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Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
A New Jersey church remains in limbo
A New Jersey church remains in limbo
VERBATIM: Christ Episcopal in Toms River is under threat of being seized by the town and turned into a public park under eminent domain. But the zoning board never took a vote on the matter at its latest meeting, leaving the congregation to wait until July for a possible decision. Christ Episcopal will likely challenge any seizure attempt in court and since the building is actually owned by the Episcopal denomination, its lawyers will probably get involved too. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadVerizon is getting out of the DEI business
Verizon is getting out of the DEI business
VERBATIM: The telecom giant has officially ended its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, admitting that they “could be associated with discrimination”. Verizon is in the process of trying to buy Frontier and the decision to abandon DEI is seen as an effort to get the deal approved by the Trump administration, which has declared war on DEI. Critics of the programs say they are mostly used to promote the LGBT agenda and are sometimes racist. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA women’s college gives a degree to a man
A women’s college gives a degree to a man
VERBATIM: Rachel Levine was the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services under president Biden. Levine is also a man living as a woman. But that has not stopped Smith College, the noted women’s school, from awarding Levine an honorary degree and the opportunity to deliver the commencement address to a graduating class of more than 600 women. Women’s Declaration International, a feminist group, protested Levine’s award. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA victory for Christian broadcasters
A victory for Christian broadcasters
VERBATIM: A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled unanimously that the Federal Communications Commission can NOT force religious radio or TV companies to reveal the racial or sexual composition of their staff. Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod wrote that while the FCC is empowered to act in the public interest, “The FCC does not explain how compiling data on sex- and racial-employment trends in the broadcast industry serves that purpose.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA warning from a Christian researcher
A warning from a Christian researcher
VERBATIM: George Barna has been polling Americans for decades and his latest findings, at the Cultural Research Center, have got him worried. His surveys indicate that most people no longer believe in absolute moral truth — and incredibly — that includes most self-identified Christians. Barna says “Accepting all truths as equally valid cannot help but dig a deep foundation of chaos, confusion and helplessness. This will lead to the acceptance of powerful elites as the arbiter of truth for the masses.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAmericans weigh-in on bathrooms
Americans weigh-in on bathrooms
VERBATIM: Specifically, who should be allowed to use which one. A new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that 71% of respondents want people to be restricted to using the restroom corresponding to the sex they actually ARE, NOT the one they might be LIVING AS. On this issue, faith groups are united. No major religious community in the country supports allowing men to use women’s bathrooms. 55% of non-religious people DO. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadSamaritan’s Purse is cleaning up after weekend twisters
Samaritan’s Purse is cleaning up after weekend twisters
A beauty products company embraces transgenderism
A beauty products company embraces transgenderism
VERBATIM: While a lot of big firms are backing away from the LGBT agenda, under fire from customers, Dove appears to be doubling down. The company has released a short ad for a hair care product that features a man who is living as a woman. It’s all part of a campaign called “The Dove You Love, Reimagined”. A lot of people on social media reacted to the transgender spot with dismay and there are now rumblings of a potential boycott of Dove. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAn assisted-suicide bill has failed in Nevada
An assisted-suicide bill has failed in Nevada
VERBATIM: The legislation made some headway in the state Assembly but it faced strong opposition in the Senate and Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has promised a veto. Currently, a person can end his life with the help of a doctor in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Nearly 20 other states are considering suicide legislation this year. MHSRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadAnother church attack in France
Another church attack in France
A disturbing incident outside Cleveland
A disturbing incident outside Cleveland
VERBATIM: A man checked out a bunch of Jewish books from a library in the heavily-Jewish suburb of Beachwood and then filmed himself burning them. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that the titles included “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Jewish Solidarity”. Local Jewish leaders are unhappy. Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk of Congregation Mishkan Or says “Whoever perpetuated the idea that you can burn us out of Cleveland, picked the wrong community.” MH SRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadHave you read through the Bible more than once?
Have you read through the Bible more than once?
VERBATIM: If you said “YES” then you are in pretty elite company. A new poll from LifeWay Research finds that only 9% of Americans say they have made it through all 66 books two or more times. However, the survey also reveals that a lot of people think the Bible deserves their attention. 44% say it’s a good idea to read the scriptures again and again, and half of respondents say they have read a lot of the Bible — if not the whole thing. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA Republican senator goes after obscenity
A Republican senator goes after obscenity
VERBATIM: Mike Lee of Utah has introduced a bill that would update the country’s law governing indecency, in hopes of curbing the explosion of pornography on the internet that is really affecting kids. Lee says “Obscenity isn’t protected by the First Amendment. This legislation updates the legal definition of obscenity for the internet age so this content can be taken down and its peddlers prosecuted.” Some children report seeing pornography before the age of 10. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAmerica is turning away from the Bible
America is turning away from the Bible
Southern Baptists are getting ready for their summer trip
Southern Baptists are getting ready for their summer trip
VERBATIM: Messengers from the largest Protestant denomination are set to gather in Dallas on June 8th through the 11th for their annual convention. It’s an interesting time for the SBC which continues to see modest declines in membership but also increases in baptisms and church attendance. There is some internal turmoil going into the convention, including the future of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission which is accused by some conservatives of moving left. MH SRB NEWS
Listen DownloadKilling people can save a lot of money
Killing people can save a lot of money
VERBATIM: That’s the conclusion of a new government study in England which finds that if lawmakers adopt an assisted suicide bill, it would wind up saving the country about 80 million dollars each year. The report also projects that as more people choose to kill themselves, the savings will increase. Pro-life advocates and clergymen are expressing outrage at the fact that the British government would even conduct such a study. A vote on the bill is due this month. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAnother European country embraces assisted suicide
Another European country embraces assisted suicide
VERBATIM: The Supreme Court of Estonia has ruled that the state must allow people to take their own lives with the help of a doctor, stating that the procedure is a “constitutional right”. This puts the Estonian legislature in the position of having to draft a bill to make it official. Assisted-suicide is extending its tentacles all across Europe. It’s been legalized in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Portugal. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAmericans don’t trust each other very much
Americans don’t trust each other very much
VERBATIM: According to the Pew Research Center, back in 1972 nearly half of all adults said that most other people can be trusted. Today only about one-third think that. Why does this matter? Pew says “trust is the oil that lubricates the frictions of daily life. Trust makes it easier for people to work together to solve problems.” Some clergymen are pointing to Matthew 24:12 in which Jesus warned that ” Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” MH SRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe countdown has begun to the European Congress on Evangelism
The countdown has begun to the European Congress on Evangelism
VERBATIM: The first one took place in 1966. The last one was in 2000. Representatives from 56 European countries and territories are due in Berlin on May 27th to discuss how better to spread the gospel in the fast-changing 21st Century. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is the host, and Franklin Graham will be front-and-center. The theme of this Congress is Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA sex ed summer camp is canceled
A sex ed summer camp is canceled
VERBATIM: When the University of Colorado Boulder announced that it would host the event the backlash was immediate. The camp, which urged children as young as 10 to join in, announced that it would discuss everything “related to sex, bodies, sexuality, bodies beyond the binary, pleasure and self-love.” The primary sponsor was a local abortion clinic. The outrage grew to such high levels that UCB says it will NOT be holding the sex ed summer camp afterall. MH SRNNNEWS
Listen DownloadA new charge against Planned Parenthood
A new charge against Planned Parenthood
Support for transgender people in the military is declining
Support for transgender people in the military is declining
VERBATIM: According to a Gallup poll in 2019, 71% of Americans approved of President Obama’s decision to allow people living as the opposite sex to serve openly in the armed forces. But in the intervening six years, things have changed. Support for transgenderism in uniform dropped to 66% in 2021 and today it’s down to 58%. Meanwhile, the Gallup poll also reveals that nearly 80% of respondents think women SHOULD be allowed to serve in combat roles. MH SRN NNEWS
Listen DownloadAtheists want their own National Day of Prayer
Atheists want their own National Day of Prayer
VERBATIM: Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin has introduced a resolution to set aside May 4th as the National Day of Reason. He’s acting on behalf of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and the move is being celebrated by atheist groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In fact, the resolution has very little chance of ever being adopted as Raskin has been introducing it annually for quite some time — to no avail. MH SRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadMontana protects its public employees
Montana protects its public employees
VERBATIM: Republican Governor Greg Gianforte has signed a measure that bars the state or any locality from forcing teachers, professors and other government workers from having to use the pronouns of transgender co-workers. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group, is cheering the new law. Senior Counsel Matt Sharp says “No one should lose their job or face punishment at work for declining to say something they believe is false. MH SRN NEWS
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