Evangelicals For Harris could be facing a lawsuit

Evangelicals For Harris could be facing a lawsuit

VERBATIM:  The political action committee is using clips of the late Billy Graham in attack ads against former president Donald Trump.  But the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association says Graham liked Trump and the use of his image to attack the GOP nominee is a violation of copyright law and could trigger a lawsuit.  Billy’s son Franklin has decried the ads as well, pointing out that his father never criticized any politician publicly, offering only prayer and counsel if it was desired.  MH SRN NEWS.

Pastors talk about the issues

Pastors talk about the issues

VERBATIM:  A new poll of Protestant clergymen by Life Way Research asks them what matters most when they go to vote for a political candidate.  While a lot of issues are mentioned by the pastors, Life Way reports that “When forced to choose the most important factor, 24% say personal character, 18% say the candidate’s position on abortion, 16% say the ability to protect religious freedom and 12% say the ability to improve the economy.  MH SRN NEWS.

Another religious freedom case could come before the Supreme Court

Another religious freedom case could come before the Supreme Court

VERBATIM:  The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board is asking the justices to allow them to establish a Catholic school that would be funded by state taxpayers.  Critics say such an arrangement would be a clear violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause.  The board approved the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School last year under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdioceses of Oklahoma and Tulsa.  No word on when the Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case.  MH SRN NEWS.

Does anybody care about the birth rate?

Does anybody care about the birth rate?

VERBATIM:  More people die in the U.S. than are born and it’s been that way for a couple of decades.  It’s not a problem yet but it could be eventually and most Americans don’t care.  A fresh YouGov poll finds only 22% of respondents think the falling birth rate is a bad thing.  23% say it’s a GOOD thing and everybody else either thinks it’s no problem or aren’t sure.  And here’s the key finding:  While 30% of men say less babies is a BAD thing — only 14% of women agree.  MH SRN NEWS.

The French discover another problem with transgenderism

The French discover another problem with transgenderism

VERBATIM:  An Algerian man living in France was convicted of child rape, sentenced to four years in jail and then given a deportation order.  But now the man claims that he is transgender and cannot be deported because he would be persecuted in his native country.  And the French courts have ruled in his favor — meaning that he will soon be out of prison and free to stay in France, solely because he is living as a woman.  Some observers wonder what U.S. courts might do with a similar case.  MH SRN NEWS.

A college volleyball team draws a line

A college volleyball team draws a line

VERBATIM:  The women’s squad at Boise State has decided to forfeit a game rather than play a team that includes a man.  Idaho Governor Brad Little says the school did the right thing in opting not to play San Jose State, sending out a message on X that reads “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.” A growing number of women’s sports organizations are coming out against males on female athletic teams.  MH SRN NEWS.

A major shift is happening in gender and religion

A major shift is happening in gender and religion

A new study on persecution and corruption

A new study on persecution and corruption

VERBATIM:  It comes from International Christian Concern and it concludes that repression of believers in a country almost always goes hand-in-hand with gross political corruption.  The report points out that “Both corruption and religious persecution present substantial challenges to global stability, justice, and the protection of human rights.”  ICC says if the international community wants to improve conditions for hundreds of millions of people around the globe, it needs to address these problems in tandem.  MH SRN NEWS.

Evangelicals For Harris launches another attack ad

Evangelicals For Harris launches another attack ad

VERBATIM:  For the second time, the political action committee is putting out a video making it look as though the late Billy Graham is criticizing Donald Trump.  This latest spot juxtaposes footage of Graham’s sermons on greed with clips of the former president.  Billy’s son Franklin is not happy about it, saying that when his father was alive, he “appreciated the conservative values and policies of President Trump.”  Evangelicals For Harris is spending over one million dollars on the campaign.  MH SRN NEWS.

Planned Parenthood has some unusual thoughts about sex ed

Planned Parenthood has some unusual thoughts about sex ed

VERBATIM:  The nation’s largest abortion business also produces a sexual education curriculum for schools and as you might expect, it presents abortion in a very positive light.  But American Life League has been perusing Planned Parenthood’s latest guide book for teachers and reports that it also refers to prostitution as a form of “interpersonal relationship”.  Additionally, the Planned Parenthood curriculum states that abstinence is “unrealistic”.  MH SRN NEWS.

A major report on abortion pills in this country

A major report on abortion pills in this country

A new poll examines churches and the opioid crisis

A new poll examines churches and the opioid crisis

VERBATIM:  Life Way Research reports that a lot of Protestant pastors are seeing the effects of the problem in their congregations and communities.  45% say at least one of their parishioners has been affected by the opioid crisis and 64% say at least one family member of a parishioner has been.  However, the Life Way poll also finds that the percentage of churches that are providing support and outreach to opioid victims has actually declined over the last five years.  MH SRN NEWS.

Something new at the Museum of the Bible

Something new at the Museum of the Bible

VERBATIM:  Some call it the greatest discovery in Christian history since the Dead Sea Scrolls.  The Megiddo Mosaic is an 1800-year-old decorated floor from a Christian worship space just south of Haifa in Israel.  It includes text that refers to Jesus Christ as God and is being displayed in the United States for the first time ever at the Museum of the Bible here in Washington DC.  Curators say the public will be able to view the mosaic from now until July of next year.  MH SRN NEWS.

A leading atheist organization attacks an iconic Christian ministry

A leading atheist organization attacks an iconic Christian ministry

Chuck Swindol is stepping down

Chuck Swindol is stepping down

VERBATIM:  He will turn 90 years old in October and he says it’s time for him to retire from his post as pastor of the Stonebriar Community mega-church in Frisco, Texas.  Swindol will NOT be giving up his iconic radio program — Insight For Living.  In a statement on the church website, Swindol says “While my role may be changing, my commitment to the mission and vision we uphold will never fade. This will always be our church family.”  MH SRN NEWS.

A major gathering of Christians in South Korea

A major gathering of Christians in South Korea

VERBATIM:  About 5,000 people are attending Lausanne 4 this week in Incheon, strategizing ways to further the spread of the gospel around the globe.  200 countries are represented and 50 speakers will address the gathering.  Dr. Michael Oh, the Lausanne global executive director, says the church needs to rise to the challenge of a world where evil is “more vocal and visible.”  Polls indicate Christianity is in general decline in the West and persecution is up elsewhere.  MH SRN NEWS.

Christian refugees are trying to get to this country

Christian refugees are trying to get to this country

The Southern Baptist Convention takes on sexual abuse

The Southern Baptist Convention takes on sexual abuse

VERBATIM:  The denomination’s Executive Committee has voted to establish a department whose only purpose will be to prevent and root out abuse in local congregations.  Spokesman Jeff Iorg tells Baptist Press “We have had two task forces that have done difficult and hard work.  “But it’s time to stop talking about what we’re going to do and take an initial, strategic step of action that puts into place an administrative response to this issue.”  MH SRN NEWS.

A warning from a Catholic priest

A warning from a Catholic priest

VERBATIM:  Calvin Robinson used to lead a parish in his native England, but he recently moved to the U.S. and brings a dire admonition for this country.  Pastor Robinson tells the Christian Post “Please don’t do what we did.  Don’t just sit back and let the liberals deteriorate the rest of everything that you know and love.”  He says faith has collapsed in the United Kingdom and now society itself is collapsing.  Less than half the population calls itself Christian and nearly 40% have no faith at all.  MH SRN NEWS.

Canadians prepare a major demonstration

Canadians prepare a major demonstration

A victory for religious freedom in Oregon

A victory for religious freedom in Oregon

VERBATIM:  The city of Brookings will pay 400,000 dollars in legal fees and has agreed to stop trying to restrict St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church from ministering to the homeless.  City officials had tried to limit the church to providing food and water to homeless people just two days of the week.  Pastor Bernie Lindley tells Oregon Public Broadcasting “It certainly didn’t have to come to this, but we had to stand up for our religious freedoms.”  MH SRN NEWS.

Evangelical leaders are praying for Donald Trump

Evangelical leaders are praying for Donald Trump

VERBATIM:  After TWO assasination attempts, the former president is the object of renewed petitions for safety.  Franklin Graham says “this is a strong reminder that we need to pray for this man.”  Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Fellowship says he was relieved to hear that Mr. Trump was unharmed, adding “We need a return to civility in our public discourse. Most importantly, America needs to turn back to God.”  Other leaders called for greater protection for the former president.  MH SRN NEWS.

Pornography is bad for your mental health

Pornography is bad for your mental health

VERBATIM:  A new poll from the Institute for Family Studies finds that young adults who view porn frequently are more likely to feel lonely and suffer from depression.  A control group of people who do NOT look at pornography had much better mental health.  A growing number of states are passing laws designed to keep children from accessing porn and getting hooked on it.  The major on-line pornographers, including PornHub, are fighting any and all restrictions in court.  MH SRN NEWS.

Pope Francis does it again

Pope Francis does it again

VERBATIM:  The pontiff has sparked outrage within and without the Catholic Church by stating that “all religions are a path to God” during his recent visit to Singapore.  Francis explained that the various different faiths are just different “languages to arrive at God.”  The pope has already stirred up trouble in the church with what many see as his embrace of homosexuality and gay marriage.  Both conservative Catholics and Protestant leaders are criticizing his latest comments.  MH SRN NEWS.