2 Baptist deacons seek Alabama seat in U.S. House

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- It's hard to find much brotherly love on the campaign trail, particularly in a hard-fought, high-profile race for an open seat in the U.S. House.

But that's exactly what the pastor of Montgomery's First Baptist Church, the Rev. Jay Wolf, hopes he sees in abundance as two of his church's deacons campaign for the right to represent Alabama's 2nd District in Congress.

Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, the Democratic Party nominee, and state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery, the GOP nominee, are running for the southeast Alabama seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Terry Everett, a Republican.

During the week, the two men have been campaigning across the mostly rural district that stretches from Montgomery to Dothan.

On Sundays, both men and their families can be found in the pews at the 5,000-member First Baptist Church, just five blocks from the Capitol in downtown Montgomery. Both Bright, 56, and Love, 39, agree that being deacons means they are "brothers in Christ," a concept that doesn't always translate well in the political world.

While tight, closely watched races often turn negative, the ads run by Bright and Love so far have not been of the mud-slinging variety.

"Just because he's a Democrat and I'm a Republican is no reason we can't worship and serve together," Love said.

"Both of us are deacons, brothers in the same church," Bright said.

The two candidates attend different services on Sunday mornings and rarely run into each other.

Wolf urged the congregation in a newsletter to be proud of both men. He said he hopes both candidates and their followers will remember their Christian values on the campaign trail.

Tough economy hits Christian and other private schools

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- In a souring economy, enrollment in private schools is dropping.

South Hampton Roads, with dozens of Roman Catholic, Jewish and Protestant-run schools, has been especially vulnerable to the trend.

At Gateway Christian School, where tuition is about $4,000, enrollment will decline around 10 percent this fall.

"Obviously, it's just tough times" for parents, said principal Sam Postlewaite. "Either job wages haven't gone up, or the cost of everything else is going up."

At Norfolk Christian Schools, academic dean Jane Duffey said she's seen a 20 percent increase in requests for additional financial aid. Enrollment is down about 2 percent from last year's 750 students.

Tuition at Norfolk ranges from $6,300 in elementary grades to $8,700 in the senior year.

At St. Pius X Catholic School, Sister Linda Taber, the school principal, said enrollment is steady but there is greater demand for scholarships. Tuition at St. Pius ranges from $3,600 for in-parish students to $5,100 for out-of-parish students.

"We have had people say their work hours have been cut. It's hard times," Taber said.

At Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, where annual tuition is about $10,000, the school financial officer, Heather Moore, said she's seen a big increase in requests for tuition assistance.

"I'm hearing a lot that a spouse has lost their job, they'll have to live on one income for a while," Moore said. "I'm seeing more of that than in the last 10 years."

Texas AG says Bible courses not mandatory for schools

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas high schools are not required to offer elective high school Bible courses under a new law adopted by the state last year, Attorney General Greg Abbott said.

The Legislature passed a law last year allowing for Bible courses to be offered as an elective starting in the 2009-2010 school year.

Lawmakers directed the State Board of Education to adopt curriculum standards in line with the constitutional separation of church and state.

But because of questions about whether a school district was required to offer the class, Education Commissioner Robert Scott asked Abbott for an opinion.

Abbott's office said Aug. 28 that the new law "authorizes but does not require school districts and charter schools to offer" the Bible course.

Lawmakers adopted the measure with an assurance the class would only focus on the history and literature of the Bible, and not evangelize for or disparage any faith. It also required the attorney general to review the curriculum.

According to the law, the elective Bible course aims to expose students to biblical content and characters as key to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, oratory and public policy.

Sacramento bishop who challenged governor set to retire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The bishop who has headed the Roman Catholic Sacramento Diocese for nearly 15 years is announcing plans to retire.

Bishop William Weigand has cited his age and health as reasons for his retirement. The 71-year-old bishop has long suffered from a chronic liver disease and received a liver transplant in 2005.

Weigand drew national attention in 2003 when he challenged then-Gov. Gray Davis to abstain from Holy Communion unless the governor reversed his support for abortion rights.

In 2005, the bishop oversaw the 900,000-member diocese's payment of $35 million to settle 33 claims of clergy sexual abuse.

Weigand has formally asked Pope Benedict XVI for permission to retire. If his request is granted, he plans to step down as bishop on Nov. 30.

Mormon woman says she lost job because of faith

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. -- A woman who said she lost her job because she is Mormon is suing three Coachella Valley mobile-home parks.

Judy Clark of Thermal said she was suspended and never asked to return to her job as a mobile-home saleswoman in 2003. She said that just a few weeks earlier, she had found a memo that referred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a cult and said that its activities should be banned from the parks.

Parks co-owner Tim Manthei said Clark's suspension was based purely on performance, and that members of all faiths are welcome as employees.

In the suit, set to go to trial Sept. 15, Clark said she is owed nearly $90,000 in sales commissions and other damages.

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