RELIGION HEADLINES

(SRN NEWS) – The Education Department is investigating potential civil rights violations at two universities and a high school sports league that allowed men to compete on women’s teams.  The department is opening reviews at San Jose State University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.  This action comes shortly after President Trump signed an executive order intended to ban males from competing against women in school sports.  There are also lawsuits in several states designed to protect female athletics. 

During last week’s visit to the U.S., Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Evangelical leaders. Among those in attendance were former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who is President Trump’s pick to be ambassador to Israel.  John Hagee (HAY-gee) of Christians United for Israel was also there.  The meeting was a reminder that Christian Zionists are among Israel’s strongest supporters in the U.S. and they wield considerable influence as Mr. Trump begins his second term.  He has also been a friend to Israel, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in his first term. 

J.D. Vance is taking on the Catholic Church.  The new vice president, who is himself a Catholic, is accusing the U.S. Conference of Bishops of resettling illegal immigrants in order to get federal funding. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan denies the accusation.  The rift comes even as Catholic bishops have lauded executive orders from the Trump administration related to schools, gender and abortion.  Conservative Catholic leaders have advocated for precisely the sort of sweeping regime change underway in the Trump administration. 

Georgia’s state Senate has approved a bill that would prevent men from competing in women’s sports. The move comes shortly after Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones joined President Trump in Washington, where the president signed an executive order that would cut federal funding to any school that lets boys compete against girls.  Georgia Republicans have also introduced a bill to prevent state money from being used for sex-change operations or puberty-blocking drugs on anyone under the age of 18.