Investigation confirms late apologist sexually abused women
Ravi Zacharias, who died in May 2020 from cancer, sexually abused women under the guise of massages for a chronic back injury at least as far back as February 2014, according to a report commissioned by his ministry, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Calling the report’s findings “horrendous,” RZIM announced it has retained victims advocate Rachael Denhollander to educate ministry leadership and work with survivors.
>Related: Largest Christian publisher pulls Zacharias books
Americans expect evangelicals to lose influence under Biden
Half of Americans say evangelical Christians will lose influence in Washington with President Joe Biden taking office, according to data from Pew Research. And an even larger share of white evangelicals expect it—72%. Of groups surveyed, Black Protestants were most likely to say people like them will gain influence under the Biden administration, with 55% agreeing.
>Related: Executive order reestablishes White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Lucado apologizes for past sermon on homosexuality
After Washington’s National Cathedral was criticized for inviting Max Lucado to preach Feb. 7, the author apologized for words he said have hurt or been used to hurt the LGBTQ community. “In 2004 I preached a sermon on the topic of same-sex marriage,” Lucado said. “I now see that, in that sermon, I was disrespectful. I was hurtful.”
Lucado reiterated he believes “in the traditional biblical understanding of marriage, but I also believe in a God of unbounded grace and love,” he said. “LGBTQ individuals and LGBTQ families must be respected and treated with love. They are beloved children of God because they are made in the image and likeness of God.”
Supreme Court rules in favor of inmate’s religious liberty
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Alabama from executing prisoner Willie Smith Feb. 11 because the state would not allow his pastor to be present. Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor agreed with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that a state policy barring clergy from the execution chamber violates a federal law protecting the religious free exercise rights of prisoners.
Sources: Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Pew Research, Religion News Service, Christian Post