News Summary

U.S. Pastor Shut Out of Iranian Trial, Unable to Address Charges ~ <i>Andy Stanley Calls Obama 'Pastor in Chief' in Pre-Inauguration Sermon</i> ~ Americans Expect to Give Less in 2013 ~ <i>Egyptian Christian Leader Calls for Prayer in Wake of Revolution Anniversary</i>

70 Percent of Americans Believe Roe v. Wade Should Stand ~ <i>Iranian Media's Claim American Pastor to be Freed on Bail Denounced as 'Lie,' Attorney Says</i> ~ Canada's First Christian Law School Opposed Over Gay Lifestyle Ban ~ <i>Thousands in Ireland Hold Vigil for 'Pro-Life Promise'</i>

Belgian Twin Brothers Assisted in Suicide ~ <i>Majority of Americans Think Religious Freedom is Fast Declining in U.S.</i> ~ Vatican Welcomes Obama Gun Control Proposal ~ <i>Russia Sends Mixed Signals on Adoption Ban</i>

U.S. Officials Pressure Iran to Free American Pastor ~ <i>Two North Korean Christians Killed for Their Faith</i> ~ Police Break Up Plot to Assassinate Turkish Pastor ~ </i>Muslims Demolish Church-Owned Building in Egypt</i>

Obama Taking 23 Actions Aimed at Gun Violence ~ <i>Egyptian Court Sentences Christian Family to 15 Years for Converting From Islam</i> ~ New Jersey Substitute Teacher Fired for Giving Student a Bible ~ <i>Even Amicable Divorces Result in Less Religious Kids</i>

Gay-Affirming Episcopal Pastor Chosen to Replace Giglio for Obama Benediction ~ <i>European Court Says U.K. Equality Laws Trump Personal Religious Beliefs</i> ~ Megan Fox Reveals Speaking in Tongues, Seeing Healings at Church

Iran May Hang Imprisoned U.S. Pastor ~ <i>'Transgender' Option Added to Iowa College Application</i> ~ Support for Traditional Marriage Growing in New Zealand

Stanford University Appoints Atheist 'Chaplain' ~ <i>Fewer Americans View Homosexuality as a Sin</i> ~ Hundreds of Thousands in Paris Protest Gay Marriage ~ <i>'Spiritual, Not Religious' People More Likely to Have Physical, Psychological Problems</i>

Hobby Lobby Claims It Can Delay Contraceptive Coverage Rule, Fine ~ <i>Pastor Pulls Out of Inauguration Over Anti-Gay Sermon</i> ~ British Christians Await Top Court Ruling on Wearing a Cross at Work ~ <i>Philadelphia High Schools Get Condom Dispensers</i>

National Cathedral Gay Marriage Change 'Not Surprising,' Opponents Say ~ <i>Gay Troops Ousted Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to Get Back Pay</i> ~ CDC: One in Five High School Girls Binge Drink ~ <i>Biden: Obama Will Act on Guns With or Without Congress</i>

Washington National Cathedral to Wed Same-Sex Couples ~ <i>Africa Rises, China Falls on Christian Persecution List</i> ~ Haiti Orphanage Opens Three Years After Quake

Planned Parenthood Reports Record Year for Abortions ~ <i>Ordinary Muslims in Indonesia Violating Rights, Study Finds</i> ~ Supreme Court to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases in Late March ~ <i>Supreme Court Declines Embryonic Stem Cell Case</i>

Iran: Pastor Nadarkhani Released, Imprisoned Lawyer's Health Deteriorates ~ <i>Egypt's Morsi Boosts Islamic Presence in Cabinet</i> ~ Obama Pushes for New Gun Control Measures ~ <i>Federal Food Stamp Program Spent Record $80.4 Billion in Fiscal Year 2012</i>

Adoption Tax Credit Made Permanent in Fiscal Cliff Bill ~ <i>Court Blocks Ban on Gay Therapy for Minors</i> ~ Abortion Restrictions Hit Second-Highest Total Ever in 2012 ~ <i>Al Jazeera Launches American Cable Network Incursion</i>

U.N. Estimates 60,000 Killed in Syria ~ <i>Britain: Judge Rules Christians Have No Right to Refuse to Work on Sundays</i> ~ Sandy Hook Students Resume Classes for First Time Since Shooting ~ <i>First Openly Bisexual Member of Congress Takes Office</i>

Syria Rebels Behead Christian, Feed Him to Dogs as Fears Grow Over Islamist Atrocities ~ <i>15 Christians Have Throats Slit by Boko Haram Extremists in Northern Nigeria</i> ~ Maryland Ushers in New Year With Same-Sex Ceremonies ~ <i>Nigeria Leader: Islamists Won't Stop Christians From Worshiping</i>

Christianity 'Close to Extinction' in the Middle East ~ <i>Plight of Syrian Christians Intensifies</i> ~ Fathers Vanish in U.S. as Single Motherhood Continues to Rise

CNN's Piers Morgan: Amend the Bible to Embrace Homosexuality ~ <i>Maryland Business Owner Ends Wedding Services Over Same-Sex Marriage</i> ~ Dead Sea Scroll Digital Library Opens

Hobby Lobby Won't Violate Faith Over Abortion Drugs ~ <i>Islamist Constitution Spells Trouble for Egypt's Christians</i> ~ Putin Signs Bill Banning Americans From Adopting Russian Orphans