The fact that Mr. Beck charms millions of devotees tells more about the sad state of truth-telling and the high state of lie-receiving than civil citizens should want to hear. The broadcaster has picked up an ally in folk like Jerry Falwell, Jr. and a few other fundamentalists on the right who have been at least as condemnatory as he.

"What is happening is that some conservatives are now equating libertarian principles with the Bible and with the biblical world."

Advocacy groups respond to the conservative commentator's call to leave churches that promote social justice.

Christian author and social justice advocate Rev. Jim Wallis appeared on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" Friday evening to talk about Glenn Beck's recent attack on churches and religious leaders who preach social justice.

I’m not in the least bit interested in debating the beliefs, methods, or sanity of Glenn Beck. But I am most interested in how the church engages this issue of social justice and its role in the life and mission of God’s people. And unfortunately the fear mongering evident in Beck’s statement is not unlike what I’ve heard from some Christians.

The Cove won an Oscar last night for best documentary. The film, no doubt worthy of the award, documents the calculated massacre of dolphins in a small seaside town in Japan. It seems good and right that the filmmakers and activists behind The Cove are bringing awareness of this senseless tragedy to the world. But I’m concerned about an even more alarming massacre reported over the weekend in The New York Times. According to the story, hundreds of Christians in Nigeria — most of which were women and children — were brutally slaughtered with machetes by militant Muslims.

Pastor Dave Wilkinson of Simi Valley, California, runs weekly mobile clinics in Watts and elsewhere, offering free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prayers and counseling.

The window is closing on comprehensive immigration reform. At least that’s what the politicians in Washington are saying. They’re afraid of more demagoguery. They’re afraid of upcoming elections. They’re afraid of the politics of fear. But I am more and more troubled by how little they seem concerned about the worsening plight of many of America’s most vulnerable families.

What's the problem with non-profits? The biz model destines us for burnout. We take people with big hearts and crush their souls; you sign on to help cure cancer and then leave because you're just shilling rubber bracelets. You want universal literacy, but the only way to move toward it is a big chicken dinner at a fancy hotel.

A new human rights group is mobilizing people around the world to stand up for the freedom of religious converts to freely live out their faith. Set My People Free to Worship Me is planning to stage simultaneous marches on April 3 in London, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Cairo, South Africa, Stockholm and Sydney. The group’s founder, Kamal Fahmi, said he was organizing the protests to seek freedom, justice and equality for religious converts. The movement specifically calls for freedom for converts to worship, marry and raise their children according to their new faith.