UMC Churches sue to be removed from national organization
Churches with a more conservative conviction are accelerating their exit from the US Methodist Church. The congregations cite the liberal doctrine that has recently been accelerated by the more liberal branch of the denomination. Several churches in various regions around the US recently voted to leave the UMC. Churches in South Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have voted to leave the national Methodist Church organization. The UMC North Georgia Conference has even filed a lawsuit against the national organization in order to continue the separation process and keep their properties. This separation plan had recently been put on hold by the national organization. The split within the United Methodist Church is also being blamed on the change in policy by the national organization embracing LGBT parishioners, and pro-LGBT ministers presiding over various churches. Since 2019 over 2-thousand churches have left the national Methodist Church organization.
Liberal law organization sues over ban of Satan after school club
The ACLU has announced a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania school district over the ban of a satanic after school club. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Saucon Valley School District after it banned the After School Satan Club. The ACLU of Pennsylvania claims the ban is a violation of its policy. This policy requires allowing outside groups’ to use school facilities. The legal organization further adds the ban is a violation of the Satanic Temple’s First Amendment rights to Free Speech. The legal director of the ACLU, Sara Rose claims this will set a dangerous precedent for refusing to protect controversial opinions from censorship. The Satanic Temple has attempted to create several after school groups around the US. Most of the groups have ended due to objections from conservative, parent, and Christian organizations. A representative for the Satanic Temple claims the after-school club is an alternative to other religious after school groups and will promote free speech and religious liberty among children.
IDF Launches attacks in defense of Israel
Israel defense forces launches a counterattack against forces this week. The airstrike was in retaliation of recent attacks by Hamas into Israeli territory. The IDF said in a statement they targeted a facility used to make weapons for the terrorist organization. This attack launched after several rockets were fired into Israel by Hamas; no one was reported injured in those attacks. The IDF later reported a raid on a mosque following an incident with teens who sympathized with Hamas. The attacks by the youth resulted in the raid of a mosque to arrest the suspects. The raid resulted in 350 arrests following protests by men at the mosque. Most of those arrested were at the mosque observing the Islamic holiday Ramadan. This has been a particularly tumultuous time in Israel. In addition to attacks by terrorists, the Israeli government has seen weeks of violent and disruptive protests. The protests by citizens and liberal organizations are due to efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reform the nation’s judicial system.
SNBC Health Report: researchers are recommending a daily dose of walnuts due to a new study
Walnuts are already known for their heart health benefits. Researchers at Texas Tech University studied walnuts to see if their consumption had a direct effect on other areas of the body. Researchers found consuming walnuts directly affected the microbes in the gut promoting more healthy bacteria. The study followed participants that ate one cup of walnuts per day compared to subjects that did not consume walnuts. According to the National Institutes of Health, 70-80 percent of the body’s immune cells are in this particular area, and it is important to keep it healthy. In addition to heart and gut health walnuts are beneficial to brain health and rich in antioxidants.