(SRN NEWS)-( ) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, is making his first visit in four years to the United States. He met President Trump in the Oval Office this week and is also scheduled to make other appearances in the Washington and New York areas through September 25th. That includes […]
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(SRN NEWS)-( ) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, is making his first visit in four years to the United States. He met President Trump in the Oval Office this week and is also scheduled to make other appearances in the Washington and New York areas through September 25th. That includes receiving the prestigious Templeton Prize. Bartholomew is considered first among equals among Orthodox patriarchs. That role gives him prominence, but not the power of a pope, because the church has various self-governing jurisdictions. Bartholomew personally oversees the small Orthodox population in Turkey.
( ) The attorney general for New South Wales, Australia confirms that a new anti-conversion law does ban prayer for children who are struggling with homosexuality. When asked for clarification, Michael Daley explains that the law “Does not prevent teaching or practicing religion, but does forbid any prayer-based practice to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” This prohibition also extends to conversations that parents may have with their children in private. The anti-conversion statute has sparked a firestorm of criticism across Australia from those who say it violates religious freedom.
( ) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is calling for Israel to be banned from all international sports events. He made the statement after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta (voo-EL-tah) cycling race in Madrid over the past weekend. The pro-Palestinian group threw barriers onto the road and clashed with police near the finish line of the race. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar blasted Sánchez with a post on X calling him “an antisemite and a liar.” Saar asked “Did Israel invade Gaza on October 7th or did Hamas invade Israel and commit the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust?”
( ) A professor of sports management with a law degree says women’s sports will be doomed if lawmakers and courts allow men to compete. Amanda Siegrist (SEE-grist) of Coastal Carolina University says “I believe the progress in equity, access and participation made by women in sport since the passage of Title Nine is at risk. U.S. institutions and legislators must not depart from the federal law’s original intent: to ensure equal opportunities for women in education settings.” The Supreme Court has already ruled against transgenderism in one case but has not tackled the issue where it concerns sports as yet.