By DAVID YOUNT, Scripps Howard News Service

On appeal, the European Court of Human Rights recently upheld the expulsion of two Muslim girls for wearing headscarves in physical education classes.
During the 10 years it took for the court to consider their appeal the girls were required by French authorities to continue their education by correspondence courses.

Years ago, when our eldest daughter changed her college major from early childhood development to general studies, I commented sourly to my wife: "Just so she doesn't think this will teach her how to be a general."

Years ago, when our eldest daughter changed her college major from early childhood development to general studies, I commented sourly to my wife: "Just so she doesn't think this will teach her how to be a general."

Years ago, when our eldest daughter changed her college major from early childhood development to general studies, I commented sourly to my wife: "Just so she doesn't think this will teach her how to be a general."

My vote for the most twisted interpretations of Jesus' sayings are about our responsibilities to the poor. "You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me" (Matthew 16:9) has been used in every generation as an excuse to ignore the needs of the poor.

A new independent study sponsored by the Church of England rates the wellbeing of British and American children as worst among the world's wealthiest nations.
More than 35,000 people contributed to the study, which concludes that rampant individualism and social irresponsibility have damaged the children of both societies.

Whenever I can, I leave the security of my computer keyboard and talk to church groups about the subjects of my books and columns. A writer's world can become a dream world. Better to test one's faith against the reality of other people's experience.

After being summoned by inquisitors and shown the instruments of torture, the scientist Galileo consented to keep to himself his disquieting discovery that the Earth is not at the center of God's universe.
Charles Darwin, born 200 years ago, preached a more disturbing theory -- that the physical universe had evolved by chance, with no need for a creator.

Only two days after the inauguration of Barack Obama as president, Washington welcomed yet another assembly of citizens, protesting the new chief executive's lifting of restrictions on public funding for abortion.

A new national survey reveals that churchgoing Protestants are more loyal to their preferred brand of toothpaste and bathroom tissue than to their denomination. Although two-thirds admit to preferring one denomination over all others, only 16 percent of Protestants are exclusively loyal to it.