RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – National pro-life groups are organizing a lobbying effort with Congress and the Trump administration aimed at eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood.  Pro-life advocates believe that Republican control of the White House and Congress presents a unique opportunity to end federal reimbursement for the nation’s largest abortion business.  Some also think that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency could be a tool for getting it done.  Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has announced it will hear a case involving South Carolina’s attempt to strip Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. 

A survey from the Pew Research Center indicates that a majority of Americans, including many Democrats, are turning against the practice of letting males compete against females in sports.  Leon Sapir, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, says President Trump’s opposition to the LGBT agenda has given him a serious political edge.  Sapir says that the president is “putting his Democratic opponents in a very unfavorable position by having to decide between catering to their progressive, activist base or their median voter.”  Other analysts say the transgender issue hurt Democrats in the last election. 

Starting in May, Utah will ban the flying of Gay Pride flags at public schools and all government buildings. Any state or local government buildings will be fined 500 dollars a day for flying any flag other than the United States flag, the Utah state flag, military flags or a short list of others approved by lawmakers.  Political flags supporting a certain candidate or party, such as President Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” flags, are also banned.  Utah’s flag law goes further than one signed recently in Idaho that only applies to public schools.  

The Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward a Catholic charitable organization fighting the state of Wisconsin in the latest religious rights case to come before the court. The justices on Monday suggested that the Catholic Charities Bureau should not have to pay unemployment taxes because the work of the social services agency is motivated by religious beliefs.  Wisconsin exempts all religious groups from the tax.  The state argues the organizations don’t qualify because their day-to-day work largely does not involve religious teachings.