Update on the latest in religion news:

Colson warns Baptists of impending threats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson predicts pastors will soon face prosecution under hate crimes laws if they preach that same-sex relationships are sinful.

Colson, who served prison time for his role in the Watergate scandal, delivered a grim forecast to Southern Baptist pastors at their annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Sponsors of congressional hate crimes legislation insist it won’t restrict speech, but Colson warned that ministers will face the threat of prosecution within the next two years.

He also said medical professionals are losing their conscience right to refuse to perform abortions, and faith-based ministries could soon have to hire non-believers.

Colson also predicted a continuing threat from Islamic terrorists and dismissed the Quran as an “irrational” invention of Muhammad rather than divinely inspired scripture.

Pastors lament Southern Baptist decline
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Southern Baptist pastors at their annual conference are preaching and praying about the denomination’s decline in membership and baptisms.

The Rev. Mac Brunson of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla., says the unwelcome truth may be that churches aren’t growing because Americans don’t like Southern Baptists.

The Rev. J.D. Greear of Summit Church in Durham, N.C., says his congregation has changed that negative perception by serving the community with public school volunteers.

The Rev. Ed Litton of Alabama’s First Baptist Church North Mobile hopes the discouragement many pastors feel will drive them to God and lead to a spiritual revival.

Ex-Episcopalians lead formation of Anglican alternative
BEDFORD, Texas (AP) – Hundreds of conservatives who’ve left the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada are meeting in Texas this week to form what they say will be the 39th province in the world Anglican Communion.

The new Anglican Church in North America will enjoy the recognition of Anglican provinces that have broken fellowship with the established American and Canadian churches over biblical and gay issues.

But the emerging conference has yet to win support from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.

The inaugural assembly of the Anglican Church in North America begins with a service this afternoon at St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford, Texas, led by former Episcopal bishops Jack Iker and Robert Duncan.

Court rules against city in religious freedom case
AUSTIN (AP) – The Texas Supreme Court says the city of Sinton violated state protections against government limits on religious practice when it shut down two religious halfway houses for parolees.

Pastor Richard Barr, an ex-con himself, set up the halfway houses in two homes near Sinton’s Grace Christian Fellowship church in 1998. He offered housing, biblical instruction and counseling to nonviolent offenders. Residents were told that it was a “biblical ministry, not a social service agency.”

City officials then passed an ordinance prohibiting parolees from living within 1,000 feet of a church, a school and other certain areas.

The court says that violated the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says government officials must show a compelling interest before limiting the practice of religion.

Report: Violence common among Scientology managers
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) – A published report says the leader of the Church of Scientology struck his subordinates numerous times, setting an example for physical violence among church management.

Four former church executives told The St. Petersburg Times that they witnessed Scientology board chairman David Miscavige hit staff members dozens of times, often without warning.

In a response to the paper, the church denied the allegations, calling the former executives’ statements “absolute and total lies” meant to tarnish Miscavige.

Scientologists believe spiritual enlightenment is possible by ridding the mind and soul of the accumulated, unwanted effects of this lifetime and previous lifetimes through a counseling process called “auditing.” Church members pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for the auditing services.

Father celebrates first Mass on Father’s Day
WASHINGTON (AP) – Father’s Day had a whole new meaning for Alain Colliou.

The 63-year-old widower is a father and a grandfather, and now he’s Father Alain Colliou, a Roman Catholic priest.

Colliou was ordained Saturday in the Archdiocese of Washington in a ceremony attended by his son and two granddaughters.

He celebrated his first Mass Sunday on Father’s Day.

A French native and former World Bank executive, Colliou was married for 34 years. He decided to enter the priesthood after his wife’s death five years ago.

Pope: refugees must be welcomed despite problems
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (AP) – Pope Benedict says countries should continue receiving refugees from “war, persecution and calamity” despite the diffulties they create.

Italy has been battling waves of illegal migrants and has enacted an accord with Libya under which it turns back refugees intercepted at sea before they can reach Italian shores to apply for asylum.

Vatican officials, the U.N. refugee agency and aid groups have denounced the new policy, although Benedict did not address it specifically in comments he made during a pilgrimage to southern Italy Sunday.

He said refugees should be welcomed, despite the burdens they place on countries to which they flee.

Pennsylvania Lutherans reject gay ordination idea
GREENVILLE, Pa. (AP) – Lutherans in southwestern Pennsylvania are calling on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America not to adopt a proposal to let individual congregations decide whether ministers in same-sex relationships can be ordained.

Opponents argued that such a practice would violate biblical teaching and church tradition and lead to more division if clergy accepted in one congregation or synod could not serve in another.

One pastor warned, “If we abandon Scripture, we have relativized everything.”

The ordination recommendations are part of a proposed statement on sexuality drawn up by an ELCA task force, which acknowledged that the denomination is deeply divided over same-sex relationships.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod is one of 65 in the 4.9-million-member denomination, which will hold its assembly Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

Israelis, Palestinians and others unite for peace around Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (AP) – Can world peace start with a big hug in Jerusalem?

Israelis, Palestinians and people from around the world gathered there Sunday to form a human chain around the old city walls.

They held hands, chanted and hugged one another in an event called the “Jerusalem Hug” or “Big Hug.”

Organizers hoped it would encourage respect and peace in the world, starting in Jerusalem.

A woman who calls herself “White Eagle Medicine Woman” led drumming at the event. She says, “The drum represents the heartbeat of us all.”

She adds, “All of the texts of all of the spiritual traditions have said, ‘love your neighbour as yourself.”‘

Pagans, partygoers greet solstice at Stonehenge
STONEHENGE, England (AP) – Thousands of neo-Druids, New Age followers and the merely curious have flocked to Stonehenge, beating drums, chanting and dancing on the longest day of the year.

The ancient stone circle at the prehistoric monument in southern England was the site of Sunday’s annual ritual marking the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice.

Police arrested about 30 people on charges including drug offenses, assault and drunk and disorderly conduct but say the gathering was largely peaceful.

In May, archaeologists found evidence indicating that ancient pilgrims perceived the stones to have healing powers. And some assert that the structure was part of an astronomical calendar.

Still other experts think the huge stones were aligned by a sophisticated sun-worshipping culture.