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Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
Marriage is still an aspiration for a lot of Americans
Marriage is still an aspiration for a lot of Americans
A Texas woman sues an abortion pill provider
A Texas woman sues an abortion pill provider
VERBATIM: Liana Davis says the father of her unborn child caused her to have a miscarriage by slipping abortion pills into a hot beverage she was drinking without her knowledge. Her lawsuit states that the father “obtained these drugs from Aid Access, a criminal organization that illegally ships abortion pills into Texas and other jurisdictions where abortion has been outlawed.” A growing number of such cases are coming before U.S. courts as the pills become easier to get. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA court upholds a transgender ban in Oklahoma
A court upholds a transgender ban in Oklahoma
VERBATIM: The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals says the state’s new law barring sex-change operations on children is NOT unconstitutional and may be enforced. Legal analysts say the decision was almost certainly influenced by this year’s Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for a similar statute in Tennessee to go into effect. A growing number of states are taking up legislation that would prevent kids from undergoing irreversible surgeries to help them live as the opposite sex. MH SRNNNEW
Listen DownloadWorld Vision wins a round in court
World Vision wins a round in court
VERBATIM: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the giant Christian relief agency has the right to refuse to hire a woman because she was in a same-sex marriage. The law allows religious organizations to hire and fire according to the dictates of their faith, but the woman took World Vision to court, arguing that it doesn’t qualify for an exemption because it is not a church. The justices disagreed, ruling that the plaintiff’s job involved “vital religious duties.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadChristian summer camps are ministering to kids in war torn Ukraine
Christian summer camps are ministering to kids in war torn Ukraine
VERBATIM: Officials with Mission Eurasia run the camps every year to give youngsters in the country and other places an opportunity to get away from their difficult lives and hear the gospel message. About 30,000 children from 14 nations are expected to participate before the end of this summer and the vast majority will be from Ukraine. Spokesman Sergei Rakhuba says “These camps are often the first time in months that children can feel safe, play freely, and hear a message of hope,” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe Trump administration makes some changes to visa rules
The Trump administration makes some changes to visa rules
VERBATIM: Foreign athletes who are men living as women will NOT receive visas to enter the U.S. if they are coming here to compete against women. The action follows President Trump’s instructions to all federal agencies that they do what they can to protect women’s sports — especially with the World Cup Soccer Tournament and the Summer Olympic Games just around the corner. Numerous sports governing bodies are also banning men from women’s competitions. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadSome new findings about Americans who attend church
Some new findings about Americans who attend church
VERBATIM: The poll was conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, and it reveals that while most congregations offer on-line services, only about one-in-four people who regularly attend take advantage of that service. Everybody else wants to be there in person. The report also indicates that volunteering and giving have rebounded since the days of the pandemic, with 50% of churchgoers volunteering their time and talents at least once a month. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA state athletic organization goes all-in on transgenderism
A state athletic organization goes all-in on transgenderism
VERBATIM: USA Fencing recently announced that it will not allow men to compete in the women’s division. But the Minnesota chapter didn’t like that and has responded by declaring that it will have NO divisions — all fencers, men and women — will have to compete against each other in one large OPEN category. Minnesota Fencing has released a statement criticizing USA Fencing’s transgender ban, and referring to the Minnesota Human Rights Act. MH SRNN NEWS
Listen DownloadPlanned Parenthood has left Louisiana
Planned Parenthood has left Louisiana
VERBATIM: The nation’s largest abortion business has closed its last two clinics in the predominantly pro-life state. Ben Clapper of Louisiana Right To Life tells LifeNews.com “When Planned Parenthood built their New Orleans facility, they intended it to become a mega-abortion center, aiming to perform nearly 3,000 abortions every year. But thanks to our united efforts, not a single abortion was ever performed there. Now, that facility is shutting down.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAn Indiana music teacher will get his day in court
An Indiana music teacher will get his day in court
Runners are preparing to spread the pro-life message
Runners are preparing to spread the pro-life message
VERBATIM: From September 5th through October 25th small groups of people will run along public streets from coast to coast in the U.S. wearing shirts that proclaim the message “Remember The Unborn”. It’s the brainchild of Dr. Patrick Castle, the founder of Life Runners. Participants will run 5K legs beginning in California, New York, Texas and North Dakota and converging on a single point in the middle of the country, tracing a cross over the nation. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe Trump administration makes a decision on IVF
The Trump administration makes a decision on IVF
VERBATIM: The Washington Post is reporting that the president is no longer planning to issue an executive order mandating that health insurance providers cover in vitro fertilization. The procedure is controversial amongst pro-life advocates as it often involves the destruction of human embryos. The Post says the administration still wants to make IVF widely available but has decided that an executive order is not the way to go. Congress could take up the issue if it wants to. MH SRNN NEWSW
Listen DownloadThere’s a problem with police training in Massachusetts
There’s a problem with police training in Massachusetts
VERBATIM: Moms for Liberty is a conservative organization that campaigns to get pornographic books out of the public schools. But the Massachusetts Police Training Committee has placed Moms for Liberty on a list of extremist groups that includes Antifa. According to documents obtained by the Daily Wire, the police training material states that group members “use parents’ rights as a vehicle to attack public education and make schools less welcoming for minority and LGBTQ+ students.” MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadReligious people are a minority in a growing number of nations
Religious people are a minority in a growing number of nations
VERBATIM: The vast majority of the global population follows some faith — mostly Christianity and Islam. But religiously unaffiliated people — those who are atheists, agnostics or adherents of no particular faith — are now the majority in 10 countries. China and North Korea are perhaps the most obvious ones on the list. But the unaffiliated are also a majority now in the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, Japan, Vietnam, Macao and Hong Kong. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA lot of pastors are having problems
A lot of pastors are having problems
Planned Parenthood is closing more clinics
Planned Parenthood is closing more clinics
A bit of historical irony at a Tennessee courthouse
A bit of historical irony at a Tennessee courthouse
VERBATIM: This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial, where a local teacher in Rhea County was tried for teaching his students about the Theory of Evolution. Historians point to the event as the day Evolution got its foot in the door and eventually helped push Christianity out of the public schools. But an atheist group, celebrating the trial with a visit to the historic Rhea County Courthouse this month, were confronted by a large plaque bearing the 10 Commandments. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadChristian countries are on the wane
Christian countries are on the wane
VERBATIM: According to the Pew Research Center Christian nations — defined as those where a majority of people identify as Christians — make up 120 of the 201 countries and territories on earth. But that’s DOWN from 124 in 2010. The four countries that fell OUT of the majority Christian ranks over the past 15 years are the United Kingdom, France, Australia and Uruguay. Everywhere, the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated are growing. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA new poll asks pastors about politics
A new poll asks pastors about politics
VERBATIM: The LifeWay Research survey wanted to know how many Protestant pastors were experiencing conflict in their churches over political matters. Amongst Mainline Protestant clergy, 31% say politics has been causing problems in their congregation. But for Evangelical pastors the percentage drops to NINE, as it does for pastors of Black churches. The numbers seem to suggest that politics might not be as big a problem as many observers fear. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadA Canadian lawmaker fights assisted suicide
A Canadian lawmaker fights assisted suicide
VERBATIM: 15 years ago Andrew Lawton tried to take his own life and nearly succeeded. But he got help and has since overcome his mental illness and as a member of the Canadian parliament he’s warning his fellow lawmakers NOT to expand assisted-suicide. There’s a bill under consideration that would allow mentally ill people who do NOT suffer from a terminal disease to take their own lives and Lawton says if such a law existed 15 years ago — he would be dead. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadKaiser Permanente will stop doing sex-change operations on children
Kaiser Permanente will stop doing sex-change operations on children
VERBATIM: The healthcare giant makes the announcement under pressure from the Trump administration which is threatening to withhold federal funding for any organization that performs such operations on boys or girls under the age of 18. However, Kaiser says it will continue to administer puberty-blocking hormones to kids who are trying to live as the opposite sex. Kaiser is just the latest in a growing number of healthcare providers that are pulling back on transgenderism. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadThe Pew Research Center has been asking Americans about religious faith
The Pew Research Center has been asking Americans about religious faith
VERBATIM: The latest poll finds a lot of us still identify as Christians — 41% say they are Protestants. However, the next largest faith group is those who have NO faith. Atheists, agnostics and followers of no particular religion now account for 28% of the U.S. population. Rounding out the rest of the nation are Catholics at 19% and all other religions at 10%. People of no faith remain the fastest growing group in the United States. MH SRBN NEWS
Listen DownloadA new study asks American Muslims which political party they like
A new study asks American Muslims which political party they like
VERBATIM: The Pew Research Center’s latest poll finds that followers of Islam favor the Democrats over the Republicans — but not by very much. The study also reveals that what Muslims like MOST about the GOP is its opposition to the LGBT agenda and its focus on encouraging traditional families. They particularly believe that the acceptance of transgenderism in the U.S. is a bad thing. President Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris split the Muslim vote evenly last year. MH SRN NEWS
Listen DownloadAn unusual response to drug problems in Toronto
An unusual response to drug problems in Toronto
VERBATIM: Officials in the Canadian city are responding to a surge in narcotics use by handing out so-called harm reduction kits. They include syringes for shooting drugs and pipes for smoking drugs and some contraceptives as well. Pro-family groups and clergymen are decrying the kits, but Toronto officials say they believe the program will keep people who use drugs safer while using them. The kits do NOT contain any information about how to get OFF drugs. MH SRN NNEWS
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