RELIGION HEADLINES – MONDAY 5-25-26

(SRN NEWS) Pope Leo is the latest faith leader to become interested in artificial intelligence. He has put together a study group on AI in a sign of his ongoing concern about the technology. The Vatican announced the creation of the in-house study group this month even as it gears up to release Leo’s first encyclical. It’s expected to emphasize the need for an ethics-based approach to AI that prioritizes human dignity and peace. In an unprecedented move, the Pope has invited Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah (OH-lah) to join him for the release of the encyclical. Tech leaders have been cosying up to clergy and faith leaders in recent months.

(   ) The United Nations is expressing “grave concern” about a new law issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban government on separation in marriage which includes provisions on child marriage. Among the law’s most controversial provisions, is one that says the silence of a girl reaching puberty can be interpreted as consent to marriage. It also includes a section on the separation of girls who reach puberty and are married, which implies that child marriage is permitted. The Taliban rejects the accusations, saying the decree follows Islamic law and claiming that Afghanistan has already banned the forced marriage of girls.

(   ) Warsaw has registered its first gay marriage, implementing court rulings that require Poland to recognize same-sex unions registered abroad. Last fall, the European Union’s highest court ordered the country to recognize same-sex marriages that were entered into in other EU countries even if Polish law does not currently permit them. In March, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court cited that ruling in ordering authorities to recognize the marriage in Germany of two Polish men. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has promised to bring gay marriage to Poland, but he’s facing opposition from within his own governing coalition.

(   ) The House has rejected a proposal for a new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall over transgenderism. Democrats decided to scuttle the popular proposal when Republicans refused to allow the women’s museum to include exhibits on men living as women. The GOP revisions to the bill also give President Trump the final say on where the building would be located. The Democratic Women’s Caucus led the effort to block the bill if it didn’t include transgender people. The decision by Democrats leaves the future of the proposed museum up in the air.