Michael Harrington

A profile of Americans who oppose the LGBT agenda

VERBATIM: Same-sex marriage and other homosexual practices are increasingly being embraced by the general population, but there is a small group that consistently rejects the agenda. A new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute finds those who are completely against LGBT are more likely to be Christians, Republicans, in the older age bracket and white. About one-in-three Americans who oppose the homosexual agenda identify as Evangelicals. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A new poll on religious people and the corona virus vaccine

VERBATIM: According to the Public Religion Research Institute, Hispanic Protestants are the most dubious about the shot. 57% of them say they are hesitant to take the vaccine or have flat-out refused. 54% of White Evangelicals feel the same way, as do 51% of Black Protestants. At the other end of the spectrum are Jewish Americans — 85% of them have taken the shot. Catholics are next at 68%. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

A battle between a Texas town and a local church is over

VERBATIM: Officials in Duncanville, just outside Dallas, have dropped an eminent domain request to seize property owned by Canaan Baptist Church. The town wanted to build a fire station on the vacant lot, but church leaders say they use the property regularly and eventually plan to put up a building there. Cannan Baptist was represented by First Liberty Institute, which is celebrating the decision by Duncanville to give up the eminent domain request. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Joe Biden may split the Catholic church

VERBATIM: The president proudly states that he is a Catholic. But he also promotes himself as a strong abortion advocate — which is diametrically opposed to church teaching. U.S. Bishops are considering a ban on Catholic politicians taking communion if they advocate for abortion, but some observers say Catholic leadership is sharply divided on the issue. Part of the problem is that Pope does NOT support the effort to make Catholic politicians conform to church teachings. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

State-sponsored suicide is on the rise in the Netherlands

VERBATIM: The government says 2020 saw a nine percent increase in the number of people submitting to euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in the European nation — which has some of the most liberal laws governing those practices. Nearly 7,000 people took their own life with the help of the Dutch government last year. A growing number of those people suffered from psychological ailments, now that the state has extended eligibility beyond those with terminal diseases. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

The pro-life legislation just keeps coming

VERBATIM: While Washington is firmly in the hands of the Democrats, Republican lawmakers at the state level continue waging their fight for the life of the unborn. According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 500 pro-life bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year and more than 60 have passed into law. Several of these measures are designed to spark legal challenges that may one day be considered by the Supreme Court, which COULD overturn Roe versus Wade. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

China tightens its grip

VERBATIM: The government in Beijing has introduced new regulations that will require pastors to “support the leadership of the Communist Party”. Christian Solidarity Worldwide says this latest move will prohibit clergymen from making any statements that can be interpreted as being critical of the government. It’s worth noting that these restrictions will apply to pastors in state-controlled churches. The party is busy trying to completely stamp out all other places of worships. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Kansas’ highest court blocks wrongful birth lawsuits

VERBATIM: The justices have upheld a law barring such legal action against doctors, in a case in which a couple sued because they weren’t told of serious birth defects in their unborn baby until after an abortion could have been obtained. The couple says they would have opted to abort their daughter if they had known, and now want to be paid by the state for taking care of her. The 4-3 decision found that so-called wrongful birth is not a legal concept. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

President Biden has a new bishop

VERBATIM: Monsignor William Koenig, the newly appointed bishop of the president’s home diocese in Delaware, says he would gladly speak with the president about his views on abortion — but will not say whether he would allow him to continue receiving Communion. U.S. Catholic bishops are set to consider in a June meeting whether to send a tough message to Biden and other Catholic politicians, saying they should not take the sacrament if they advocate for abortion. Michael Harrington, SRN News.

Christian legal groups oppose the Equality Act, which President Biden is urging lawmakers to pass

VERBATIM: The sweeping Democratic legislation would add sexual orientation and so-called gender identity to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and essentially override the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Liberty Counsel says the Equality Act would allow “Biological men who “identify as women” to use women’s restrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and showers. And biological men will be able to compete in sports for girls and women.” Michael Harrington, SRN News.