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Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
The European Parliament condemns Turkey
The European Parliament condemns Turkey
VERBATIM: The government in Ankara has expelled scores of Christian missionaries, claiming that they are a threat to national security. The EU legislative body has adopted a resolution calling on Turkey to protect religious freedom and live up to its responsibilities as a member of the international community. Turkey is technically a secular state but President Erdogan has been promoting Islam in recent years and persecution of Christians is increasing. MHREPORTING
Listen DownloadThe annual 40 Days For Life campaign is underway
The annual 40 Days For Life campaign is underway
VERBATIM: From now through March 29th, pro-life advocates will stand outside abortion clinics in more than 650 cities in the U.S. and around the world and silently pray for the babies and the mothers. Since 40 Days got underway in 2007, organizers report more than 26,000 women have decided NOT to have an abortion, nearly 300 clinic workers have quit their jobs and almost 200 clinics have closed. 40 Days hold campains in the Spring and Fall each year. MHREPORTING
Listen DownloadChuck Schumer embraces gay pride
Chuck Schumer embraces gay pride
VERBATIM: The Democratic Senator from New York has introduced legislation that would give the rainbow Gay Pride flag the same federal protections afforded to the United States flag. His action follows the Trump administration’s decision not to fly the flag at a gay pride memorial in New York. Schumer refers to the Stonewall site as “sacred ground”. His legislation is unlikely to pass in the Republican-majority Congress and some critics say it’s a political stunt. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadUtah lawmakers consider an opt-out bill
Utah lawmakers consider an opt-out bill
VERBATIM: The measure would allow college students to decline an assignment if it conflicts with their deeply-held religious beliefs. GOP State Representative Mike Peterson is sponsoring the legislation, telling the Salt Lake Tribune that his daughter had been assigned by one professor to write a letter to a local official urging support for LGBT policies. He says “Sometimes a student gets put in a position where it violates their conscience and have no recourse,” MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA new snapshot of abortion in the U.S.
A new snapshot of abortion in the U.S.
VERBATIM: It’s the annual report from National Right to Life and it reveals that just about two-thirds of all abortions are now carried out by the use of drugs and those drugs can be shipped virtually anywhere in the country. The report also finds that half of all states have moved to enshrine abortion in law or their state constitutions. The half of the 50 states place some kind of serious restrictions on the procedure, including some where it is virtually banned altogether. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAnother warning about gambling
Another warning about gambling.
VERBATIM: This one comes from USA Today which has been doing research into the emerging data we have on legalized gaming in this country and it concludes that 30% of 11-to-13 year old boys and 41% of 14-1to-17 year old boys have bet on sports in the last 12 months. They all used legal betting apps in the states where they live — despite the fact that they are underage. 31 states have legalized sports gambling so far and others may do so this year. MHREPORTING
Listen DownloadA transgender controversy in Washington state
A transgender controversy in Washington state
VERBATIM: A member of the girls’ wrestling team is suing after claiming to have been sexually assaulted by a boy living as a girl during a match. The 16-year-old girl who attends Rogers High School says she was not made aware before the match that her opponent would be a boy. The local sheriff’s office tells the Christian Post that it has launched an investigation. Washington is one of several states that allows boys to compete against girls in school sports. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA Democratic lawmaker has questions about the afterlife
A Democratic lawmaker has questions about the afterlife
VERBATIM: In a truly bizarre exchange during a committee hearing on President Trump’s immigration policy this week, Congresswoman Lamonica McIver of New Jersey asked ICE Director Todd Lyons if he thought he was “going to hell” for his efforts to deport illegal immigrants. She also asked him “How do you think Judgement Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?” Lyons declined to answer either of the lawmaker’s questions. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAre you reading the Bible?
Are you reading the Bible?
VERBATIM: A new poll from LifeWay Research reveals that amongst Americans who attend church regularly, 31% say they are in the scriptures every day. Another 30% say they read it a few times a week — but not daily. 14% read the Bible once a week, 11% a few times a month and 5% once a month. NINE percent of folks who attend worship regularly say they NEVER open the Bible. The good news is, the number of regular readers is actually UP from 20 years ago. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadThe robots have created a religion
The robots have created a religion
VERBATIM: Several of them, actually. Last month a social media platform called Moltbook was launched specifically for Artificial Intelligence programs to meet and talk. Humans can observe but they can’t post or interact. One of the first things the AI programs did when they started to visit the platform was collaborate on the establishment of some new religions. Critics fear that actual humans might start following these religions in the near future. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA billboard campaign comes to Maine
A billboard campaign comes to Maine
VERBATIM: The signs are simple: They say “Christ Is King” is white letters on a black background and include an image of Jesus and First Timothy 6:15. They are the product of the pro-life group LifeSiteNews.com and Maine is the next state that is getting one. The group says “When mankind turns back to Christ the King, our society will be transformed.” So far billboards have been set up in Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New Jersey. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadUkraine is under tremendous pressure
Ukraine is under tremendous pressure
VERBATIM: Franklin Graham says “The people are suffering greatly. Many are without electricity and heat for long stretches each day; some have no power at all. This year’s winter has been brutal, and many cold and exhausted Ukrainians struggle to survive.” Samaritan’s Purse, the giant Christian relief agency Graham heads, continues to pump supplies into Ukraine but with the war against Russia about to enter its fifth year, he says the country is in dire straits. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA new poll asks moms about church
A new poll asks moms about church
VERBATIM: It comes from Motherhood Today and it reveals that about half of them say the number one reason they attend worship services regularly is to grow in their faith. The second most commonly cited reason is to learn about God. When asked what’s good and not so good at their church, a strong majority of moms say they like the small group ministries but wish there was more mental health support and more outreach specifically to mothers. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA call for action against China
A call for action against China
VERBATIM: The Communist government in Beijing persecutes Christians within its borders, but it doesn’t stop there. The Congressional Executive Committee on China is urging Congress and the president to do something about China’s campaigns against Chinese Christians living here in the U.S. The Committee says China uses verbal and online harassment to silence believers in this country, and sometimes even resorts to physical intimidation by Communist agents. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmericans weigh-in on capital punishment
Americans weigh-in on capital punishment
VERBATIM: According to data from the Public Religion Research Institute, about two-thirds of adults believe that it is acceptable for the state to execute a person who has been convicted of murdering someone. Amongst religious people, almost 80% of White Evangelicals support capital punishment, as do 71% of White Mainline Protestants and 66% of White Catholics. Roughly 60% of Black Protestants also support the death penalty. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadMissionaries are descending on the Winter Olympics
Missionaries are descending on the Winter Olympics
VERBATIM: The Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy will run for the next two weeks, and several Christian ministries will be on the ground seeking to spread the gospel amongst the 3,000 athletes and the two million spectators. The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention will be handing out gospel tracts and copies of the Bible in Italian. Similar evangelistic efforts are planned for this summer’s World Cup here in the U.S. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA setback for religious freedom in Maryland
A setback for religious freedom in Maryland
VERBATIM: A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Montgomery County Schools CAN force teachers to use transgender pronouns to refer to students — even if it violates their deeply held religious beliefs. On a 2-1 vote, the judges found that the school system did not violate the First Amendment rights of a Christian teacher. Decisions of the 4th Circuit are binding in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. MH REPRTING
Listen DownloadConfidence in organized religion is in decline
Confidence in organized religion is in decline
VERBATIM: The Gallup organization has been culling through its date over the years and paints a rather stark picture. In the year 2000 — a quarter century ago — 56% of Americans said they had a lot of confidence in organized religion in this country. In 2025, it was only 36%. Gallup also reports that while 45% of adults say they currently belong to a church or synagogue — 68% said they did in 2000, which probably has a lot to do with confidence. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadYou might not want to let the kids watch the Super Bowl halftime show
You might not want to let the kids watch the Super Bowl halftime show
VERBATIM: One Million Moms, a conservative advocacy group is issuing a warning over the headliner Bad Bunny. He’s a Puerto Rican born rap artist who will reportedly spend his time on the halftime stage putting on a show that “honors queer icons, generations of drag, resistance and cultural rebellion”. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, is reportedly also planning to appear on stage dressed as a woman. Super Bowl 60 takes place this Sunday. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadFranklin Graham will be on the road again this month
Franklin Graham will be on the road again this month
VERBATIM: The popular evangelist is scheduled to preach the gospel in Ushuaia, Argentina on February 14th and 15th. Ushuaia is a small town at the very southern tip of the country, often used as a jumping-off point for trips to Antarctica. Graham will be accompanied by several Contemporary Christian music groups and local churches are organizing the event. Last month he held a gospel festival in Cambodia. In March he has one scheduled for Peru. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAnother hospital gets out of the transgender business
Another hospital gets out of the transgender business
VERBATIM: This one is in Washington state. Officials at Multicare Mary Bridge Hospital have announced that they will no longer give puberty-blocking drugs to children nor perform surgeries on them in order to help them live as the opposite sex. Multicare joins a growing list of hospitals that are getting out of the transgender business under threat from the Trump administration. The president has vowed to cut federal funding to any facility that promotes transgenderism to kids. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmerica’s pastors are ready to stick it out
America’s pastors are ready to stick it out
VERBATIM: Four years ago, 42% of Protestant clergymen in this country told the Barna Group that they had seriously considered quitting the ministry within the last 12 months. Today, Barna reports that the number has fallen to 24% — which is still considerable, but much better than it had been. Researchers say the pandemic is probably mostly to blame for the high percentage of pastors who were thinking of giving up earlier this decade. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmericans weigh-in on euthanasia
Americans weigh-in on euthanasia
VERBATIM: And these aren’t just ANY Americans — they are regular churchgoers responding to a poll released by the Family Research Council. The results are that 43% of people who attend worship services believe that euthanasia is morally wrong. 23% say it’s NOT and more than one-third — 35% — can’t make up their mind. So far 12 states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing a person to legally get help from a doctor to take their own life. MH REPOERIMG
Listen DownloadA victory for religious freedom in New York
A victory for religious freedom in New York
VERBATIM: The state has agreed to end its legal fight aimed at making a group of Catholic nuns and other faith-based organizations offer abortion coverage in their health insurance programs. Lori Windham of the Becket Fund, which represented the plaintiffs, says “The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that religious groups shouldn’t be bullied for staying true to their faith. We are glad that New York finally agreed.” MH REPORTING
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