RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – Abortions are set to resume in Missouri after a judge blocked regulations that had restricted providers even after voters approved enshrining abortion in the state’s constitution.  The decision comes after a Kansas City judge ruled last year that abortions are now legal in Missouri but kept certain regulations on the books while a lawsuit by abortion advocates played out.  Voters approved a measure in November that enshrined abortion, but it did not actually legalize it in Missouri outright — instead requiring judges to reconsider laws that had almost completely banned the procedure up to then. 

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has moved to dismiss six of its own cases on behalf of workers alleging so-called “gender identity discrimination”, arguing that the cases now conflict with President Trump’s recent executive order.  This is a major change for the EEOC from the Biden years.  In 2024 the agency changed its guidance to specify that deliberately using the wrong pronouns for an employee, or refusing them access to whatever bathrooms they desire, constituted a form of harassment.  President Trump is working to undo Mr. Biden’s promotion of transgenderism in government. 

American school kids are getting more days off now as cities, counties and states begin recognizing the holidays of minority religious groups.  In New York City, public school students have a day off to mark the holiday of Diwali (duh-WAH-lee), celebrated by Hindus in India and among the global Indian diaspora.  Diwali joins other holidays on the school calendar including Rosh Hashanah, Lunar New Year and the Muslim Eid al-Fitr (eed al-FIT-er).  Most places also continue to honor the traditional Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter, though some have dropped Good Friday. 

Another federal judge has paused President Trump’s executive order halting federal support for sex-change operations on children.  U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King issued a temporary restraining order, after another federal judge in Baltimore temporarily blocked Mr. Trump’s directive for 14 days.  The president’s order calls for halting federal funding for institutions that provide the operations and excluding them from coverage through government-run insurance programs.  Democratic attorneys general from Washington state, Oregon and Minnesota are trying to stop the president in court.