The Satanic Temple is at it again

The Satanic Temple is at it again

VERBATIM:  The organization has begun its annual practice of erecting images of the devil along side Nativity scenes set upl in public spaces.  The latest case is Concord, New Hampshire where a goat-headed statue was unveiled outside the state house over the weekend to the chants of “Hail Satan” by a group of Temple worshippers.  Polls indicate that about one-third of New Hampshire residents are atheists, agnostics or followers of no particular religion.  MH SRN NEWS.

‘Tis the season for living nativities

‘Tis the season for living nativities

VERBATIM:  Churches and ministries across the country are in the process of gathering costumes and volunteers for their annual effort to spread the gospel with a little bit of drama.  Faith Lutheran Church in Branson, Missouri will put one on this Sunday night.  Horizon Church in Rancho Santa Fe, California will do the same on December 20th through the 22nd.  And there will be a living nativity at First Presbyterian Church in Spruce Pine, North Carolina on the 20th.  MH SRN NEWS.

A victory for religious freedom in New York

A victory for religious freedom in New York

A lawsuit over a doll and a website

A lawsuit over a doll and a website

VERBATIM:  A South Carolina woman has filed suit against Mattel for leading her young daughter to internet pornography.  It all began with the packaging for the company’s dolls based on the characters in the Broadway musical “Wicked”.  The box included a message urging kids to visit the Wicked website — but when they did — they arrived at an on-line porn destination.  Mattel blames a misprint on the box and has since recalled the dolls.  MH SRN NEWS.

Presbyterian Church USA has paid a price for embracing LGBT agenda

The Presbyterian Church USA has paid a price for embracing the LGBT agenda

VERBATIM:  According to the denomination’s own statistics, more than one million members have left it over past 15 years as leadership has approved gay marriage and homosexual ordination.  Scores of churches have also left the PCUSA for more conservative organizations.  The latest report also reveals that young people have very little interest in the denomination, leaving most of the people in then pews these days amongst the ranks of senior citizens.  MH SRN NEWS.

A Louisiana church rises from the ashes

A Louisiana church rises from the ashes

VERBATIM:  Greater Union Baptist Church of St. Landry Parish was burned to the ground by an arsonist in 2019.  But the congregation of the historic black church has rebuilt it and the sanctuary is set to be rededicated this month.  Pastor Patrick Lavergne tells News 15 ““It’s a new beginning.  We have a bigger facility, and we have a lot more options than we had in the old facility. As is stated, what the devil meant for evil, God turned it into good.”  MH SRN NEWS.

A victory for religious freedom in New Jersey

A victory for religious freedom in New Jersey

VERBATIM:  A federal judge has ruled that the state can NOT exclude churches from its historic preservation grant fund simply because they are religious.  The Mendham Methodist Church and The Zion Lutheran Church Long Valley took the state to court when they were denied access to the fund.  First Liberty represented the churches and released a statement “Time and again, the Supreme Court has declared all forms of religious discrimination by the government unconstitutional.”  MH SRN NEWS.

Toronto celebrates Christianity

Toronto celebrates Christianity

Bible sales are up

Bible sales are up

VERBATIM:  According to data from Circana Book Scan, purchase of the scriptures surged 22% in the first 10 months of this year — compared to a 1% increase for book sales generally.  Nearly 14 million Bibles have been bought by Americans so far in 2024 and some clergymen think it has to do with anxiety over things such as the economy and global conflicts.  In fact, the Bible is a best-seller virtually every year — but the 2024 surge is attracting attention.  MH SRN NEWS.

Christians are cheering Australia’s social media ban

Christians are cheering Australia’s social media ban

VERBATIM:  Clergymen, pro-family groups and others have been warning for years that social media is corrupting the spirits, minds and bodies of the world’s young people and they are all congratulating Australia’s government for taking action.  Though it won’t be implemented for a year, the ban will cover all children under the age of 16 and will levy large fines on tech companies that break the law.  Social media is blamed for introducing kids to pornography and gambling amongst other things.  MH SRN NEWS.

A post-election analysis of the people who voted for Trump

A post-election analysis of the people who voted for President Trump

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Pew Research Center and it finds that those who cast their ballot for Mr. Trump, be they Republicans, Independents or even Democrats, are more conservative on social issues than the general population — or even than the President himself in some cases.  Over 90% of them do NOT accept transgenderism.  60% believe people should emphasize marriage and family and 89% favor legal gun ownership.  MH SRN NEWS.

The Naughty and Nice list is out

The Naughty and Nice list is out

A new study of religion and support for Israel

A new study of religion and support for Israel

VERBATIM:  Simply put, the LESS religious America becomes, the LESS supportive it is of the Jewish State.  That’s what the Gallup organization concludes in its latest analysis.  It seems that Christianity in the U.S. is a bulwark for Israel and as the nation has begun to abandon the faith it is also abandoning its ally in the Middle East.  Gallup polls indicate that atheists, agnostics and those who follow no particular religion are much more supportive of the Palestinians.  MH SRN NEWS.

America’s pastors are struggling with porn

America’s pastors are struggling with porn

VERBATIM:  According to research from the Barna Group, 18% of Protestant clergymen say they are currently struggling with the temptations of pornography.  49% say they struggled with it in the past and 33% say it’s never been a problem.  Amongst younger pastors — under the age of 45 — 26% say they are currently fighting an attraction to porn.  It would appear that the easy access provided by the internet is afflicting clergy as much as laymen.  MH SRN NNEWS.

Franklin Graham is packing his bags one last time

Franklin Graham is packing his bags one last time

VERBATIM:  The popular evangelist will hold his final overseas gospel festival of 2024 in Can Tho Vietnam on December 3rd and 4th.  Graham is teaming up with more than 200 Christian churches in the Mekong Delta to put on the two-day event at Can Tho Stadium.  Graham says “God loves the people of Vietnam.  I look forward to sharing this message of hope and am especially thankful to the leaders of this country for welcoming me back.”  MH SRN NEWS.

A leading insurance company goes all-in on the LGBT agenda

A leading insurance company goes all-in on the LGBT agenda

A victory for religious freedom in Australia

A victory for religious freedom in Australia

VERBATIM:  The government has decided to withdraw a bill that would have given a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks.  Christian leaders and free speech advocates warned that the legislation would have made it dangerous to quote the Bible on hot button social issues such as homosexuality.  MH SRN NEWS.

Cuba is persecuting Christians

Cuba is persecuting Christians

A new agency targets Planned Parenthood

A new agency targets Planned Parenthood

VERBATIM:  Elon Musk has been tapped by President Trump to head the Department Of Government Efficiency and one of its first actions may be to cut federal funding of the nation’s largest abortion business.  Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — who all serve in the new agency — have reportedly placed Planned Parenthood on a list of groups that are benefiting from taxpayer dollars and are liable to be cut.  MH SRN NEWS.

Americans prepare for Thanksgiving

Americans prepare for Thanksgiving

VERBATIM:  We’ve come a long way from that first celebration in 1621 when the Pilgrims gathered to thank God for enough food to last the winter.  But there will be similarities.  According to the Pew Research Center, 91% of Americans WILL mark the holiday and 74% will be doing so with family, friends and other people.  65% of us will say grace or some other kind of prayer at our Thanksgiving gathering and a few even plan to attend church services that day.  MH SRN NEWS.

Christmas stamps are out

Christmas stamps are out

VERBATIM:  And once again the Postal Service has opted to make reference to the real reason for the season.  Amongst its 2024 Christmas offerings is a stamp depicting the infant Jesus in the arms of his mother.  It is a copy of a madonna and child painting rendered in the 1600 by Italian artist Giovanni Batista Salvi and is currently held by the St. Louis Art Museum.  Postal Service spokesman Sheila Holman says the stamp is “a beautiful remind of the season’s roots.”  MH SRNN NEWS.

A warning to churches from the ATF

A warning to churches from the ATF

VERBATIM:  The Boston Bureau of that agency is urging houses of worship in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to beef up their security after several attacks.  Churches in Franklin, Kingston and Woonsocket have been the target of arsonists recently and the ATF fears there will be more incidents.  The bureau says congregations should install security cameras, keep in close contact with local law enforcement and consider organizing regular patrols of their church neighborhood.  MH SRN NEWS.

Democrats have a God problem

Democrats have a God problem

VERBATIM:  That’s the opinion of a man who worked very hard to get Kamala Harris elected this year.  Christopher Hale is the founder of Catholics For Harris and in an opinion piece for Newsweek, he says “The Democratic Party has increasingly aligned itself with secular values, often sidelining religious voices in the process. This has alienated many religious voters, who feel their beliefs are not only unrepresented but actively dismissed.” President Trump won the Catholic vote on Election Day.  MH SRN NEWS.

A Virginia teacher is fighting for her faith

A Virginia teacher is fighting for her faith

VERBATIM:  American First Legal is suing the Fairfax County School System for seeking to force the unidentified teacher to use transgender student’s preferred pronouns.  The plaintiff says this would violate her sincerely-held religious beliefs.  Lawsuits like this one are cropping up all across the country as school districts seek to promote transgenderism and people of faith resist.  Lawyers say religious freedom is at stake, as is freedom of speech.  MH SRN NEWS.