• The Voice 2015 Winner Jordan Smith Popularizes Gospel Music, Answers God's Calling, Would Love to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl

  Christians have been cheering on fellow Christian Jordan Smith throughout the recent TV song competition "The Voice," and apparently voting for him, too, as he won Season 9 of NBC's singing show Tuesday evening. Smith consistently performed religious songs, propelling them to the top of iTunes charts. He was the show's history-making contestant who finally ended Adele's five-week reign of "Hello" in the No. 1 spot, with his cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love."

  

• Creative Christmas Concert Nativity Is Way Indiana School District Complies with Court Ruling

  After a live Nativity scene planned for a school-based Christmas show was banned in a northern Indiana school district by a judge's ruling on Dec. 2, school representatives used mannequins instead of student actors for concerts this weekend. Sam Grover, staff attorney of Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, said the district's officials appear to be "thumbing their noses" at the spirit of the preliminary ruling.

  

• Church of Scientology Director, Drug-Free World Africa Coordinator Honored at South African Men of Year Celebration

  Drug-Free World Africa coordinator Maurithus Meiring was named runner-up at the South African Men of the Year Awards Banquet at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg for his relentless campaign to reach African youth before drug pushers do. Meiring, who is also director of public affairs for the Church of Scientology of Pretoria, said the difference between the Drug-Free World campaign and other programs is "it does not moralize or preach—it simply presents the cold, hard facts."

  

• Terrorism has No Religion or Faith, Says Pakistan Diplomat to India Abdul Basit

  Countries should transcend biases to fight terrorism, because terrorism has no religion and faith, proclaimed Abdul Basit, Pakistan's high commissioner to India, on Wednesday while speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar.

  

• Vatican Reform Finances, Counter Terrorism Measures Get Mixed Ratings in New Report From Anti-Money Laundering European Watchdog Group

  Many of previously cited Vatican finance deficiencies have been addressed in the Holy See system, states a Dec. 15 report released by MONEYVAL, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering committee. However, council representatives still urge money laundering prosecutions be ramped up. The uniqueness of the Holy See system, a state in which there are neither banks nor a market, presents unique situations regarding compliance with current standards that counter money laundering and the financin