Ethics/rights

Today, Americans across the nation are honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a catalyst for the civil rights movement who advocated equality for all races. However, 43 years after his assassination, churches throughout America still face segregation – giving rise to a "Church Diversity" initiative to "see a more unified body of Christ."

From Jan. 13-19, "Church Diversity Week" aims to open communication about the importance of diversity in places of worship.

Pastor Scott Williams, author of Church Diversity – Sunday The Most Segregated Day of the Week, shared that this campaign, which he spearheaded, is about raising "awareness to help propel the movement." more >>

A commercial about a woman who wishes her daughter would dress more feminine has been charged with enforcing female and male stereotypes. Some have even gone on to question whether children should be able to choose their own gender, and whether Christians force stereotypical roles?

The Tide detergent commercial depicts a woman sitting on a flowery couch wearing a pink sweater and long skirt. Her daughter is dressed in an oversized camouflage sweater and green shorts. In the commercial she says, “Well we tried the whole pink thing, nope. All she wants to wear is hoodies. Hoodies and cargo shorts. Getting Dirty.”

The mother goes on to explain, “Then she left some crayons in her pocket and they went through the wash. I thought all of her clothes were ruined.” more >>

North Korea has begun persecuting those who did not appear genuinely emotional following their late leader's death.

Kim Jong-il, 69, died December 2011, and as the country's official mourning period has come to an end, authorities have begun punishing those who did not display genuine sadness, according to Mail Online.

North Korea, also referred to as Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a single-party state led by the Korean Workers' Party and often receives criticism for what critics allege is complete social control over its citizens and a lack of human rights. more >>

A 16-year-old Rhode Island girl and self-described atheist has won a legal battle against her high school over a prayer banner displayed on campus, with a federal court ruling Wednesday that the Christian mural, erected more than 50 years ago, has to be removed.

The banner’s removal is a reflection of "what true American values are," said Jessica Ahlquist, who attends Cranston High School West in Cranston. The teen insisted that the banner had no place in the high school and church and state had to remain separate.

"When I saw it there, I knew it didn't belong," Ahlquist told reporters, according to The Associated Press. "And every time that I saw it, it was a reminder that my school wasn't doing the right thing and that my school didn't necessarily support me and my views." more >>

For the average 12- to 14-year-old American girl, adolescence is a time of growing and learning – a carefree existence – however, for thousands of others, it marks their entry into a living hell of pornography and prostitution.

“Modern-day slaves,” as victims of human trafficking are called, are often forced into domestic servitude, farming labor, factory work or the commercial sex industry. Jan. 11, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, is dedicated to spreading knowledge about this growing problem in the U.S.

Nearly 293,000 of America’s youth risk becoming victims of the sex trade, the U.S. Department of Justice reported. Research also shows that many of the sexually exploited were runaway or “thrown away” teens who saw prostitution as their only opportunity to survive the streets. However, ministries across the country are working to show these “lost” young adults that “love with no attachments” does exist. more >>

Prominent pro-life advocate Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, said he plans to accelerate his pursuit of legal action against the abortion industry this year.

Pavone, who is a priest of the Catholic Diocese in Amarillo, Texas, said that he is confident his coalition’s actions will close many abortion mills and place many abortionists in jail.

"Building on the work done by many other groups with whom we collaborate, we will begin this month to accelerate the investigation of abortion clinics, which break laws left and right. We will bring special attention to the ten abortionists in Texas who have to answer to the Texas Medical Board for numerous violations, and will see to it that they are held accountable," Pavone said. more >>