Latest Religion and politics News
Idaho House passes 'nondiscrimination' education bill
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho House on Thursday approved legislation aimed at preventing public and charter schools and universities from teaching critical race theory, which examines the ways in which race and racism influence American politics, culture and the law. ...
Texas ends clergy, spiritual advisers ban in death chamber
HOUSTON (AP) — Texas prisons have resumed allowing clergy as well as spiritual advisers in the death chamber, reversing a two-year ban created after the U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution of an inmate who had argued his religious freedom was being violated because his Buddhist...
Governor signs religious freedom bill allowing challenges
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s governor on Thursday signed a bill that codifies the right of people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. The legislation, by Republican Sen. Carl Glimm, requires the government to have a...
Montana Senate advances bill banning vaccine requirements
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Senate voted Thursday to advance a measure banning the use of vaccine passports and prohibiting workplaces from requiring vaccinations as a condition for employment. Dozens of supporters of the measure, mostly unmasked, packed the Senate...
Florida Senate OKs bill requiring school moments of silence
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Every Florida public school would be required to have a moment of silence of up to two minutes during first period under a bill passed by the Senate on Thursday. The bill passed on a 32-6 vote and would amend current law that allows school...
Pope warns Earth heading for self-destruction without action
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis warned Thursday that the world is “on a path of self-destruction” if political leaders fail to courageously use the COVID-19 pandemic as a chance to make the planet a fairer and greener place. In a video message released on World Earth Day,...
Pope meets with Lebanon's PM-designate, urges end of crises
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis met with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday and urged all Lebanese political leaders to “urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation," as the country endures a series of crises and disagreements that have prevented the...
House votes to curb power of presidency on travel bans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House passed legislation Wednesday designed to constrain a president’s power to limit entry to the U.S., a response to former President Donald Trump’s travel ban covering five Muslim-majority countries. President Joe Biden...
Colorado bill would protect gender identity and expression
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would add “gender identity” and “gender expression” to anti-discrimination statutes as state lawmakers across the country are introducing bills aimed at curbing transgender rights. There are 21 states...
Lawmakers move closer to letting child sex abuse victims sue
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — For the first time, prominent Republican state senators on Wednesday put their support behind legislation in Pennsylvania to change the law to allow now-adult victims of child sexual abuse to sue the perpetrators or institutions that did not prevent it when it...
