In this heartfelt and painful segment, The Non-Prophets discuss a mother’s public reckoning with sending her son to conversion therapy. Connie Hoying, mother of Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, recounts the regret and harm caused by trying to "pray the gay away" in her new memoir. The panel dives into the psychological damage of so-called “ex-gay therapy,” its religious justifications, and why it must be seen—and banned—as a form of torture. LGBTQ Nation originally published this personal story of reflection, harm, and hope.

News Source

LGBTQ Nation, “I Regretted Sending My Son to Conversion Therapy” by Connie Hoying, May 5, 2025 https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/05/i-regretted-sending-my-son-to-conversion-therapy

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.20.2 featuring Helen Greene, Stephen Harder, The Ejector Seat and Cindy Plaza

She Sent Her Son to Conversion Therapy… Then Regretted It 😢 Mother of Pentatonix Singer Reveals Painful Regret 💔 The Trauma of "Praying the Gay Away" Must End 🛑 Conversion Therapy Is Still Happening—Here’s the Harm 🧠 He Survived Conversion Therapy—But Many Don’t 😢 Why This Mom Wrote a Book About Sending Her Son to Ex-Gay Therapy 📖 Conversion Therapy: A Religious Practice or Psychological Torture? ⚠️ Still Legal in the U.S.—Why Haven’t We Banned This Yet? 🚫 They Thought They Could “Fix” Him—They Were Wrong 🧍‍♂️➡️🧍‍♂️ Conversion Therapy Is Abuse. Period. 🧨 Religion vs. Reality: The Battle Over LGBTQ Acceptance 🌈 The Danger of “Ex-Gay” Ministries Exposed 🚷 From Conversion Therapy to Acceptance—One Family’s Story 💡 Conversion Therapy Didn’t Change Him. It Nearly Broke Him 💔 Scott Hoying’s Story Highlights Why We Must Ban Conversion Therapy Now ✋ 

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In a disturbing yet unsurprising twist, the U.S. Justice Department—under the Trump administration—backed the Catholic Church’s stance against mandatory reporting laws that would require clergy to report child abuse confessed during confessional.

The Non-Prophets panel unpacks the civil rights investigation launched against the law, discusses the implications for victims and justice, and contrasts global approaches to church accountability. How long can the confessional loophole shield abusers from consequences?

News Source

The Friendly Atheist, “Trump Justice Dept. Sides with Catholic Church in Fight Against Reporting Law” https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/trump-justice-dept-sides-with-catholic

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.20.1 featuring Helen Greene, Stephen Harder, The Ejector Seat and Cindy Plaza

DOJ Defends Church’s Right to Hide Abuse 🚨 Trump DOJ Backs Catholic Church Against Child Protection Law 🛑 Should Confession Be a Shield for Abusers? 🤐 The Confessional Loophole: A Predator’s Safe Haven? 🕳️ Justice Dept. Sides with Church Over Children 🙄 Why Is the DOJ Protecting Abusers in the Confessional? ⚖️ Confession or Cover-Up? DOJ Sparks Outrage 😡 Is Religious Privilege Undermining Justice? 🧎 Catholic Church Gets Federal Support to Silence Victims 😤 This Legal Loophole Is Protecting Predators 👿 Catholic Church Claims Confession More Important Than Children 🚫👶 Global Abuse, Local Silence: How the Church Stays Untouchable 🌍 Why Victims Still Can’t Get Justice from the Church ⛪💔 DOJ vs. Child Safety: What’s Really Being Protected? 🧒🔒 This Law Lets Abusers Off the Hook—And the Church Supports It 🤯

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Southern Baptist Convention membership has dropped to its lowest level in over 50 years, falling from nearly 13.7 million in 2021 to just over 12.7 million in 2025. While leaders tout rising baptism numbers, critics say this masks the real issue—declining relevance and aging congregations.

The Non-Prophets dive into what this means for American Christianity, global religious trends, and why the church’s cultural power may not be fading as fast as its pews.

News Source The Friendly Atheist, by Hemant Mehta, May 1, 2025

https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/southern-baptist-membership-hits

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.19.4 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Eli Slack, Jason Friedman, and Jonathan Roudabush

Southern Baptist Membership Plummets to 50-Year Low 📉
Why the SBC Is Losing Hundreds of Thousands of Members 🚪
Are Baptisms Hiding a Bigger Problem in the Southern Baptist Church? 💦
Church Shrinkage: What the SBC Decline Really Means ⛪
From Pandemic to Exodus: The SBC’s Ongoing Membership Crisis 🦠
Is the Church Dying—or Just Moving Online? 💻
Southern Baptists in Denial While Their Numbers Fall 🕳️
Faith in Decline: What’s Causing the Southern Baptist Drop? 🙏
The SBC Is Shrinking—But Is Religion Actually Growing? 🌍
Is the Southern Baptist Church Becoming a Relic of the Past? 🏛️
Can the SBC Survive the Modern Age? 🔄
What’s Fueling the Exodus from Southern Baptist Churches? 🚶
SBC Numbers Down, Baptisms Up—Does It Mean Anything? 🤔
How Cults of Personality Are Replacing Denominations 😮
Decline of Denominations: Is Christianity Going Rogue? 🧨

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A Milwaukee judge is facing federal charges after allegedly helping a man avoid ICE agents by allowing him to exit through a jury door—agents who only had a non-judicial warrant. Judge Hannah Dugan’s defenders argue she was upholding constitutional protections, not obstructing justice. Is this a principled stand for civil rights, or a threat to law enforcement authority?

The Non-Prophets examine what’s legal, what’s moral, and what it means for judicial independence in an increasingly polarized system.

News Source Reuters, by Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, April 25, 2025

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-director-says-arrested-judge-obstructing-immigration-operation-2025-04-25/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.19.3 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Eli Slack, Jason Friedman,and Jonathan Roudabush

Judge Arrested for Blocking ICE Agents: Justice or Overreach? ⚖️
Can a Judge Be Charged for Defending the Constitution? 🇺🇸
Federal Agents Arrest Judge—But Who’s Actually Breaking the Law? 🚨
Wisconsin Judge Faces Charges After Halting ICE Operation ❄️
When Following the Law Becomes a Crime 👩‍⚖️
Feds Target Judge for Upholding Civil Rights—Sound Familiar? 🧾
A Milwaukee Judge Takes a Stand. Was It Illegal? 🛑
ICE Used a Non-Judicial Warrant—Judge Said No. Now She's Charged 🚫
Arrested for Justice? Judge Dugan’s Constitutional Showdown 🧑‍⚖️
Did This Judge Obstruct Justice—or Preserve It? 🕊️
The Fight Over Fake Warrants and Real Rights ⚔️
Judge Faces Prison for Doing Her Job—What’s Going On? 🧩
ICE, Internment, and the Return of Unchecked Power 🔁
Who Gets to Decide What’s Legal? One Judge's Bold Stand 📜
The Justice Department’s War on Judges Starts Now ⚔️

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A Georgia elementary school sparked national outrage after posting “Whites Only” and “Blacks Only” signs over water fountains during a lesson on desegregation. The teacher claimed it was part of a history lesson on Ruby Bridges, but the move left students confused and targeted, and parents furious. Was this an ill-conceived attempt at immersive education—or a reckless display that retraumatized and divided?

The Non-Prophets break down the controversy, ethics, and long-term impact.

News Source The Independent via Yahoo News, by Katie Hawkinson, April 24, 2025

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/honey-creek-elementary-signs-georgia-b2739151.html

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.19.2 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Eli Slack, Jason Friedman, and Jonathan Roudabush

Segregation Signs Posted at Georgia School Spark Outrage 🛑
"Whites Only" Signs in 2025? Yes, This Really Happened 📛
Teacher’s Desegregation Lesson Goes Horribly Wrong in Georgia ❌
History or Harm? Georgia School’s Segregation Signs Stir Backlash ⚠️
Georgia Teacher Under Fire for "Whites Only" Water Fountain Signs 💦
When History Lessons Hurt: Segregation Reenacted in a Classroom 🧠
Parents Furious After Racist Classroom Exercise in Georgia 🔥
Honey Creek Elementary Under Fire for Shocking Signs 🚸
Teaching Gone Too Far? Segregation Signs Shock Community 😨
Signs of the Past—Or a Present-Day Problem? Georgia School Controversy 🧾
NAACP Responds After Elementary School Sparks Racial Uproar 📣
Ruby Bridges Lesson Crosses the Line—And the Community Responds 👟
Educating or Endangering? The Trouble with “Realism” in History Class 🧑‍🏫
Georgia School’s “Segregation” Signs Raise Legal and Ethical Questions ⚖️
Backlash Erupts Over Segregation Display in Grade School History Class 📚

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Calvary Chapel San Jose has finally been held accountable after defying COVID restrictions, spreading misinformation, and racking up millions in fines. A California appellate court upheld a $1.2 million penalty against the church, rejecting claims of religious discrimination.

The panel dives into what this ruling means for religious privilege, public safety, and the growing tension between faith and law. Is this a sign that courts are beginning to take church accountability seriously?

News Source The Friendly Atheist by Hemant Mehta, April 25, 2025

https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ca-court-upholds-12-million-fine

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.19.1 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Eli Slack, Jason Friedman. and Jonathan Roudabush

Court Smacks Down Defiant Church Over COVID Fines 💸
Calvary Chapel Loses Appeal—$1.2M Fine Upheld ⚖️
Pastor’s Pandemic Lies Cost Church Over a Million Dollars 😷
No, Pastor—Religious Freedom Isn’t a Free Pass 🚫
COVID Denial Gets Expensive for This California Church 💰
When Faith Defies Public Safety, the Law Fights Back 🔨
California Court Tells Church: Pay Up or Shut Up 🧾
$1.2M Lesson: Religion Doesn’t Exempt You From Reality 🧠
Defying Health Orders? There’s a Price for That 💣
From Pulpit to Penalty—Calvary Chapel’s Costly Crusade 🏛️
Preaching Misinformation Has Legal Consequences 📉
The Court vs. COVID Lies: Church Loses Big 🏴‍☠️
Religious Liberties Don’t Override Public Health 📑
Church Pandemic Protest Ends in Million-Dollar Judgment 💥
When Faith Becomes a Grift, Fines Follow 👏

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When Atlanta megachurch pastor Phillip Mitchell told his congregation to stop blaming white cops and start teaching “obedience to authority,” backlash erupted—including from his own members. While he apologized on Instagram, many saw it as hollow, especially when he doubled down on the same dangerous rhetoric. The panel breaks down the historical and present-day implications of respectability politics in Black churches, police violence, and what true accountability really looks like.

News Source

Atlanta Black Star by Christian Boone, April 21, 2025

https://atlantablackstar.com/2025/04/21/atlanta-megachurch-pastor-apologizes-for-telling-black-folks-to-stop-blaming-white-cops-for-the-killing-of-black-kids/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.18.3 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Stephen Harder and AJ Atlanta
 Pastor Sparks Outrage Over Police Violence Comments 🚨
“Just Obey” Isn’t Justice: Pastor Faces Backlash 🧑🏾‍⚖️
Pastor Blames Black Families, Not Cops—Apologizes Under Fire 🔥
Mitchell’s Apology Falls Flat After Victim-Blaming Sermon 📉
Black Congregants Reject Obedience Over Justice ✊🏾
Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Under Fire for Cop Defense 🕊️
When the Pulpit Becomes a Police Apologist Platform 👮‍♂️
Churches Divided on Policing and Accountability 🤔
Respectability Politics vs. Reality: Who’s to Blame? 🎤
From George Floyd to Now: Why “Obey” Rings Hollow ⚖️
Apology or Excuse? Atlanta Pastor Walks Back Remarks 🙄
History Repeats: Policing Black Lives from the Pulpit 📚
Is Obedience to Authority Biblical—or Oppressive? 📖
Why This Pastor’s Sermon Hit a Dangerous Nerve 🚫
When the Bible Is Used to Silence Protest ✋🏾

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Hundreds of U.S.-based scientists are applying to a French university program following major federal research funding cuts in the U.S. France’s new initiative promises financial support and academic freedom, prompting what some are calling a potential “brain drain.” The panel discusses the implications for American innovation, global collaboration, and the growing politicization of science funding.

News Source
NPR by Alana Wise, April 18, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/18/nx-s1-5368132/us-researchers-scientists-apply-french-university-program

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.18.2 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Stephen Harder and AJ France

Attracts U.S. Scientists After Research Cuts 🧬
America’s Best Minds Are Headed to France? 🇫🇷
Brain Drain Begins: U.S. Scientists Seek Refuge Abroad 🧠
Funding Cuts Push U.S. Scientists Across the Atlantic 🌍
Why Are U.S. Researchers Fleeing to France? 🛫
France Opens Doors as U.S. Shuts Down Science 🔬
Scientists Leave U.S. Over Politics and Funding 🚪
Will France Lead the Future of Scientific Discovery? 🧪
Can France Save Global Science from U.S. Decline? 🧭
American Innovation at Risk: Brain Drain Explained 📉
Science Exodus: Why U.S. Researchers Are Leaving 🧳
The U.S. Is Losing Scientists—Here’s Why ⚠️
French Universities Gain While U.S. Research Loses 📚
Why American Scientists Are Saying “Au Revoir” 👋
Science in Crisis: U.S. Cuts Spark Global Consequences 🔎

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With the death of Pope Francis, attention turns to his divisive legacy in the U.S. Catholic Church. While hailed globally as a reformer, Francis alienated many conservative American Catholics over his stances on climate change, immigration, and LGBTQ rights. As the Vatican sought inclusion, U.S. Catholics increasingly aligned with far-right politics, exposing the church’s internal fractures.

The panel explores what this split means for the future of Catholicism and the global religious landscape.

News Source: Reuters by Jessica DiNapoli, April 22, 2025

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-catholics-pope-francis-tenure-defined-by-growing-divisions-2025-04-22/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.18.1 featuring Cynthia McDonald, Stephen Harder and AJ The Pope Is Dead—Now What? ☠️
Pope Francis Divides U.S. Catholics One Last Time 🇻🇦
The Vatican vs. MAGA Catholics ⚔️
How Pope Francis Triggered the Catholic Right 📉
Catholic Church in Crisis After Francis 👀
From Compassion to Controversy: Pope Francis’ U.S. Legacy 🌍
The Catholic Church Fractures Along Political Lines 🧨
Why U.S. Conservatives Rejected Pope Francis 🙅‍♂️
The Next Pope May Be Even More Extreme ⛪
Pope Francis: Reformer or Enabler? 🤔
Billions Spent Hiding Abuse—Was Francis Complicit? 💰
Can the Catholic Church Ever Clean House? 🧹
What Happens When the Pope Isn’t Catholic Enough? 😬
Pope Francis Tried to Change the Church—Did He Fail? ❌
LGBTQ Catholics: Still Out in the Cold 🌈

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A Russian drone strike has damaged Chernobyl’s outer containment structure, raising alarms across Ukraine and beyond. Experts stress that while the inner sarcophagus remains intact and no radiation leak has been detected, the deliberate nature of the attack signals a troubling escalation. The panel explores the potential environmental, political, and psychological consequences of targeting one of history’s most infamous nuclear disaster sites.

News Source
Reuters by Yurii Kovalenko, April 13, 2025

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-seeking-solutions-damaged-chernobyl-confinement-vessel-minister-says-2025-04-12/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.17.4 featuring Jimmy Jr., Rob, Tracy Wilbert and The Ejector Seat

Chernobyl Attacked Again—Is the Sarcophagus Safe? ☢️
Russia Bombs Chernobyl Containment—Why? 🤯
Chernobyl Struck by Russian Drone on Valentine’s Day 💥
Deliberate Strike on Chernobyl Raises Global Alarm 🚨
Did Russia Just Threaten the World with Radiation? 🌍
Ukraine’s Chernobyl Container Damaged: What’s Next? 🏗️
Is This a Warning Shot or Nuclear Blackmail? ⚠️
How Safe Is Chernobyl After This Attack? 🧪
Chernobyl Under Fire—Should We Be Worried? 🔬
Russia Strikes Chernobyl: A Political or Psychological Move? 🎯
Targeting Chernobyl: Escalation or Intimidation? 💣
Chernobyl Containment Breached—But Not Broken 🙏
Drone Strike at Chernobyl: Symbolic or Sinister? 🕵️
Chernobyl Hit by Russia—Posturing or Provocation? 👀
Chernobyl in the Crosshairs Again: What It Means for Ukraine 💡

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