Speaker criticizes birth control rule
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Paul Ryan says the Obama administration’s treatment of the Little Sisters of the Poor “has shown a total misunderstanding of faith.”
At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Ryan criticized the accommodation the Obama administration offered the nuns and other faith-based groups who object to providing birth control through their health insurance, even if they don’t have to pay for it.
Ryan said the nuns “should not have to participate in any way,” even if it’s only by submitting a government form stating their religious objection. Faithbased groups have said that still makes them complicit in something they believe is sinful.
The speaker applauded the Supreme Court’s decision Monday to send the case back to lower courts in search of a compromise that provides free contraceptives without infringing on religious liberty.
— The Associated Press
Gay pastor drops Whole Foods suit
AUSTIN, Texas — A gay Texas minister who sued Whole Foods alleging that a cake he bought from the grocer had an anti-gay slur written on it in icing has dropped his lawsuit and admitted that “the company did nothing wrong.”
Jordan Brown of Austin issued an apology on Monday, saying he was “wrong to pursue this matter and use the media to perpetuate this story.”
Whole Foods vigorously denied the allegation when Brown first came forward in April. The Austin American-Statesman reports that the company released surveillance video that it said showed Brown was lying and filed a counter suit against him.
The company said in a statement Monday that given Brown’s apology and public admission that his story was false, it sees “no reason” to move forward with its lawsuit.
— The Associated Press
Fired choir leader files bias charge
MARIETTA, Ga. — The director of a church choir in Marietta says he was forced to resign from his job because he is gay.
Media outlets report Ira Pittman had worked at Mount Bethel United Methodist Church for more than 20 years. Pittman says he kept his sexuality separate from the church.
In December, Pittman threw a Christmas party for staff members with his partner of 16 years present. He says after the party, one of the staff members complained to church leaders that it was a “coming out party.”
Pittman says he was forced to resign because leaders said he violated the church’s stance on homosexuality. He has now filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
— The Associated Press
Charity president: Funds paid for sex
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The president of a Christian charity in Iowa has admitted that he embezzled nearly a half million dollars in donations and used the money to pay for a sex addiction.
Jon Petersen of Cedar Rapids pleaded guilty Monday to one count of filing a false tax return, under a plea agreement.
He’s the president of World Ambassadors Ltd., a nonprofit founded in 1993 to provide a Christian outreach to international students on college campuses.
Prosecutors say Petersen diverted $475,000 received by the group to his personal checking account between 2010 and 2014 — virtually all of its funding. The guilty plea concerned his 2013 tax filing, when he failed to report $114,000 in income.
Petersen claimed he struggled with a sex addiction and used the money to pay for it.