New York

Occupy Wall Street protesters erected a Nativity scene as a "peace offering" in front of Trinity Church in New York City Thursday, and held a debate with clergy in an attempt to persuade them to allow protesters to stay on their property.

Photo 1: Police presence was high as Occupy Wall Street protesters gathered in front of Trinity Church, also known as Trinity Wall Street.

Photo 2: Protesters held up signs that asked for the church to sympathize with their cause. more >>

The Student Association at The State University of New York-Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) has delayed making a decision on whether a Christian club’s constitution violates school policy.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship remains suspended as the SA Senate, which met Sunday, has decided to give more time to its investigative committee. The committee now expects to present a decision next semester at the SA Senate's first meeting.

Jim Lundgren, director of Collegiate Ministries for InterVarsity, told The Christian Post that the organization sent the university a letter last Wednesday saying, “We believe on several counts [the university] acted against [its] own rules, and a sense of fairness in dealing with this.” more >>

A decision by the Obama administration to bar over-the-counter morning-after pills for minors is producing increasing outcry from liberal Democrats representing pro-choice and related women’s groups. They argue that the HHS secretary has done an about face on women’s reproductive rights in a matter of months.

In a Tuesday letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 14 Senate Democrats express “disappointment” in the decision and demand that Sebelius detail the scientific reasoning behind it.

“On behalf of the millions of women we represent, we want to be assured that this and future decisions affecting women’s health will be based on medical and scientific evidence,” the senators wrote. more >>

A new kind of struggle has begun for churches in New York City facing the recent ban on renting school facilities – the struggle to love, says one local pastor.

Following the Supreme Court’s refusal to review an evangelical church’s appeal of a ban on worship services in public schools, Pastor Caleb Clardy says that the church is now being challenged to react with love.

“The Christian church in New York City has a great opportunity right now,” the Trinity Grace Church Brooklyn pastor wrote in Christianity Today. “For years, schools all over the city have graciously hosted us. This has given us a wonderful opportunity. We need to be grateful for that hospitality.” more >>

Early indications show that a New York City Council bill overturning a ban on church services in school buildings is strongly supported and will likely be enacted if called up for a floor vote.

Although the resolution was just introduced Thursday, Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Dist. 14)’s aide, Zellnor Myrie, told The Christian Post that it already has the support of over half of the City 51 Council members.

“On the very first day of introduction, we already have almost 27 members signed on,” Myrie said. more >>

Days after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a Bronx church’s plea for after-hours school space, church leaders continue their fight to overturn New York City schools’ ban on church services in public school buildings.

Over 100 local pastors and allied legislators took to City Hall Thursday around noon to urge the city council to allow churches to worship in city schools after official school hours. The rally follows a failed attempt to petition the Supreme Court to hear a lawsuit against the Board of Education’s policy on behalf of the Bronx Household of Faith.

The high court decided Monday not to accept the case, meaning that the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals’ June decision to uphold the board’s policy against religious activity in public school facilities stands. It also means that BHF church will no longer be able to conduct its worship meetings in the school auditorium it has used since 2002. more >>