New York writes women out of the law

New York writes women out of the law

VERBATIM:  The bill, which is on its way to Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul for her signature, would remove the word “mother” from all New York statutes and replace it with “gestating parent”.  “Father” would also be dropped in favor of “non-gestating parent”.  State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar calls the measure “Woke culture run amok.  It’s an example of how out of tune the New York legislature is. It’s an unnecessary and wasteful use of time.”  MH REPORTING

Is your pastor a Republican or a Democrat?

Is your pastor a Republican or a Democrat?

VERBATIM:  That’s what the Pew Research Center has been asking Americans lately and the truth is — they don’t know.  Amongst the general population, 44% of regular church-goers say they do not know which party their pastor or the other religious leaders of their congregation favor.  19% say Republican, 8% Democrat and 27% say their pastor, associate pastor, and other religious leaders are a mix of both parties.  MH REPORTINF

America prays

America prays

A victory for religious freedom in Egypt

A victory for religious freedom in Egypt

VERBATIM:  The government has granted legal status to nearly 200 churches and church-affiliated buildings after years of delay. Religious freedom advocates have complained for decades about Egypt’s unusually slow process of allowing Christians to legally open houses of worship.  Christians make up about 10% of the country’s population and while they enjoy generally good relations with the government, the legal status issue has been a sore spot.  MH REPORTING

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo

VERBATIM:  The giant Christian relief agency has airlifted a treatment unit to the Africa country in hopes of helping stem an outbreak of the Ebola virus.  Up to 60 U.S. medical volunteers will staff the unit and ministry leader Franklin Graham tells Religion News Service “Our people know the risk, and they know how to protect themselves, and they’re ready for the task, but it’s dangerous.”  Ebola is currently spreading in the DRC and Uganda.  MH REPORTING

It’s decision time at the Supreme Court

It’s decision time at the Supreme Court

VERBATIM:  The justices are expected to deliver ruling in more than 20 cases before going into recess in July.  One of the most important has to do with transgenderism.  The high court will decide whether or not states have the right to bar males from competing in sports against females at the high school and collegiate levels.  Last year the justices delivered a landmark ruling in support of state laws that bar children from undergoing sex-change operations.  MH REPORTING

China demolishes a church

China demolishes a church

VERBATIM:  The congregation of the Yazhong Church has no building anymore.  Chinese authorities evicted members and then brought in heavy equipment to flatten the structure in the country’s mountainous southern region.  China Aid reports that the action was taken because the congregation refused to display the Chinese flag inside the sanctuary.  The ruling Communist Party is in the midst of another nationwide crackdown on Christians.  MY REPORTING

A new study of sermons and social issues

A new study of sermons and social issues

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Pew Research Center and it finds that White Evangelical Protestants who attend church regularly are most likely to hear the pastor mention abortion or homosexuality from the pulpit.  Catholics, on the other hand, are more likely to hear about abortion or immigration.  Amongst White Evangelical Protestants, sermons are more likely to mention a wide range of issues, including those mentioned, as well as Israel, the Iran war and the environment.  MH REPORTING

America’s oldest churches look to the country’s birthday

America’s oldest churches look to the country’s birthday

VERBATIM:  On July 4th, this nation will be 250 years old.  But Old North Church in Boston — you remember, one if by land, two if by sea — is 303 years old.  It is one of just a tiny number of churches that were there at America’s founding and are still operating today.  Trinity Church in Newport Rhode Island is even OLDER — founded in 1698.  And then there’s First Baptist Church in America, in Providence, Rhode Island which is still going after 388 years.  MH REPORTING

What political issues do you hear about in church?

What political issues do you hear about in church?

VERBATIM:  According to the latest poll from the Pew Research Center, abortion is the topic that most often comes up in a sermon these days — 35% of regular churchgoers say they have heard a message about it in the last few months.  Israel is the second most common political or social issue to be addressed from the pulpit — 34% have heard about that.  Next comes homosexuality, immigration and the war in Iran.  MH REPORTING

A call for more church security funds

A call for more church security funds

VERBATIM:  Attacks on houses of worship are up and faith leaders want Congress to increase a pool of cash available for congregations to beef up security.  Pastors, rabbis and imams are asking lawmakers to put one billion dollars in the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which pays for faith groups to install bullet-proof glass, cameras and other security devices in their buildings.  A lot of small congregations can’t afford to do so without government aid.  MH REPORTING

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

VERBATIM:  According to several reports, fewer and fewer men are entering the clergy these days.  Master of Divinity enrollment is down 14% in the past five years and amongst Black Protestant denominations, it has fallen 31%.  And while new polls indicate that pastors have largely recovered from the trials of the pandemic, larger percentages of them say they still consider quitting the profession.  Some churches have closed or consolidated for lack of a pastor.  MH REPORTING

A challenge to Ohio’s new abortion amendment

A challenge to Ohio’s new abortion amendment

VERBATIM:  Pro-life advocates have filed a lawsuit to stop the legislation, arguing that its enactment actually violates the state constitution.  The plaintiffs argue the constitution clearly states that a constitutional convention must be called to enact such an amendment — it cannot be ratified solely by a vote of the people.  Janet Porter of Faith To Action tells LifeSite News that if this challenge succeeds in Ohio, it could prompt similar actions in other states.  MH REPORTING

Is religion gaining or losing influence in the U.S.?

Is religion gaining or losing influence in the U.S.?

VERBATIM:  According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center, 37% of Americans believe that faith is gaining purchase in society and that’s the highest percentage in nearly 25 years.  On the other hand, 61% of respondents think that religion is LOSING influence.  But that group is shrinking from a high of over 70% five years ago.  Roughly half of all Americans say that the influence of faith in the country is a good thing.  MH REPORTING

Americans answer questions about God and the country

Americans answer questions about God and the country

VERBATIM:  The Pew Research Center seems to have found an issue on which the general public is largely in agreement.  To the question: “Does God favor the United States over all other nations?”, the vast majority of respondents said NO.  Not even 10% of any religious group said YES.  66% of the general public believes that God does not favor any one country over all the others.  Amongst organized religious groups the percentages are even higher.  MH REPORTING

There’s a lot of God in the Declaration of Independence

There’s a lot of God in the Declaration of Independence

VERBATIM:  With the 250th birthday of the United States looming, the nation’s founding document is getting a closer look.  In its opening paragraph, Thomas Jefferson proposed that “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” grant humans equal status and entitle Americans to dissolve the political bands with Britain.  As historians have shown, Benjamin Franklin added a phrase to suggest that those rights had been “endowed by their Creator.”  MH REPORTING

Most churchgoers are reaching out

Most churchgoers are reaching out

VERBATIM:  A new survey released by LifeWay Research reveals that 77% of Protestants who attend services regularly say they have developed lasting relationships with people in their church.  66% tell LifeWay that they intentionally try to get to know people in their congregation.  The study authors add that “Building relationships is one of eight signposts that measure characteristics evident in believers who are progressing in spiritual maturity.  MH REPORTING

Some federal workers are suing the Secretary of Agriculture

Some federal workers are suing the Secretary of Agriculture

VERBATIM:  At issue is an Easter message sent to the USDA’s 90,000 personnel by Brooke Rollins.  The plaintiffs in the suit, who are being supported by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, accuse the secretary of subjecting them to ““government-sponsored religious coercion”.  A USDA spokesman tells Politico “While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process.”  MH REPORTING

A victory for religious freedom in Ohio

A victory for religious freedom in Ohio

VERBATIM:  Officials in Montgomery County have agreed to settle a lawsuit with Gracehaven over whether the Christian foster care ministry can hire only believers.  The county had refused to do business with Gracehaven unless it hired non-Christians.  Alliance Defending Freedom represents the organization and says “The government can’t deny public benefits to a ministry that is caring for young survivors of sex trafficking solely because of its religious character.”  MH REPORTING

Atheists have a problem with President Trump’s arch

Atheists have a problem with President Trump’s arch

VERBATIM:  The monument, which will be styled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, will bear the words “In God We Trust”.  That has sparked a protest from the Freedom From Religion Foundation — one of the largest atheist groups in the country.  The Foundation spends much of its time trying to scour all Christian imagery from the public square.   The arch, which will mark the 250th birthday of the nation, will serve as a gateway to Washington DC.  Correspondent Michael Harrington.

The Trump administration promotes motherhood

The Trump administration promotes motherhood

VERBATIM:  The new website moms.gov offers a variety of resources, including locations of pregnancy centers, nutrition and dietary guidelines as well as information about adoption and mental health.  Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. says “The Trump Administration is strengthening its commitment to America’s families by equipping mothers and fathers with the resources and information they need to build healthy, prosperous lives.”  MH REPORTING

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

Is America facing a pastor shortage?

VERBATIM:  According to several reports, fewer and fewer men are entering the clergy these days.  Master of Divinity enrollment is down 14% in the past five years and amongst Black Protestant denominations, it has fallen 31%.  And while new polls indicate that pastors have largely recovered from the trials of the pandemic, larger percentages of them say they still consider quitting the profession.  Some churches have closed or consolidated for lack of a pastor.  MH REPORTING

Faith is surging in Ukraine

Faith is surging in Ukraine

VERBATIM:  According to the Slavic Gospel Association, the privations of war have turned many in the country to the cross.  SGA reports that more than 100 new Evangelical churches have opened their doors since the Russian invasion began.  Igor Bandura of the Ukrainian Baptist Union adds that “Over 13,000 people have been baptized — significantly more than before the war.”  Churches are forming a vital support system for the embattled nation.  MH REPORTING

Will Graham is on the road again

Will Graham is on the road again