(  )  The Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to pay nearly 180 million dollars to victims of clergy sexual abuse.  The committee that negotiated the agreement says the archdiocese, its parishes and several insurers will put the money into a trust to benefit survivors.  The cash will be distributed after the church emerges from bankruptcy.  The deal would settle a lawsuit filed in 2020, but still requires approval by the courts, survivors and the Archdiocese’ creditors.  The suit involves more than 500 people who say they were abused by priests.

(  )  A group of 17 European Union countries is trying to pressure Hungary to repeal a new law that allows the government to ban public Gay Pride events.  The group doesn’t like the statute which allows fines on people organizing or taking part in Pride events.  In fact, what the Hungarian law says is that children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any right other than the right to life.  That includes the right to hold Gay Pride events where children might see them.  Government officials say there is no outright ban, just a limit on permitting.

(  )  A bill that would ban headscarves in all sporting competitions has cleared its first legislative hurdle in France.  The Senate has approved it and if the lower house does the same, it would enshrine into law what has until now been decided by individual sports federations in France.  Supporters say the legislation is a necessary step to protect secularism.  Opponents denounce it as discriminatory. A date has yet to be set for the bill to be debated in the lower house. To pass, it would need a coalition of forces that don’t usually work together.