Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)] is accused of approaching homes in Mayba, in the Lumbero territory, beginning Feb. 12 and capturing as many as 100 Christians through Feb. 15, marching them to a Protestant church in Kasanga affiliated with the Evangelical Community in Central Africa 20 (CECA 20), binding and beheading them, reported advocates including Open Doors, International Christian Concern (ICC) and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). (Chandler, Baptist Press)

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One thing most do agree on, regardless of party affiliation, is in-vitro fertilization — more commonly known as IVF — 70% of Americans told Pew Research they believe access to IVF is a good thing, while only 8% said it was bad, according to a 2024 survey. That’s likely one reason why Donald Trump recently issued an executive order Tuesday (Feb. 18), promising to reduce the cost of IVF. (Smietana, Religion News Service)

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Churches and other religious organizations can opt out of the federal system, which requires retirement plans and their sponsors to fund pensions well in advance and to set aside retirement savings in dedicated accounts. That has left hundreds of thousands of workers vulnerable.(Francis, The Wall Street Journal)

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Some 3.4% of K-12 students in the United States were homeschooled during the 2022-23 academic year, according to recently released data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That was roughly on par with the 2.8% of students who were homeschooled during the 2018-19 academic year, before the coronavirus pandemic. (Pula, Pew Research Center)

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West Virginia senators voted to dismantle one of the nation’s strictest school vaccination policies Friday by greenlighting an exemption for families who say mandated inoculations conflict with their religious or philosophical beliefs. If approved by the House, the bill is expected to be signed into law by Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who has made allowing religious exemptions to vaccines a priority of his administration. (Willingham, AP News)

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Just 2.5% of the faculty members in the nation's 5,905 Catholic elementary and high schools are religious or clergy members, according to a 2024 report by the National Catholic Educational Association. Nuns make up just 1.5% of Catholic schools' faculty. More than 92% of Catholic school teachers are lay teachers (not nuns, priests, brothers or other clergy). (Trethan, USA Today)

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