RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – A new report from International Christian Concern finds that seven of the 11 nations in Southeast Asia actively persecute believers. The report indicates that the governments of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam either actively persecute Christians or turn a blind eye to attacks on them by the local population. Even the Biden administration has taken note of the situation.  Vietnam has been placed in the State Department’s Special Watch List for what it calls “engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom”.  Christians make up a small minority of the population in Southeast Asia.

American Airlines says it will extend its ban on flights to Israel until September of next year and experts say other major U.S. carriers will probably follow suit. The decision stems from security concerns surrounding the on-going war in Gaza but it will likely hurt the Israeli economy.  Tourism is an important income stream for the Jewish state and if big U.S. airlines won’t fly there a lot of Americans will have to put off trips.  The all-important holiday season is looming — a time when both Jews and Christians from this country would travel to Israel for celebrations.  The American Airlines flight suspension would also affect next year’s High Holy Day season.

 Abortion advocates had an undefeated record in state referendums until Tuesday. For the first time since the repeal of Roe versus Wade, pro-lifers were victorious at the ballot box, defeating abortion amendments in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, says the resounding win in Florida is “a momentous victory for life and for our entire country.” She praised Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for leading the charge against the amendment, in the face of huge spending by pro-abortion groups.

 Congress has its first transgender representative. Delaware Democratic State Senator Sarah McBride, a man who is living as a woman, has been elected to the House. McBride had established a national profile as a transgender activist and national LGBT groups flooded his campaign with money.  Meanwhile, in Montana, transgender State Representative Zooey Zephyr has won re-election.  Zephyr, who is also a man living as a woman, is a Democrat and represents a district in the college town of Missoula. He also benefited from national LGBT group’s support.

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