Americans weigh-in on in vitro fertilization

Americans weigh-in on in vitro fertilization

VERBATIM:  A new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that 85% of adults do NOT want to see IVF outlawed in their state or in the nation.  This is one issue where politics plays virtually no role:  88% of Decrats, 86% of Independents and 85% of Republicans all say they want IVF to remain legal and available.  There are pro-life concerns about the fertility procedure because it involves the creation of multiple embryos, some of which are generally destroyed.  MH SRN NEWs.

Witches love Disney

Witches love Disney

VERBATIM:  Actual practitioners of Wicca are praising the TV series “Agatha All Along”, which streams on Disney-Plus, for what they call its accurate portrayal of their occult practices.  A Florida woman who describes herself as a witch tells Religion News Service “The people that wrote this have to have a background in paganism, witchcraft or something.  The characters are not typical Halloween witches.” Some witches say they are incorporating aspects of the program into their rituals.  MH SRN NEWS.

Who’s that knocking on the door?

Who’s that knocking on the door?

VERBATIM:  If you live in a presidential battleground state, it’s probably the Faith and Freedom Coalition.  That Evangelical organization reports that its volunteers have knocked on EIGHT MILLION doors in seven key states, seeking to get Christians to vote.  Polls indicate that millions of believers still don’t get to the polls on Election Day and mobilizing even a small percentage of them could decide who becomes president.  FFC is predicting good turnout on Tuesday.  MH SRN NEWS.

Latinos are the fastest-growing group of American Evangelicals

Latinos are the fastest-growing group of American Evangelicals

VERBATIM:   According to the Pew Research Center, 15 percent of them identify as Evangelical Protestants now. They are an influential voting bloc, particularly in swing states and both parties are vying for their votes in a year when margins are expected to be thin. Among all Evangelicals, Latinos are the fastest-growing group. About 50 percent of them identify as Republicans — 44 percent Democrat.  MH SRN NEWS

A famous church will be rebuilt

A famous church will be rebuilt

VERBATIM:  Officials at First Baptist Dallas have unveiled plans for the reconstruction of their historic sanctuary, which was destroyed earlier this year by fire.  The new building, which will be raised on the foundations of the old one, will feature a larger steeple and stained glass windows.  Restoring the 1890’s red brick building will cost nearly 100 million dollars and will begin in January.  At the time of the fire, the sanctuary was only used for ceremonial events — worship takes place in a much larger building.  MH SRN NEWS.

Things are getting worse

Things are getting worse

VERBATIM:  That’s what a lot of Americans say about the state of this country compared to 70 years ago.  A new poll from the Pew Research Center asks whether the U.S. culture and way of has gotten better or worse since the 1950’s and about half of the population says WORSE.  Majorities of ALL major religious groups agree with that assessment, including White Evangelical Protestants, White Mainline Protestants, White Catholics and Hispanic Protestants.  MH SRN NEWS.

Men are displacing women in sports

Men are displacing women in sports

A major study on transgenderism is being squashed

A major study on transgenderism is being squashed

Persecution of Christians around the world is getting worse

Persecution of Christians around the world is getting worse

VERBATIM:  It’s the same old story in a NEW survey released by Aid To The Church In Need.  The report looks at 18 countries and it finds that attacks on Christians and general oppression is on the rise everywhere, though the worst persecution by radical Muslims is now to be found in Africa, not the Middle East.  The report also indicates that violations of religious freedom by dictatorial regimes — such as the one in China — have also become more intense.  MH SRN NEWS.

The battle over gay marriage comes to South Korea

The battle over gay marriage comes to South Korea

VERBATIM:  Two million Evangelical Christians in the country are planning to pray together on Sunday as lawmakers consider a bill that would allow same-sex couples to share health care benefits.  Clergymen and pro-family advocates in South Korea fear that if the measure passes, it will be the first step toward the eventual legalization of homosexual unions.  Asia is socially conservative as a rule, but a growing number of countries there are beginning to legalize gay marriage.  MH SRN NEWS.

Abortion is a litmus test for a lot of Americans

Abortion is a litmus test for a lot of Americans

Most Christians view porn

Most Christians view porn

A unique Bible for children

A unique Bible for children

VERBATIM:  LifeWay Christian Resources has released a special version of the scriptures designed to help youngsters with dyslexia.  The CSB Grace Bible for Kids uses a special typeface that makes it easier for those who suffer with dyslexia to read.  LifeWay President Ben Mandrell tells the Christian Post “Dyslexia shouldn’t keep kids from reading the Bible. We want to help young readers interact and connect with God in a personal way through His Word.”  MH SRN NEWS

Persecution is on the rise in Algeria

Persecution is on the rise in Algeria

VERBATIM:  The government there is on a multi-year campaign to snuff out Christianity in the small North African nation, after decades of relative tolerance.  Nearly all the churches in the country have been abruptly closed down with little explanation.  Kelsy Zorzi of ADF International tells the Christian Post “Algeria has systematically been working to prevent the Evangelical community from being able to simply worship together.”  Christians who worship at home are arrested.  MH SRN NEWS.

The economy is taking its toll on America’s churches

The economy is taking its toll on America’s churches

VERBATIM:  A new poll from Life Way Research reveals that 66% of Protestant pastors say the general economic condition of the country is negatively impacting their congregation — the largest percentage to say this since 2011.  About one-third of clergymen say their church didn’t make their budget this year for lack of giving and 50% say they just managed to break even.  Only 16% of Protestant pastors say giving from their congregation exceeded its needs this year.  MH SRN NEWS.

Americans weigh-in on sex-change operations

Americans weigh-in on sex-change operations

Donald Trump is making inroads with religious groups other than Evangelicals

Donald Trump is making inroads with religious groups other than Evangelicals

VERBATIM:  A new poll finds the former president leads his Democratic challenger amongst Catholic voters in key battleground states.  The National Catholic Register survey indicates Catholics prefer Mr. Trump in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  Other polls demonstrate that Jewish voters, who have been reliably Democrat for decades, are now beginning to support Mr. Trump — primarily because he has been friendly to Israel.  MH SRN NEWS.

The oldest church in Armenia has been dug up

The oldest church in Armenia has been dug up

VERBATIM:  Archeologists have unearthed a building dating to the 300’s which is the oldest documented house of worship in the small mostly-Christian country that borders Turkey.  The church has an octagonal design that was common at the time and is located in the ruins of the old city of Artazata.  Archeologists believe the building must have been richly decorated, given the many shards of marble found at the site — a stone that would have to have been imported from locations far away.  MH SRN NEWS.

A group of United Methodist churches loses a court battle

A group of United Methodist churches loses a court battle

VERBATIM:  The 37 Maryland congregations had sued the UMC over the terms under which they quit the denomination — specifically in relation to property.  An Anne Arundel County judge has rejected the suit, which argued that the congregations should have been able to retain ownership of their church buildings.  Fights over who owns what have blossomed all across the UMC as conservative congregations have opted to abandon the denomination over its embrace of gay marriage.  MH SRN NEWS.

A battle over flags in Denver

A battle over flags in Denver

The Satanic Temple opens another abortion facility

The Satanic Temple opens another abortion facility

VERBATIM:  The 23-hour telehealth operation is located in Virginia and allows women to obtain abortion drugs without having to have an office visit with a doctor.  The Satanic Temple describes abortion as a “ritual” and therefore protected under the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion — an assertion that has so far been rejected by the courts.  The Temple has always supported abortion, but it has ramped up its activities since the Supreme Court repealed Roe versus Wade.  MH SRN NEWS.

Would you like your pastor to endorse politicians?

Would you like your pastor to endorse politicians?

VERBATIM:  The fact is, if a clergyman promotes a candidate for office FROM THE PULPIT, he puts the church’s tax exempt status at risk and a Life Way Research poll finds 98% of preachers NEVER do it.  However, the same poll indicates that nearly one-third of Americans see no problem with a pastor urging people to vote for a particular politician during his sermon.  45% don’t mind clergy endorsements so long as they happen outside of church.  MH SRN NRES

Evangelicals talk about sin

Evangelicals talk about sin

VERBATIM:  A new poll from Infinity Concepts and Gray Matter Research asks the question:  What is sinful?  Amongst Evangelicals — defined as people who hold traditional Christians beliefs about God, the Bible and salvation — 96% say adultery is a sin.  87% think racism is a sin and 86% believe viewing pornography is also sinful.  However, the poll also reveals that only 76% of Evangelicals say it’s a sin to swear.  MH SRN NEWS.

A lot of kids are getting sex-change operations

A lot of kids are getting sex-change operations