RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – Last week, the Trump administration terminated at least 68 grants focused on LGBTQ health questions. The canceled grants totaled nearly 40 million dollars, though some of the money had already been spent. Most of the grants were in some way related to sexual minorities, including research focused on HIV prevention. A Health and Human Services spokesman said the agency is dedicated to upholding “evidence-based science.” 

The Unification Church in Japan was ordered dissolved by a court following a request by the Education Ministry. The government cited manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that hurt followers and their families. The church called the court order regrettable and unjust. It also said it was considering an appeal of the revocation order, which would take away its tax-exempt privilege and require liquidation of its assets. 

Officials report high turnout during the first week of early voting ahead of Wisconsin’s pivotal Supreme Court race. The winner of the election will determine whether the court remains under liberal control or flips to a conservative majority. Wisconsin’s highest court is preparing to rule on a series of high-profile cases, including one involving an 1849 law that would effectively outlaw abortion. 

A bill has been introduced in Sierra Leone that would decriminalize abortion in the West African country. Tens of thousands of women and girls attempt to self-terminate their pregnancies every year in Sierra Leone, which has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. Some Muslim and Christian leaders have denounced the current bill as “ungodly” and “hellish.” The government says it expects a vote in parliament in the coming weeks.