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Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
The governing body of track and field bans transgender athletes
The governing body of track and field bans transgender athletes
VERBATIM: If you are a man, living as a woman, you will NOT be allowed to compete against actual women. That’s the decision of the World Athletics Council, which will bar any male-to-female transgender athlete who has been through puberty beginning March 31st. WAC President Sebastian Coe tells the BBC that the organization wants to “protect the female category”. The decision is being welcomed by female athletes who fear men will soon push them out of sports altogether. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Even an atheist has figured transgenderism out
Even an atheist has figured transgenderism out
VERBATIM: Richard Dawkins is one of the most visible non-believers on the planet. The evolutionary biologist is the go-to guest for any program that’s seeking an atheist to heap scorn on Christians. But Dawkins, appearing on a recent Piers Morgan program, stated clearly that there are ONLY two sexes — male and female. Dawkins says “It’s incontrovertible, there’s no scientific doubt about this, and yet a small group of people have reshaped the way society talks and is allowed to talk.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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America’s churches are getting their financial house in order
America’s churches are getting their financial house in order
VERBATIM: A new study by LifeWay Research indicates that Protestant congregations have much greater cash reserves in 2023 than they did back in 2016. After the pandemic and other financial shocks, many churches have made it a priority to fix their finances. LifeWay reports that 24% of churches have about a year of operating money in the bank and 32% have at least a half a year’s supply. Mega-churches are more likely than small ones to have big reserves. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Small groups are in decline at many churches
Small groups are in decline at many churches
VERBATIM: LifeWay Research says America’s Protestant pastors are having a hard time getting people to join small groups. In 2010, just 49% of parishioners at the average church were in a small group. Today it’s only 44%. The pandemic is partly to blame. A lot of folks got used to staying at home and watching services on-line, and some are still doing so. LifeWay spokesman Scott McConnell says “Groups unify a congregation and motivate people to work together.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A lot of pastors are not very happy
A lot of pastors are not very happy
VERBATIM: In 2015, when the Barna Group polled Protestant clergymen, 72 said they felt very satisfied in their job. Today — it’s down to 52%. In 2015, two in three pastors said they were more confident of their calling than they were when they started in ministry. Now — just 35 percent say the same and 14 percent are less confident. Another striking aspect of the poll: The drop in satisfaction and confidence is very strong amongst YOUNG clergymen. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Biden sparks confusion with a story about homosexuality
President Biden sparks confusion with a story about homosexuality
VERBATIM: He was interviewed this week on the Daily Show and said a lot about LGBT issues. Mr. Biden explained that he became a supporter of same-sex marriage back in 1961, when he saw two men kissing as a high school senior. But critics are quick to point out that over the course of his long political career, the president has opposed homosexual unions. In 1994 he supported a ban on federal funding to schools that promoted the LGBT agenda and in 1996 he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A new poll charts viewpoint discrimination
A new poll charts viewpoint discrimination
VERBATIM: It was commissioned by Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group, and it finds that a lot of Americans fear expressing Christian or conservative beliefs at work. 64% of respondents say expressing religious or political viewpoints on the job would likely result in negative consequences. And you’re not safe at home, either. 54% of Americans say they believe sharing political content on their own social media accounts could result in punishment at work. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Americans weigh-in on traditional values
Americans weigh-in on traditional values
VERBATIM: According to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, 78% of respondents want the public schools to teach children the values associated with traditional Western civilization. Strong majorities of whites, blacks and other minority groups agree — traditional values are important. However, only about one-third of American think the schools are doing a good job imparting those values and older people are even more pessimistic. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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President Biden honors a man on International Women’s Day
President Biden honors a man on International Women’s Day
VERBATIM: During a White House event on Wednesday, an award was presented to Alba Rueda, a man who is living as a woman. Rueda, who is Argentina’s Special Envoy for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received an International Women of Courage award. President Bide is a vigorous advocate for transgenderism, naming another man who is living as a woman — Dr. Rachel Levine — to be the first-ever transgender cabinet-level official. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Is anybody getting saved in your church?
Is anybody getting saved in your church?
VERBATIM: LifeWay Research has been asking America’s Protestant pastors about conversion experiences in their flock. 33% of respondents say between 10 and 20 people gave their life to Christ at the church over the past 12 months. 50% of pastors say they’ve seen between one and nine conversions, while 17% report NO commitments to Christ in the previous year. Overall, the number of people getting saved in Protestant churches is down from a decade ago. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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An Arizona school system says Christian teachers need not apply
An Arizona school system says Christian teachers need not apply
VERBATIM: For more than a decade, seniors from Arizona Christian University have done their required student-teaching in the Washington Elementary School District. But LGBT candidates recently won three of the five seats on the school board, and they have voted to ban ACU students from the classroom. Board members say having Christians in the public schools poses a risk to LGBT students. This despite the fact that 25 ACU students have been hired by the district over the years. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
Listen DownloadThe battle over transgenderism engulfs another sport
The battle over transgenderism engulfs another sport
VERBATIM: A judge in Minnesota has ruled that one of America’s leading weightlifting federations MUST allow men who are living as women to compete against ACTUAL women. USA Powerlifting is considering an appeal of the decision of Ramsey County District Court Judge Patrick Diamond, who compared the federation’s ban on men competing against women to denying services to a person because they are black. Sports governing bodies around the world are grappling with this issue. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Hybrid worship services are here to stay
Hybrid worship services are here to stay
VERBATIM: The 2023 State of Church Technology report from Pushpay finds that the vast majority of church leaders believe that most houses of worship will continue offering in-person and on-line services for the foreseeable future. It’s apparently going to be an indelible mark left on the country by the pandemic. Meanwhile, about 25% of pastors and other faith leaders think a lot of Americans will one day be holding worship in virtual reality. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A new women’s museum will include men
A new women’s museum will include men
VERBATIM: Lisa Sasaki is heading up the Smithsonian’s effort to build the American Women’s History Museum here in Washington D.C. and she tells the New York Times that transgender women — men who are living as women — WILL be featured in the exhibits. Sasaki says it’s all about inclusion. The museum has raised 55 million dollars in donations from America’s wealthy, but it will have to be approved by Congress before construction can begin. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in God?
VERBATIM: That’s the question the Gallup organization has been asking Americans over the decades and the results are a bit disturbing. In the 1950’s, 98% of adults said YES, they do believe in God. That’s down to 81% in the latest Gallup poll. But parsing the numbers further reveals that only about half of Americans believe in “God as described in the Bible.” A quarter just believe in some kind of higher power or spiritual force. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A new poll tracks LGBT affiliation in this country
A new poll tracks LGBT affiliation in this country
VERBATIM: The numbers come from the Gallup organization and they indicate that 7% of Americans say they are homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender. That’s double the percentage just 10 years ago. But if you are a young person, the numbers go a lot higher. Amongst Generation Z — teens and 20-somethings — 20% indentify as LGBT. Gallup says “The LGBT share of the entire U.S. adult population can be expected to grow in future years.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Are you a regular churchgoer?
Are you a regular churchgoer?
VERBATIM: A new poll from Life Way Research finds a difference of opinion about what that word actually means — and the laymen are more strict about it then the clergy. Nearly 60% of Protestants who go to worship service say you’ve got to be there every week if you want to call yourself a regular. By contrast, only 16% of Protestant pastors feel the same way. In fact, 54% of clergymen will count you as a regular if you only show up a once or twice a month. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A religious bookstore files suit against Jacksonville, Florida
A religious bookstore files suit against Jacksonville, Florida
VERBATIM: The city has an ordinance that forbids any kind of speech that could lead someone to feel “unwelcome” based on various protected traits. But the people who run the local Catholic bookstore say they cannot comply and are going to court with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF Senior Counsel Hal Frampton says “This case is the latest example of government officials across the country using radical ideology to cancel those who disagree.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A troubling new report on transgender prisoners
A troubling new report on transgender prisoners
VERBATIM: The Correctional Service of Canada says most of the inmates who are men, living as women, are violent offenders and nearly half are serving time for sexual offenses. The study demonstrates the problem with housing these men in women’s prisons as several states in the U.S. are currently doing. Advocates for female prisoners say their clients are being placed at risk of their lives by being locked up with violent men. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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The break up of the Worldwide Anglican Communion has begun
The break up of the Worldwide Anglican Communion has begun
VERBATIM: A group of Anglican bishops in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific have thrown down the gauntlet, announcing that they no longer recognize Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as their leader. The bold move comes in the wake of a decision by the Church of England’s General Synod to approve blessing ceremonies for same-sex civil marriages. The dissident bishops represent about 25% of the 42 regional global church bodies of the Anglican Communion. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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The New York Times is not liberal enough
The New York Times is not liberal enough
VERBATIM: That seems to be the contention of more than 1,000 journalist and authors who have contributed to the newspaper. They have signed a letter decrying the Times for a couple of articles it published recently that called into question the practice of performing sex-change operations on children who are not even old enough to vote, drive, drink or in some cases get a tattoo. The signatories also want to see center-right columnist David French fired by the Times. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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Disney is teaming up with a homosexual music group
Disney is teaming up with a homosexual music group
VERBATIM: The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company with a show in March called “Disney Pride in Concert”. The event, which is being produced by Disney, will feature songs from beloved children’s cartoons such as The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sparked controversy in 2021 when it released a song it called satirical in which the group vowed to “convert your children”. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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More bad news about America’s young people
More bad news about America’s young people
VERBATIM: A new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that teenagers are having a lot of mental problems. The CDC says “Nearly all indicators of poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased from 2011 to 2021.” Specifically, 10% of high school students tried to kill themselves last year. The poll also finds that 60% of girls felt so sad or hopeless — almost every day for at least two weeks — that they stopped performing their usual activities. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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A new report on Christian nationalism
A new report on Christian nationalism
VERBATIM: It seems that term in on the lips of every liberal these days — pundits both religious and secular issuing dire warnings about the growing threat of Christian nationalism. But a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that over 70% of Americans, when asked if they want the government to declare this a Christian nation, say NO. In fact, surveys indicate that Christianity is on the DECLINE in the U.S. and has been for decades. Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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