Politics

Deputy Chairperson of Egypt's Nour Party Sayed Mustafa stated that Muslims should not congratulate Copts during their holiday since they are of two different faiths.

"We are not forced to congratulate Copts on their religious holidays, because we disagree with their faith and Copts celebrate the Easter according to their beliefs," Mustafa said in a statement.

"Copts are likewise not supposed to congratulate us on our Islamic holidays, as our religion obliges us that there is no compulsion in religion … the Nour Party is a political party with an Islamic reference so we do not, as policy, discuss the prohibition of such congratulations," he said. more >>

The Pentagon released a statement that detailed that soldiers could be prosecuted for promoting their faith. Even discussing their faith in general could be considered an offense warranting a court martial.

"Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense...Court Martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis," read the statement that was released to Fox News.

The Pentagon recently hired Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who had previously spoken out against a number of conservative Christian groups. more >>

A former Navy seal could be the next man to fill the empty U.S. Senate. The Republican's strategy is based on a history of following the "American dream."

Republican businessman Gabriel Gomez does not have an extensive background in politics. In fact, the Massachusetts hopeful doesn't really have one at all. But that hasn't stopped him from impressing fellow Republicans with a story of rags to riches, riddled with patriotic belief.

Gomez is the son of Dominican immigrants. He was born in Los Angeles without being able to speak a word of English. He eventually learned the language in school, deiced to attend the United States Naval Academy, graduated with merit, earned his wings as a member of the Navy, and eventually became a Navy SEAL. more >>

Saudi Arabia warned the U.S. about the accused Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev a year before the deadly bombing, according to reports.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security received a written warning concerning the elder Tsarnaev and his possible desire to commit acts of terror, a Fox News report stated.

The Saudi official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to comment on foreign relation matters, said the warning was sent after several red flags were raised by Russian intelligence gathered in 2011 as well as other intelligence collected independently in Yemen. more >>

Rep. Paul Ryan, last year's Republican vice presidential nominee, said Monday that he regretted voting to ban same-sex couples in the District of Columbia from adopting children.

Ryan, who is considered a possible presidential nominee for 2016, was answering questions from his constituents in Janesville, Wis. An audience member asked him about his positions on same-sex marriage, the Employer Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and allowing gay couples to adopt children.

"Adoption, I would vote differently these days," Ryan answered. "That was a vote I think I took in my first term, in 1999 or 2000. I do believe that if there are children who are orphans who do not have a loving person or couple, I think if a person wants to love and raise a child they ought to be able to do that. Period. So, I would vote that way." more >>

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly has impressed at least one liberal journalist with his confessions, generosity and hospitality. In researching his new book on evangelicals, religion and culture writer Tom Krattenmaker traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., and spent some time at the FOTF headquarters. The result of the visit was a book challenging his fellow progressives to stop stereotyping evangelicals and realize that they can work together for the common good.

In The Evangelicals You Don't Know: Introducing the Next Generation of Evangelicals (2013), Krattenmaker reports on an angst felt among many evangelicals regarding how they have engaged with their culture.

"As Christians, we're not doing something right," he quotes a young evangelical in the opening chapter. more >>