RELIGION HEADLINES THR 9-4-25

Audio By Carbonatix

(SRN NEWS)-(  )  The arrest this week of comedy writer Graham Linehan (LINE-uh-han) in Britain over social media posts critical of transgenderism has sparked a debate about freedom of speech in the U.K.  Supporters of Linehan say hate speech laws are stifling legitimate comment and creating what “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling calls totalitarianism.  Linehan, the co-creator of the beloved 1990s sitcom “Father Ted”, was detained at Heathrow Airport as he returned from Arizona.  He has been outspoken in his assertions that men cannot become women and women cannot become men.  He also says men are criminals if they use women’s bathrooms.

(  )  Since 2015, more than 1,300 residents at homeless shelters around the country have trained to run half-marathons through Up and Running Again, a nonprofit that uses faith and running to promote personal transformation.  Pastor Bruce McEvoy, who serves as a volunteer coach for the program, says the idea is to use running and friendship as tools for transformation.  The program is simple but intense.  For 12 weeks, participants run three days a week — two shorter runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by a long run on Saturday.  Participants are paired with volunteer coaches who give tips and motivation.

(  )  Police in Canada are investigating an apparent anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish woman at a grocery store.  Ottawa lawmen say a 71-year-old man has been arrested for stabbing the victim — who is also in her 70s — leaving her hospitalized for a time.  The suspect had been posting anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements on his Facebook page.  Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and many other government officials have condemned the incident and vowed to protect the Jewish community.  Anti-Semitism is on the rise all around the world and it has accelerated in the wake of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that has sparked a war in Gaza.

(  )  Will Graham, the son of Billy Graham, is planning a trip to Europe next month to preach the gospel.  The popular evangelist is scheduled to hold a weekend festival in the city of Tallin, Estonia on October 18th and 19th.  Contemporary Christian artists will perform, and Graham will preach both days.  Local churches across the small country have come together to sponsor the festival and to provide logistics.  After the Estonia trip, Will Graham is scheduled to take the gospel message to several Florida cities in the final days of October.  The list includes Tallahassee, Gainesville and Sarasota.