New Hampshire

The New Hampshire House of Representatives narrowly rejected changes on Wednesday to a same-sex bill that would protect churches opposed to marrying gays and lesbians.

Gov. John Lynch had said last week he would sign the measure if language was added to provide "the strongest and clearest protections for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals working with such institutions."

Although legislative leaders were expected to adopt the changes and make New Hampshire the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage, the House voted 188 to 186 against the revisions. more >>

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has until next Tuesday to decide the fate of a gay marriage bill that was sent to his desk after final legislature approval was given on Wednesday.

Lynch has not indicated his next move on the same-sex marriage legislation but has said that he believes the word "marriage" should be reserved for the union between a man and a woman.

The Democratic governor can either sign the bill, issue a veto or let it become law without signing it. more >>

The New Hampshire House voted on Thursday to send a same-sex marriage bill to the Senate.

In a 186-179 vote, the state House passed a measure that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Gov. John Lynch would not say whether he will veto the legislation, but has stated that he opposes gay marriage.

New Hampshire legalized civil unions in 2007, giving same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in marriages. more >>

A convicted child killer who is staying temporarily at the home of an evangelical pastor in Chichester, N.H., says his conversion to Christianity 16 years ago has made him a different man.

And, given time, Raymond Guay said he will make this apparent.

"There's nothing I can do to put back what I've taken," said the now 60-year-old parolee, who served 35 years in prison for the abduction and murder of a 12-year-old boy in 1973. more >>

Residents of a small town in New Hampshire have created a neighborhood watch program to monitor the home of an evangelical pastor who, despite protests, is providing shelter for a convicted child killer.

Chichester residents are also circulating a petition asking for 24-hour police surveillance at the home of the Rev. David Pinckney, lead pastor of the River of Grace Church in nearby Concord.

But if they could have their way, many of the residents would have 60-year-old parolee Raymond Guay removed from their community altogether, though Pinckney insists that his life “has been on a very different course” since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ in 1993. more >>

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson reaffirmed his “100 percent pro-life” on Monday – a day after expressing his disapproval of a federal ban on abortion.

During an interview Sunday with ”Meet the Press,” Thompson said he would not endorse a constitutional amendment to ban all abortions and said such abortion laws should be decided by states.

“[T]o have a constitutional amendment to do that (ban all abortions), I do not think would be the way to go,” the former Tennessee senator told the show’s host. more >>