Salem Radio Network News Sunday, August 9, 2026

Audio

Michael Harrington

Religion in the News Editor

Most Evangelical Christians don’t think the label is political

Mon, May 20, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Most Evangelical Christians don’t think the label is political
VERBATIM:  According to a new poll from Gray Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, only two percent of Evangelicals say the term is defined by a specific set of political beliefs.  This despite the fact that the mainstream media uses Evangelical as exactly that:  The label for a particular segment of the U.S. electorate.  The survey also finds that more than one third of Evangelicals think the term is misused and another third aren’t really sure what it means. 
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Billy Graham will be honored at the U.S. Capitol

Mon, May 13, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Billy Graham will be honored at the U.S. Capitol.
VERBATIM:  A statue of the celebrated evangelist will be unveiled this month, putting him in the company of about 200 Americans who have received such an honor.  Graham’s son Franklin says “My father would be humbled and grateful.  At the same time, he would not want the attention on himself but on God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  The pedestal of the Graham statue will be engraved with John 3:16.
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How close do you feel to other people? 

Mon, May 13, 2024 at 2:39 pm
How close do you feel to other people?
VERBATIM:  A new poll from the Pew Research Center asks that question and it reveals that 66% of the general population says they DO feel close to other Americans.  And religion is a determining factor.  Amongst people of faith, 73% say they feel close to others, compared to just 51% of people who are not religiously affiliated.  Older Americans, conservatives and Republicans are also more likely to feel close to others. 
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Going to church is good for your health

Sun, May 12, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Going to church is good for your health. 
VERBATIM- And not just your spiritual health.  A new report from Harvard Public Health compiles numerous studies and concludes that people who attend worship regularly feel better.  The report says weekly church attendance is associated with “lower mortality risk, lower depression, less suicide, better cardiovascular disease survival, better health behaviors, and greater marital stability, happiness, and purpose in life.”  Michael Harrington, SRN News.
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The 2024 election might be all about faith

Wed, May 1, 2024 at 10:14 pm
The 2024 election might be all about faith
VERBATIM:  People of faith, that is.  Leaders of both conservative and liberal church groups are planning national get-out-the-vote campaigns heading into an election that many believe will be one of the most important in U.S. history.  The National Council of Churches, which includes most liberal denominations, has announced a “Freedom Summer” initiative.  The conservative Faith and Freedom group will spend 60 million to register voters.
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The United Methodist Church loses more congregations

Wed, May 1, 2024 at 10:12 pm
The United Methodist Church loses more congregations
VERBATIM:  This time they’re not inside the U.S.  UMC delegates have voted to allow a large group of churches in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan leave the denomination over issues of homosexuality.  Thousands of congregations in this country have quit the UMC in recent years as its leadership has embrace gay marriage and homosexual ordination.  The Eurasian congregations will form a new more conservative denomination. 
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Evangelicals want action on immigration

Fri, Mar 1, 2024 at 10:25 am

Evangelicals want action on immigration

VERBATIM: According to a new survey by LifeWay Research, the surge in illegal border crossings during the Biden administration is worrying Evangelical Christians. 80% want Congress to take action to stop the flow. Lifeway spokesman Scott McConnell says “The urgency continues to grow for Congress to act this year to improve laws around immigration.” The poll also finds that Evangelicals are concerned for the welfare of illegal aliens and want to share the gospel with them. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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A new poll on faith and entertainment

Thu, Feb 29, 2024 at 7:45 am

A new poll on faith and entertainment

VERBATIM: Most people think Hollywood is trashing religion. And not just in America. The study, released by HarrisX and the Faith and Media Initiative, finds 63% of GLOBAL viewers say the movies and TV shows they watch usually portray religious people in a bad light — and they don’t like it. Most people also say that while the entertainment industry has spent a lot of time seeking racial and sexual diversity — religion has pretty much been ignored. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Most Americans want control over what their kids are exposed to in school

Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 9:37 am

Most Americans want control over what their kids are exposed to in school

VERBATIM: The latest poll from the Pew Research Center reveals that 54% of adults believe mom and dad should have the right to opt their child OUT of classes that teach about sexual orientation and so-called “gender identity”. Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to feel this way — 79% to 32%. The survey also indicates that about half of all public school teachers also think parents should be able to opt their kids out. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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The federal government is spending taxpayer dollars to change college biology classes

Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:29 am

The federal government is spending taxpayer dollars to change college biology classes

VERBATIM: The National Science Foundation is giving nearly one million bucks to several universities so they can develop so-called “inclusive” undergraduate biology courses because current offerings “inaccurately categorize sex and gender as binary.” The NSF says if college professors try to tell young people that science defines only two genders — male and female — this will make transgender students uncomfortable. Critics say the grant will undermine science. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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An NCAA official quits over transgenderism

Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 9:40 am

An NCAA official quits over transgenderism

VERBATIM: William Bock does not believe that men should be allowed to compete against women. The employer does — and so Bock has resigned. The former member of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions says letting men play against women threatens the existence of women’s sports, adding “the policies that the NCAA and other sports organizations have come up with, which supposedly favor inclusion, actually discriminate.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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More than 8,000 Christians were murdered in Nigeria last year

Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 10:45 am

More than 8,000 Christians were murdered in Nigeria last year

VERBATIM: It’s the work of TWO Muslim terror groups — Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen. The numbers come from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law which also reports that 500 churches were attacked in Nigeria in 2023 and more than 70 clergymen have been kidnapped. This is not a new problem. Muslim terrorists have been preying on Nigeria’s Christians for the last 15 years. Government efforts to stem the bloodletting have failed. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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So, who is an atheist in this country?

Thu, Feb 15, 2024 at 10:41 am

So, who is an atheist in this country?

VERBATIM: The Pew Research Center has been working on an answer. According to their polling, atheists are most likely to be men and are probably going to be on the younger side. And there’s not a whole lot of them. Only four percent of the U.S. population states that they do not believe that God exists. And that is WAY less than most of the leading countries in Western Europe. In fact, atheists make up 23% of France, 12% of the U.K. and 18% of Sweden. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Most pastors don’t preach about gambling

Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 9:17 am

Most pastors don’t preach about gambling

VERBATIM: A new poll from Life Way Research finds that the vast majority of America’s protestant clergymen do NOT support gaming and are dismayed by the explosion of sports betting that has beset the nation. But the survey also finds that only 7% of pastors have ever preached against gambling from the pulpit. In fact, 56% say they haven’t felt any need to do so. This despite the fact that tens of millions of people are placing wagers every week. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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The biggest gambling blow-out in U.S. history is just around the corner

Wed, Feb 7, 2024 at 11:28 am

The biggest gambling blow-out in U.S. history is just around the corner

VERBATIM: One-in-four adults in this country are expected to bet money on Sunday’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas — 35% more than did so last year. It’s a grim monument to the way in which gambling has consumed the nation, despite the efforts of clergymen and family advocates. Laura Everett of the Massachusetts Council of Churches tells Religion News Service “Every time you expand gambling — there is a percentage of the population whose lives will be destroyed.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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A new look at religious freedom in an unexpected place

Tue, Feb 6, 2024 at 9:00 am

A new look at religious freedom in an unexpected place

VERBATIM: Everyone knows of the awful persecution being applied to Christians in places such as North Korea or Iran. But the Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty has been looking at violations of religious liberty in WESTERN COUNTRIES. The FRC’s new report finds nearly 170 incidents carried out against Christians over the last three years. They include fines for pubic prayer and pandemic church closures and the U.S. tops the list. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Americans rate the country’s institutions

Mon, Feb 5, 2024 at 9:52 am

Americans rate the country’s institutions

VERBATIM: A new poll from the Pew Research Center finds 59% of the general public has a positive view of churches and religious organizations versus 39% who see them in a negative light. That puts faith institutions in third place overall. Americans feel the most positive about small business followed by the military. Amongst the institutions with the highest NEGATIVE views: the banks, corporations and universities. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Religious Americans are more civically engaged

Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 10:25 am

Religious Americans are more civically engaged

VERBATIM: According to the latest from the Pew Research Center, people who follow a particular faith are more likely to be active in the life of their community and country than are those people who define themselves as non-religious. 51% of religiously affiliated Americans voted in the 2022 midterms, versus 39% of the non-affiliated. People of faith are also more likely to have attended a government meeting or volunteered their time. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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The NFL is teaming up with a leading LGBT pressure group

Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 9:39 am

The NFL is teaming up with a leading LGBT pressure group

VERBATIM: Super Bowl week in Las Vegas will feature a lot of parties and the NFL will host one for homosexuals. The league says its Night of Pride with GLAAD — scheduled for February 7th — is designed to “spotlight advances in the future of LGBT inclusion in professional sports as well as the NFL’s commitment to LGBT former and current players.” The league says it will also hold a Pride Flag Football Clinic the same day as the party. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Some troubling numbers from the Southern Baptist Convention

Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:49 am

Some troubling numbers from the Southern Baptist Convention

VERBATIM: According to Life Way Research, 43% of SBC churches performed NO baptisms in 2022 — the last year for which all the data is in. Another 34% reported performing between one and five baptisms. Overall SBC baptisms nationwide are down, but they have rebounded substantially from the sharp decline that was seen during the pandemic. In fact, baptism in the denomination has been declining since 1999. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Most moms and dads want to know what their kids are doing at the school library

Tue, Jan 23, 2024 at 10:23 am

Most moms and dads want to know what their kids are doing at the school library

VERBATIM: According to a new poll, over half of the parents want notice of the books that their children are checking and 60% say school libraries should restrict kids access to certain books based on their age or parental permission. But American Family Association President Tim Wildmon says “The problem is that the teachers’ unions and the American Library Association don’t care one iota about what parents think or want for their own children.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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The pro-life message is resonating with younger people

Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 8:57 am

The pro-life message is resonating with younger people

VERBATIM: A new poll from You Gov and Students for Life of America indicates that two-thirds of Americans age 18-to-42 support some kind of limits on abortion. 54% of that demographic also agrees with the statement “human rights should begin in the womb.” And the survey reveals that 75% of young adults of voting age want restrictions on abortion from the point of viability onward. Abortion will be on the ballot in several states this fall. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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Troubling new information about a British transgender clinic

Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 11:08 am

Troubling new information about a British transgender clinic

VERBATIM: The Tavistock facility in London was closed down last year after lawmakers expressed concern about what was going on there. A new report finds that nearly 400 children under the age of SIX were treated there and more than 70 of THEM were THREE AND FOUR YEARS OLD. British mental health experts say kids that young cannot possibly be transgender and should not be undergoing “treatment” at any facility. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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California stores are doing some rearranging

Fri, Dec 29, 2023 at 10:06 am

California stores are doing some rearranging

VERBATIM: On Monday a new law goes into effect that will require all department stores to present their wares in a gender-neutral fashion. No more “boys” or “girls” sections, no more dolls on one shelf and cap guns on another — there can be NO acknowledgement of any differences between male and female. Greg Burt of the California Family Research Council tells Fox News that the new law is probably a violation of the First Amendment. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

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