A Christian legal group has a request for the Trump administration

A Christian legal group has a request for the Trump administration

VERBATIM:  Alliance Defending Freedom has sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services pointing out that federal dollars are going to about 50 medical training programs that may force students to participate in abortions.  ADF says ““No family medicine residency can tell applicants or employees that any aspect of abortion is a necessary part of the program.”  President Trump has vowed to end taxpayer funding of abortion across the board.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center looks at black families in America

The Pew Research Center looks at black families in America

VERBATIM:  The study finds that African-Americans are more likely than other racial groups to think of at least one non-relative as a member of their family.  And black people who are religious are the most likely of all.  Pew reports that roughly 60% of black Christians say they have a nonrelative they consider family, compared with 53% of religiously unaffiliated black adults.  The survey also finds shared faith is key to who gets to be included in African-American families.  MH REPORTING

A new report on Artificial Intelligence and faith

A new report on Artificial Intelligence and faith

VERBATIM:  It comes from a joint project of the Barna Group and Gloo, and it indicates that about one-third of adults in this country now believe that spiritual advice from AI is just as good as what they might receive from a pastor.  Among Gen-Z and Millennials, the youngest adults, 40% believe this.  The numbers are raising concerns in some quarters as the U.S. comes to grips with AI even as the technology is flooding different aspects of our lives.  MH REPORTING

Science and faith come together in Dallas this weekend

Science and faith come together in Dallas this weekend

VERBATIM:  The Discovery Institute is hosting the eighth annual Conference on Science & Faith at Park Cities Baptist Church on Saturday.  The Institute says “At the time of America’s Founding, the Declaration’s propositions drew support both from the Bible and the science of the era. Today the discoveries of science are once again pointing to the truths announced in the Declaration.”  Former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson will be amongst the conference speakers.  MH REPORTING

A California lawmaker moves to protect churches

A California lawmaker moves to protect churches

America’s pastors are talking about persecution

America’s pastors are talking about persecution

VERBATIM:  According to a poll of Protestant pastors conducted by LifeWay Research, the vast majority of them are acutely aware of how their brothers and sisters in foreign lands are being oppressed.  The survey finds that 86% of preachers have urged their congregations to pray for persecuted Christians abroad.  66% say they have delivered sermons focusing on abuse of believers and a few have brought in experts to give talks about the problem.  MH REPORTING

Then Pew Research Center looks at religion around the globe

Then Pew Research Center looks at religion around the globe

A report card for American churchgoers

A report card for American churchgoers

Lawmakers in Tennessee are working on a gay marriage bill

Lawmakers in Tennessee are working on a gay marriage bill

VERBATIM:  The legislation, which has passed the state’s House of Representatives, would not INVALIDATE same-sex unions.  But it would establish that private citizens and organizations do not have to RECOGNIZE gay marriages and cannot be punished for refusing to do so.  Back in 2006, before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized homosexual unions nationwide, Tennessee voters approved an amendment banning them.  The bill now goes to the Tennessee Senate.  MHREPORTING

A new poll charts faith and education

A new poll charts faith and education

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

The 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

Chuck 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

Utah 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

A 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

Another 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

A 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

A 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

Are 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

The 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

A 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

Ukraine 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

A 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

A 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