realized it was nearly full to the top with rice, but it should have been nearly empty. After all, the next rice crop was almost ready to be harvested.

Blind Chinese activist Chen’s rescuer freed

Chen Guangcheng’s Rescuer Released from Detention
Photo: Rep. Chris Smith, Reggie Littlejohn, and Wang Xuezhen with photo of He Peirong
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers

He Peirong, known as Pearl, has been released from detention and has been interviewed by the BBC. Pearl has become known as the rescuer of blind activist Chen Guangcheng, having driven the car that brought him from Dongshigu village to Beijing.

Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, has been advocating for Pearl’s release. Littlejohn testified about Pearl at a hearing before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China yesterday, and Rep. Chris Smith took up Pearl’s cause. Littlejohn stated, “I am relieved and delighted that Pearl has been released — the day after the Congressional hearing at which her case was so strongly raised. Some say that quiet, back door diplomacy is the way to deal with the detention of Chinese human rights defenders. But human rights activists have found that high profile, public pressure is far more effective.”

OSU Debate: Is Christianity anti-Science?

BY Oregon State University Socratic Club

The Socratic Club at OSU will sponsor a debate on the topic, “Is Christianity anti-Science?” on Monday, May 7. in LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU campus, at 7 p.m. The speakers are Andrew Karplus and Victor Stenger.

The relationship of Christianity and science has long been a contentious subject. It has been argued that the condemnation of Galileo and the opposition to Darwin are evidence of the church’s opposition to the advance of science. A more recent view is that the cases of Galileo and Darwin are exceptions to Christianity’s general encouragement of science over the centuries. Two scientists will engage in a spirited debate on the subject. Andrew Karplus will maintain that Christianity is supportive of science. Victor Stenger will argue that it is hostile.

Night ride with Portland Sex Trafficking Unit

by Dan Quatier, Edited by Lynn Saint

Compassion Connect,

After spending a night in a squad car, observing Portland police officers assigned to the sex trafficking division, I became more acutely aware of the plight of sex slaves, especially those below 18 years old. Because of this experience, I feel compelled to present my own perspective on this blight in our community.

Evening shift with the Sex Trafficking Unit

Before venturing out into the icy, night air, we pore over that day’s Internet ads from two well-known sites. Girls trapped in this lifestyle are forced by their pimps to advertise themselves in explicit, pornographic poses to sell their “wares” to potential customers.

Oregon couple marries with just weeks to live

Love is not bound by time
By Guest Submission,

Ryan Smith loved the Oregon Ducks, football at Autzen Stadium, and Bethany Schmidt, not in that order. He and Bethany met as freshmen at the University of Oregon in the fall of 2005, and quickly became inseparable—traveling to Europe together the summer after their sophomore year, moving in together after graduation, and beginning their professional lives together. She is a graphic designer; he worked in finance.

Their romance seemed perfect—until Ryan was diagnosed with a rare form of testicular cancer in January 2011. For 10 months, Ryan and his doctors fought it with everything they had. But by November, it was clear that nothing was helping. Ryan, content with his fate, never complained, even after the decision was made to stop treatment.

Portland conservative church vandalized

A church in Portland, Mars Hill Church, was vandalized over the weekend. The church is a newly formed congregation with conservative views on same sex marriage in a Portland neighborhood with an active gay community. Witnesses saw six individuals damage the building at night. Repairs expected to exceed several thousands of dollars. KATU video below explains.