RELIGION HEADLINES – SAT 11-1-25

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(SRN NEWS)  If Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayor’s race he would become the city’s first Muslim mayor.  But his election would also shatter another long-standing norm — that New York politicians remain fiercely supportive of Israel. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and staunch supporter of the Palestinians, has described himself as an anti-Zionist and accused Israel of genocide.  And polls show the broader electorate in New York City is increasingly sympathetic to Mamdani’s positions. That has caused consternation among Jewish residents.  The Big Apple has the largest Jewish population of any U.S. city. 

(  )  Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton says he will challenge long-time Democratic Senator Edward Markey in 2026, arguing that it’s time for the party to embrace a new generation of leadership.  Moulton caught flak from some members of his party last year for rejecting transgenderism, saying he doesn’t want his daughters playing sports against boys.  His challenge to Markey illustrates a growing split in the Democratic Party over transgenderism, with radical supporters on one side and pragmatists on the other.  The latter group, including Moulton, fears the issue is hurting Democrats at the ballot box. 

(  )  Pro-life pregnancy centers have been adding more medical services and could be poised to do more.  The expansion — ranging from testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections to providing primary medical care — has been unfolding for years.  It gained steam after the Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade.  The push could get more momentum with Planned Parenthood closing some clinics and considering shuttering others following changes to Medicaid.  Moira Gaul, a scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, says the clinics “are prepared to serve their communities for the long-term.”

(  )  Russia is one of many major industrialized countries that is grappling with a shrinking and aging population, with President Vladimir Putin viewing it as a threat to national security.  Experts say it’s a legacy of the Soviet era when abortion was treated like contraception and many women terminated multiple pregnancies.  Putin is advancing pro-life laws in an effort to raise the Russian birth rate.  He has said that he wants to see a return to a time when women had “seven, eight, and even more children.”  However, economic uncertainty and the war in Ukraine cast doubt on how successful his efforts might be.