Below are this week's Articles of Interest as compiled by Mr. Van Baker. This collection of articles is cultivated by Mr. Baker with the goal of highlighting some of the trends, upheavals, and things to watch for in our society. These articles are not necessarily the express views of the United Church of God, Mr. Baker, or me as the pastor, but they are informative of what is occurring in our nation and culture. In accordance with Christ's warning to correctly discern the times (Matthew 16:1-4), it is wise to be aware of what is going on around us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Graying of America – A waning population is a sign of decline, not flourishing. Ultimately, the choice is up to Americans— but the more our population shrinks, the harder it will be to reverse course.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/07/24/silver-age-fertility-rate-hits-new-low/

Catholics Are Becoming the New Mainline – The development of the Catholic Church as a haven for all members of the political divide is a fulfillment of what Alexis de Tocqueville said about American Catholics... the election of Pope Leo XIV this year is probably the single greatest indicator that Catholics are taking over the bipartisan, cultural function once inhabited by mainline [Protestantism].
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/07/27/catholics-are-becoming-the-new-mainline/

Churches in once Catholic-dominated Quebec get new secular roles as restaurants, gyms and theaters – Notre-Dame-du-Perpetuel-Secours, built between 1914-1920, was renovated and repurposed in 2014, becoming Theatre Paradox. The concert hall has hosted meditation, Zumba lessons, even a fetish party that organizers touted as “Montreal’s most kinky, freaky and sexy Halloween event.” In the once Catholic-dominated province of Quebec, it’s just one of many churches that have been deconsecrated and transformed into everything from gyms, restaurants and museums to luxury apartments, auction houses and a university reading room. For most of Quebec’s history, the Catholic Church was the most powerful force in the French-speaking province, with a firm grip over schools, health care and politics. But its influence faded during the so-called Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, when the provincial government took control as part of a campaign to reduce the church’s power.
https://apnews.com/article/montreal-quebec-canada-repurposed-catholic-churches-bdabf0e40fc34401f3184777352b0996

This State Told Christian Bookstore Owners to Violate Their Beliefs or Be Shut Down – A Christian bookstore in Colorado Springs is suing the state over a law barring businesses from failing to use preferred pronouns. Born Again Used Books, with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), filed a federal lawsuit against state officials challenging the enforcement of Colorado’s updated Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), which was recently amended to include protections for “gender expression.”
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2025/07/24/christian-bookstore-sues-state-for-forcing-it-to-adhere-to-gender-ideology-n2660848

U.S. Seminaries Offering Theological Training to Young Professionals in Many Fields – In recent years, many U.S. seminaries have faced existential threats fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and a changing religious landscape. As organized religion continues to see less participation from Generation Z (those born in the late 1990s to mid 2010s), some seminaries are downsizing, combining and embracing online and hybrid models. They are also offering different certificate programs or degrees tailored for non-clergy students. Some seminaries target retired or second-career students, while others are designing programs to help young adults live out their spirituality beyond seminary walls.
https://www.thebanner.org/news/2025/05/us-seminaries-offering-theological-training-to-young-professionals-in-many-fields

"Perilous path" - Ireland is automatically putting adults on the organ donor list – A new Irish law, which is referred to as a ‘soft opt-out organ donation system,’ includes every citizen over the age of 18 on the organ donor list without their permission.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/ireland-is-automatically-putting-adults-on-the-organ-donor-list-perilous-path/

Vitamin D During Pregnancy Linked to Cognitive Boost in Children – Children whose mothers had higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention and problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12 compared with those whose mothers had lower levels. That is a key finding of a new peer-reviewed study that [the author's] colleagues and I published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
https://www.sciencealert.com/vitamin-d-during-pregnancy-linked-to-cognitive-boost-in-children