A landmark ruling from a Texas jurist

A landmark ruling from a Texas jurist

Christmas celebrations are underway in Bethlehem again

Christmas celebrations are underway in Bethlehem again

VERBATIM:  After a two year hiatus because of the war in Gaza, believers in the city of Christ’s birth are cautiously planning to publicly enjoy the holiday.  The annual tree lighting ceremony is set for December 6th and it is hoped that at least a few tourists will make the trip.  President Trump has been trying to secure a lasting end to the war, which was sparked by the 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas — which is accused of repeatedly violating the current cease fire.  MH REPORTING

Democrats have a religious imbalance in their party

Democrats have a religious imbalance in their party

VERBATIM:  The Pew Research Center has been studying the country’s two major political parties and has concluded that on average, Republican voters are a lot more religious than Democratic voters.  But the Pew report also finds that while Republicans of all races are roughly equally religious, amongst the Democrats, only black voters make faith a priority.  Black Democrats are much more religious than their white or Hispanic fellow voters, presenting another fracture in an already fractured party.

‘Tis the season for living Nativities

‘Tis the season for living Nativities

VERBATIM:  With the Christmas season now in full swing, churches all across the nation are preparing their living Nativity displays.  First Baptist Church of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin will present theirs on December 6th and 7th.  In Kentucky, a mobile living Nativity will visit locations in Owen, Gallatin and Grant counties beginning December 5th.  And in Indiana, the Southern Wells Community Church will present their interactive Nativity on December 7th.   MH REPORTING

Another abortion clinic is closing

Another abortion clinic is closing

VERBATIM:  Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio says it is shutting down its clinic in Franklinton because of President Trump’s move to remove taxpayer funding for all businesses that perform abortions.  That makes 45 Planned Parenthood clinics closed this year.  Most of the closures have taken place in pro-abortion states such as California, Illinois and Minnesota. Planned Parenthoodhood takes in hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars every year.  MH REPORTING

An Ohio congregation is giving away gas

An Ohio congregation is giving away gas

VERBATIM:  The Fostoria Church of God will mark Black Friday by giving away 20 dollars of free fuel to each motorist who pulls into the Amoco station at 202 North Countyline St  — and church members will pump it themselves.  Pastor Dan Lucien tells The Courier “We’re trying to offer something that is of need at a critical time of year, when resources are low.” The church will pump until their donated money runs out. Last year they pumped more than 5,000 dollars worth. MH REPORTING

A serious charge against META

A serious charge against META

VERBATIM:  The internet giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is being accused by a former employee of ignoring sex-trafficking on its platforms.  Vaishnavi Jayakumar, who used to be Instagram’s chief safety officer, has testified in a court filing that META would allow users to violate the prohibition on prostitution and sexual exploitation 16 times before finally being kicked off the platform.  Pro-family groups have long argued that digital companies FAIL to protect kids.  MH REPORTING

There’s a new book about abortion for kids

There’s a new book about abortion for kids

VERBATIM:  Pro-choice activists Amelia Bonow and Rachel Kessler are the authors.  The book is titled “Abortion Is Everything” and is aimed at 5-to-8 year olds.  The authors say their work “frames abortion as the actualization of a uniquely human superpower: our capacity to imagine the future and make choices that lead us towards the life we envision. Abortion is a tool that allows human beings to shape our destinies, and which has shaped the entire world.”  MH REPORTING

Americans consider child-bearing

VERBATIM:  The country’s birth rate is below the amount needed to keep the population level and has been for several years.  So the Public Religion Research Institute conducted a poll asking adults if they support government policies aimed at encouraging women to have children.  54% of respondents say NO, they do NOT support such programs — 41% say yes.  Republicans and men are more likely to approve of efforts to increase the U.S. birth rate.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center presents a new religious profile of America

The Pew Research Center presents a new religious profile of America

VERBATIM:  First the big numbers:  62% of adults describe themselves as Christians, 29% say they are non-religious and everybody else falls into one of the smaller faith groups — Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.  When broken down by age, the survey finds that young adults — 18-to-29 — are about half as likely as other groups to be Christians.  And the two younger cohorts — Gen z and Millenials — are TWICE as likely to be non-religious as older Americans.  MHN REPORTING

A Christian legal group is ready for the annual Christmas Wars

A Christian legal group is ready for the annual Christmas Wars

VERBATIM:  For more than 20 years, Liberty Counsel has carried out its “Friend or Foe” campaign, which offers legal help to anybody trying to put Christ back in Christmas — and having trouble doing that.  Liberty Counsel points out that “Publicly sponsored Nativity scenes on public property are constitutional.  Classroom discussion of the religious aspects of the holidays is permissible and students may distribute religious Christmas cards to their classmates.”  MH REPORTING

America’s girls are turning their backs on marriage

America’s girls are turning their backs on marriage

VERBATIM:  It’s a cultural cliche that dates back to antiquity:  Females are anxious to try the knot — Males, less so.  But a new poll from the Pew Research Center finds that only 61% of girls in the 12th grade say they want to be married someday, down SHARPLY from the 83% who said so 30 years ago.  But even more surprising is that MORE 12th grade BOYS want to get married these days — 74% — than do girls.  A statistical flip-flop that may have no historical precedent.  MH REPORTING

A date has been set for a key Supreme Court case

A date has been set for a key Supreme Court case

VERBATIM:  The justices will sit on January 13th to hear arguments on the constitutionality of two state laws that bar boys from playing on girls sports teams in Idaho and West Virginia.  A growing number of states are passing similar statues amidst backlash from parents, coaches and feminists over the gradual invasion of female sports by males.  A ruling in the case is expected in the summer of next year and promises to be another landmark.  MH REPORTING

Americans don’t agree on what ails the country

Americans don’t agree on what ails the country

VERBATIM:  A new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute asks people to respond to the following statement:  “Our country will be destroyed if we do not smash the perversions eating away at our moral fiber and traditional beliefs”.  48% of Americans say YES — they agree with that assessment.  46% say they disagree and all the rest have no opinion.  Conservatives, Republicans and religious people are more likely to agree.  MH REPORTING

Religion is not important to a lot of Americans

Religion is not important to a lot of Americans

VERBATIM:  A new Gallup poll finds that only 49% of adults say that faith is a significant part of their life — down from 66% just ten years ago.  That’s the largest DROP in any country in the world during that time period.  However, the U.S. is still a LOT more religious than the rest of the industrialized world.  While only 49% of Americans say religion is important to them — just 36% of people in countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development say the same.

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

VERBATIM:  It comes from WalletHub and it reveals that Virginia is number one when it comes to donating money to churches, ministries and other charitable institutions.  New York comes in 2nd, followed by Maryland, Georgia and California.  Giving is clearly strongest in the states that are generally the most wealthy.  However, when it comes to donating one’s TIME to local charities, Utah comes in 1st, followed by Wyoming, Idaho, Montana,  and Minnesota.

Collegiate pickleball players want to observe the Sabbath

Collegiate pickleball players want to observe the Sabbath

VERBATIM:  You might have thought the sport was just for senior citizens, but young people like it too and leagues have developed within the ranks of America’s colleges — and now there’s a problem.  The final day of many pickleball tournaments falls on a Sunday and Christians and some other players of faith find it cutting into their worship time.  Now 1,600 of them have signed a petition to the major pickleball governing bodies, urging them not to schedule tournaments on Sundays.  MH REPORTING

Americans are reading the Bible

Americans are reading the Bible

VERBATIM:  According to a poll conducted by the Barna Group, weekly Bible reading amongst adults has climbed to 42% — up 12 points from last year.  The survey also reveals that young people are leading the surge.  Nealy 50% of Generation Z and Millennials are consulting the Scriptures at least once a week now.  However, the Barna poll also reveals that a portion of the folks who are reading the Bible regularly don’t really accept its authority — but at least they are interested.  MH REPORTING

A look at the religious practices of America’s senior citizens

A look at the religious practices of America’s senior citizens

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Pew Research Center and it reveals that 56% of people who are age 65 and older say they pray at least once every day.  36% also report attending worship services in person at least once per month.  There’s definitely an outreach opportunity for churches amongst America’s elderly.  The Pew poll also reports that more than a third of people 65 and up say they feel lonely at least some of the time.  MH REPORTING

What does your church do best?

What does your church do best?

VERBATIM:  A new poll from LifeWay Research asks that question of America’s Protestant pastors — and the number one thing they say their congregations excel at is corporate worship.  Building community comes in second followed by serving others.  But it isn’t until 4th place that you see EVANGELISM listed by pastors as something that their church does best, and it is followed by such Biblical practices as prayer and discipleship.  MH REPORTING

A religious freedom battle has begun in Chicago

A religious freedom battle has begun in Chicago

VERBATIM:  The city’s board of education will not allow student teachers from the Moody Bible Institute to participate in student teacher programs in the public schools.  The Board says it won’t work with Moody because the Christian school won’t hire homosexuals or people of other faiths.  Alliance Defending Freedom has filed suit saying that “By excluding Moody for its religious beliefs, Chicago Public Schools is illegally injecting itself into a religious non-profit’s hiring practices.”  MH REPORTING

A female hockey player calls it quits

A female hockey player calls it quits

VERBATIM:  Rachel Stoneberg doesn’t want to play against men and under the law in Minnesota — where she lives — she would have to.  The Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota has several men playing on its teams and Stoneberg, is a social media post, says it’s time to draw a line.  Writing on X, Stoneberg says of the league “They do not care about my safety or the sanctity of the sport.  I can no longer participate in a league that does not care about me.”  MH REPORTING

Glamour magazine goes all-in on transgenderism

Glamour magazine goes all-in on transgenderism

VERBATIM:  The British version of the iconic fashion magazine is out with its annual Woman of the Year edition and the cover features nine men who are LIVING as women.  The decision has sparked outrage across the U.K. with even a few celebrities giving Glamour a public thumbs-down.  This comes hard on the heels of People magazine naming a homosexual as its Sexiest Man Alive — actor Jonathan Bailey who is openly gay and has a foundation that promotes the LGBT agenda.  MH REPORTING

America’s colleges and universities are failing the free speech test

America’s colleges and universities are failing the free speech test

VERBATIM:  They claim to be places where anyone can say anything they want, but according to a new study from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, it’s not true for the staff.  The vast majority of college professors who have been attacked for something they said report getting little or NO support from their school or faculty union.  And professors who get in trouble for CONSERVATIVE speech receive even LESS help from their college or university.  MH REPORTING