RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – The California Interscholastic Federation intends to keep on letting boys play on girls’ sports teams despite President Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding.  The CIF says it will comply with a California law that “permits students to participate in school athletic teams consistent with the student’s gender identity”.  Meanwhile, the The Illinois State High School Association says it is awaiting further guidance on the issue.  Illinois also lets boys play on girls’ sports teams, but officials say the president’s executive order may require some changes. 

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. 

The Chinese government is warning Christian churches that they must toe the line or face the consequences.  A recent statement by a Communist Party leader says, “Comprehensive and strict governance of religion must continue, improving self-education, management, and discipline within religious circles.”  The government wants all expressions of faith to be “sinicized” (SIN-ih-sized), meaning they must be brought into line with traditional Chinese culture and made subservient to Beijing.  Persecution of Christians in China is on the rise.