RELIGION HEADLINES MON 9-8-25

Audio By Carbonatix

(SRN NEWS)-(  )  The names of experts appointed to an Olympic committee looking at transgenderism ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are not being revealed.  The International Olympic Committee’s first female president, Kirsty Coventry, promised such a panel when she was elected earlier this year.  No timetable has been revealed for the IOC panels’ work which is intended to start as soon as possible.   The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has effectively banned men from playing against women in all Olympic sports, under orders from President Trump.

(  )  A Council of Europe delegation is denouncing the arrest of a Turkish human rights activist who was detained after delivering a speech critical of President Erdogan’s government at a session of Europe’s leading human rights body.  Turkey is officially secular but Erdogan has been taking the country is a more radical Muslim direction, leading to increasing human rights violations and growing persecution of Christians.  Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression during his more than two decades in power.

(  )  The Ukrainian government has declared that a branch of the Orthodox Church has failed to sever all ties with Moscow and could soon be banned.  The Ukrainian Orthodox Church disputes the government’s assertion that it has not fully broken off its historic relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church.  The looming ban would affect one of two rival branches of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, underscoring the turbulent role of religion as Ukraine fends off the Russian invasion.  Orthodoxy is the majority religion in both Russia and Ukraine and has served as a cultural and spiritual battleground in tandem with the wider war.

(  )  As disputes rage on over religion’s place in public schools, the 10 Commandments have become a focal point.  At least a dozen states have considered proposals that would require classrooms to post the Decalogue, and three adopted measures mandating their display in 2024-2025:  Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.  All three laws have been at least partially blocked by the federal courts — the Texas law most recently.  Most legal experts believe one or more of these cases will eventually reach the Supreme Court.   The question of whether or not the Commandments can be posted in schools first surfaced 45 years ago.