MINISTER ATTACKED Minister returns to church after stabbing

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (AP) A Michigan minister who was stabbed in the neck, arms and chest by a burglar has returned to the pulpit after weeks of recovery.

The Rev. Kevin Ramsby told the congregation at Revival Tabernacle in Highland Park on Sunday that he has forgiven his attacker and would not mind meeting to pray with him once he's arrested.

Ramsby was attacked in his home by an intruder Aug. 4. Ramsby's family was out of town at the time and he was critically injured.

He credits God with saving his life.

Police are still looking for the suspect.

Police say the situation was likely a robbery that went awry.

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00:17 "me more times" The Reverend Kevin Ramsby The Reverend Kevin Ramsby says it isn't easy to forgive his attacker.

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00:20 "all about forgiveness" The Reverend Kevin Ramsby The Reverend Kevin Ramsby says he needs to forgive his attacker the way Jesus forgave those who crucified him.

ISRAEL-HATE CRIMES Israel arrests extremist Jew suspected hate crimes

JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli authorities say they've arrested a Jewish-American extremist suspected of carrying out high-profile hate crimes, including one that targeted a messianic Jewish family.

Police and security forces say Jack Teitel, a 37-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jew, also was behind the killing of two Arabs and the targeting of an Israeli peace activist in a 12-year series of crimes.

In his most noted attack, Teitel is accused of sending a booby-trapped gift basket in March 2008 to the home of American Jews living in Israel who believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

The explosion seriously wounded the family's 15-year-old son, severing two toes, damaging his hearing and harming his promising Basketball career.

Jerusalem police say Teitel grew up on U.S. military bases before moving to Israel from Florida.

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00:16 "and moderately injured" Mickey Rosenfeld Mickey Rosenfeld says bombs that were sent last year to an Israeli professor who was a peace activist and to a messianic Jewish family are linked to a Jewish American now under arrest.

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00:14 "both those murders" Mickey Rosenfeld Mickey Rosenfeld says 37-year-old Jack Teitel is now linked to a series of hate crimes going back 12 years.

PHILIPPINES-KIDNAPPED PRIEST Philippines: No ransom for kidnapped Irish priest

MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippine government has rejected a $2 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers of an ailing Irish priest and said efforts will continue to secure his freedom.

The kidnappers of the Rev. Michael Sinnott released a video in which the 79-year-old missionary held a newspaper dated Oct. 22 11 days after gunmen snatched him from his home in the southern Philippines.

The video, broadcast Saturday on Philippine television, sparked hope among his fellow Columban missionaries after rumors circulated that he had died while in jungle captivity.

A friend and fellow Irish priest, the Rev. Damien McKenna, said the abduction won't scare him and other Columban missionaries into abandoning impoverished communities where they have worked for decades.

DOBSON OFF THE AIR Evangelical leader Dobson leaving radio show

DENVER (AP) Dr. James Dobson, the voice of Focus on the Family, will no longer host its flagship radio broadcast and is cutting formal ties with the Christian ministry he founded more than 30 years ago.

Focus on the Family says its board of directors and Dobson agreed on the moves, which will go into effect at the end of February. A spokesman for the evangelical ministry says the parting is amicable and the 73-year-old Dobson's "health and attitude are great." Dobson resigned as Focus on the Family president in 2003 and as chairman of the board in February. When he resigned as board chairman, Dobson said founder-presidents often "hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority." Earlier this year, Focus laid off 8 percent of its work force, casualties of a donation shortfall.

CHURCH ONLINE Churches make online worship interactive

UNDATED (AP) The Internet has become the hottest place to build a church, with a growing number of congregations creating interactive Web sites that go far beyond streaming weekly services.

Some have a dedicated Internet pastor, live chat in an online "lobby," Bible study and one-on-one prayer through instant messaging.

Viewers can even share in Communion from home using their own bread and wine.

On one site, viewers can click on a tab during worship to accept Christ as their savior. Flamingo Road Church, based in Cooper City, Fla., twice conducted long-distance baptisms through the Internet.

Critics say true Christian community requires in-person interaction. But advocates consider the Internet just another neighborhood where real relationships can be built.

LutheranS-GAYS Some North Dakota Lutherans object to policy on gay clergy

Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The western North Dakota bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America says its congregations are wrestling with a national church policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve as pastors or in other church leadership positions.

Bishop Mark Narum says he met last month with pastors in his diocese who now wonder, "What does it mean to be faithful?" He emphasized that congregations can disagree with the new policy and remain within the denomination.

But Fargo's largest Evangelical Lutheran congregation has stopped funding the national church. A letter on the Hope Lutheran Church Web site says its "leadership has suspended all financial support to the ELCA and will develop a process to define who our mission partners will be."


Episcopal DISPUTE Episcopal diocese sues for breakaway church's property

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A court has been asked to decide who owns the property of a Nashville church that broke away from the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee.

The Tennessean newspaper reports that the diocese filed suit last week over the future of St. Andrew's Parish and its property.

At issue is the congregation's decision to leave the Episcopal Church and join a breakaway Anglican diocese in 2006. The congregation contends the deed to church property belongs to them.

But Tennessee Bishop John Bauerschmidt told the newspaper that while people can leave the Episcopal Church, parishes cannot.

CHURCH DOWNSIZING Parishioners stage protest at church closing

AKRON, Ohio (AP) Protesters have tried to stop the closing of a Roman Catholic church in Akron, Ohio, that celebrated its last Mass over the weekend.

About a dozen people gathered after the final Mass at St. John the Baptist Church on Saturday and held a vigil for about two hours. The protesters stayed until Akron police told them they would be arrested if they didn't leave the church.

The group included many people from other parishes affected by a plan to close 50 Roman Catholic churches in northeast Ohio. The protesters said the decision to close St. John and merge it with another church was shortsighted and illogical.

St. John the Baptist is scheduled to merge with a nearby Catholic church and form a new parish.

ANGLICANS-CATHOLICS Texas church a precursor to Vatican welcome to Anglicans

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) At Saint Mary the Virgin Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas, the priest is married and the parishioners sing from an Episcopalian hymnal.

Years ago, the parish and a handful of other conservative Episcopal churches in the U.S. became Roman Catholic, but were allowed keep some of their Anglican traditions, including having married priests.

Now, these churches may have helped pave the way for Anglicans worldwide to become Catholic under a new Vatican plan created to make it easier for such conversions. The surprise move is designed to entice traditionalists opposed to women priests, openly gay clergy and blessing of same-sex unions.

The Vatican decision was prompted mainly by Anglo-Catholics in England and the Traditional Anglican Communion, a 77-million strong organization led by an Australian archbishop.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-02-09 0230CST | save this article / add to your favorites list