Audio
Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
Some good news for the Presbyterian Church in America
Some good news for the Presbyterian Church in America
VERBATIM: Over the past year, the conservative denomination saw increases in membership, professions of faith and overall giving. This is in stark contrast to the more liberal Presbyterian Church USA, which saw another year of decline, including a sharp drop in total membership. While more and more Americans are becoming non-religious, those who ARE faithful seem to be seeking membership in more conservative organizations and not more liberal ones. MH SRN NEW
Listen DownloadA church-state battle is taking place in New Jersey
A church-state battle is taking place in New Jersey
VERBATIM: Christ Episcopal Church wants a permit to build a homeless shelter on its property. The Toms River City Council says NO, and is now trying to acquire the church campus and turn it into a public park. The council has voted to purchase Christ Episcopal or seize it under the provisions of eminent domain. The congregation says it will not sell. In fact, Christ Episcopal is held in trust for the Episcopal Church USA, which will probably wind up in court against the city. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAmerica’s churches are getting ready for Mother’s Day
America’s churches are getting ready for Mother’s Day
VERBATIM: You probably know that the most popular dates for people to attend worship are Easter and Christmas — but do you know what comes in 3rd? Yep. Mother’s Day. LifeWay Research finds that Protestant pastors tab that day as the third busiest event for their congregations — Father’s Day doesn’t even make the list, by the way. It’s also one of the most expensive holidays of the year with Americans spending 34.1 billion dollars on mom. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe United Methodist Church continues to fight over gay marriage
The United Methodist Church continues to fight over gay marriage
VERBATIM: The denomination’s highest court says the local pastor, NOT the church elders, has the final say over whether or not a same-sex wedding can take place in a local UMC church. There had been a dispute going on in the Arkansas Conference involving some church trustees who wanted to ban gay marriage ceremonies in their building. The UMC has already undergone a major split over the issue of homosexual unions and gay ordination. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadWhat is truth?
What is truth?
VERBATIM: Pontius Pilate wasn’t the only one who couldn’t figure that out, apparently. A new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals that 66% of American adults either reject or doubt the existence of any absolute moral truth. The even more devastating result of the CRC poll is that 61% of people who attend Protestant churches in this country ALSO reject or doubt the existence of absolute moral truth. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadIBM dumps DEI
IBM dumps DEI
VERBATIM: Add the giant tech company to the growing list of major firms that have decided to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs under pressure from customers. Critics of DEI say it promotes transgenderism and other aspects of the LGBT agenda, amongst other things. President Trump is also campaigning against DEI, vowing to purge the federal government of such programs. IBM is following the lead of Pepsi, Mastercard and Johnson & Johnson. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA mixed report for the Southern Baptist Convention
A mixed report for the Southern Baptist Convention
VERBATIM: America’s largest Protestant denomination has released its annual numbers and they reveal that membership is down to its lowest level in half a century. However, amongst those folks who ARE Southern Baptists, regular church attendance is UP and the number of annual baptisms continues to climb since bottoming out during the pandemic. The SBC now has 12.7 million members, about a quarter-of-a-million less than before. MHN SRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadMost people believe in God
Most people believe in God
VERBATIM: Much has been made of the growing number of individuals all around the globe who are “followers of no particular religion”. But that doesn’t mean there are a lot more atheists around. According to a new poll released by the British and Foreign Bible Society and United Bible Societies, the vast majority of the people on earth believe in some kind of supreme being. Atheists, by contrast, make up a tiny percentage of the world population. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadWhite Evangelicals are standing by President Trump
White Evangelicals are standing by President Trump
A new report on Canada’s burning churches
A new report on Canada’s burning churches
VERBATIM: It comes from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and it’s the first professional assessment of a rash of arson attacks on houses of worship in the country over the past several years. The report concludes that the rate of attacks on Canada’s churches has doubled since 2021. Experts at the Institute say the alleged discovery of unmarked graves at Catholic schools in Canada — a story which has since been debunked — appears to have triggered the surge in arson attacks. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadGermans are quitting church
Germans are quitting church
VERBATIM: The largest Christian denominations in the country lost more than one million members in 2024. A new poll also finds that non-religious people now make up the biggest single faith group in Germany — about 47% of the total population. This scenario has been playing out all across Western Europe for several decades now. Holland is 48% religiously unaffiliated, Belgium 38%, Sweden 42%. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAmericans are turning against Israel
Americans are turning against Israel
VERBATIM: A new study conducted by the Pew Research Center finds attitudes toward the Jewish state skewing negative for the first time. 53% of U.S. adults now view Israel unfavorably, compared to 42% just three years ago. Democrats are a lot more likely than Republicans to think negatively about Israel — 69% versus 37%. Young people lean negative more than older Americans do. Meanwhile, anti-Semitism in the country and the world is on the rise. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadTeenagers are worried about social media
Teenagers are worried about social media
VERBATIM: We all know that moms and dads think Instagram, TikTok and the rest of them are harmful to young people in a lot of ways, but now the kids themselves are catching on. A new poll from the Pew Research Center finds that 48% of teens believe that social media harms people their age — up from 32% just two years ago. Experts say social media exposes adolescents to a variety of bad things, including pornography and sex-trafficking. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA Supreme Court justice has some advice for Christian parents
A Supreme Court justice has some advice for Christian parents
VERBATIM: During recent arguments in a case where Maryland moms and dads want the right to opt their kids out of classes using textbooks that promote the LGBT lifestyle, Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson suggested that the plaintiffs should just put their children in a private school if they object to certain books. Then justice seems to be unaware that a lot of Christians cannot afford to do that, and doesn’t address the fact that the tax dollars of those parents are funding the public schools. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadIndiana has a parental rights law
Indiana has a parental rights law
The measure bars the state government from passing any legislation that would substantially burden a mom or dad’s right to direct the “upbringing, education, healthcare or religious instruction” of their child. John Carpenter of the Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom thinks it’s a great idea, adding “parents know and love their children best, and they have the right and duty to raise their children according to their own conscience.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA new worry for Christians in India
A new worry for Christians in India
VERBATIM: The Hindu-nationalist government in the huge country has recently been moving to squeeze Muslims, seeking to carve up the property that is owned by mosques. Christian leaders fear that this is just the first step in an effort to seize all non-Hindu religious property — including that of India’s embattled Christian minority. Persecution of believers in India has been surging over the past two decades and when the government isn’t doing it — local Hindus ARE. MHSRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA victory for religious freedom in Ohio
A victory for religious freedom in Ohio
VERBATIM: A federal judge says Montgomery County cannot sever relations with a Christian home for abused women just because it is religious. Grace Haven Incorporated was seeking a preliminary injunction against the country, which is trying to cut the ministry off because it hires only Christians. This kind of case is becoming increasingly common across the U.S. as states, counties and cities pass laws designed to promote the LGBT agenda in hiring. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadPresident Trump considers a baby bonus
President Trump considers a baby bonus
VERBATIM: The U.S. birthrate has fallen to 1.6 — below the 2.1 child per woman average needed to sustain the population — and the president wants to do something about it. His administration is working on a possible bonus program that would pay any woman who has a baby 5,000 dollars. There are a lot of details to work out, but it’s clear that the administration has taken notice of the plummeting birth rate which comes with dire implications both social and economic. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe battle over assisted suicide continues in the United Kingdom
The battle over assisted suicide continues in the United Kingdom
VERBATIM: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been presented with a petition AGAINST the practice signed by more than 9,000 people. It was organized by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children — Britain’s leading pro-life organization. Parliament will take up a bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide next month and pro-lifers warn that if passed, it will lead to the victimization of the elderly and the disabled, who might be prompted to take their own lives. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA report on faith and family life
A report on faith and family life
VERBATIM: It comes from the Public Religion Research Institute, and it reveals that 41% of Americans say religious practices are an important part of their family’s home life. Amongst White Evangelical Protestants its 76% and strong majorities of Black and Hispanic Protestants agree. People who attend church on a regular basis are much more likely to say that religious practices are an important part of their home life — Republicans more likely than Democrats. MH STN NEWS
Listen DownloadIt is now illegal to pray in Australia
It is now illegal to pray in Australia
VERBATIM: The state of New South Wales has a new anti-discrimination law that makes it a crime for a person to pray that another person abandon the homosexual lifestyle. The statute reads as follows: “praying with or over a person with the intent to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identity is unlawful … even if that person has asked you to pray for them to be able to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identity.” The law also applies to pastors’ sermons. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadNine Christians arrested in China
Nine Christians arrested in China
VERBATIM: They were holding house church services and also handing out Bibles to anyone who wanted one. Those acts are against the law in China where the Communist Party would like to stamp out Christianity altogether. The nine believers face multi-year prison sentences and large fines. China is in the midst of a broad crackdown on religious faith that is designed to sublimate all belief systems to the government even as it seeks to expand its influence around the world. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadBelief in the afterlife is on the rise
Belief in the afterlife is on the rise
VERBATIM: Most religious Americans agree that the spirit will continue on after life on this earth is over, but what’s remarkable about the latest data is the number of NON-religious people who agree. According to an analysis made by Professor Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University, 50% of people who say they are followers of no particular religion believe in some kind of afterlife. Christian leaders say this is further proof that non-believers might be open to the gospel. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadMost Americans see no problem with women getting abortion pills in the mail
Most Americans see no problem with women getting abortion pills in the mail
