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Michael Harrington
Religion in the News Editor
A Democratic lawmaker has questions about the afterlife
A Democratic lawmaker has questions about the afterlife
VERBATIM: In a truly bizarre exchange during a committee hearing on President Trump’s immigration policy this week, Congresswoman Lamonica McIver of New Jersey asked ICE Director Todd Lyons if he thought he was “going to hell” for his efforts to deport illegal immigrants. She also asked him “How do you think Judgement Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?” Lyons declined to answer either of the lawmaker’s questions. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAre you reading the Bible?
Are you reading the Bible?
VERBATIM: A new poll from LifeWay Research reveals that amongst Americans who attend church regularly, 31% say they are in the scriptures every day. Another 30% say they read it a few times a week — but not daily. 14% read the Bible once a week, 11% a few times a month and 5% once a month. NINE percent of folks who attend worship regularly say they NEVER open the Bible. The good news is, the number of regular readers is actually UP from 20 years ago. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadThe robots have created a religion
The robots have created a religion
VERBATIM: Several of them, actually. Last month a social media platform called Moltbook was launched specifically for Artificial Intelligence programs to meet and talk. Humans can observe but they can’t post or interact. One of the first things the AI programs did when they started to visit the platform was collaborate on the establishment of some new religions. Critics fear that actual humans might start following these religions in the near future. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA billboard campaign comes to Maine
A billboard campaign comes to Maine
VERBATIM: The signs are simple: They say “Christ Is King” is white letters on a black background and include an image of Jesus and First Timothy 6:15. They are the product of the pro-life group LifeSiteNews.com and Maine is the next state that is getting one. The group says “When mankind turns back to Christ the King, our society will be transformed.” So far billboards have been set up in Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New Jersey. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadUkraine is under tremendous pressure
Ukraine is under tremendous pressure
VERBATIM: Franklin Graham says “The people are suffering greatly. Many are without electricity and heat for long stretches each day; some have no power at all. This year’s winter has been brutal, and many cold and exhausted Ukrainians struggle to survive.” Samaritan’s Purse, the giant Christian relief agency Graham heads, continues to pump supplies into Ukraine but with the war against Russia about to enter its fifth year, he says the country is in dire straits. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA new poll asks moms about church
A new poll asks moms about church
VERBATIM: It comes from Motherhood Today and it reveals that about half of them say the number one reason they attend worship services regularly is to grow in their faith. The second most commonly cited reason is to learn about God. When asked what’s good and not so good at their church, a strong majority of moms say they like the small group ministries but wish there was more mental health support and more outreach specifically to mothers. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA call for action against China
A call for action against China
VERBATIM: The Communist government in Beijing persecutes Christians within its borders, but it doesn’t stop there. The Congressional Executive Committee on China is urging Congress and the president to do something about China’s campaigns against Chinese Christians living here in the U.S. The Committee says China uses verbal and online harassment to silence believers in this country, and sometimes even resorts to physical intimidation by Communist agents. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmericans weigh-in on capital punishment
Americans weigh-in on capital punishment
VERBATIM: According to data from the Public Religion Research Institute, about two-thirds of adults believe that it is acceptable for the state to execute a person who has been convicted of murdering someone. Amongst religious people, almost 80% of White Evangelicals support capital punishment, as do 71% of White Mainline Protestants and 66% of White Catholics. Roughly 60% of Black Protestants also support the death penalty. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadMissionaries are descending on the Winter Olympics
Missionaries are descending on the Winter Olympics
VERBATIM: The Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy will run for the next two weeks, and several Christian ministries will be on the ground seeking to spread the gospel amongst the 3,000 athletes and the two million spectators. The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention will be handing out gospel tracts and copies of the Bible in Italian. Similar evangelistic efforts are planned for this summer’s World Cup here in the U.S. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA setback for religious freedom in Maryland
A setback for religious freedom in Maryland
VERBATIM: A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Montgomery County Schools CAN force teachers to use transgender pronouns to refer to students — even if it violates their deeply held religious beliefs. On a 2-1 vote, the judges found that the school system did not violate the First Amendment rights of a Christian teacher. Decisions of the 4th Circuit are binding in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. MH REPRTING
Listen DownloadConfidence in organized religion is in decline
Confidence in organized religion is in decline
VERBATIM: The Gallup organization has been culling through its date over the years and paints a rather stark picture. In the year 2000 — a quarter century ago — 56% of Americans said they had a lot of confidence in organized religion in this country. In 2025, it was only 36%. Gallup also reports that while 45% of adults say they currently belong to a church or synagogue — 68% said they did in 2000, which probably has a lot to do with confidence. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadYou might not want to let the kids watch the Super Bowl halftime show
You might not want to let the kids watch the Super Bowl halftime show
VERBATIM: One Million Moms, a conservative advocacy group is issuing a warning over the headliner Bad Bunny. He’s a Puerto Rican born rap artist who will reportedly spend his time on the halftime stage putting on a show that “honors queer icons, generations of drag, resistance and cultural rebellion”. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, is reportedly also planning to appear on stage dressed as a woman. Super Bowl 60 takes place this Sunday. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadFranklin Graham will be on the road again this month
Franklin Graham will be on the road again this month
VERBATIM: The popular evangelist is scheduled to preach the gospel in Ushuaia, Argentina on February 14th and 15th. Ushuaia is a small town at the very southern tip of the country, often used as a jumping-off point for trips to Antarctica. Graham will be accompanied by several Contemporary Christian music groups and local churches are organizing the event. Last month he held a gospel festival in Cambodia. In March he has one scheduled for Peru. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAnother hospital gets out of the transgender business
Another hospital gets out of the transgender business
VERBATIM: This one is in Washington state. Officials at Multicare Mary Bridge Hospital have announced that they will no longer give puberty-blocking drugs to children nor perform surgeries on them in order to help them live as the opposite sex. Multicare joins a growing list of hospitals that are getting out of the transgender business under threat from the Trump administration. The president has vowed to cut federal funding to any facility that promotes transgenderism to kids. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmerica’s pastors are ready to stick it out
America’s pastors are ready to stick it out
VERBATIM: Four years ago, 42% of Protestant clergymen in this country told the Barna Group that they had seriously considered quitting the ministry within the last 12 months. Today, Barna reports that the number has fallen to 24% — which is still considerable, but much better than it had been. Researchers say the pandemic is probably mostly to blame for the high percentage of pastors who were thinking of giving up earlier this decade. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAmericans weigh-in on euthanasia
Americans weigh-in on euthanasia
VERBATIM: And these aren’t just ANY Americans — they are regular churchgoers responding to a poll released by the Family Research Council. The results are that 43% of people who attend worship services believe that euthanasia is morally wrong. 23% say it’s NOT and more than one-third — 35% — can’t make up their mind. So far 12 states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing a person to legally get help from a doctor to take their own life. MH REPOERIMG
Listen DownloadA victory for religious freedom in New York
A victory for religious freedom in New York
VERBATIM: The state has agreed to end its legal fight aimed at making a group of Catholic nuns and other faith-based organizations offer abortion coverage in their health insurance programs. Lori Windham of the Becket Fund, which represented the plaintiffs, says “The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that religious groups shouldn’t be bullied for staying true to their faith. We are glad that New York finally agreed.” MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAnother 10 Commandments monument goes up in Texas
Another 10 Commandments monument goes up in Texas
VERBATIM: This one stands in the lawn of the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. Kelly Shackleford of the Christian legal group First Liberty cheered the monument saying “Displaying Commandments on public grounds in Texas is consistent with Supreme Court decisions that recognize our religious heritage and the best of the nation’s history and traditions. The Ten Commandments are a symbol of law and moral conduct.” MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadAn Idaho medical facility makes a pro-life choice
An Idaho medical facility makes a pro-life choice
VERBATIM: Memorial Hospital in Weiser has installed a Safe Haven Baby Box. It’s a device that allows a woman to give away an unwanted infant without abandoning the child in a location where it might die. The hospital will ask no questions of any woman using the box and the child will be cared for. The city of Weiser sits right on the border with neighboring Oregon — one of the most pro-abortion states in the country. Oregon Right to Life is praising the hospital. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadIs America having a revival?
Is America having a revival?
VERBATIM: The answer is a resounding MAYBE. There are a lot of small polls that indicate an uptick in the percentage of young people who are reading the Bible and going to church. It started after Charlie Kirk’s assasination last year. However, the big national polls still indicate a broad decline in Christianity in the U.S. with non-religious people now accounting for more than 25% of the population. More religious young people could change that picture — eventually. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadNations around the world are moving to keep kids safe online
Nations around the world are moving to keep kids safe online
VERBATIM: At the behest of parents, clergymen and advocates, governments are slowly taking action. Polish lawmakers are working on national digital safety legislation that would beef up protections for minors. The French prosecutor’s office is widening an ongoing investigation of various platforms to include sexually explicit deep fakes. And the Indian government has ordered X to take down all “unlawful content”. Americans wish Congress would do more. MHREPORTING
Listen DownloadAlliance Defending Freedom unveils its legislative agenda
Alliance Defending Freedom unveils its legislative agenda
VERBATIM: The Christian legal group hopes lawmakers at the federal and state level will take action on a number of issues in 2026. ADF is calling for efforts to curb the sale of abortion pills, stop the promotion of transgenderism and protect the right of parents to raise their kids in accordance with their religious beliefs. Senior Counsel Matt Sharp says, “We still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful that we can continue to achieve lasting victories this legislative season.” MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadThe center of global religious persecution is shifting
The center of global religious persecution is shifting
VERBATIM: Open Doors US puts out an annual list of the places where it is most dangerous to be a Christian and in decades past it used to be the Middle East — plain and simple. But over the last 10 years or so, Sub-Saharan Africa has become a growing problem. Checking the 2026 World Watch List reveals that seven of the top 20 worst countries for Christians are in Africa, versus six that are in the Middle East. Muslim terrorism is the problem in ALL of them. MH REPORTING
Listen DownloadA prediction about artificial intelligence and faith
A prediction about artificial intelligence and faith
VERBATIM: It comes from historian and public intellectual Yuval Harari. He thinks that before too much longer AI will take over religion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum this week, Harari told an audience that “anything made of words will be taken over by AI. If religion is built from words, then AI will take over religion. This is particularly true of religions based on books, like Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.” He also warns that AI will “lie and manipulate.” MHREPORTING
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