KFUO Radio News Break: Recent Episodes
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Find web only specials, breaking news, updates from program hosts and LCMS Synod leaders, and everything else you need to stay informed.
In today's News:
New nursing satellite campus opens
At a time when the demand for nurses in central Texas is surging, Concordia University, Austin, Texas, has welcomed 288 new students so far this year to its traditional and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. But they didn’t report to main campus as usual. In August 2020, under many COVID-19 constraints, the university opened the doors to its Austin Nursing Satellite Campus. The new, interactive learning environment spans 17,000 square feet, complete with a cutting-edge simulation lab, a 10-bed clinical skills lab and simulation debriefing rooms. The building also houses a student lounge and administrative and faculty offices. Rooted in the university’s Christian values, the nursing program features an accredited and rigorous curriculum delivered utilizing an interactive e-learning platform, along with hands-on skills training and clinical rotations at the area’s top hospitals.
Pro-life demonstrators are sued
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Republican activists Bevelyn Beatty and Edmee Chavannes for protesting at Planned Parenthood. The federal lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction prohibiting the women from going near the abortion provider’s building. The lawsuit says that the women, who gained viral recognition for repeatedly painting over Black Lives Matter street murals in New York, have been protesting at the clinic nearly every week since 2019. James claims that the women would get close to patients and staff without masks and harass them as they entered the building.
New Mexico considers abortion up to birth
Two extreme abortion bills are heading to the New Mexico House and Senate this week. The bills would allow abortion up to birth in the state. The bills would repeal sections of New Mexico’s 1969 abortions statute. In doing so, they would allow abortion on demand throughout pregnancy and would also end conscience protections that allow medical personnel to opt-out of abortion based on moral or religious grounds. The bills would also remove requirements that parents be aware of a minor daughter’s abortion. According to New Mexico Alliance for Life, the bills will repeal all abortion restrictions put in place by the state’s 1969 criminal abortion statute and would fail to replace the statute with any laws that protect women, their babies or pro-life health care workers. The bills will actively codify abortion up to birth in New Mexico state law, force medical professionals to commit or assist in abortions and force New Mexico taxpayers to continue funding abortions on healthy babies and women throughout pregnancy.
Supreme Court asked to rule on tuition assistance
A group of parents in Maine seeking state tuition assistance to put their children in a religious private school have asked the United States Supreme Court to rule on their behalf. At issue is a state provision that only allows for tuition assistance if a private school is "nonsectarian in accordance with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution." The First Liberty Institute, the Institute for Justice, and others filed the appeal on behalf of the families to the Supreme Court on Friday in the case of Carson v. Makin.
In today's News:
Bull selected to head Concordia Nebraska
In August, Dr. Bernard D. Bull will become the 11th president of Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb. (CUNE). Bull, who currently serves as president of Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont, will succeed the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, who accepted a call last year to serve as president of Concordia University, St. Paul, St. Paul, Minn. Stuart Bartruff, chair of the CUNE Board of Regents, said that Bull is “known nationally for his innovative insights regarding Christian education at all levels” and that he had the unanimous support of the board. The Rev. Russ Sommerfeld, currently serving as interim CUNE president, will continue in that role until Bull’s arrival.
Court hears argument concerning ministerial exception
The Archdiocese of Chicago will be in court this week for oral argument before the entire Seventh Circuit to defend its right to select and supervise its own ministers of the faith. In Demkovich v. St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, the former music director of St. Andrew parish is suing the Archdiocese of Chicago for requiring its liturgical leaders to follow the tenets of the Catholic faith. As the church music director, Sandor Demkovich played a central role in conveying the Catholic faith to the congregation. When Demkovich entered into a same-sex marriage in violation of his employment agreement and 2,000-year-old Church teachings, the pastor let him go. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru reaffirmed that religious groups have the right to choose who teaches the faith. Today, the Archdiocese, represented by Becket Law, will argue before the entire court that religious organizations must be free to select, supervise, and communicate with their own ministers of the faith without government interference.
Baby is found in a garbage bag
An Illinois woman is facing both first degree attempted murder and child abandonment charges for the attempted killing of her newborn child, who was found tied up in a trash bag inside a nursing home restroom. Forty-year-old Verna Tolentino. was an employee at Glenview Terrace Nursing Home in Glenview, Illinois, at the time of the incident. According to an NBC News affiliate, Tolentino locked herself into a bathroom and called 911 during her shift on Jan. 11th, reporting “abdominal pain.” More than two hours later, janitorial staff cleaning up that restroom were shocked to find a baby boy in a tied-up garbage bag. The baby was taken to a local hospital where he was stabilized. Tolentino was subsequently transferred to the Labor and Delivery unit of the hospital where she was admitted in order to receive postpartum care. The Cook County State’s Attorney Felony Review Unit approved the attempted murder and child abandonment charges in early February after reviewing the case.
‘Abortion Center to the Stars’ closes
A late-term abortion facility in Beverly Hills, California, which was known as the “Abortion Clinic to the Stars,” has closed and its office has been vacated. According to a business record obtained by Operation Rescue, the Sinai Women’s Center, which also went by the name Pro-Choice Medical Center, had its last day of business on Dec. 31, 2020. The office was vacated over the weekend of January 30-31, 2021, according to a City official. The abortion business, which was owned and operated by abortionist Josepha Seletz, was one of eight abortion facilities to openly conduct risky, multi-day abortions into the third trimester of pregnancy.
In today's News:
Egger extended call for President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis has extended a call to Dr. Thomas J. Egger, the Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology and chairman of the Department of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, to serve as the 11th president in the school’s 182-year history. The call was extended after a unanimous vote on the first ballot by the electors and following interviews with the final slate of two candidates. Egger was originally nominated for the presidency by all three sources that Synod Bylaws allow to submit nominations: the faculty of Concordia Seminary, the Board of Regents of Concordia Seminary and numerous LCMS congregations.
Republicans move to save women’s sports
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah last week led 13 of his colleagues in introducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation that would protect athletic opportunities for female athletes. Specifically, the bill would ensure that Title IX provisions relating to athletics treat sex as that which is "recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." Further, if any recipient of federal funding who operates, sponsors or facilitates athletic programs or activities permits a male to participate in a women's sporting event, they would be found to be violation of the statutory regulations outlined in Title IX.
Supreme Court reopens California houses of worship
The Supreme Court issued an injunction stopping California’s extreme COVID-19 ban on indoor worship in churches, synagogues and other houses of worship. The Court ruled in two cases, South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom and Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom. Both churches sued California Gov. Gavin Newsom, challenging the state’s total ban on indoor worship services — the most extreme in the nation — that targeted churches for closure while allowing non-essential retail stores such as Macy’s to open to hundreds of customers, as well as hair salons, nail salons and Hollywood soundstages. The Justices wrote several opinions in addition to the Court’s order.
Senate Democrats block ‘Born Alive’ legislation
With a vote of 52-48, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act failed as an amendment to the 2021 Budget Resolution in the Senate. All Senate Republicans, along with Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania, voted in favor of the amendment. Forty-eight Senate Democrats blocked the amendment, which required 60 votes to pass. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires that, when a baby is born alive following an abortion, health care practitioners must exercise the same degree of professional skill and care that would be offered to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. It also requires that, following appropriate care, health care workers must transport the child immediately to a hospital.
In today's News:
Texas Planned Parenthood wins an extension
On Wednesday, a Texas judge blocked the state from removing Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood, after it filed a last-minute lawsuit against the state. The new rule was set to go into effect on Feb. 4 after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state could defund the abortion corporation. Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit alleges that the state did not give Medicaid patients who use Planned Parenthood adequate time to find a new provider. Patients had been given 30 days to find a new health care provider as opposed to the six months Planned Parenthood requested. Now that the grace period has ended, Travis County Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that patients should be given more time, set a hearing for Feb. 17 and placed a temporary restraining order on the rule.
Kansas voters to decide on abortion
Lawmakers in Kansas last week overwhelmingly passed a ballot proposal that if approved by state voters would amend the state constitution to clarify that there is no right to an abortion. Senators in the Sunflower State voted 28 to 11 last Thursday to support Concurrent Resolution 5003, which places the amendment on the Aug. 2, 2022, state ballot, where a simple majority would be needed to change the state’s constitution. The language of the amendment states that “The constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion.” The measure, known as the “Value Them Both Amendment,” was passed in the Kansas House by a vote of 86 to 38 on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a pro-abortion Democrat, denounced the proposed amendment and claimed that it would harm the economy and send the state back “to the Dark Ages.”
School grants a student a religious exemption
A public high school in Illinois has approved a student’s request for a religious exemption from a required sexuality program after a national legal group voiced concern that the student faced the threat of possible discipline for her refusal to take part in the program. The First Liberty Institute announced yesterday that senior Marcail McBride's parents are satisfied with the offer from administrators at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora for their daughter to complete an alternate assignment instead of participating in the school’s Student Gender and Sexuality Program. In a statement, the legal group said that the academy “reversed its position and approved senior Marcail McBride’s request for a religious accommodation.”
Christian movie studio changes its name
The faith-based studio Pure Flix Entertainment has changed its corporate name to Pinnacle Peak Pictures as it begins production on “God's Not Dead: We the People.” Pure Flix Entertainment is the studio behind the “God's Not Dead” franchise. It's rebranding to Pinnacle Peak Pictures follows AFFIRM Entertainment acquiring the Pure Flix subscription VOD service last year. Pure Flix’s subscription video on demand will keep its name, but because of Sony’s AFFIRM deal, Pure Flix Entertainment became a separate company. Pinnacle Peak Pictures, which has offices in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, will continue to operate as a leading independent faith and family studio. Along with the “God’s Not Dead” franchise, the indy studio's most popular film releases include “The Case for Christ” and “Do You Believe?” Pinnacle Peak Pictures has also produced, acquired, marketed and distributed more than 100 faith and family-friendly films.
In today's News:
Virtual life conference is scheduled
LCMS Life Ministry will host its first-ever virtual life conference March 19–20. The conference will include both live sessions and on-demand videos, as well as the opportunity to engage with speakers through question-and-answer sessions. The theme of the 2021 conference is “Making Disciples: Valuing Life.” Conference sessions will explore the Lutheran understanding of the sanctity of human life. Scheduled speakers include the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president; Timothy Goeglein, vice-president of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family; and Deaconess Tiffany Manor, LCMS Life Ministry executive director. A Spanish-language track will also be available. To register for the conference, visit lcms-life.org.
Education nominee supports transgender sports
President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Department of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, said he will work to protect a new executive order that mandates biological males be allowed to compete against biological females. Specifically, he will work to make sure the practice is allowed in high schools, where female athletes are often stripped of scholarship opportunities and athletic titles after being forced to compete against biological men. This policy has been a major focus in Connecticut where several female athletes are suing.
Female athletes want to preserve women’s sports
High-profile female athletes and women’s sports advocates are hoping to enact federal legislation that would protect women and girls’ competitive sports by limiting the impact of Biden’s executive order mandating the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. Biden’s sweeping executive order, dubbed the Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation Act, provides across the board transgender rights. The group is planning to propose federal legislation to codify protections for girl and women athletes from competing against biological men in sports while creating a way for transgender competition.
‘Hurt After Abortion’ campaign starts
A prominent pro-life activist has started a new project designed to help women who want to take legal action after experiencing complications from an abortion. Hurt After Abortion, launched last month, is the latest project of Pro-Love Ministries, which was founded by pro-life activist and former Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year, Abby Johnson. The project is a partnership with the Thomas More Society, a notable Catholic law firm.
Spiritual confidentiality continues in North Dakota
A bill in North Dakota that would have criminalized priests unwilling to report on what they heard during confession and violate the seal of confession under certain circumstances has been withdrawn. SB2180 sought to amend a state law regarding mandatory reporting of abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults. On January 29, Republican state Sen. Jerry Klein moved that the bill be withdrawn. His motion prevailed. The bill’s intent was to force members of the clergy to report what they heard about abuse or neglect as spiritual advisors. Two passages exempting clergy from mandatory reporting would have been eliminated from the North Dakota Century Code.
In today's News:
Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod called home
The Rev. John Arthur Moldstad, Jr., president of the evangelical Lutheran Synod, died in Madison Lake, Minnesota, on Jan. 29. He was 66. For almost 10 years, LCMS president Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison has met informally once a year with Moldstad and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod President Rev. Mark Schroeder. A funeral is set for Saturday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, North Mankato, Minnesota, with committal immediately following at Norseland Lutheran Cemetery in St. Peter, Minnesota. Visitation will be held at Peace on Friday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Democrats urge elimination of religious protection
President Joe Biden is facing pressure from fellow Democrats to eliminate a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created under the Trump administration in 2018. The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights was established to ensure the federal enforcement of laws that exist to protect the fundamental rights of conscience and religious freedom. Both the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Secular Democrats of America are calling on Biden to end the division. Sixty female Democrat lawmakers penned a letter to Biden in December encouraging him to “use executive powers to immediately begin reversing the harm wrought by the outgoing administration…” on the list of their demands is the elimination of the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division of HHS, claiming that it “has been weaponized to justify discrimination.”
First Liberty seeks conscience exemption
Yesterday, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) demanding that it immediately approve senior Marcail McBride’s request for a religious accommodation exempting her from the school’s student gender and sexuality program. IMSA requires students to complete the student gender and sexuality program before graduation. Students must agree to both “stay engaged” and “experience discomfort” while participating in the program, which uses sexual language to identify sexual preferences and gender identity. In November, Marcail’s parents notified IMSA leadership that Marcail could not participate in the program because it forces Marcail to violate her religious beliefs. The IMSA leadership repeatedly denied the McBride’s request and threatened to punish Marcail if she does not participate in the program.
Court okays a Nativity Scene
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a Nativity Scene displayed annually at the Jackson County Courthouse in Indiana. Liberty Counsel represents Jackson County. The Seventh Circuit ruled that the Nativity Scene is Constitutional under the Supreme Court’s recent decision in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, which upheld the Peace Cross in Maryland. The Seventh Circuit wrote, “applying American Legion, we conclude that the county’s Nativity Scene is Constitutional because it fits within a long national tradition of using the Nativity Scene in broader holiday displays to celebrate the origins of Christmas — a public holiday.
In today's News:
Concordia Irvine raises $100 million
Concordia University, Irvine yesterday announced the successful completion of its comprehensive campaign exceeding $100 million and surpassing its original goal of $85 million, making it the largest campaign in the University’s history. Launched in 2013, Forward in Faith — The Campaign for Concordia focused on new facilities, scholarships, academic programs and the University’s endowment. More than 10,000 donors — made up of alumni, parents, churches and community members — contributed to the record-breaking campaign that exceeded $100 million through private donations.
Pro-life Lutherans rally at Seminary
On a cold and windy Saturday afternoon in mid-January, Lutherans and other pro-life allies gathered in their cars on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., to show support for the sanctity of human life. The Jan. 16 event, sponsored by LCMS Life Ministry, was one stop on the March for Life Chicago’s “Moving the Movement Tour,” which connected participants across five Midwestern states in a series of pro-life car rallies and caravans. Following the rally, the cars — led by the March for Life Chicago van and decorated with signs and flags — caravanned through Fort Wayne ending at the Allen County Courthouse. The Fort Wayne “Moving the Movement” event was hosted by LCMS Life Ministry and organized with the help of Right to Life of Northeast Indiana, formerly Allen County Right to Life, in addition to the March for Life Chicago. The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president, spoke at the beginning of the rally, which was broadcast locally over the radio and worldwide online. Participants tuned in from their cars and honked their horns where, previously, they would have cheered and clapped.
Ohio abortion center injures woman
According to pro-life watchdog group Operation Rescue, an ambulance was called to the Women’s Med Dayton abortion business on Jan. 13 for a woman who was suffering from heavy bleeding following an abortion. The abortion center has a history of injuring women. The 24-year-old woman reportedly required “urgent” transportation to the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, for medical assistance that the abortionist was not able to provide. Abortionist Jeanne Corwin was present at the facility at the time of the botched abortion. The facility is owned by Martin Haskell, who is known for creating the now federally outlawed partial-birth abortion procedure.
Army chaplain investigated for stand on transgenders
A U.S. Army chaplain based in Texas faces an investigation after he made a social media post suggesting that transgender individuals are “mentally unfit” to serve in the military. In a Jan. 26 tweet, the Army’s Security Force Assistance Command announced that “the recent comments posted to the Army Times Facebook page by Maj. Andrew Calvert regarding President Joe Biden's policy on transgender service members are “under investigation.” A Twitter user flagged Calvert's posts and argued that Calvert "cannot be trusted to support soldiers for another minute." In his post, Calvert argued that there is "little difference" between those who believe in transgenderism and "those who believe and argue for a ‘flat earth' despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary."
In today's News:
March for Life last Friday
Last Friday, 50 pro-life leaders marched through Washington, D.C., and concluded their protest at the back of the U.S. Supreme Court. The march was held to remember the more than 60-million children who have been killed by abortion since the 1973 Roe. v. Wade decision, and to demonstrate that pro-life Americans are not going away despite the pro-abortion policies of the Biden administration. Because of COVID, the annual March for Life rally that usually draws tens of thousands of supporters took place virtually this year.
Senate bills to cut off Planned Parenthood
Two new bills before the U.S. Senate would stop taxpayer dollars from funding the billion-dollar abortion industry. On Friday, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act to prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from giving Title X grants to groups like Planned Parenthood that promote and/or provide abortions, Fox 17 WZTV reports. Planned Parenthood receives more than a half-billion taxpayer dollars annually, mostly through Medicaid reimbursements and Title X grants. Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order that defunded Planned Parenthood from Title X, but President Joe Biden reversed it Thursday. Planned Parenthood does about 40 percent of all abortions in the U.S., or about 345,000 a year, according to its annual reports.
Iowa lawmakers to amend state constitution
Lawmakers in Iowa last week passed a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution which would exclude a “right to abortion” or to public funding for abortion. House Joint Resolution 5 would amend the Iowa state constitution to clarify that it “does not recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion.” The amendment is particularly prescient for Iowa, as the state’s Supreme Court found a “right to abortion” in the state’s constitution in 2018. The Iowa Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a 72-hour waiting period for abortion on the grounds that “a woman’s right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution.” The proposed amendment would nullify the court’s finding.
ILC postpones its annual World Conference
The Board of the Directors for the International Lutheran Council (ILC) met online on Jan. 18 for regularly scheduled meetings. During this time, the board decided to postpone the upcoming ILC World Conference, which had been tentatively scheduled for September 2021, until 2022. The decision comes in response to current challenges in the world related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The board considered the possibility of holding the conference online but recognized disparities in internet access across the world could limit the ability of some members to participate in the conference fully. The board continues to discuss what impact the delay may mean for other planned events, including the ILC’s 2022 World Seminaries Conference.
In today's News:
Concordia NY campus will close
On Jan. 28, Concordia College New York, Bronxville, N.Y., and Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y., issued a joint news release detailing the closure of Concordia, Bronxville, in the fall of 2021. The release “announced the institutions are proceeding with a formal agreement for Iona College to acquire Concordia’s Bronxville campus and provide continued education for Concordia’s students through a teach-out plan, enabling most students to continue their degrees to completion at Iona. Concordia College New York classes will cease beginning with the fall 2021 semester and the college will close.” Concordia, Bronxville, though a separate legal entity governed by the Board of Regents, is part of the Concordia University System and, as such, has been an important part of the mission and ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The impact of the Concordia, Bronxville, closure will be felt by the entire LCMS community. LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison said, “Today our hearts are heavy at the news of the coming closure of Concordia College New York. For 140 years, its graduates have served — and are serving the church and the world — in God-pleasing vocations around the globe.
Virginia adoption agencies under threat
A bill introduced in the Virginia House would repeal a provision that allows certain state adoption agencies to refuse to place children with homosexual couples because of the agencies’ religious or moral convictions. The bill was introduced by House Del. Mark H. Levine and several other Assembly members on Jan. 13. According to the pro-LGBTQ Movement Advancement Project, Virginia is one of 11 states that allows adoption agencies to deny the placement of children with families or same-sex couples that conflict with their religious beliefs. It is legal for single LGBT persons and gay couples to adopt in Virginia, and numerous adoptions agencies provide the service.
Facebook suspends Christian professor
A Christian university professor has been suspended from Facebook for voicing disagreement with President Joe Biden’s executive order allowing gender confused individuals to serve in the U.S. military. Robert Gagnon, who teaches New Testament theology at Houston Baptist University and is a renowned scholar on the subject of sexuality, was locked out of his Facebook account for 24 hours on Tuesday after he posted a comment in defense of a friend who posted a satirical commentary about Biden's executive order. Facebook suspended Gagnon's account for what it deemed as “incitement” to violence. In his post, Gagnon said the executive order will endanger women and noted that those who promote transgenderism are allowing males to invade women’s athletics and shelters. He also likened transgender ideology to a “religious cult” and said it “is indeed a pseudo-science,” in that it forces people to reject basic biology. That Facebook suspended his friend for similar comments proves the cult-like dimension, he said.
In today's News:
Concordia Texas expands residence halls
Concordia University Texas will open the doors on a third residence hall in August 2022, one that puts the emphasis on collaborative learning, technology and student community. Every floor will feature study lounges and collaborative learning spaces equipped with technology. Large, open common areas will also provide students with a place to connect with others and build meaningful relationships. Nearly doubling the university’s housing capacity and eliminating the annual waiting list, the new residence hall’s location and design were developed in accordance with environmental guidelines that protect the adjacent nature preserve. An outdoor amphitheater will provide a space for university events and gatherings as well as study, relaxation, and socializing.
Hundreds of cars in Chicago’s Life Car Rally
Nearly 600 carloads of pro-life advocates participated in March for Life Chicago’s first-ever car rally through the streets of downtown Chicago on Jan. 23. The procession started at St. John Cantius Church on the city’s Northside. Cars were decorated with pro-life signs. About 1 p.m., drivers began to make their way through downtown on a route that brought them past key city, state and federal buildings. Small pro-life groups along the route cheered as the cars bedecked with pro-life signs drove by. The procession ended at Southside Pregnancy Center where participants had the opportunity to support babies and their parents by donating diapers to local pregnancy resource centers.
Republicans pledge to support Hyde Amendment
This week, 200 Republicans in Congress pledged to stand in support of the Hyde Amendment — which prevents federal taxpayer funding of abortion through government programs such as Medicaid — as President Joe Biden works with abortion supporters in Congress to end the nearly five-decade-long rider. Rep. Jim Banks sent a letter Tuesday to congressional leaders that pledged to oppose any legislation that would either eliminate or weaken the Hyde Amendment. That letter describes the push to end the Hyde Amendment as “pro-abortion crusade.” The Hyde Amendment preventing taxpayer funding of abortion has long had bipartisan support, with every president since 1976 signing the appropriations bill with the inclusion of the Hyde Amendment. Up until June 2019, Biden also supported the Hyde Amendment.
LGBT flags to fly over us embassies
The newly confirmed U.S. secretary of state has vowed to support the LGBT agenda by flying pride flags at United States embassies and resurrecting the "special envoy for the human rights of LGBTI persons." Antony Blinken, who was confirmed 78-22 by the United States Senate Tuesday, shared his thoughts about LGBT issues during his Senate confirmation hearing last week, which took place before President Joe Biden took office. During the Trump administration, U.S. embassies were told not to fly the pride flag, which consists of the rainbow colors and is designed to show support for LGBT rights. Then-Vice President Mike Pence defended the State Department's declaration that "on the flagpole of our American embassies that one flag should fly and that's the American flag," saying "I support that." Blinken is the fourth member of Biden's cabinet that has been confirmed by the Senate.
In today's News:
Lutherans help tornado victims
Late Monday, a devastating tornado went through Fultondale, Alabama, leaving a path of destruction through the town that has killed and injured residents as well as destroyed homes, schools and businesses. This tornado was located just a few miles from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, where Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, serves. Kathy O'Day, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) director of Disaster Response, spoke to Brashier, who has been checking on congregation members and will be assessing damage in Fultondale as soon as first responders say it is safe to do so. He and his L.E.R.T. team began work early Tuesday morning helping a congregation member remove a tree from the roof of their home. LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw teams are on standby to deploy and assist if requested.
Concordia Texas welcomes nursing students
At a time when the demand for nurses in central Texas is surging, Concordia University Texas has welcomed 288 new students so far this year to its traditional and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. But they didn’t report to main campus as usual. In August 2020, under many COVID constraints, the university opened the doors to its Austin Nursing Satellite Campus. The new, interactive learning environment spans 17,000 square feet, complete with a cutting-edge simulation lab, a 10-bed clinical skills lab and simulation debriefing rooms. The building also houses a student lounge and administrative and faculty offices. Rooted in the university’s Christian values, the nursing program features an accredited and rigorous curriculum delivered utilizing an interactive e-learning platform, along with hands-on skills training and clinical rotations at the area’s top hospitals.
Illinois insurance guidelines investigated
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has informed the Thomas More Society that it is investigating whether Illinois has violated federal law by promulgating and enforcing the Illinois Reproductive Health Act, which generally requires Illinois health insurance plans to cover abortion. A Jan. 19, 2021, letter to the Thomas More Society from Luis Perez, deputy director of the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division of the Office for Civil Rights, states that the Office for Civil rights has reviewed the Thomas More Society’s October 2019 complaint and is investigating whether the state of Illinois, which receives various funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, complies with the federal Weldon Amendment. Specifically, the Office for Civil Rights is investigating whether Illinois, through its Department of Insurance and Department of Central Management Services, is discriminating against health plan issuers and plans that would offer health coverage that limited or excluded abortion coverage but are prohibited from doing so by the Reproductive Health Act.
Connecticut legislature considers euthanasia bill
An assisted suicide bill being considered in Connecticut faces opposition from disability rights activists over what they contend is a lack of safeguards against the abuse of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or the disabled. The legislature in the Nutmeg State is considering a bill that would allow physicians to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally sick adult patients who want to end their lives.
In today's News:
Court hears arguments for praying coach
Yesterday, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit again heard oral argument in the case of Coach Joe Kennedy, the longtime Bremerton, Washington, football coach who was fired after the 2015 season because he took a knee in brief, personal prayer after football games. First Liberty Institute and others collectively represent Kennedy. In January 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the case at that time and instead allowed Coach Kennedy’s case to continue through the court system. In a separate statement written by Justice Alito and joined by Justices Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, the justices explained that the Court needed more information in order to resolve the matter. As Alito wrote, “The Ninth Circuit’s understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers is troubling and may justify review in the future.” The case then returned to the district court for further review where, in January, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Leighton granted the Bremerton school district’s motion for summary judgment. Kennedy’s attorneys then appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
Texas’ abortion ban thrown out
The United States Supreme Court has reversed a lower court decision that upheld a temporary ban on most abortions in Texas, asking the appellate court to dismiss the case as moot. The Supreme Court granted the petition of Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics to reverse a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld an executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott banning most abortions in an effort to free up hospital space for coronavirus patients. The Fifth Circuit's ruling itself reversed a judge's ruling at the district court level. Abbott's executive order came in March, 2020, a time when most U.S. states had implemented shutdowns of varying intensity in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Pro-life views termed ‘violence’
In a recent trend, abortion activists have been declaring the at espousing pro-life views is “violence.” One example came on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris released a joint statement celebrating the “landmark ruling.” The statement lamented the “relentless and extreme attack” of the previous administration on “reproductive health, including the right to choose,” and they pledged to appoint Roe-friendly judges and to codify the ruling into federal law. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee responded to Harris’ tweet linking the statement with his own tweet pointing out “abortion isn’t healthcare.” In a subsequent tweet, he urged followers to support Hope Clinic, a pregnancy resource center that staffs OB/GYNS and nurses and offers a variety of health services. In response, Francie Hunt, executive director of Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Action, falsely claimed that the governor’s tweet could lead to violence. “political violence is a real danger in this country, and when the governor implies that abortion is something other than life-saving health care, it puts us all in danger,” she asserted.
In today's News:
President celebrates Roe v. Wade anniversary
President Joe Biden released a statement celebrating the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that has resulted in killing 62-million babies abortions. The decision, handed down on Jan. 22, 1973, overturned pro-life laws offering protection for unborn children in most states across the country, and made abortions legal and virtually unlimited. In the last two years, several states have approved new legislation making abortions legal up to the moment of birth. The state of New York led the way and even infamously cheered passage of the bill for unlimited abortions and lit up One World Tower pink to cheer baby-killing. Other states such as Illinois, New Mexico, Vermont and Massachusetts followed suit — either passing or attempting to pass laws overturning every single pro-life law in the state and implementing unfettered access to abortion any time, for any reason and at taxpayer expense.
Kentucky moves to protect abortion survivors
The Kentucky Born Alive Infant Protection Act became law Friday, ensuring that babies who survive abortions in the state will receive the basic medical care that they deserve. State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Crofton, who sponsored the pro-life legislation, noted the significance of the date: the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, The Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The new Kentucky law protects babies from infanticide by requiring abortionists and medical workers to provide “appropriate and reasonable” medical care to newborns who survive abortions. It also recognizes abortions survivors as legal persons and imposes penalties on those who fail to provide basic medical care to them.
Judge refuses to restrain pro-abortion harassers
A Tennessee woman is appealing to the Tennessee Court of Appeals after a lower court refused to issue protection orders against four radical abortion militants for stalking her outside an abortion facility in Bristol, Tenn. Thomas More Society attorneys filed their opening brief with the Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville, Jan. 15, 2021, on behalf of the petitioner, Erika Schanzenbach. The appeal asks the court to correct the Sullivan County Chancery Court’s refusal to grant Schanzenbach relief after erroneously concluding that protection orders were not “the proper avenue” for stopping the accused’s repeated and relentless harassment against her outside an abortion facility. The judge ruled that Schanzenbach did not prove she was distressed since she continues to witness to life outside the abortion facility — even though Schanzenbach testified that she persists only because of her sincerely held religious duty to speak up for the voiceless no matter her opposition.
Boston refused to fly Christian flag
The city of Boston can stop a citizen from flying a Christian flag over City Hall, the First Circuit ruled on Friday. The petitioners say they will go to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that censoring a private flag because it contains a cross amounts to violation of the First Amendment,
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Concordia alumni/student fights infant mortality
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports that Detroit’s infant mortality rate is 2.5 times higher than the national average, putting it on par with a developing nation. Three alumni and one current student at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., are attempting to reduce that mortality rate by working with the Luke Project 52 Clinic, which provides personalized prenatal and infant care at no cost to any family who needs it. The clinic was started in 2016 by the Rev. Brad Garrison, a Lutheran pastor and pharmacist, and his wife, Sherie, who has more than 40 years’ experience as a nurse.
Today is National Sanctity of Human Life Day
Before leaving office, President Donald Trump proclaimed today, Jan. 22, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day as it marks the 48th year since the U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton — the infamous abortion opinions that opened the door to kill unborn babies up to birth. Since 1973, more than 62-million unborn children have been killed in what should be the safest place — the womb. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating Jan. 22 as the National Sanctity of Human Life Day as the result of the influence of one woman, Dr. Mildred Jefferson, who worked tirelessly in support of personhood for every unborn child. Dr. Jefferson was the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and the first female surgeon at the Boston University Medical Center.
Supreme Court may consider another abortion case
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled today to consider a Mississippi law that protects unborn babies and mothers by banning abortions after 15 weeks. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked the high court to uphold the pro-life law last year, but the justices have not decided yet whether to take up the case. SCOTUS blog reports the justices did not act on the case during their private conference on Jan. 15, but they are scheduled to meet again today. Notably, today is the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that forced states to legalized abortion on demand. The Mississippi case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, challenges the current legal precedent that blocks states from protecting unborn babies from abortions before they are viable.
Lawmakers move to protect women’s sports
Montana lawmakers have introduced a bill protecting girls’ sports in schools, after President Joe Biden signed an executive order forcing them to allow transgender biological males to compete with them. The Save Women’s Sports Act will require public school athletic teams to be designated based on biological sex. The bill cites testosterone levels and other differences between the genders that would create an unfair playing field for young girls to compete under Biden’s order.
Gender-confused victory in Alabama
A federal judge has ruled that an Alabama law requiring residents to provide proof of gender reassignment surgery before they can change the sex listed on their driver's license is unconstitutional.
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Biden’s committee funnels money to abortion/LGBT groups
The Biden Presidential Inaugural Committee has listed Planned Parenthood and LGBT organizations as the beneficiaries of any donations made for the flags which took the place of spectators on the National Mall, as Biden marks his first day in office by emphasizing his links to abortion and LGBT ideology. Some of the groups mentioned include: Stonewall Community Development Corporation; Rainbow Family 808 Com Inc; Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund; National Center for Lesbian Rights; The Trevor Project; Wanda Alston Foundation; Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center; Howard Brown Health Center; Henderson Equality Center; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; LGBT Center of Greater Reading; Equality Maine Foundation; GLAAD.
White House website now asks for pronouns
Just hours after Democrat Joe Biden’s swearing-in as President of the United States, the official White House contact page has already been updated to ask users to include their preferred gender pronouns, another early gift to LGBT activists. Among the White House website contact page’s usual fields for name, prefix, phone number, and such is a new “pronouns” field, with the options “she/her,” “he/him,” “they/them,” “Other,” and “Prefer not to share.” The change is in line with the aggressively pro-LGBT platform Biden ran on, the centerpiece of which was forcing widespread accommodation of homosexuality and “gender fluidity” on private citizens by urging passage of the so-called Equality Act. During the campaign, he went so far as to endorse children as young as eight “deciding” they’re transgender, and earlier this week he chose Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, a man who claims to be a woman, as Assistant Secretary of Health.
Medical group affirms adoption
In an updated statement published today, the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) affirms adoption as the best option for children who cannot be raised within their natural families. An appropriate adoptive family provides a child with love, permanency, stability, and the same legal rights as a child born into that family. Dr. Leah Wilson is a board-certified pediatrician, ACPeds director, and adoptive parent. She knows firsthand that an infant’s adoptive placement is a courageous, loving, and life-giving alternative to abortion. Dr. Wilson states, “Women experiencing a crisis pregnancy should receive counseling about options including open and semi-open adoption arrangements. Women considering abortion due to an adverse prenatal diagnosis should also be informed of the availability of adoptive families for children born with disabilities.”
Governor vetoes pro-life legislation
As expected, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a pro-life bill Tuesday that would give the attorney general power to hold abortion facilities accountable to basic health and safety standards. WAVE 3 News reports state House Bill 2 was one of five bills that the pro-abortion Democrat governor rejected this week. The others involved the governor’s powers in a crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic. Sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Fichter, R-Fort Thomas, the pro-life legislation would give the state attorney general power to hold abortion facilities accountable if they do not comply with state health regulations. Currently, that power rests with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which is led by the current governor’s appointee.
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Pro-Life Action League founder passes
Joe Scheidler, founder of the Pro-Life Action League, received his eternal reward Jan. 18 at the age of 93. He was affectionately dubbed the “godfather of the pro-life movement” and a “racketeer for life.” The announcement was made on social media by the Pro-Life Action League. Scheidler, a former Benedictine monk and journalism professor, was active in the pro-life movement for decades and may be best known for being a named plaintiff in the RICO lawsuit, NOW v. Scheidler, a landmark case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court three times. With help from the Thomas More Society, the plaintiffs, including Scheidler, prevailed in protecting the free speech rights of pro-lifers.
Oregon abortion business closes
An abortion business in Oregon that killed babies in abortions for almost 50 years has finally closed. Oregon’s largest independent and oldest abortion company, Lovejoy Surgicenter, has closed, just shy of 50 years in business. The abortion center killed babies in abortions up to 24 weeks into pregnancy, when unborn children are viable and can survive outside the womb. Lois Anderson, the director of Oregon Right to Life, told LifeNews.com she was excited by the news. Lovejoy Surgicenter conducts abortions through 24 weeks of pregnancy. Those done between 20-24 weeks, 5-6 months gestation, abortions are three-day procedures, according to the abortion facility’s website. These abortions carry more risks, and life-threatening complications can occur that the outpatient facility is not equipped to handle. However, the closing may be short lived. According to Anderson, a Seattle-based abortion practitioner has purchased the abortion center and will be reopening it in March. The Lovejoy web site indicates it will reopen at a new location on March 1, “under new management.”
Court halts religious discrimination policy
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit’s decision last Friday to grant a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit A.H. v. French that stops Vermont officials from excluding religious-school students from the state’s dual enrollment program, which had allowed public, private secular and home-school students to enroll at not cost to them in two college courses before graduating high school but denies that same opportunity to religious-school students. Attorneys for a high school student, her parents and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington filed the lawsuit in district court. They argued that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue and in the Alliance Defending Freedom caseTrinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, support ending Vermont’s discrimination in its dual enrollment program.
Transgender law put on hold
A federal court in North Dakota just blocked a requirement known as the transgender mandate that would force medical professionals and religious hospitals to perform gender transition procedures on their patients — including children — even when the procedures are potentially harmful.
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National Sanctity of Human Life Day is proclaimed
Ahead of his departure from the White House tomorrow, President Donald Trump Sunday issued a presidential proclamation recognizing this Friday as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. This year marks the fourth year in a row that Trump has recognized National Sanctity of Human Life Day in January. Jan. 22 marks the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling making abortion a national right. The president used the proclamation to speak out against the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade, tout his administration’s accomplishments on behalf of the pro-life movement and call on the American people to respect the sanctity of life. The proclamation praises the activism of the pro-life movement and its advocates, who support policy initiatives that restrict the legality of abortion.
Ban on aborting Down Syndrome abortions proposed
In her Jan. 12 State of the State address, conservative South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced that she is calling on the state Legislature to pass a law that would ban the killing of unborn children by abortion just because they have Down syndrome. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder. Each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome, which is about one in every 700 babies born."
Charges dismissed against church deacon
Thomas More Society attorneys achieved victory for a Moscow, Idaho, church deacon who was wrongly arrested on Sept. 23, 2020, for singing while not wearing a mask at a church-sponsored “Psalm Sing” in the Moscow City Hall parking lot. On Jan. 9, the Idaho District Court signed the order dismissing charges against Gabriel Rench, one of three people arrested among the almost 200 attending the event. The September gathering at which Rench and other churchgoers were arrested was hosted by Christ Church as one of the congregation’s monthly hymn sings. This particular event was held outside City Hall in response to the extension of a restrictive COVID-19-prompted mask mandate imposed by Moscow’s mayor.
Christians make up 88 percent of Congress
The 117th United States Congress is made up of 88 percent Christians, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center. In a report called “Faith on the Hill,” the Pew Research Center analyzed the religious affiliations of all members of the 117th Congress and compared them to the religious demographics of the U.S. as a whole. Pew obtained the data from a questionnaire conducted by CQ Roll Call asking members about their religious backgrounds. The publication of the Pew report came just one day after the 117th Congress was sworn into session on Jan. 3. Pew has been analyzing the religious composition of members of Congress since the 111th Congress, which met from 2009 to 2011. While the House of Representatives has 435 members and the Senate has 100 members, two House seats and two Senate seats were either vacant or undecided as of Jan. 4, when the report was published, leaving the number of senators and representatives analyzed at 531.
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Wedding photographer fights state law
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is arguing today in federal district court in a Virginia photographer’s lawsuit against state officials. The lawsuit challenges a state law, enacted July 1, 2020, that forces Bob Updegrove to use his artistic talents to photograph same-sex weddings if he photographs weddings between one man and one woman. As explained in ADF’s complaint, that law violates foundational rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment’s Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses. ADF attorneys have asked the court to enter an injunction halting enforcement of the law against Updegrove while his lawsuit proceeds, and the state has moved to dismiss the case. The law also forbids Updegrove from publicly explaining on his studio’s own website the religious reasons why he only celebrates wedding ceremonies between one man and one woman. Virginia considers such communications “discriminatory.” The law threatens initial fines of up to $50,000 and then $100,000 per additional violation, along with court orders that could force Updegrove to photograph events against his conscience if he wants to stay in business.
School district considers posting Ten Commandments
A North Carolina school board is exploring the possibility of putting Ten Commandments displays near the entrances at each of its school buildings, a possibility that has upset a secular legal group. The Cleveland County School Board first discussed the idea at its Dec. 14 board meeting, drawing support and criticism in the last week from opposing national First Amendment legal groups. Supporters of the measure contend that displays of the Ten Commandments on school grounds are permitted by North Carolina law, as long as they are accompanied by other historical displays. advocates for a strict separation of church and state, sent a letter to Cleveland County School District attorney Colin Shive. In the letter, Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened legal action against the school district if the push to erect the Ten Commandments displays at its schools was not scrapped.
State’s abortion law challenged by women’s group
Women in New York filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a radical pro-abortion law that legalizes abortions for basically any reason up to birth in the Empire State. The class action lawsuit argues that the New York Reproductive Health Act, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019, puts women in danger and violates the fundamental rights of women and children, including unborn babies who can survive outside the womb. Along with expanding late-term abortions, the law repealed criminal charges for killing an unborn baby even in a violent criminal act against the mother. In the lawsuit, victims of domestic abuse slammed New York for denying them and their children justice, the Catholic News Agency reports.
Pro-life student group wins suit
Oregon’s Chemeketa Community College has settled a federal lawsuit with a pro-life student group by agreeing to pay $25,000 to cover the cost of legal fees and end a policy confining free speech to a small area of campus. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group representing the Chemeketa Students for Life, announced the settlement last Friday. Before the settlement, which is dated Nov. 10, the college limited outdoor free speech in two small areas of campus. According to the legal group, the taxpayer funded school’s policies restricted the free speech rights of students to just 1.5 percent of the school’s 100-acre campus.
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Christian persecution up worldwide
2020 continued a trend of rising persecution around the world, with governments often using COVID-19 restrictions as tools of repression, Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors USA announced in its annual report. Open Doors' 2021 report revealed two important persecution trends in 2020. The number of Christians killed has increased by 60 percent this year, mostly because of Islamic violence against Nigerian Christians. Secondly, anti-Christian governments around the world use COVID-19 restrictions to persecute Christians. In Nigeria, more than 2,200 Christians were murdered by radical Islamists. This number makes up slightly less than half of the 4,761 Christians killed for their faith worldwide, according to Open Doors statistics. Most of the Christians killed in 2020 gave up their lives to extremist groups, not governments.
New York considers assisted suicide
The state of New York is one of the latest to consider embracing assisted suicide. Senate Bill S3151A, or the Medical Aid in Dying Act, was originally introduced in 2017, but died in committee in March of 2018. Another version failed in 2019, yet Assemblyman Kevin Cahill has announced his intentions to resubmit the bill for consideration in 2021 — and one Planned Parenthood political action affiliate is showing its support. Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts released its 2021 legislative priorities, which largely consisted of expanding abortion — but buried at the bottom was a passage linking abortion and assisted suicide under the “bodily autonomy” umbrella.
North Dakota considers spiritual advisors must break confidentiality
Three North Dakota state legislators introduced a bill this week that would oblige clergy to violate the confidentiality in cases of confirmed or suspected child abuse, on penalty of imprisonment or heavy fines. The bill was introduced Jan. 12 by state senators Judy Lee, Kathy Hogan and Curt Kreun, and state representatives Mike Brandenburg and Mary Schneider. The current mandatory reporting law in North Dakota states that clergy are considered mandatory reporters of known or suspected child abuse, except in cases when “the knowledge or suspicion is derived from information received in the capacity of spiritual adviser”, such as in the confessional. The bill, SB 2180, would amend that law to abolish this exception.
Supreme Court rules against mail in abortion drugs
The United States Supreme Court reinstated a requirement enacted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that women seeking to obtain abortion drugs must pick them up in person from a hospital or medical office rather than receiving them by mail. The High Court ruled 6-3 in Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that the FDA abortion drug rule may go into effect and lifted a nationwide injunction against it. It granted the FDA request to reinstate enforcement for the “Elements to Assure Safe Use” in the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for the chemical abortion pill mifepristone.
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Abortions stop in Missouri
Operation Rescue believes Planned Parenthood in St. Louis has stopped performing abortions and has done none in months. Instead, the group found that the St. Louis facility is referring women to a new Planned Parenthood a few miles across the border in Illinois for abortions. The St. Louis facility still has a license to do abortions, but it is choosing not to. An Operation Rescue spokesman said he believes the reason is because Planned Parenthood does not want to comply with Missouri’s pro-life laws. The St. Louis facility had a poor reputation. Operation Rescue documented 75 medical emergencies at the facility over the past several years. In 2019, state health leaders tried to revoke its license, citing “multiple life-threatening abortions,” but a state commissioner ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood.
Ohio bans abortion drugs by telemedicine
On Saturday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill banning the use of telemedicine to administer the abortion pill in the state. The bill, SB 260, would effectively ban telemedicine abortions in Ohio by requiring that a physician be present when the first of the two drugs in the abortion pill regimen is administered to a woman. Failure to abide by this law could result in a fourth-degree felony, and repeated violations of the law could result in the suspension of the offending physician’s medical license. According to the FDA, at least 24 known women have died from complications associated with the abortion pill and countless women have shared their personal stories of the horrific effects they have endured after taking the abortion pill regimen. Despite claims that the abortion pill is as “safe as Tylenol,” it carries with it a four times greater risk of complications than a first trimester surgical abortion.
Supreme Court sidesteps a First Amendment case
The U.S. Supreme Court sidestepped an opportunity to rule on behalf of the First Amendment right for pro-life speech around abortion centers. The Supreme Court declined to hear Bruni v. City of Pittsburgh, which challenges a law enacted by the city that bans pro-life speech — even prayer — in painted 15-foot buffer zones outside medical facility entrances. The city then chose to paint such zones outside only two facilities in the entire metropolitan area, Pittsburgh’s two abortion centers, and enforced the ban against pro-life speech only. This bans the free speech of sidewalk counselors and those handing out literature informing pregnant women of resources available for them and their children. However, speech on other subjects has been permitted inside the zone. Despite the language of the ordinance and how it was applied, the lower court interpreted the ordinance in such a way that pro-life speech is permitted. And the lower courts did not apply the Supreme Court’s more recent precedent striking down restrictions on speech (Reed v. Town of Gilbert) and pro-life speech outside an abortion clinic (McCullen v. Coakley), and instead relied upon the older case of Hill v. Colorado.
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Turkey rejects an American pastor’s appeal
Turkey’s constitutional court last week rejected as “inadmissible” American Pastor Andrew Brunson’s appeal over rights violation for unlawfully arresting him and exceeding the legal limit of his detention. He was imprisoned for his faith for two years in that country. Although he now lives in the United States, the prison sentence against Brunson, who was arrested in October 2016 and charged with espionage and committing crimes in the name of a terrorist organization as a non-member, remains. Brunson's appeal was made on the basis that his arrest was illegal and beyond the legal limit of detention.
Court rules in favor of a Christian club
A Christian afterschool ministry tied to The Moody Church in Chicago is sufficiently religious enough to qualify for an exemption from having to pay into a state insurance program, an appeals court ruled last week. A three-judge panel of the Appellate Court of Illinois on Wednesday upheld a lower court decision and ruled 2-1 that the By The Hand Club for Kids should have been given an exemption to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Act. The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s Board of Review concluded in 2017 that the By The Hand Club was not eligible for an exemption to the state unemployment insurance system. In the majority opinion authored by Justice Margaret McBride, the court ruled that the board of review failed to recognize the pervasive religious nature of the student club. This included the club requiring members and staff to be Christian, hosting Bible studies and chapel services and leading field trips to faith-based events like Christian music concerts.
Judges ask Supreme Court to revisit an abortion ruling
A three-judge panel on a federal appellate court struck down several pro-life laws in Arkansas, and two of the judges have called on the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its ruling in a major abortion case that upheld Roe v. Wade. The ruling by three judges on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals prevents two pro-life laws passed by the state in 2019 from going into effect. One of the laws prohibits abortions after 18 week’s gestation while the other prohibits abortion of a child based solely on a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Judge James Loken, a George H.W. Bush appointee who authored the opinion, cited the precedent set in the 1992 Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood v. Casey when upholding a lower court’s ruling blocking the Arkansas laws from going into effect. While the panel unanimously agreed that Supreme Court precedent required them to strike down the Arkansas laws, two of the judges urged the court to reconsider the finding of Casey. One of the judges, George W. Bush appointee Bobby Shepherd, shared his view that “good reasons exist for the (Supreme) Court to reevaluate its jurisprudence” in Casey.
Satanic Temple opposes burial for aborted babies
The Satanic Temple, a group that believes abortion is a “religious ritual” similar to communion or baptism, is fighting against a new Ohio law that ensures aborted babies receive a proper burial. WLWT 5 News reports the religious group slammed the law as a violation of the First Amendment last week and threatened to take legal action. Signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December, the law requires the Ohio Department of Health to establish rules for the proper and humane burial or cremation of aborted babies’ bodies. It creates penalties for violations and requires abortion facilities to pay for the babies to be cremated or buried. Several states have similar laws in place, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s law in 2019. Such laws not only ensure that aborted babies’ bodies are treated with dignity and respect, they also are a safeguard against abortion facilities trying to sell aborted baby body parts. However, the Satanic Temple claims the Ohio law violates their religious freedom.
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LCMS schools face the new year
Jan. 24–30 — offers LCMS schools a yearly opportunity to reflect on and share the blessings of Christian education. This year, amid many challenges, they will have many blessings to celebrate. Currently, the LCMS has 1,914 schools across the nation, serving more than 190,000 students. In the past year, these schools have had to make unexpected adjustments in order to continue their mission and ministry. A testament to their hard work is that enrollment trends are up in many Lutheran schools following the onset of the pandemic. The 2021 NLSW theme is “Sent To Serve,” based on Matt. 20:28: “The son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Texas cuts off Planned Parenthood
Starting in February, the state of Texas will no longer be required to award Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, thanks to a November decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. After the abortion giant requested a six-month grace period for patients to find new providers while still receiving care, the court denied this request but allowed for a 30-day grace period ending Feb. 3. The 5th Circuit and Texas attorney general based this decision in part on Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the illegal trafficking of aborted baby body parts that came to light in 2015. In 2013, Planned Parenthood was fined $1.4 million for fraudulently over-billing the Texas state Medicaid program, as reported by Live Action News.
Abortions increase in Pennsylvania
A new report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health reveals that that in 2019, there were 654 more abortions in the state than in 2018. This marks the second year in a row that the state saw an increase in abortions, and the first time since 2001 that there was an increase in two consecutive years. Altogether, more than 31,000 abortions were committed in the state in 2019, which means that an average of 85 babies died by abortion each day. The majority of those abortions were committed on women ages 25 to 29, and nearly 88 percent of the women were reported as unmarried. More than 47 percent of the abortions were committed on women who already had at least one prior abortion. The report also reveals that 44 percent of abortions were committed on black women, though nationwide, the black community comprises just 12 percent of the population. Additionally, there was an alarming increase in reported abortion complications. The state recorded 285 abortion complications for 2019, significantly higher than the 179 injuries documented in 2018.
U.S. reforms child welfare providers regulations
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ final rule issued last week that eliminates a federal regulation from the previous administration that forced child welfare providers to abandon their deeply held religious beliefs to continue receiving federal funding to serve children in need. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Catholic Charities West Michigan and New Hope Family Services in New York, both adoption and foster care providers, in federal lawsuits against state officials.
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Concordia Seminary offers online visitations
Two online visitation events are scheduled for February at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; one for high school men, and another for college-age and second-career prospective students planning to study to become pastors and deaconesses. Registration is now open for Taste of the Sem for high school men Feb. 13-15 and Green & Gold Day for prospective students planning to study to become pastors and deaconesses Feb. 20. The events are typically held in person but have been moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic. Both events are free.
Pro-abortion Democrats take the Senate
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff defeated Incumbent Republican Georgia Sen. David Perdue in Tuesday’s runoff election. The victory for the pro-abortion Democrat over the pro-life senator essentially puts the Senate in democrat hands by giving pro-abortion radical Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote if she becomes vice president. With both senators losing their races, the Senate will have a 50-50 party split, and, if she’s vice-president, Harris, a pro-abortion Democrat, would cast the deciding vote on issues like forcing taxpayers to fund abortions and expanding late-term abortions.
Study shows gender dysphoric men outperform women
Biological men who identify as women continue to outperform biologically-female athletes for at least two years after they begin receiving “feminizing therapy” (female hormones), a new study shows. “The results, published last month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, could mean the current one-year waiting period for Olympic athletes who are transitioning is inadequate,” NBC reported on Tuesday. States seeking to ban transgender athletes from competing against biological females in school sports are citing the study to document that athletes born as biological males have an unfair advantage over biological females.
California defines women’s breasts as ‘abnormal’
The California insurance commissioner is clarifying that insurance coverage on double mastectomies for gender dysphoric females is not "cosmetic" but "reconstructive," and classifying normal breast tissue as "abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects." The move paves the way for more minor girls who identify as something other than their biological sex to undergo breast amputation.
Arguments heard on the ‘Ministerial Exception’
The highest court in Massachusetts heard oral arguments on Monday regarding whether an evangelical Christian higher education institution can lawfully refuse to promote a former professor who held pro-LGBT views. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments virtually over a lawsuit filed against Gordon College by former associate professor Margaret Deweese-Boyd. At issue is whether Gordon, founded in 1889, could lawfully deny a promotion to Deweese-Boyd by citing the “ministerial exception,” a legal principle that allows religious bodies to choose their own ministerial staff with exemption from employment discrimination law. Eric Baxter, an attorney with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty who is representing the school, argued in his opening remarks that the exception applied to the employment of Deweese-Boyd since she was expected to undertake certain religious obligations.
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Judge awards Planned Parenthood $13 million
A U.S. District judge with ties to Planned Parenthood has granted the abortion giant more than $13 million in “attorney fees and costs” despite the fact that attorneys are currently working to appeal the ruling, according to Liberty Counsel. Judge William Orrick III’s connection to Planned Parenthood includes helping to open one of the abortion corporation’s facilities. Despite this conflict of interest, he refused to recuse himself from the civil trial of Planned Parenthood v. The Center for Medical Progress (CMP) regarding CMP’s undercover journalism, which exposed the illegal sales of fetal organs and tissues. The $13 million Orrick awarded Planned Parenthood is in addition to the more than $2 million the jury had awarded the corporation after finding for the plaintiff on all counts in the civil case. That ruling came after Orrick instructed the jury not to consider the First Amendment as a defense for CMP and journalists David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt and blocked the jury from watching much of the undercover videos that revealed Planned Parenthood’s unethical and illegal actions. The jury found Daleiden, Merritt and CMP liable in their undercover journalism of Planned Parenthood in 2019, with Orrick determining that the journalists had trespassed when they attended Planned Parenthood events and visited facilities though they were welcomed into those arenas. The verdict was made against CMP even though Planned Parenthood employees admitted that their words in the videos were their own. Notably, Planned Parenthood has never sued CMP for defamation. With this latest move, Orrick appears to be sending a message to silence pro-lifers from continuing to expose the abortion industry for its horrific practices.
Satanic Temple billboards support abortion
The Satanic Temple is back after a failed attempt to overturn Missouri’s abortion laws, promoting its pro-abortion message on billboards. According to the Houston Chronicle, the temple erected billboards in Texas and Florida to raise awareness of its purported abortion “rituals” — and also to claim that pregnancy is dangerous. “Abortions save lives!” The billboard reads in large letters. Underneath, it says, “our religious abortion ritual averts many state restrictions.” The Satanic Temple’s so-called “abortion ritual” seems to have been created less out of actual spiritual fervor and more to skirt pro-life laws. During the rite, a Satanist merely recites personal affirmations in the mirror before and after an abortion procedure.
‘Feliz Navidad’ for the unborn
Singer Jose Feliciano has expressed support for the pro-life movement, declaring that “even if all there is a heartbeat, that’s life.” Feliciano, who's blind and best known for his Christmas song “Feliz Navidad,” described his conversion to the pro-life movement in an interview with the National Catholic Register. “I used to be pro-abortion many, many years ago,” he recalled, “But then when I had my daughter Melissa, I went the other way … when I heard Melissa’s little heartbeat on the monitor, I said, ‘well, wait a minute. Even if all there is a heartbeat, that’s life’.”
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Planned Parenthood’s ‘wish list’
Planned Parenthood is preparing its wish list for former Vice President Joe Biden’s prospective administration, but pro-life forces are gearing up for a fight. In a Roll Call interview, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson said her organization’s top goal in 2021 is abolishing the Hyde Amendment, which for 40 years has prohibited federal funding for most abortions. The Hyde Amendment is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois who sponsored the Amendment, first adopted in 1976. In a statement to The Daily Signal, Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life, said she is concerned about the obvious pro-abortion trajectory of a Biden Administration.
Pro-lifers sing Christmas carols at an abortion center
Pro-lifers greeted women with Christmas carols and messages of hope for them and their unborn babies on Saturday outside an abortion facility in Alexandria, Virginia. The Arlington Catholic Herald reports pro-life sidewalk counselors faithfully show up every Saturday outside the Alexandria Women’s Health Center to pray and offer information to pregnant women considering abortions. On Dec. 19, their outreach included Christmas carols as part of the national “Peace in the Womb Pro-Life Christmas Caroling” event, a project of the Pro-Life Action League.
Proposed abortion law faces opposition
New Jersey pro-lifers gathered in the cold Saturday to protest a radical pro-abortion bill that would legalize the killing of unborn babies up to birth and force taxpayers to pay for their deaths. Tap Into Union reports about 50 people protested outside the offices of State Sen. Joseph Cryan, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Assemblyman Jamel Holley, urging them to reject the pro-abortion legislation and support life. They also listened to women’s testimonies and sang Christmas carols. A pet project of pro-abortion Gov. Phil Murphy, the bill would legalize the killing of unborn babies for basically any reason up to birth.
LA county lifts restrictions on worship
Los Angeles County recently announced that it was allowing houses of worship to hold both indoor and outdoor services, reversing an earlier ban on indoor services. In a statement Saturday, the county government explained that the decision to allow the services comes due to recent legal decisions from the United States Supreme Court. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two orders in which it overturned state-level restrictions on in-person worship in Colorado and New Jersey, respectively.
Biological Sex on Birth Certificates Reconsidered
The New England Journal of Medicine joined the ranks of medical institutions elevating “social justice” above sound medicine last week with the publication of an article calling for “rethinking” how biological sex is recorded on birth certificates. The authors go so far as to claim that “sex designations on birth certificates offer no clinical utility; they serve only legal — not medical — goals,” while potentially inviting “scrutiny” and “shame,” as well as thwarting gender-confused individuals’ ability to access opposite-sex locker or shower facilities or serve in the military.
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Virginia Christians oppose new law
Churches, ministries, schools and Christian-owned businesses from across the state of Virginia signed an open letter to Gov. Ralph Northam and members of the Virginia General Assembly that urges them not to force religious citizens to violate their beliefs under the so-called “Virginia Values Act.” The law, enacted July 1, on its face compels churches, religious schools and Christian ministries to hire employees who do not share their stated beliefs on marriage, sexuality and gender identity — or face fines of up to $100,000 for each violation. A companion law requires the ministries and other Christian nonprofits and Christian-owned businesses to include in employee health care plans coverage for “sex reassignment” and “gender affirming” surgeries that run contrary to their beliefs. It also prohibits the ministries from offering sex-specific sports, classes for parenting and Christian discipleship, if those programs are based on biological sex.
Medicaid money withheld from California
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that his department was taking action against California and a hospital in Vermont that implemented policies violating the conscience rights of those opposed to abortion. Azar was among many notable speakers at a White House event, called “Life Is Winning: Celebrating 4 Years of Pro-Life Accomplishments,” hosted by Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday. During his speech, Azar highlighted how the Trump administration was “protecting conscience rights more aggressively than any previous administration in history." He went on to announce that $200 million in federal Medicaid funds would be withheld from California for the first quarter of 2021 due to the state's refusal to amend its policy "imposing universal abortion coverage mandates on health insurance."
Pro-abortion Representative to Biden’s Cabinet
A New Mexico Congresswoman who was accused of defaming young, pro-life teenagers at the march for life is President-elect Joe Biden’s choice for Secretary of the Interior. The Hill reports Biden nominated U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, a pro-abortion Democrat, to join his Cabinet this week. Haaland has a 100-percent pro-abortion voting record, according to the National Right to Life Committee. Her votes include opposing "The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," which would protect newborn babies from infanticide. Haaland was sued for defamation in 2019 after she trashed pro-life teenager Nick Sandmann and other high school students who were attending the March for Life, the Los Alamos Monitor reports.
D.C. mayor backs off Christmas restrictions
Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has eased restrictions on houses of worship following a lawsuit by the Catholic Church accusing the Democrat of “arbitrary” and “discriminatory” restrictions on churches ahead of Christmas. In a lawsuit filed Dec. 11, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington said Bowser’s restrictions “bear no relation to either the size of the building or the safety of the activity” and “single out religious worship as a disfavored activity, even though it has been proven safer than many other activities the district favors.” Bowser modified the city’s attendance limits in a Wednesday order, removing the 50-person limit for religious gatherings and instead capping places of worship at 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
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Arkansas pro-life laws allowed
The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Little Rock, Ark., decided on Tuesday that it will not reconsider its earlier decision from this summer to lift a judge’s injunction against four Arkansas abortion restrictions. The court was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center For Reproductive Rights on behalf Of Little Rock abortionist, Frederick Hopkins, after its August decision to allow four Arkansas abortion restriction laws to take effect. Among the four restrictions previously blocked by a judge is a ban on second trimester dismemberment abortion procedures. Additionally, the court lifted the judge’s injunction against a sex-selective abortion ban, a measure specifying how aborted babies’ remains are to be disposed of, and a requirement that police must be notified, and fetal remains must be preserved from abortions committed on girls younger than age 14.
Abortionist fined for false advertising
A complaint filed by Reprotection, Inc. With Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s office has resulted in fines for a Florida abortionist. Earlier in 2020, Reprotection Lodged a complaint against James Pendergraft, owner of the Orlando Women’s Center, for falsely advertising that it operated in Indiana. The complaint led to legal action brought by Attorney General Hill against the Florida-based abortion vendor. This resulted in a civil penalty fine of $9,000 for violating the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. Reprotection, Inc. filed the complaint after discovering webpages by the Florida abortion business claiming to do abortions in various Indiana cities, including Muncie. Further, the advertising inferred that the dangerous chemical abortion pill could be administered in one day, which is not in compliance with FDA guidelines.
Administration’s pro-life record praised
President Donald Trump’s administration has been focused on protecting and fighting for the right to life, Vice President Mike Pence said yesterday. Pence’s remarks were delivered at a “Life Is Winning Event,” where the vice president highlighted the Trump administration’s pro-life accomplishments with leaders of the pro-life movement, including Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, Tom McClusky of the March For Life, David Daleiden of The Center for Medical Progress and Abby Johnson of And Then There Were None. Pence touted the administration’s reinstating of the Mexico City Policy, which ended government funding for abortions globally.
Nevada churches win
Nevada cannot impose on churches greater public health restrictions than those applied to secular businesses, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday in a victory for religious Nevadans. As previously covered by LifeSiteNews, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v Sisolak concerns a case made by Calvary Chapel, an evangelical church, that Nevada is unlawfully discriminating against houses of worship by allowing several public facilities, including casinos, to fill with crowds to 50 percent capacity while restricting religious gatherings to 50 people, no matter how large the building. In Calvary’s case, 50 percent capacity would be 90 people. This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 against taking the case, letting the restrictions stand. But a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit unanimously sided with the church on Tuesday, courthouse news reports. In reaching their decision, the judges relied on the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last month in favor of catholic diocese of Brooklyn against similar capacity limits imposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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NSLA School Shepherd Award given
The Rev. Jonathan Dinger, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church and School in Pocatello, Idaho, was selected by national Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) as the recipient of the 2020 NLSA School Shepherd Award. This award honors “a faithful pastor who provides outstanding encouragement, support and service to his school,” and who is able to “understand and articulate a clear philosophy of Lutheran education and provide spiritual encouragement, guidance and support for the schools entrusted to his care,” according to NLSA. Dinger is a graduate of Concordia University, Portland, Ore., and of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Prior to his Seminary studies, he served as a high school teacher for several years. He has served as Grace Lutheran’s pastor since 2007. Dinger was nominated by the NLSA validation team and endorsed by the LCMS Northwest District, then selected from among various nominees by the NLSA Selection Committee.
Religious identity in America declines
The most common religious identity among young adults in the U.S. is "none," and the majority of Americans don’t believe it’s necessary for a person to believe in God to be moral and have good values, a new survey has found. Released yesterday, the American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life investigating contemporary religion in the U.S. found that among young adults age 18 to 29, the most common religious identity today is “none.” More than one in three young adults are religiously unaffiliated. Nearly nine in 10 Americans report they believe in God, but just over half report they believe in God without any doubts at all. Of these, more than eight in 10 white evangelical protestants and black protestants say they are absolutely certain God exists. Overall, 42 percent of Americans have a close social connection with someone who is religiously unaffiliated — up from 18 percent in 2004. Additionally, most Americans say it's not necessary for a person to believe in God to be moral and have good values. Close to six in 10 Americans say a belief in God is not a precondition to being moral and having good values, while 41 percent of the public say a belief in God is essential.
Court asked to reinstate abortion pill restrictions
The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a requirement that women visit a medical facility to obtain abortion-inducing pills, seeking to lift a lower-court order that has allowed delivery by mail during the pandemic. The filing yesterday renews a request the court temporarily rejected in October, when it was shorthanded after the death of justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Supreme Court now has a stronger conservative majority with Justice Amy Coney Barrett having filled Ginsburg’s seat.
Informed consent law blocked
A Tennessee law that ensures women are not rushed into aborting their unborn babies will remain blocked after a federal judge ruled Monday. The AP reports U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman refused to lift his block on the state 48-hour waiting period law, which requires abortion facilities to provide informed consent counseling to women at least two days prior to an abortion.
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Religious schools’ accreditation threatened
The Human Rights Campaign — a large, influential LGBTQ advocacy group — recently released a policy brief with recommendations for a Biden administration, and the suggestions are alarming. The organization’s “Blueprint for Positive Change 2020” describes itself as “a comprehensive list of 85 individual policy recommendations aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ people.” One of the more alarming suggestions from the organization’s proposal concerns accreditation for religious schools and universities. It states, “the Department of Education should issue a regulation clarifying that this provision, which requires accreditation agencies to ‘respect the stated mission’ of religious institutions, does not require the accreditation of religious institutions that do not meet neutral accreditation standards including nondiscrimination policies and scientific curriculum requirements.”
Native American casinos are exempt
Dec. 3 the office of Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a conditional stay-at-home order which went into effect Dec. 5, giving every region in the state 24 hours from the point its Intensive Care Unit capacity falls below 15 percent to implement the restrictions in the order. Once triggered, the order that restricts residents from gathering, limits grocery stores to 35 percent and retailers to 20 percent capacity; and shuts down bars, salons, indoor and outdoor restaurants, among others, will be in effect for thee weeks. Unlike the rest of the businesses, Native American tribes are not required to follow state’s orders as they are sovereign nations, so Native American casinos are not affected by the governor’s order.
Bill in Congress would defend women’s sports
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and Rep. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma introduced a bill Thursday banning transgender females — people who were born male — from taking part in women’s sports. The Protect Women’s Sports Act would clarify Title IX for female athletes based on biological sex and require that only biological females can participate in women’s sports.
State capitols display Nativity scenes
Baby Jesus is present at the Iowa statehouse this Christmas season. Starting with an opening ceremony on Dec. 12 and remaining through Dec. 26, a traditional Christian crèche is on display in the first-floor rotunda in Des Moines. The Thomas More Society, a national not-for-profit law firm, has teamed up again with the American Nativity Scene to help keep privately funded manger scenes in the public square for Christmas. The following state capitols featured a nativity scene in 2019: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Additionally, during Christmas 2020, manger displays will be featured in Idaho, Oklahoma, Nevada and West Virginia, with newly participating states still being added.
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Church wins discrimination case
Yesterday, a California Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction protecting Father Trevor Burfitt and his Catholic parishes from the discrimination being heaped on them by Gov. Gavin Newsom and those under his authority in the name of COVID-19 prevention. Thomas More Society attorneys are representing Burfitt in his suit against Newsom and other state, county, and municipal officials. Judge Gregory Pulskamp issued the order yesterday, prohibiting Newsom and the others named in the lawsuit from enforcing COVID-19 related restrictions against Burfitt. The court specifically singled out the provisions of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and his regional Stay At Home order as failing to treat houses of worship in a manner “equal to the favored class of entities.”
Governor tells worshipers how to pray
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was widely rebuked for telling churchgoers during a press conference this week how they should worship. In discussing the latest COVID-19 restrictions in the Commonwealth, the governor turned his attention to the religious holidays celebrated this month, noting they are “typically times of joy and community.”
Florida free speech law is hailed
A nationwide pro-life student organization has expressed support for a newly signed law in Florida prohibiting public colleges from creating so-called "free speech zones" to limit on-campus speech. Earlier this week, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 4 into law, which prohibited public colleges from creating "free speech zones" on campus. Florida became the ninth state to pass such legislation, joining Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.
Born-Alive Bill in the U.S. House
A Democratic congresswoman has introduced a “Born-Alive” bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, attempting to protect babies born after a failed abortion attempt. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who was a contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, has offered H.R. 8923, which aims to amend Title 18 of the United States Code “to ensure a health care practitioner exercises the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.” The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Woman Injured at Manhattan Planned Parenthood
For the fifth time this year, a woman who was a client of the Manhattan Planned Parenthood abortion facility was transported by ambulance to a hospital emergency room. This is the 38th such medical emergency documented by Operation Rescue with the help of local pro-life activists. The incident occurred on last Tuesday just before 11 a.m. according to pro-life activists on the scene, the emergency workers entered the Planned Parenthood facility and came out about ten minutes later with a woman on a gurney completely covered with a sheet. She was loaded into an ambulance marked “Lennox Health, Greenwich Village, Northwell Health,” and was transported immediately away from the scene. The ambulance only activated its sirens after it was about a block away from the Manhattan Planned Parenthood facility.
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Attendance is up at Concordia, Ann Arbor.
Despite pandemic-driven plunges in undergraduate enrollment for colleges nationwide, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., has reason to celebrate this year with a record high enrollment. The fall 2020 total undergraduate enrollment count is — 1,010 — is up 34 students from last fall’s census number, and the 250-person freshman class beats out last year’s total by 27. The freshman class also has the highest average GPA since the merge with the Mequon campus in 2013.
Senator opposes pro-abortion Cabinet selection
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky called out the hard-line, pro-abortion stance of former Vice President Joe Biden’s pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in his administration, saying he would “hate to have” Xavier Becerra in charge of dispensing government money for late-term abortion. On Monday, Biden announced his selection of Becerra, the Democrat attorney general of California, to serve as his HHS secretary.
Ohio to recognize the personhood of aborted babies
An Ohio bill recognizing the humanity of unborn babies killed in abortions is on its way to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk after The State Senate passed it Wednesday. The final vote on the Unborn Child Dignity Act was 23-7, according to cleveland.com. The State House passed the bill last week, and DeWine, a pro-life Republican, is expected to sign it into law. The legislation requires the Ohio Department of Health to establish rules for the proper and humane burial or cremation of unborn babies who are killed in abortions. It creates penalties for violations and requires abortion facilities to pay for the babies to be cremated or buried. Such laws not only ensure that aborted babies’ bodies are treated with dignity and respect, they also are a safeguard against abortion facilities trying to sell aborted baby body parts.
Colorado’s governor says worship is ‘essential’
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has finally dropped Colorado’s COVID-19 unconstitutional limits on religious gatherings and declared that houses of worship are essential and removed attendance caps on worship effective last Monday. Polis reversed course and took this action because of the Supreme Court’s decision last week in Liberty Counsel’s case of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry in California and the court’s ruling on Thanksgiving eve in favor of New York churches and synagogues.
In-person worship restrictions thrown out on appeal
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court decision that upheld California’s restrictions on in-person worship gatherings and has ordered the lower court to reconsider the case considering recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings. In a lawsuit challenging California’s worship restriction, South Bay United Pentecostal Church, based in Chula Vista, Calif., argued that there was a double standard between the restrictions imposed on places of worship and restrictions imposed on secular businesses. The church, which draws 200-300 congregants, argued the disparity in treatment demonstrated hostility toward the right to worship guaranteed by the First Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional.
Woke Grinch complains of neighbor’s Christmas lights
In an anonymous letter sent to the home of Kim Hunt of St. Anthony, Minn., a person claiming to be one of Hunt’s neighbors chastised her and her husband for hanging up Christmas lights. The letter itself, obtained by Crime Watch Minneapolis and posted to social media Monday, suggested that innocuous displays such hunt’s constituted “a reminder of divisions that continue to run through our society” and “a reminder of systemic biases against our neighbors who don’t celebrate Christmas or who can’t afford to put up lights of their own.”
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Concordia Chicago delivers face masks
Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., specially delivered 250 face masks to Holy Family School, Chicago, a university partner through Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation. Concordia River Forest Alumni Association launched their “buy one, give one” face mask initiative in June to support fellow graduates. Within the first 48 hours, alumni and friends purchased more than 100 masks. Proceeds from this initiative provide personal protective equipment to faculty and staff at university partner schools and support current undergraduates through the Gard Student Assistance Fund. Additional “mask drops” will be made in the future.
Christian student group is reinstated
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Bozeman High School students and their Christian student club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, have secured recognition of the student group as an official non-curricular club and policy revisions from Montana school district officials, allowing the group equal access to resources and the ability to recruit new members. The school responded by reinstating the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ official status as a non-curricular club and changing its policies to ensure that similar unconstitutional actions don’t occur in the future. Bozeman High School recognizes many different non-curricular clubs on campus, including the Climate Crisis Club, Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Human Rights Club, Project X2+ and Native American Club.
New Labor Department rules
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a new rule intended to foster “full and equal participation” of religious groups as federal contractors. The final rule will become effective Jan. 8, two weeks before the presidential inauguration. It is the latest development in the long-running battle over how to balance religious rights with other, particularly LGBT, rights. The Trump administration’s focus on religious liberty has been hailed by conservatives and questioned as discriminatory by advocates of church-state separation and LGBT activists, who are concerned that religious exemptions will deprive same-sex couples' access to services.
Democrats claim abortion funding restriction is racist
House Democrats and their witnesses at an appropriations committee hearing yesterday characterized the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from funding abortions, as “clearly racist.” The Hyde Amendment prevents federal funding of abortions except “to save the life of the woman,” or in the case of incest or rape. It was passed in 1976 and was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 1980 ruling. The Hyde Amendment, which is a budget provision, has been passed every single year, no matter the party of the president or the party in control of congress. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who were pro-abortion presidents, signed appropriations bills that included the Hyde Amendment.
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LCMS may delay conventions
COVID-19 continues to impact both the world and the work of the church. Due to ongoing effects of the pandemic, some LCMS district presidents have expressed uncertainty that their district conventions will be able to convene at all during 2021. The LCMS Council of Presidents voted unanimously at their November 2020 meeting to encourage Lcms President The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison to put before congregations a proposal as per LCMS constitution to delay the 2022 Synod convention one year to 2023, thus extending the window for district conventions to include the calendar year 2022. Harrison also consulted with The Synod Board of Directors. The participation of each LCMS congregation in this deliberation and decision is vital as the Synod navigates this historic vote. While congregations can begin considering the issue immediately, instructions on the electronic voting process will be sent to member congregations by mail early in January; the vote, which requires participation of at least one quarter of the synod’s congregations, will conclude Feb. 15.
A House body considers funding abortion
Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies is holding a virtual hearing to discuss the Hyde Amendment, which forbids federal tax dollars from being used to pay for abortion through the federal Medicaid program. The Hyde amendment is a rider that has been added to the House appropriations bill every year since it was first passed on Sept. 30, 1976. Every president since then has supported it, and it is credited with saving at least 2.4-million lives from abortion. Today’s hearing includes four witnesses, with only one being pro-life — Christina Bennett, communications director for the Family Institute of Connecticut.
Biden picks pro-abortion Cabinet Secretary
Presumed President-Elect Joe Biden has nominated California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra, who has no experience in health care, is known for his hostility towards pro-life activists. As California’s attorney general, Becerra was preceded by Biden’s pick for vice president, Kamala Harris. Together, Becerra and Harris persecuted pro-lifers, with David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt as the most notable examples. As lead investigators for the Center for Medical Progress, Daleiden and Merritt exposed Planned Parenthood’s participation in the illegal trafficking of aborted baby body parts.
Hawaii court hears atheist case
A Hawaiian court has heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by two atheist activists accusing two churches of not properly compensating local public schools for using their facilities. Last Friday, Calvary Chapel Central Oahu and One Love Ministries went before a state trial court to argue that they lawfully compensated the schools they met in on weekends. The two churches were represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that has argued religious liberty cases before The United States Supreme Court.
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Lutheran principal is honored
Scott D. Browning, principal of St. Paul Lutheran School in Fort Worth, Texas, has been selected as a 2020 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. He credits in large part his fellow staff at St. Paul. The NDP award was established in 1984 to recognize elementary and middle-level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character and climate for the students, families and staffs in their learning communities. Browning holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb., and a master’s in educational administration from The University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Ark. He and his wife Kristen, who also graduated from Concordia, Seward, have four children ranging in age from 10 to 21.
Abortions resume in South Dakota
Abortions are again being performed in South Dakota, following a seven-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sioux Falls Planned Parenthood, the state's only abortion clinic, halted procedures in March. Beginning in October, the clinic resumed performing abortion, but only one day per month. The head of the clinic told CBS News that it is questionable if the clinic will remain financially viable.
‘Choose Life’ license plate petitions started
The Children First Foundation and Life Site News jointly launched a national petition on lifepetitions.com demanding that government officials in American states stop blocking pro-lifers from sharing the simple message “Choose Life” on their vehicles. The plates have been called pro-life “scare tactics” by Planned Parenthood and unlawful or hateful “private speech” by pro-abortion lawyers. States offer custom license plates that benefit various causes, such as the environment, animal rescues and medical research. Some states also offer pro-abortion license plates, but 17 states forbid “Choose Life” plates.
California’s ban on churches is lifted
Churches in California received a major victory yesterday when the Supreme Court struck down Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ban on indoor worship services. The unsigned decision follows on the heels of a major ruling at Thanksgiving striking down a New York ordinance severely limiting church attendance to as low as 10 people. The Supreme Court yesterday sided with a California church challenging Newsom’s order. The unsigned order had no dissents as the nation’s highest court tossed out an order from the federal district judge Central District of California, which had upheld Newsom’s restrictions. The justices vacated the district judge’s ruling and sent the case back down to the lower court for further consideration in light of its ruling in Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which struck down New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s restrictions.
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Giving Tuesday exceeds goal
Thanks to 245 generous donors, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis raised a record $66,320 on giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, surpassing its goal by $6,320. The Seminary set a goal of raising $60,000, which included a matching gift from a generous donor. Donations were matched dollar for dollar up to the first $30,000. The raised funds on giving Tuesday will be used where needed most in support of the seminary’s mission to prepare the church’s future pastors, deaconesses, missionaries and teachers. Because safety precautions in light of the pandemic kept members of the campus community from gathering together on campus on the day of giving itself, they were encouraged to wear their giving Tuesday t-shirts wherever they were to foster the support of friends, family members and colleagues.
More racism accusations at Planned Parenthood
More new accusations of racism from Planned Parenthood’s employees surfaced last week in Pennsylvania as the abortion chain grapples with its eugenic roots. And they have caused an abortion business director to resign. Over the past several months, hundreds of Planned Parenthood employees have been accusing the abortion chain of racism – though many failed to recognize that the discrimination hurts unborn babies as well as born patients and staff. The latest complaints came from the staff of Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania Advocates, the political advocacy branch of the abortion group in Pennsylvania. According to the Pittsburgh Current, staff published an open letter Nov. 24 demanding the resignation of Executive Director Emily Callen and several board members.
Pro-life advocates fight radical abortion legislation
Pro-life activists in Boston are rallying to persuade legislators to defeat a radical pro-abortion measure that would allow for abortion up to birth and would permit abortion for minors without parental consent. Now pro-life Christian activists are sponsoring a “Memorial of Roses for the Unborn” event to urge enough legislators who supported the abortion amendment, to reconsider their position and sustain the governor’s veto. The event’s webpage affirms that they are within reach, needing only five more votes to sustain the veto. This prayer rally will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, upon the steps of the state house at 21 Beacon St., Boston.
Satanic Temple loses court case
The battle the Satanic Temple has waged for years against the state of Missouri is finally at an end. After attempting to convince the courts to overturn the state’s pro-life laws, the Supreme Court refused to hear the temple’s case. The Satanic Temple has begun calling abortion a “religious rite” in recent years, seemingly in an attempt to skirt pro-life laws like the one in Missouri. The temple’s abortion “ritual” consists of making affirmations in front of a mirror before and after the procedure.
A pastor is cited for not having a mask in an empty building
A Pasadena, Maryland, church was cited recently after the pastor — who was alone in the building during office hours — answered the church door without wearing a mask for a health department official, who was making an unannounced visit. After issuing the citation, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health official told The Rev. Dennis Jackman that he would return, and if Community United Methodist Church in Pasadena was not in full compliance with COVID-19 guidance, the church would be deemed an "unsafe facility" and "closed until the state of emergency has been terminate."
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Concordia Nebraska names new president
The Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb. Board of Regents is pleased to announce that Dr. Bernard D. Bull has accepted a divine call to serve as the university's 11th president. Bull, currently serving as president of Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont, succeeds The Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, who served As Concordia, Seward's president 2004-19. Bull will fulfill his contractual obligations with Goddard College for the 2020-21 academic year, and then begin his Concordia, Seward, tenure in August 2021. During this timeframe, the university will continue to be served by Interim President The Rev. Russ Sommerfeld, who has competently and faithfully served in the role of president since Jan. 1.
‘Unplanned’ awards second scholarship
Another mom who’s prevailed after facing unplanned pregnancy is benefitting from the scholarship inspired by a movie bearing a powerful pro-life message. “Sarah” recently finished school for massage therapy and took out student loans for the program and licensing. The “Unplanned” Movie Scholarship will now help cover her costs related to school. Sarah, a single mom of four, is the second recipient of the scholarship, a collaborative project with actress Ashley Bratcher and Heartbeat International, benefitting moms facing unplanned pregnancy who choose life and wish to pursue their education.
Americans back religious freedom
Most Americans back religious freedom as they agree that religion is a "fundamental part" of people, a recent survey by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty found. Sixty percent of Americans said that "Religion, for some people, is a fundamental part of 'who I am' and should be protected accordingly." A majority of the 1,000 respondents across the United States also agreed that religious freedom and exercise are inherently public and extend to school, work, social media and other places. Generation Z and Black respondents supported this belief most strongly, the survey found.
Woman injured by abortion
Pro-life activists with Springfield Right to Life have reported that an ambulance was called to the Springfield, Ill., Planned Parenthood abortion facility on Nov. 19. Video posted on the group’s Facebook page showed an EMS crew wheeling a woman out of the abortion facility on a gurney and loading her into an awaiting ambulance, which transported her to an unknown hospital for emergency care. Operation Rescue requested 911 records and received a redacted report that verified the medical emergency at Planned Parenthood, and that an ambulance with advanced life support capabilities was dispatched. Information about the patient’s possible condition was redacted. However, a garbled radio dispatch audio clip was obtained that noted an 18-year-old woman fell, hit her head, and was “not alert” at the time the dispatch was made.
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Pro-life cases before the Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court is slated to privately discuss two abortion-related cases this week, one concerning a 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi, the other concerning the rights of pro-life protesters in Pennsylvania. The first case concerns Mississippi’s HB 1510, which prohibits abortions from being committed past 15 weeks for any reason other than physical medical emergencies or severe fetal abnormalities. The other case concerns a 2005 Pittsburgh “bubble zone” ordinance requiring pro-life activists to stay more than 15 feet away from the entrance to abortion facilities, effectively keeping pro-lifers from communicating with women entering or exiting the building to appeal to them to choose life or offer them assistance with abortion alternatives. These two cases will be an early test of the Supreme Court’s newest member, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in whom conservatives have placed great hopes for the future of abortion jurisprudence. Last week, she joined a 5-4 majority that blocked New York’s COVID-19 restrictions from discriminating against churches and synagogues.
The Rev. Paul McCain enters Glory
The Rev. Paul Timothy McCain, publisher and executive editor at Concordia Publishing House (CPH), died In Ballwin, Mo., Nov. 25. He was 58. During his time at the publishing house, McCain was general editor of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, A Reader’s Edition and also played pivotal roles in the publication of the Lutheran Service Book, The Lutheran Study Bible and Treasury Of Daily Prayer. He was a frequent guest on KFUO and other programs and podcasts and the author of numerous articles. As word of his death spread across the synod on Thanksgiving Day, The Rev. Todd Wilken, host of the radio program “Issues, Etc.,” credited McCain for putting the Book Of Concord “back into the hands of the laity. For that, and for all the other gifts god gave through Paul, every confessional Lutheran should give thanks today.”
Finnish church enters alter and pulpit partnership
On Nov. 14, the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) unanimously declared altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The decision came during the Finnish church’s annual diocesan assembly, held this year online as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The LCMS for its part also expressed recognition of fellowship in a letter of greeting presented to the Finnish diocese gathering. In a letter to the diocesan assembly, President Matthew Harrison of the LCMS expressed joy at the prospect of an official declaration of fellowship.
China cracks down on religious discussion
The Chinese Communist Party has drafted strict new rules preventing foreigners in the country from discussing religion with locals, a move that experts say will make practicing belief far more difficult. This week, China’s Ministry of Justice published a list of new restrictions on religious foreigners who are visiting or working in the Communist country to prevent them from spreading so-called "religious extremism," or use religion "to undermine China's national or ethnic unity."
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Local abortion facility injures two women
An abortion facility near the Illinois-Missouri border injured two women within just days of each other, the latest in a disturbing string of seemingly botched abortions and dangerous behavior. According to Operation Rescue, the first emergency took place on Oct. 15th at the Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Ill. Instead of being transported to The Gateway Regional Medical Center Hospital Emergency Room across the street, the injured woman was loaded into an ambulance, which took her to an unknown location. The second emergency took place just two days later on Oct. 17th, but this time, no ambulance was called. Instead, abortion facility staffers pushed the patient across a busy street in a wheelchair to the Gateway Emergency Room. The Hope Clinic for Women has previously been cited for numerous health violations, including failure to prevent potential cross-contamination and infection, as well as a lack of properly working equipment.
Abortionist surrenders license
A California abortionist who was responsible for hospitalizing six women with life-threatening complications within a nine-month period of time in 2017, has entered an agreement to surrender his medical license, effective today. Donald Clyde Willis was employed at the FPA Women’s Health abortion facility in Bakersfield, Calif., at the time of the abortion-related emergencies. Operation Rescue filed a formal complaint with the California Medical Board against Willis on Oct. 3, 2017 — the same day that the sixth medical emergency took place. An Operation Rescue staff member was interviewed by a medical board investigator regarding the case, which led to a formal accusation against Willis related to three of the injured women. Willis agreed to surrender his California medical license to avoid expensive disciplinary action.
New Jersey faces religious liberty suit
Attorneys from the Thomas More Society have filed an emergency application for an injunction pending appellate review from the United States Supreme Court in a federal religious liberty lawsuit against New Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy. On Nov. 19, the not-for-profit national public interest law firm filed the application with Justice Samuel Alito on behalf of The Rev. Kevin Robinson, a Catholic parish priest, and Rabbi Yisrael Knopfler, leader of an orthodox Jewish synagogue, who are suing Murphy and his administration for discriminatory abuses of religious freedom in their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The application alleges that New Jersey’s COVID-19 restrictions limiting houses of worship to 25 percent of capacity or a numerical cap, whichever is less, while imposing less restrictive limits on secular activities that evidently pose the same or greater risk of viral transmission, violates Robinson and Knopfler’s rights to the free exercise of religion and free speech and assembly.
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Planned Parenthood removed from Texas Medicaid
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Texas can remove Planned Parenthood facilities from the state’s Medicaid program. Texas moved forward with cutting Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in 2016 after the Center for Medical Progress released undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood staff appearing to participate in the illegal trafficking of aborted fetal body parts. After a years-long court battle, the 5th Circuit has overruled a lower court ruling and has sided with the state of Texas. The case may be headed to the Supreme Court.
Protection for female athletes
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit received friend-of-the-court briefs this week from female athletes, medical professionals, feminist groups, the United States and 14 states that all support Idaho’s “Fairness In Women’s Sports Act” and are asking the court to reverse a district court order that temporarily halted enforcement of the law. The district court’s hold on the law means female athletes must compete against males who identify as female while the lawsuit proceeds. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, representing two collegiate athletes who run track and cross-country at Idaho State University in Pocatello, are defending the law alongside the state of Idaho on appeal to the 9th circuit and filed their opening brief on Nov. 12.
Move to reopen religious schools
A religious liberty law firm and the Kentucky Attorney General have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Andy Breshear asking a court to block the implementation of his executive order banning religious schools from holding in-person learning. First Liberty Institute filed the lawsuit on behalf of Danville Christian Academy in the Eastern District of Kentucky Friday. Attorney general Daniel Cameron joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff. Citing a “potentially catastrophic surge in covid-19 cases,” Breshear issued an executive order Wednesday, which mandated all public and private elementary, middle and high schools to “cease in-person instruction and transition to remote or virtual instruction” beginning yesterday.
Governor urged to veto abortion amendment
Massachusetts pro-life leaders are urging people to call Gov. Charlie Baker and ask him to veto legislation that would legalize the killing of unborn babies up to birth. The pro-abortion amendment to the state budget passed the Massachusetts House and the Senate earlier this month. Among other things, it would expand late-term abortions, weaken protections from infanticide and allow young girls to abort their unborn babies without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Michael king of the Massachusetts family institute told One News Now that Baker can line-item veto the amendment and stop the radical pro-abortion expansion in their state.
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Concordia Wisconsin ranked among top tier of national universities
U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 “America’s Best Colleges Guide” has ranked Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., among the top tier of national universities. CUW rose 23 places this year, even after moving into the more competitive “national universities” category due to a growing portfolio of doctoral programs. The ranking considers a total of 17 indicators, including test scores, retention rates, mission allegiance and alumni engagement.
Concordia Ann Arbor has a new program
In a related story, the Academic Resource Center of Concordia University, Ann Arbor (CUAA), Mich., has launched Destination Cardinal, a summer “bridge” program geared primarily toward first-generation or low-income students. Students will begin the program the summer before they officially start at CUAA in order to ease the transition from high school to college. The program is also open to students who are already enrolled at CUAA and has proven useful for many this year as they navigate academics during COVID-19.
LGBT advocacy group lobbying against Christian schools
The nation's largest LGBT advocacy group is urging the future Biden administration to help pull the accreditation of Christian colleges and schools if they don't have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Human Rights Campaign posted its goals for the Biden administration in a Nov. 11 document, “Blueprint for Positive Change.” The 22-page brief includes dozens of objectives for the Biden White House, but its targeting of Christian institutions would have a major impact on religious schools. Under a current law known as the Higher Education Opportunity Act, accrediting agencies are told to ensure their standards "respect the stated mission of the institution of higher education," including a school's "religious" mission.
Forcing abortion coverage again goes to court
Attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom go to court today in San Francisco representing three California churches seeking exemption from a Golden State rule mandating they pay for abortions. The case originated in a suit filed by the Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino and Shepherd of The Hills Church In Porter Ranch. The three congregations are challenging the department’s mandate on appeal in Foothill Church v. Rouillard.
Pro-life activists are arrested
Pro-life activists were arrested Tuesday outside of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where first and second-trimester abortions are committed, and the bodies of aborted children are used for research at the University of California San Francisco. Terrisa Bukovinac, executive director of Pro-Life San Francisco, Lauren Handy of Red Rose Rescue, and other pro-lifers including Cheryl Conrad of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, were protesting outside of the hospital when they were arrested. The activists were charged with trespassing, but claim they were on public property. Pro-Life San Francisco announced it will be pursuing legal action regarding the arrest and are confident it will win in court.
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Concordia St. Paul sets record
Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., set a new fall enrollment record with 5,567 students — 428 more than its previous high of 5,139 a year ago. Traditional undergraduate programs gained 56 students, adult undergraduate programs 361 students, and graduate programs 11 students. Enrollment for students learning on campus now stands at an all-time high of 1,756, while graduate programs saw their total enrollment surpass 2,000 students for the second consecutive year. Adult undergraduate program enrollment, which includes the bulk of online students, stands at 1,788.
Suit filed against the city of Washington, D.C,
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing two pro-life organizations filed suit in federal court Wednesday after the city of Washington, D.C., refused to grant permission for the groups to paint a pro-life message on a city street shortly after the city commissioned or allowed the painting of other messages on a different street. In June, a mural reading “BLACK LIVES MATTER” was created using permanent yellow paint, the length of an entire city block, extending the width of the street. Shortly after the mural was painted, another mural reading “DEFUND THE POLICE” was also painted on the street. The Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America then sought to paint a similar mural outside of the Planned Parenthood Carole Whitehill Moses Center with the message “BLACK PRE-BORN LIVES MATTER,” but the city refused to grant a permit to the two groups. Students for Life of America applied for a permit and received permission to hold a rally, but neither group received a formal response from the city regarding the painted mural.
Pro-abortion follower appointed to Biden’s staff
Former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen an outspoken pro-abortion activist to serve as his White House chief of staff should he end up assuming the presidency in 2021. Last week, the 77-year-old Biden announced that he would tap Ron Klain, who had previously worked as chief of staff to Al Gore and Biden during their respective vice presidencies, to serve as his chief of staff. Over the years, Klain has repeatedly heaped praise on the pro-abortion movement and questioned the legitimacy of both the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections. In a series of tweets he sent out in 2018 and 2019, Klain voiced his admiration for pro-abortion activists and organizations.
City lifts ban on sidewalk counseling
In a victory for life Tuesday, the city council In Jackson, Missi. voted to repeal an ordinance that restricted pro-life free speech outside the only abortion facility in the state. The AP reports the Jackson City Council voted unanimously to repeal the 2019 buffer zone ordinance after pro-life sidewalk counselors sued the city. The ordinance prohibited people from “oral protest, education or counseling” within 15 feet of the entrance to a health care facility and prohibited amplified sound within 100 feet of the property line. It also banned anyone from coming within eight feet of another person without their permission. Those who violated the ordinance could face a $1,000 fine or jail time. The ordinance technically applied to all health care facilities in Jackson, but it really targeted pro-lifers. As a result, peaceful pro-life advocates could have been punished for praying outside the abortion facility or handing a woman information about pregnancy resources in the city. The victory Tuesday may be temporary. According to the AP, City Council President Aaron Banks promised to take new action to “guarantee safety and that individuals aren’t harassed.”
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Concordia Chicago sets enrollment record
This fall, Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., celebrated its largest-ever enrollment with a total of 6,490 students, a growth of 5 percent more than last year. This also marks the third consecutive year of combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment exceeding 6,000 students. CUC’s 2020 enrollment includes 4,953 graduate students — its largest number ever. In addition, the university’s accelerated degree program, a pathway for non-traditional undergraduates to earn their degrees, grew to a record 287 students.
Colorado’s anti-discrimination law challenged
A Colorado web designer should not have to create wedding websites for same-sex couples under the state’s anti-discrimination law because it would amount to forced speech that violates her religious beliefs, a lawyer told an appeals court Monday. Kristen Waggoner, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, told a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver that the issue for designer Lorie Smith, who is a Christian, is the message and not the customer. She is trying to revive a lawsuit challenging the state’s law, which her group also targeted on behalf of Colorado baker Jack Phillips in a case decided in 2018 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court decided the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had acted with anti-religious bias against Phillips after he refused to bake a cake for two men who were getting married. But it did not rule on the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to LGBT people.
New York to add ‘X’ for sex on licenses
New York intends to offer driver’s licenses with a nonbinary gender identity marker of “X,” but it could take more than a year before Department of Motor Vehicles computers will be able to automatically handle the option, state officials said in court filings. Officials made the disclosure in papers filed in a federal lawsuit brought against them by Sander Saba, who is challenging the state policy of limiting gender identity on licenses to either “male” or “female.” Saba, who claims to be a nonbinary transgender New York City resident, said in the lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal this summer that the policy is discriminatory.
Astronaut takes God with him in orbit
Astronaut Victor Glover wasn’t trying to get away from God as he blasted to the International Space Station (ISS) in the SpaceX crew Dragon’s capsule “Resilience” on Sunday. As the first African-American astronaut to go on a long-term mission, Glover took on board communion cups and the Word of God. He plans to utilize the strong internet connection aboard the craft to access faith-based programs, too. Glover arrived at the ISS with the three other crew members onboard the first commercially developed space vehicle certified by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration to ferry astronauts up to low-earth orbit and back again. The crew will stay at the space station until the spring. Glover’s making his first space journey after serving as a Navy F/A-18 carrier pilot who flew combat missions in Iraq. He also previously served as a legislative aide to the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, himself a naval aviator.
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A Kansas school cancels Christmas
A Kansas school has canceled its participation in Operation Christmas Child after an atheist group wrote to the school district alleging that the program “violates basic constitutional principles.” The annual project is sponsored by the Christian nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse, through which shoeboxes filled with gifts are sent to children in more than 160 nations. Liberty Middle School must “cease participation in Operation Christmas Child or taking any other actions promoting Christianity like including religious references over morning announcements,” the atheist legal group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, wrote to Tony Helfrich, the superintendent of Pratt School District, claiming “many egregious Constitutional violations [are] occurring” at the school.
The Rev. Dr. Pittelko called to glory
The Rev. Dr. Roger Dean Pittelko, who served as president of the LCMS English District from 1986 to 1997, died on Nov. 11. He was 88. In addition, he was a professor and supervisor of the D.Min. Program at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, fourth vice-president of the LCMS (1998–2001) and chairman of the LCMS Commission on Worship (1983–1990 and 1992–1998). He also served as chairman of the Agenda Committee during the production of Lutheran Service Book. Pittelko sat on a variety of District and Synod committees and boards, authored numerous articles, and was a frequent presenter on topics related to liturgy and worship. Pittelko is survived by his wife, Beverly; his son, The Rev. Dr. Dean (Kay) Pittelko; daughter Susan (Howard) Gorecki; and grandchildren Hillary Pittelko and Jon, Jessica and Sarah Gorecki. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no public service is planned at this time.
Biden administration to roll back abortion protections
Americans can expect to be forced to send hundreds of millions of tax dollars to pro-abortion groups if Joe Biden is confirmed to be the winner of the white house. Biden, a pro-abortion Democrat, promised to reverse President Donald Trump’s progress for life when he takes office, including ending the Mexico City Policy and restoring Title X funds to Planned Parenthood. These two executive orders alone defunded Planned Parenthood and the British-based abortion chain Marie Stopes International of more than $200 million U.S. tax dollars. Among other priorities, Christianity Daily reports Biden also is expected to repeal a Trump executive order that granted relief to charities like the Little Sisters of the Poor. Biden would once again force them to follow the Affordable Care Act contraception mandate, which includes drugs that may cause abortions.
Supreme Court Justice sounds a warning
Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito gave a strong and impassioned speech to the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention on Thursday, where he condemned efforts by the left to take away religious freedom — in particular efforts to force Christians like the Little Sisters of the Poor to fund abortions. Addressing the theme of religious liberty, Alito criticized the Obama administration for what he called a “protracted campaign” and “unrelenting attack” on the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of Catholic nuns that Democrats have repeatedly tried to force to fund abortions.
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Strip Clubs, yes; churches, no
A California judge ordered San Diego to reopen strip clubs even as local officials crack down on churches. San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel R. Wohlfeil ordered the state to end any actions that prevent the clubs from "being allowed to provide live adult entertainment," according to the decision. The owners of two strip clubs argued that their business is legally protected speech guaranteed by the first amendment — the same argument that churches have been making about their own services. The judge's decision is not final as that in a full hearing, which will occur at the end of the month, but it temporarily allows the strip clubs to reopen for indoor services, as other institutions close. In their legal complaint, strip-club owners argued they have complied with social distancing requirements. They also warned that another shutdown would mean financial ruin. The judge temporarily sided with them.
Arguments heard yesterday on nativity scene
Liberty Counsel presented oral argument yesterday before a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals refuting the opinion by an Indiana federal judge who ruled against the nativity scene display at the Jackson County Courthouse. Liberty Counsel represents Jackson County and also filed a motion to stay asking the court to allow the nativity scene to be displayed during the holiday season this year while the judges make a decision. In addition to the nativity scene, the annual holiday display also includes a large lighted Santa Claus, sleigh with reindeer, and a group of Christmas carolers. The courthouse grounds are also decorated with many kinds of lights and other non-religious symbols of the holiday season. Judge Tanya Pratt previously ruled in favor of a plaintiff who does not live or work in the county and does not transact any business in the Jackson County Courthouse. This building no longer hosts court proceedings as they are now conducted in the new courthouse.
The Rev. Dr. David G. Schmiel called home
The Rev. Dr. David G. Schmiel, who served as the 15th president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., (CTSFW) from 1993 to 1996, died on Nov. 3. He was 88. In addition to serving as president of CTSFW, Schmiel was pastor of congregations In Gresham, Neb., and Onalaska, Wis.; professor at St. Paul’s College in Concordia, Mo.; professor and dean of faculty at Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn.; director of instruction at CSL; president at Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich.; and director of theological education for the LCMS Board for Higher Education. He authored numerous papers and served for several years on the LCMS Standing Committee on Pastoral Ministry. A funeral was held on yesterday at Crossview Lutheran Church, Edina, Minn., with burial at Lakeside Cemetery in Minneapolis. In addition to the Lcms Office of Pastoral Education, memorials may be made to CSL or a recipient of the donor’s choice.
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Seminary to digitize rare books
In the coming decade, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will make some 10,000 books and manuscripts, including more than 6,000 volumes in its rare book collection, available to scholars worldwide thanks to the mobilization of a monumental digitization effort. The Seminary’s Kristine Kay Hasse Memorial Library, the largest Lutheran library in North America, will begin using state-of-the-art technology in the coming months to photograph, scan and convert its most fragile and unique manuscripts and books into electronic files. It will take about a decade to complete the process of digitizing all the materials.
Massachusetts tries to expand abortion
As companion bills aimed at allowing abortion up until the moment of birth continue to be stalled, Massachusetts lawmakers are now working to insert an amendment into the state budget that would accomplish the same goal. State Representative Claire Cronin, the co-chair of the Joint Committee on The Judiciary, filed Amendment 759, which would be added to the annual budget bill. The leadership of both houses of the Massachusetts General Court have spoken out in favor of the amendment, similar to the Roe Act that failed.
New Jersey to make abortion a right
Last month, New Jersey lawmakers introduced a bill that would permanently enshrine abortion as a right in the state. Created as a response to the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the so-called “Reproductive Freedom Act” would not only protect abortion within the state but would also do away with virtually all restrictions. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the legislation, which he crafted with Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, as a move to “expand health care” on his website. In addition to making abortion a state right, it mandates that insurance covers both birth control and abortion, with no out-of-pocket cost. Finally, it removes what it labels “medically-unnecessary restrictions” on abortion, which it considers a “fundamental right.”
Michigan’s Supreme Court to rule on school funding
Michigan’s highest court heard oral arguments in a case over whether the state can provide funds to private and religious schools to maintain state-mandated health and safety regulations, despite a state constitutional amendment barring public funding of nonpublic schools. The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in the case of Council of Organizations and others for education about Parochiaid v. State of Michigan. At issue was a law passed in 2016 that allocated $2.5 million to reimburse private schools for the cost of complying with state-mandated health, safety, and welfare regulations. The lawsuit against reimbursing private schools filed by a coalition of groups, including the ACLU of Michigan, Michigan Parents for Schools, Middle Cities Education Association and Kalamazoo Public Schools. The oral arguments before the Michigan Supreme Court come months after the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that religious schools in Montana can qualify for a state tax credit program even though their state constitution bans public aid to religious entities.
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Supreme Court again delays on abortion law
Pro-life advocates are hopeful the Supreme Court will review an abortion law in Mississippi, even though the court once again delayed its decision on whether to hear the case. Lynn Fitch, the state’s attorney general, has asked the court to review its law, which bans abortion after 15 weeks of gestation and has been challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The state’s only abortion clinic offers abortions until the 16th week of a pregnancy. Mississippi’s previous governor, Phil Bryant, signed the ban into law in 2018, but it was subject to immediate legal appeal and blocked by a District Court. In 2019, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the law to be unconstitutional. Fifteen weeks is considered prior to fetal viability outside the womb. The Supreme Court had been expected to announce whether it would heat the case on Friday. The Court was due to conference regarding the law on Nov. 13, but instead announced on Monday that it had again delayed a decision. This is the fifth time since Sept. 22 that the conference has been rescheduled. No reason for the delay, or new date, was given.
Abortion security guard removed
According to pro-life organization Abortion on Trial, a security guard has been removed from his position at a New Mexico abortion facility owned by Franz Theard, an abortionist currently under investigation for abandoning a patient who suffered two concurrent botched abortions under his care. Bertram Wiles, employed by Securitas Security Services USA Inc. as a security guard, was placed at Hilltop Women’s Reproductive Clinic in New Mexico. In video which Wiles posted himself, which has since been removed, he was seen harassing pro-life women across from the abortion business. Though portions of the video used voiceovers, other portions showed him directly sexually harassing women. He is also accused of following one woman to her job and leaving his card on her car. Wiles has since scrubbed his social media accounts, which included multiple similar videos that included sexual remarks directed toward young women, racial slurs towards Latina women, and vulgar language directed at pro-lifers.
Forty percent of the world’s believers subject to persecution
Dictators are the worst persecutors of believers. This uncontroversial finding was verified for the first time in The Pew Research Center’s 11th Annual Study surveying restrictions on freedom of religion in 198 nations. He median level of government violations reached an all-time high in 2018, as 56 nations suffer “high” or “very high” levels of official restriction. The number of nations suffering “high” or “very high” levels of social hostilities toward religion dropped slightly to 53. However, the prior year the median level recorded an all-time high. Considered together, 40 percent of the world faces significant hindrance in worshiping God freely.
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Supreme Court to settle Title X dispute
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing two pro-life medical associations filed a Friend-of-the-Court brief yesterday, encouraging The U.S. Supreme Court to take a case concerning a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that prevents federal family-planning funding under the Title X program from being used for abortions. The brief explains that the HHS final rule essentially revives one that the Supreme Court already found Constitutional in a previous case and should therefore be upheld. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit blocked the HHS regulations in Maryland while a 9th Circuit decision in a separate case upheld them. The rulings create a split between the circuits that only the Supreme Court can resolve.
Biden promises funding for Planned Parenthood
Should Joe Biden become president after recounts and court cases involving allegations of massive election fraud, he says he will sign an executive order on week one of any potential presidency to force American taxpayers to fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Even though Biden may not be certified as the new president, he has already formed a presidential transition team and that team has released a set of priorities of the first things he would do in office. On the list is a promise to reverse President Donald Trump’s Protect Life Rule that make sure taxpayers aren’t forced to fund groups such as Planned Parenthood that perform and promote abortions in other countries. During a Town Hall in South Carolina Biden confirmed that one of his first acts as president would be using taxpayer dollars behind the global abortion agenda.
Global abortion giants praise Biden
Abortion giants around the world have celebrated Biden’s reported presidential victory by releasing a series of statements praising his pro-abortion position and policies. Biden was announced as the winner of the 2020 presidential election by media outlets during the weekend. Some remaining us states continue to count their votes. Following the announcement, global abortion giants took to social media to congratulate Biden and Vice President-apparent Kamala Harris for their commitment to expand abortion.
South African rector retires
The Rev. Dr. Carlos Walter Winterle has announced his retirement as rector of the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Tshwane, Pretoria in South Africa. Winterle, who turned 70 earlier this year, said, “It is time to retire and give way to the younger generation.” Succeeding Winterle as rector of the LTS is the Rev. Dr. Heinz Hiestermann. Winterle served as president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil from 1998-2006. He has spent the next 14 years serving throughout Africa: four years in Kenya; seven in Cape Town, South Africa; and the past three as the rector of LTS in Pretoria. He has also been heavily involved with missions and theological education in Mozambique.
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Planned Parenthood drops suit
Planned Parenthood of Arizona has dropped its lawsuit against Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, which sought to have several state regulations on abortion overturned. The suit challenged laws which mandated only physicians commit abortions, banned abortion pills dispensed via telemedicine, and required women to have an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion. Despite dropping the suit, the abortion business is still pressing judges to overturn the laws. In addition, the organization announced on Oct. 24 the resignation of Bryan Howard, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Arizona. Howard spent 36 years working for the abortion chain, 23 of which were with Planned Parenthood of Arizona. Howard had previously complained about ultrasound legislation, noting that it has led to fewer abortions being committed, meaning women have “had their life substantially disrupted.” He also falsely claimed to provide prenatal care, and opposed legislation banning discriminatory abortions committed based on the race or sex of the child.
Black pro-life leaders tell Planned Parenthood to leave
Black pro-life leaders are telling the Planned Parenthood abortion chain to get out of their neighborhoods and stop targeting black women and unborn babies. The National Black Pro-Life Coalition recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accusing the abortion chain of decades of racial discrimination, One News Now reports. Planned Parenthood itself recently admitted that its founder, Margaret Sanger, held eugenics beliefs “rooted in racism, ableism and classism” and removed her name from its New York City facility. Hundreds of Planned Parenthood employees also accused its leaders of racism earlier this year. Lori Hoye of the Issues4Life Foundation said the abortion chain needs to do more than just disavow its founder. Though abortions hurt families of every race and culture, statistics indicate that abortions disproportionately hurt the African-American community. Census data indicates that African Americans make up about 13 percent of the U.S. population, but they have about 40 percent of all abortions.
Malagasy Lutherans choose a new leader
On Nov. 5, the Malagasy Lutheran Church elected the Rev. Dr. Denis Rakotozafy to serve as its new president. The vote came during the church’s 23rd synodical conference held Nov. 4-8, which gathered under the theme: “and increase the harvest of your righteousness…” (2 Corinthians 9:10).
Same-sex marriage ban overturned
Nevada voters overturned a ban on same-sex marriage, making it the first state to recognize gay couples' right to marry in its constitution. The right to same-sex marriage was one four new amendments to the state constitution, which also included a voters' bill of rights and a renewable energy mandate.
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Nevada church seeks equal treatment
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a church filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme court yesterday that asks it to declare Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s coronavirus restrictions on churches unconstitutional. For months, Sisolak allowed casinos to operate at 50 percent capacity while capping churches at 50 people. That meant a casino with capacity for 2,000 could host 1,000 gamblers, while a church with the same capacity could welcome only 50 worshipers. Although the governor’s newest order increased the cap, it continues the unequal treatment by allowing casinos and other secular establishments to operate at 50 percent capacity with no cap. A procedural rule allows Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley in rural Lyon County to ask the high court to weigh in even while its lawsuit moves forward at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit; the ordinary process could result in the church being subject to unconstitutional gathering restrictions for many additional months.
Number of Christian voters declines
The share of registered voters in the United States who say they are Christian has declined by about 15 percent since 2008 while the number of religiously unaffiliated voters has nearly doubled, Pew Research Center data suggests. Pew drew the data from a balanced survey of more than 360,000 registered voters surveyed over a 25-year span that include over 12,000 voters questioned in 2018 and 2019. The data indicate that 64 percent of all registered voters surveyed in 2019 self-identified as Christian. That figure is down from 79 percent of registered voters surveyed in 2008 who identified themselves as followers of Christ. The study shows that the decline in registered Christian voters is most stark in the Democratic Party. In 2008, 73 percent of registered democrats identified as Christian. But by 2019, only 52 percent of Democrat voters said the same. Registered Republican voters have seemingly moved away from God at a slower rate, dropping from 87 percent Christian in 2008 to 79 percent Christian in 2019. In comparison, the number of religiously unaffiliated voters has almost doubled from 15 percent to 28 percent in the same years.
'Jesus' no, 'Black Lives Matter' yes
A Mississippi elementary school that allowed students to wear “Black Lives Matter” masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic ordered a third-grade girl to remove her “Jesus Loves Me” mask. On Monday, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit defending her First Amendment rights. The third-grade pupil, Lydia Booth, aimed to peacefully share her Christian faith by wearing the “Jesus Loves Me” mask. She wore the mask without disruption or incident on Oct. 13, but the principal at her school demanded she remove and replace it. Two days later, Simpson County School District administrators announced a policy prohibiting masks that are “political, religious, sexual or inappropriate symbols, gestures or statements that may be offensive, disruptive or deemed distractive to the school environment.” According to the lawsuit, the school has allowed students to wear masks with the logos of local sports teams or even the political slogan “Black Lives Matter.”
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Pro-life increases in House of Representatives
The number of pro-life Republican women in the House of Representatives will more than double in 2021, in another likely disappointment for Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has yet to see her prediction of an increased Democratic majority materialize. At least 14 pro-life women have won Houses races, and in seven cases they flipped Democrat-held seats.
Aborted babies memorialized in sculpture
A new sculpture installed at Resurrection Cemetery in The Diocese of Madison, Wisc., is dedicated to the memory of children lost to abortion. The powerful sculpture depicts a grief-stricken mother and father and their aborted daughter shown as a young child. The sculpture, called “The Memorial of Unborn Children II,” was created by Slovakian sculptor Martin Hudáček, whose “Memorial for Unborn Children” of a mother and her aborted child touched hearts in 2010. His new sculpture portrays the pain both mothers and fathers can experience after an abortion. Hudáček told Catholic World Report that people in Poland came to him with the idea of showing it isn’t only women who regret abortion and weep for their children. Fathers, too, can suffer the effects of abortion trauma.
Supreme Court heard religious freedom argument
The Supreme Court of The United States yesterday heard oral argument in Philadelphia v. Fulton, a case in which the justices will decide whether religious organizations can be disqualified from serving children and families. First Liberty filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case on behalf of Galen Black, a plaintiff from the landmark 1990 Supreme Court Case Employment Division v. Smith. First Liberty Institute Counsel Keisha Russell said the Constitution prohibits government from punishing religious organizations for acting consistently with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The court should ensure that religious adoption providers can continue their centuries-old work serving families and children without suffering government discrimination because they believe that the best home for a child includes a mother and father.
Planned Parenthood drops a suit
Planned Parenthood’s filed a notice to a federal district court Tuesday that the abortion giant wishes to drop its lawsuit against Arizona laws that protect women considering an abortion by ensuring they have at least 24 hours to reflect and investigate after receiving critical information — in person — about abortion and available alternatives and ensuring that abortions are performed only by licensed physicians. In March, The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona allowed Choices Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, to intervene in the lawsuit, Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Brnovich, specifically to defend the 24-hour waiting period provision in Arizona law.
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Louisiana voters support pro-life amendment
Louisiana voters passed an amendment to the state constitution yesterday evening establishing that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. The New York Timesreported that 62 percent of Louisiana voters supported Amendment 1, “Love Life Amendment,” an amendment stating that nothing in the Louisiana state constitution protects the right to abortion or abortion funding. Louisiana also has a trigger law automatically banning all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned, according to NBC News. Abortion advocates argued that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, the amendment unfairly impacts access to abortion. Michelle Erenberg, executive director of the abortion-rights group Lift Louisiana, said the amendment is part of a long strategy to strip the right to an abortion.
Colorado voters reject pro-life legislation
Voters in Colorado have rejected a pro-life ballot measure that would have banned abortion after 22 weeks, according to the Associated Press. The measure was defeated, with approximately 60 percent of the vote opposing the measure. Proposition 115 would have prohibited abortion once a preborn child reached 22 weeks gestation. Any doctor who committed or attempted to commit an abortion after 22 weeks would have been charged with a misdemeanor and faced fines. There was an exception for when the mother’s physical health was in danger. Babies born as young as 21 weeks have survived with medical assistance.
Facebook censors a pregnancy crisis center
An Illinois pro-life organization trying to raise money to help pregnant women and babies is being censored on Facebook. The Federalist reports the social media giant rejected the fundraising ad From Illinois Right to Life this fall, claiming it violates its advertising policy. The ad highlights Project Love, an initiative of Illinois Right yo Life to “Support pregnant women and new mothers in a financial crisis by providing grants for rent, utility bills or other necessities.” The pro-life organization hoped to raise money through the ad to help mothers and babies in need, but Facebook refused to run it. Meanwhile, the abortion Giant Planned Parenthood is still running ads on Facebook.
School bans ‘Jesus Loves Me’ mask
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Monday on behalf of an elementary school pupil and her parents against the Simpson County School District in Mississippi after school officials prohibited her from wearing a face mask with the message “Jesus Loves Me” on it. The third-grade pupil, Lydia Booth, wished to peacefully share her Christian views with her schoolmates but, even though she wore the mask without disruption or incident on Oct. 13, the principal at her school in Pinola required her to remove and replace it. Two days later, administrators announced a policy that prohibits messages on masks that are “political, religious, sexual or inappropriate symbols, gestures or statements that may be offensive, disruptive or deemed distractive to the school environment.”
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Vote your faith
Today is Election Day in the United States. The sanctity of life, family and religious liberty are major concerns for Lutherans and other Christians. The two main parties hold vastly differing views on those three topics among others. Citizens should educate themselves on where the candidates stand and then vote accordingly.
California’s restrictions challenged in court
A California church on Monday went to court over $350,000 in fines it received for violating the state's coronavirus worship restrictions. The church, Calvary Chapel in San Jose, argued that Gov. Gavin Newsom's orders, as well as local restrictions, place an undue burden on the free exercise of faith. The church has been meeting in-person since May and received a fine every time it violated orders limiting congregations to 100 people. The church's pastor, Mike McClure, said that no members of the church have tested positive for the coronavirus. Santa Clara County, where the church is located, was granted a temporary restraining order against Calvary Chapel while the lawsuit is underway. The order requires the church to follow coronavirus restrictions until its case is decided. The case arose last week when the county claimed that the church, which typically attracts 600 people, poses an "imminent risk of a super-spreader" event. California has faced some of the fiercest battles between churches and governments over how worship should be conducted during the pandemic. The state has both weathered and prosecuted multiple lawsuits related to restrictions on services and gathering size.
Supreme Court will hear religious liberty arguments
The U.S. Supreme Court with newly appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett is set to hear a case tomorrow regarding Philadelphia’s Catholic Social Services (CSS) and whether the city of Philadelphia has a right to block the organization’s status as a state-approved foster care provider because of the organization’s Catholic beliefs. The city cut off CSS foster parents from having children placed in their homes in 2018 and refused to renew their contract with CSS due to the catholic organization’s practice of not placing children in same-sex homes. The district courts and appellate courts both ruled in favor of Philadelphia, claiming that CSS was discriminating against homosexuals and therefore in violation of the nondiscrimination clause of its contract. CSS argues that the government has it backwards — that it is Philadelphia that is discriminating against CSS for being Catholic and violating the organization’s Constitutional rights. In fact, there were no same-sex couples who had brought the complaint against CSS. It was the city who canceled them without provocation.
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Colorado votes on abortion
The Colorado Sun reports pro-abortion groups and activists across the country have poured $8.7 million into defeating Proposition 115, a state ballot measure that would prohibit abortions on viable unborn babies. Colorado is one of the few states with no limits on abortions, and abortionists there openly advertise abortions in the third trimester. The ballot measure would protect viable, pain-capable unborn babies by banning late-term abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions would be allowed if the mother’s life is at risk.
Father loses case for unborn child
An Alabama father lost a lawsuit on behalf of his unborn baby Friday at the Alabama Supreme Court. WAAY 31 reports the state high court upheld a ruling dismissing Ryan Magers’ case against the Alabama Women’s Center, an abortion facility in Huntsville that aborted his unborn baby in 2017. Magers sued the abortion facility after his girlfriend aborted their unborn baby there against his will. Initially, a Madison County judge granted his petition to represent the estate of his child, “Baby Roe,” and sue the abortion facility in a wrongful death lawsuit. However, in 2019, Madison County Circuit Judge Chris Comer dismissed the lawsuit, saying the abortion facility did not do anything unlawful. On Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court agreed with comer’s ruling. Right now, in the U.S. fathers do not have any legal rights to protect their unborn children from abortions. Laws requiring that a father be notified or given a say in an abortion have been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Magers’ case was unique because a court recognized his aborted baby as the plaintiff and him as the representative of his baby’s estate. Magers said his girlfriend was six weeks pregnant when she had the abortion in 2017. By six weeks, an unborn baby’s heart is already beating. At conception, an unborn baby also has his/her own unique DNA that determines hair and eye color, gender and other traits.
U.S takes U.N. to account
The acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, John Barsa, has sent a scathing letter to the U.N. secretary general for allowing U.N. experts to promote abortion. He also told him to make “A course-correction for the greater good of the U.N.” this is the second letter Barsa has sent to the Secretary General Antonio Guterres of Portugal complaining of un abortion activism during the covid-19 pandemic. The first was sent in May. But even as Guterres was responding to Barsa, on May 22 a group of U.N. human rights officials and experts issued a letter to the United States government criticizing U.S. states that had not designated abortion as essential during the covid-19 pandemic, among them Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.
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Planned Parenthood lied
The Center for Medical Progress released a fourth video yesterday featuring unsealed video clips from Planned Parenthood leaders’ sworn deposition testimony about the abortion provider’s fetal tissue research programs — Including details about the programs that directly contradict What Planned Parenthood told multiple Congressional investigations in 2015 and 2016. While under investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Select Investigative Panel, Planned Parenthood told congress that its Houston affiliate, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, never had a “fetal” tissue research program — only a “placental” tissue program — with researchers at University of Texas Medical Branch. Based on this representation, Planned Parenthood produced less documentation of Planned Parenthood’s practices than other regional offices in California. But when questioned under oath about the transactions with University of Texas, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s Vice President for Research, Melissa Farrell, testifies that her Planned Parenthood office in fact transferred the entire aborted fetus to the university, not just the placenta. Farrell testifies that in previous fetal tissue transactions, Planned Parenthood transferred the “products of conception” from the abortion — the fetus, placenta, and everything removed in the abortion — “in its entirety.”
Fundraising effort halted
GoFundMe has shut down the efforts of parents attempting to raise money to display billboards that say, "Puberty is not a medical condition" for violating its user rules. The fundraising effort, which was inspired by A Los Angeles-area father of a gender-confused teenaged daughter who put up one such billboard near West Hollywood, was taken down Wednesday on the widely used crowdfunding site. The father has received no specific response from GoFundMe as to why his page was removed. The billboard that was erected last week in California and will be there for one month states: "Your child is learning about gender identity in school. Puberty is not a medical condition. Get the facts. Read this book." the message was positioned next to the cover of the recent book “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters” by Wall Street Journal contributor Abigail Shrier.
California restricts family Thanksgiving gatherings
California Department of Public Health officials are cracking down on family Thanksgiving celebrations with a host of restrictions. All gatherings must include no more than three households, including hosts and guests, and must be held outdoors, lasting for two hours of less. The department further states that gatherings that occur outdoors are significantly safer than indoor gatherings. All gatherings must be held outside. Attendees may go inside to use restrooms as long as the restrooms are frequently sanitized,” the statement added. The department adds that citizens can remove their masks while they’re eating or drinking, or for health reasons, such as if the individual is feeling light-headed or needs to use their asthma inhaler.
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Lutherans prepare for the March For Life
As they have for decades, members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) will march for life in 2021. One such event is the Chicago March For Life, which recently announced plans to take this year’s March On The Road. The “moving the movement tour” is designed to “build unity, community and the pro-life future” by connecting participants in 10 states in a series of car parades, outdoor rallies and supportive events across the Midwest, culminating in Chicago on Jan. 23. In doing so, march for life Chicago — planned by the organization WEDIGNIFY — says they hope to encourage their tour partners, whom they are calling the “Midwest overs,” to “witness, inspire and serve” the cause of life in their respective communities. One such “Midwest Mover” event will be in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Jan. 16, 2021. Details are still being finalized, but LCMS President The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison will be a featured speaker at the event. As in previous years, the Synod will have a presence at the National March For Life in Washington, D.C., set for Friday, Jan. 29. Also, as in previous years, there will be a divine service for lcms participants held before the march at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va., at 9 a.m.
Senator calls for unrestricted abortion
Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined Massachusetts abortion activists Tuesday in urging the state to pass a radical bill that would legalize the killing of unborn babies in abortions through all nine months of pregnancy. The pro-abortion Democrat senator stoked up fear during the online pro-abortion rally, warning that the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett could lead to more abortion restrictions, The Boston Globe reports. She urged the state legislature to pass the Roe Act, which would eliminate basically all restrictions on abortion in Massachusetts. It would allow abortions through all nine months of pregnancy, even if there is no physical threat to the mother and eliminate the state parental consent requirement for underage girls. It also would allow “passive infanticide” by eliminating a requirement to provide medical care to a baby who is born alive after an abortion.
Planned Parenthood confronted on its racism
A group of black pro-life activists have filed a racial discrimination claim against Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States. The National Black Pro-Life Coalition, an organization that hopes to “end abortion by restoring a culture of life and the foundation of family in the black community,” announced that it filed a claim against Planned Parenthood with The Office Of Civil Rights in The U.S. Department of Health And Human Services. The suit comes nearly two months after more than 120 African Americans signed a letter to Planned Parenthood, urging the organization to “confront its racist founding, mission and practices.” Planned Parenthood was founded more than a century ago by Margaret Sanger, a eugenicist who wanted to control the black population. Sanger was among the women honored in The Smithsonian Museum of American History’s temporary “girlhood” exhibit created in honor of the 100th anniversary of women receiving the right to vote. Sanger’s presence in the exhibit reflects her reputation as a feminist icon seen as a pioneer of women’s rights and liberation.
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Fire rages near Concordia University — Irvine
The Silverado Fire in Southern California is burning near Concordia University — Irvine, which houses the headquarters of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. However, District President the Rev. Dr. Michael Gibson says so far, the campus is safe. Although the fire is some distance away, heavy smoke blankets the area. There are about 600 students still in residence. Gibson asks Lutherans to continue praying, especially for the winds to calm, which are fanning the flames. So far, no structures have been lost, but two firefighters were critically burned.
Interference in Christian worship worsens in China
Pastors in China report that they've been forced to integrate President Xi Jinping’s words into the Biblical account of Jesus feeding the five thousand as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) increasingly pressures church leaders to infuse their sermons with political ideology. According to the Italian-based magazine Bitter Winter, the CCP has continued to use the novel coronavirus pandemic to further control and politicize religions. In September, the two Chinese Christian Councils of Quanzhou, a prefecture-level city in Fujian's southeastern province, demanded all three-self churches integrate Xi’s ideas on curbing food waste into their sermons, so that “the policy reaches everyone in society.” To implement the order, some pastors integrated the leader's words into the Biblical story about Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. In the spring, officials also ordered the pastor of a church in Zhengzhou, a county-level city in the eastern province of Zhejiang, to preach to the congregation that Americans brought covid-19 to China.
An abortion case goes before the Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a major abortion case out of Mississippi on Friday, just days after the Senate confirmed pro-life Justice Amy Coney Barrett. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, challenges a state law that prohibits abortions on unborn babies after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A federal judge struck down the Mississippi law in 2018, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in 2019; but the state appealed to the Supreme Court. On Friday, the justices’ schedule includes time to debate whether they will hear the state’s appeal, CNN reports. The case is significant, not only because of Barrett, but also because “it is widely considered to be a direct challenge to the precedent outlined in the supreme Court’s landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade.”
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Today is International Religious Freedom Day
The U.S. Commission On International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commemorates International Religious Freedom Day today, marking the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). IRFA sought to make religious freedom a priority in U.S. foreign policy in a variety of ways, including by creating governmental institutions including USCIRF and the State Department’s IRF office, requiring monitoring and reporting on religious freedom violations, and establishing consequences for the worst violators.
Religious freedom wins on campus
Florida State University’s student supreme court has reinstated Jack Denton as president of the student senate. Denton was removed from his post in June over comments in a private chat group for Catholic students that were subsequently circulated to a member of the senate. In the group chat, Denton had expressed concerns that policy positions of certain groups, such as the ACLU and blacklivesmatter.com, contradicted church teaching on abortion, marriage, sexuality, and policing and cautioned students to be aware of those positions before they donated to the groups. He was subsequently accused of transphobia and racism by fellow students and, after a first vote of no-confidence in him failed, he was removed in another vote of the student senate June 5. Denton filed suit against the student senate’s decision in both the university court and in federal court.
Pro-life group recognized on Iowa campus
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is reversing the student government's controversial decision to bar recognition of an anti-abortion group that student senators said was hateful. UNI's President Mark A. Nook said the ban would violate the First Amendment if it was allowed to proceed. Students for Life of America (SFLA) sent its appeal to Nook last week after the student supreme court upheld the ban and argued that the group's UNI chapter would "violate a university policy guaranteeing the "right to be treated with dignity and respect by all persons involved in the student conduct process." The issue emerged after Young America's Foundation, a conservative nonprofit, posted footage from a Zoom meeting in which student senators likened SFLA to white supremacists and argued they were a hate group whose rhetoric was "infringing on basic human rights."
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in
The United States Senate voted 52 to 48 yesterday to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the next associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, marking a conservative shift in the federal judiciary’s balance of power.
Huge Christian rally in Washington, D.C.
Tens of thousands of mostly young Christians gathered at the national mall on Sunday to proclaim “Let Us Worship,” amid the draconian restrictions still being enforced in many jurisdictions across the land against church assemblies. They came from all across the country to pray for the nation at a critical moment in history. Sunday’s event in Washington, D.C. brought an estimated 30,000 believers together to join their voices in prayer.
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Wedding business wins
Faced with a federal lawsuit, Cuyahoga County has agreed to a proposed court judgment filed Friday that allows a Cleveland-area minister and wedding business owner to operate consistent with her belief that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. In July, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed suit on behalf of Kristi Stokes and her business, Covenant Weddings, to challenge a law that the county now agrees cannot be used to force her to use her ministry and business to officiate and compose homilies, vows and prayers for same-sex weddings even as she continues to officiate and promote weddings between one man and one woman. As part of the agreed-upon proposed judgment, the county will not enforce its law — which threatens fines of $1,000-$5,000 per violation, depending on their frequency — against Stokes or other ministers because Stokes’ business is not a place of public accommodation and because she and other ministers should not be forced to act contrary to her religious beliefs.
Mississippi asks Supreme Court to rule on abortion
The first female attorney general of Mississippi urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to allow her state to protect unborn babies from abortions, at the very minimum, after the first trimester. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked the high court to consider the 15-week abortion ban earlier this summer. On Thursday, she filed a supplemental brief with arguments based on another abortion case that the Supreme Court ruled on in June, CBS News reports. The 2018 Mississippi law prohibits abortions after 15 weeks except when there are risks to the life or physical health of the mother, or fatal fetal anomalies. Based on state health records, about 200 unborn babies between 15 and 20 weeks are aborted every year in Mississippi. However, the state has not been allowed to enforce the pro-life law because of a pro-abortion legal challenge.
State officials shut down a Christian school
A Michigan county shut down a Christian school Thursday night, accusing it of violating a state and local health department mask mandate and other protocols. Libertas Christian School, a private, nondenominational Bible-based school with more than 265 students in Hudsonville, was officially closed down by the Ottawa County Health Department before classes could be held on Friday. Last Sunday, the school filed a lawsuit against the state and local health department, challenging the state’s mask mandate. That led the health department to issue additional cease-and-desist orders, later culminating in the school's closure. While two teachers who work at the school had tested positive for covid-19, both recovered and were cleared by their doctors to return to work. Similarly, two students had tested positive for the virus, having contracted it off the school's premises, and were cleared by their doctors to return to school. As of Friday, there have been zero covid-19 positive cases among faculty and students, according to updated records on the school's website. The school's attorney, Ian Northon said that since last Sunday the county has been calling a teacher to demand that she hand over the names of pupils in her second-grade class, and even threatened her with "imprisonment.” Douglas van Essen, a lawyer for the Ottawa County Health Department, said the health department never threatened the teacher.
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Planned Parenthood injures another woman
Another woman has been injured at Planned Parenthood’s Manhattan Health Center, formerly known as the Margaret Sanger Health Center, and was taken away in an ambulance on Oct. 13. According to Operation Rescue, pro-lifers praying outside the abortion business watched as the ambulance arrived. Emergency medical personnel went inside the facility for approximately 15 minutes, and then left with the woman in the ambulance. They were followed behind by a man who had accompanied her to the facility. This is believed to be the 36th woman injured at this particular Planned Parenthood facility, and the third emergency so far this year.
36 nations tell U.N. there is no right to abortion
The United States, in a coalition of 32 countries representing more than 1.6 billion people, yesterday issued a declaration at the United Nations that there is “no international right to abortion.” Yesterday Secretary Of State Michael R. Pompeo and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar participated in the virtual signing of the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a historic document that further strengthens an ongoing coalition to achieve better health for women, the preservation of human life, support for the family as foundational to a healthy society and the protection of national sovereignty in global politics, according to a HHS news release.
Officials harass a county church
A Los Angeles County church is being repeatedly harassed by the Public Health Department. Thomas More Society attorneys are preparing to challenge the actions of two county “environmental health specialists” who surveilled Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church In Arcadia, Calif. and slapped the parish with citations on Oct. 15, after observing women in prayer veils leaving the building. Five days later on Oct. 20, the same two workers returned to threaten church personnel with more citations – compelling staff to eject the two masked worshipers who prayed inside the 500-capacity sanctuary. The harassment comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Farther Trevor Burfitt, prior at Our Lady of Angels, charging Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom and 19 other state, county, and municipal officials for violating his religious rights.
Churches report giving is down
Churches across all denominations are now increasingly turning to online giving as a majority of them report reduced giving in the pews amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to ministry brands. The trend was highlighted in results from an online survey of 1,400 church leaders conducted by Ministry Brands, a provider of software, services and information platforms for churches and ministries, from July to September and published Wednesday in the report Coping With Covid-19: Insights From Church Leaders. “Overall, almost 60 percent of respondents indicated that a reduction in giving income is one of the top challenges facing their church. This was particularly noticeable among Catholic churches, a full 67 percent of which expressed concern about reduced giving,” said the report which attributed the reduced giving to fewer in-person services.
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Pro-life display is vandalized
Vandals destroyed a pro-life cross display this week at an Arkansas church, the latest in a growing string of vandalism and other violence against pro-lifers. According to the Magnolia Reporter, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Magnolia set up 150 white crosses on its lawn earlier this month to raise awareness about the victims of abortion. The crosses represent the number of unborn babies who are aborted every hour in the U.S. On Monday night or early Tuesday morning, however, someone vandalized the display, knocking over many of the crosses and a banner, the report states. Volunteers with the Knights of Columbus fixed the display Tuesday afternoon, according to the report.
China cracks down on Christian literature
China has been tightening restrictions on the distribution of religious materials in recent months by threatening fines, the closure of printing shops or even imprisonment for selling Christian books or allowing customers to photocopy hymns. Bitter Winter, a publication that monitors religious liberty violations in China, reports that this month, Chinese Communist Party officials in Luoyang, a prefecture-level city in the central province of Henan, searched a local printing house for banned religious materials. A worker at a second photocopying business in Luoyang revealed that the ban on illegal religious materials applies to the photocopying of hymns. Those who print religious materials face harsh repercussions, including fines, and in some cases, imprisonment. In April, 2018, the Chinese government banned online retailers from selling the Bible. Legally, the Bible can only be distributed by government-approved agencies that supervise the Christian churches in China.
‘Right to Die’ laws raise questions
The expansion of medical aid in dying across the United States has not only created a professional and moral dilemma for practicing physicians, but it has also raised concerns within the disability community, among others, about the negative consequences these laws could have on the country. John B Kelly, the New England regional director for Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights group focused on opposing medical aid in dying and euthanasia legislation, has become a vocal opponent to the passing of these laws. Laws relating to medical aid in dying add to this “better off” messaging, Kelly said, because they create the perception that personal autonomy should be regarded above anything else. Once that autonomy is taken by a terminal illness, people sometimes think that their life is no longer worth living. Oregon’s annual data showed that 87 per cent of patients who used the end-of-life option in 2019 reported a loss of autonomy as one of their main reasons. About 90 per cent said decreased ability in participating in activities that made life enjoyable was another key reason, and 72 per cent said a loss of dignity impacted their decision. Oregon became the first state to pass its death with dignity act, which allows a person 18 years or older with a terminal prognosis of six months or less to receive a prescription drug that would end their life.
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Comfort dogs deploy for victims of wildfires
Lutheran Church Charities K-9 comfort dogs Aaron from St. John’s in Napa, Calif, Micah from Light of the Valley in Elk Grove, Calif., and Reuben from First Lutheran - Yuba City, Calif. and their ministry teams were invited by the principal and counselors from Foothill Adventist School in Angwin, Calif., which was destroyed by the Glass Fire. On Tuesday, the comfort dogs visited with children and staff at a new temporary location at Pacific Union College Elementary School in Angwin, their first day back at their interim school. The comfort dogs and their handlers worked with counselors to help children process a very difficult time.
Court protects two Colorado churches
Two Colorado churches and their pastors are currently protected from the state’s enforcement of capacity limits and face masks during worship services thanks to an order handed down by a federal judge on Oct. 15. This decision came following a lawsuit against federal and state officials for an array of religious freedom violations. Thomas More Society Special Counsel Rebecca Messall and Co-Counsel Brad Bergford, who are representing the congregations and their pastors, were pleased with the order. Denver Bible Church and its pastor, Robert Enyart, and Community Baptist Church and its pastor, Joey Rhoads, asked the court to enjoin enforcement of orders related to Colorado’s gubernatorially mandated capacity limits on worship services and face mask requirements. Currently, Colorado imposes capacity limits on houses of worship that are more severe than those that apply to other so-called critical businesses whose settings pose a similar risk of covid-19 transmission. The state also allows a variety of exceptions to its facial-covering requirement where it recognizes that removing a mask is necessary to carry out a particular activity.
Administration continues its fight against global abortion
President Donald Trump’s administration continued to push back against global abortion advocacy this week with a declaration proclaiming that “The preservation of human life and the strengthening of family” are foundational to society. The Independent reports United States leaders joined five other countries in signing the Geneva Consensus document last Thursday. The action sent a statement to The United Nations that the killing of unborn babies in abortions is not a “human right,” as the U.N. Declaration Of Human Rights claims, according to the report. The other countries that signed the declaration Were Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia and Uganda, the report states. This is not the first time the trump administration has fought for unborn babies’ rights at the U.N. In September, United States and Vatican representatives criticized the inclusion of language promoting “sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights,” including abortions, in a U.N. covid-19 response resolution. In August, U.S. Ambassador Andrew Bremberg also slammed the international agency for “perverting” human rights by advocating for the killing of unborn babies in abortions.
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Oregon’s governor challenged for religious discrimination
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a private, religious K-12 Oregon school filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday against Gov. Katherine Brown to challenge her order threatening private schools with 30 days jail time and $1,250 fines for reopening in-person instruction, despite allowing public schools of identical size in the same county permission to resume in-person classes. After nearly two months of advising that Hermiston Christian School could provide in-person instruction to the 51 students enrolled in its K-12 program, Brown reversed course and, on July 29, ordered private schools in Umatilla County and elsewhere to remain closed while offering exemptions to public schools with 75 or fewer students. On the same day Brown extended the prohibition of in-person instruction to private schools, a spokesperson for the governor expressed a desire to prevent a “mass exodus” from public schools and emphasized that public schools could suffer a reduction in funding if students disenrolled to obtain education elsewhere.
College changes its athletic policy
Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire decided to rescind its transgender sports participation and inclusion policy as it was being investigated for Title IX violations, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights said Friday. The private university “will rescind its transgender participation and inclusion policy and will cease any and all practices related thereto,” Mario Diaz, general counsel for the DOE’s OCR, said in a letter Friday, noting that the university requested to resolve the matter before the investigation was completed. The OCR was investigating whether the university "denies female student-athletes equal athletic benefits and opportunities by permitting transgender athletes to participate in women’s intercollegiate athletic teams." A civil rights complaint had been filed against the university last year from the public policy organization Concerned Women for America.
Court upholds safety requirements for abortion centers
Abortion groups in Kentucky are challenging the life-saving 1998 law, claiming it imposes an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to abortion. Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center have argued that they may have to close because they cannot meet the safety requirement, thus preventing women in Kentucky from getting abortions. According to Reason, the Sixth Circuit panel disagreed with the abortion groups’ argument and reversed a lower court ruling blocking the state from enforcing the law. In the majority opinion, Judge Joan Larsen wrote that the abortion facilities did not prove that they would be forced to close, The Hill reports. She pointed to a 90-day waiver in the law that allows abortion facilities to operate temporarily until they fulfill the safety requirement. Because of the ruling, Planned Parenthood and EMW, the only two abortion facilities in the state, will have to either enter agreements with local hospitals, apply for waivers or close.
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Court rules hospital must continue life support
The Supreme Court of Texas rejected the plea of Cook Children’s Medical Center to withdraw a ventilator and medical treatment from Baby Tinslee Lewis against her mother’s will. In August, the hospital urged the Supreme Court of Texas to overrule an extensive 150-page ruling from the Second Court of Appeals that deemed the 10-Day Rule likely unconstitutional, thereby granting Baby Tinslee temporary legal protection. Baby Tinslee’s case now returns to the District Court, which will consider these questions: are the rights of Baby Tinslee being violated? Should a hospital have unilateral authority to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment from a patient against the will of the patient/surrogate? Do patients have any due process rights in these situations? Is the 10-Day Rule of the Texas Advance Directives unconstitutional? The failed petition by Cook Children’s asked the court for permission to withdraw the toddler’s life-sustaining treatment while the 10-Day Rule is argued in court.
Facebook refuses pro-life ads
Facebook is censoring an advertisement from a pro-life group that exposes Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for supporting abortions up to birth. The censorship comes days after Facebook censored a pro-life news story from Lifenews.com exposing how Harris tried to put pro-life advocates in prison for uncovering how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted babies. The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List is calling foul after Facebook banned two of its ads exposing Biden and Harris’ support for late-term abortion in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, based on a factually incorrect third-party “fact check” from The Dispatch. The fact check has been refuted because it falsely claims Biden and Harris do not support abortions up to birth funded at taxpayer expense.
11-year-olds get free condoms in Vermont
A new Vermont law, supported by the abortion chain Planned Parenthood, mandates that every middle and high school provide free condoms to students as young as 11. Fox News reports Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed the law Oct. 5 despite major concerns from parents and pro-lifers about sexual abuse of young children. According to Vermont law, sex with a child under 16 is statutory rape. Prior to age 16, state law recognizes that children are too young and immature to understand and consent to sex. This conflicts with the new law, which requires public middle and high schools where children as young as 11 attend to place free condoms “in locations that are safe and readily accessible to students, including the school nurse’s office.”
Court rules for religious liberty in a university
A federal court issued an order Friday that Requires Florida State University (FSU) to resume paying student Jack Denton his salary after unconstitutionally removing him from his position as student senate president for sharing his personal religious beliefs in private text conversations with other students. On behalf of Denton, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed suit against FSU administrators and student senate officials after they repeatedly and unconstitutionally retaliated against him for sharing his personal religious beliefs with other students.
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Colorado voters to decide on abortion limit
Polling shows a close race for a Colorado ballot measure seeking to ban abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy, and backers are “very optimistic” that with enough volunteers and community outreach they will succeed, even while abortion advocates have outraised pro-life campaigners by millions in the weeks leading to the election. Proposition 115 asks voters whether to ban abortion in the state after 22 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases where a mother’s life is threatened. A 9 News / Colorado politics survey of 1,021 registered likely voters found 42 percent of respondents said they are certain to vote yes on Prop 115, 45 percent said no, while 13 percent are uncertain, 9 news reported. If the ballot measure becomes law, doctors would face a three-year license suspension for performing or attempting to perform an abortion of an unborn child beyond 22-weeks of gestation. Women would not be charged with seeking or obtaining an abortion.
Federal judge overturns 48-hour waiting period
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled unconstitutional a mandatory 48-hour waiting period for women seeking abortion in Tennessee, which had been in effect since 2015. In the legal challenge brought by Planned Parenthood and the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights, Judge Bernard Friedman wrote that most women are already certain about their decision to have an abortion when they go in for their first appointment. The judge cited testimony from abortion providers that abortion does not increase risk of negative psychological outcomes. He said the regulation placed an “undue burden” on women’s “right to abortion.”
Abortion advocates want state to pay for abortion
The abortion industry in Pennsylvania is suing to force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions through the state medical assistance program. On Wednesday, lawyers representing eight Pennsylvania abortion groups argued their case before the Commonwealth Court, WHYY reports. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal taxpayer funding for abortions in Medicaid, with exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the mother’s life. However, some states do cover elective abortions in their state medical assistance programs. Currently, 16 do, but Pennsylvania is not one of them.
Bishop disciplined for opposing same-sex marriage
After refusing to conduct same-sex “marriages” in his diocese, William Love, the Episcopal bishop of Albany, New York, was found guilty of violating the “discipline of the church” and the canon law of the church. At the 2018 general convention, the Episcopal Church had made changes to the rites for same-sex “marriage” that were approved as a trial at the 2015 convention. In response to the recent decision, in which he was unanimously found guilty of “failing to abide by the discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church, and thus violating my ordination vows”, Love warned that the result of the case “will severely impact not only me and the ministry entrusted to me as bishop of Albany, but it will also seriously impact the life and ministry of the diocese.” The panel has yet to reconvene and announce what penalties Love will face.
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Bolivian Lutherans respond to COVID-19
The South American nation of Bolivia has reported more than 138,000 cases of covid-19 to date, with more than 8,300 deaths. There are currently nearly 29,000 active cases of the coronavirus in the country. Early in March 2020, the government moved to close borders and enact quarantine measures throughout the country. Church services were restricted in Bolivia early on. The evangelical Christian Lutheran Church of Bolivia (Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Luterana de Bolivia – ICEL) is working to support its members during the crisis, even as the virus affects some of its own members. In response to the pandemic, the ICEL moved quickly to provide online devotional resources for members. The church’s pastors, vicars and missionaries, have provided daily devotional videos via the church’s Facebook page, in both the Spanish and quiche languages. The church has also led a national study of Luther’s Small Catechism, which has been well-received. The church has provided support for Bolivians in practical ways too, including through the distribution of basic necessities. The church continues to look for additional ways to support people.
Senior apartments owner/manager investiigated
Secretary of Housing And Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson said the department is investigating a complaint against the owner and manager of senior apartments in Oklahoma for violating The Fair Housing Act by removing Bibles and other religious literature from their common areas. Wilhoit Properties, which manages the apartments and assisted-living homes owned by Vintage Housing, was accused of sending an email to their 116 assisted living facilities asking the managers to remove bibles and Christian literature from their libraries located in the common areas that were shared by all residents, Sapulpa Times reported. Wilhoit properties, which manages more than 200 properties in 16 states, allegedly removed the Bibles and Christian faith-based books without any warning to residents, who pay rent to use the common areas, according to the times, which said the Christian material was removed after a resident complained about angels being used as décor in the common area.
Officials won’t prosecute abortionists
A small group of state prosecutors and attorneys general announced yesterday that they will refuse to prosecute abortionists for killing unborn babies if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and states criminalize abortion. ABC news reports 63 elected officials signed the joint statement, a project of the organization Fair and Just Prosecution, Including California Attorneys General Xavier Becerra, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison And Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings.
Ban on dismemberment abortion overturned
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals struck down a Texas law on Tuesday that would have banned the use of “dismemberment abortion” procedures common in the second trimester. Enacted in 2017 but never enforced due to legal battles, the law bans the dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion procedure, more commonly known as “dismemberment abortions,” because they tear a preborn baby apart in the womb. The judges voted 2-1 against the law. The ban “forces abortion providers to act contrary to their medical judgment and the best interest of their patient” by requiring them to instead use “dangerous” procedures that offer “no benefit to the woman, Judge James Dennis claimed in his majority opinion. Its “burdens substantially outweigh its benefits,” he claimed.
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Lutheran hurricane relief continues
Hurricane Delta followed nearly the same path through several coastal areas and states that Hurricane Laura did six weeks ago. In fact, they hit the shore 12 miles apart. The flooding, wind damage and power outages have again affected the same homes and businesses that have already experienced devastation. Kathy O’Day, Lutheran Church Charities director of disaster response, has been in close contact with Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator this week. He stated that The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) had opened three volunteer camps after Hurricane Laura in the Southern and Florida-Georgia Districts. Each of these camps had to shut down and teams had to evacuate with their equipment before Hurricane Delta came ashore. They are returning this week to reassess damages and continue assisting affected residents. Pastor Brashier has extended an invitation To Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response to the camp set up at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Frairhope, Ala., to offer chainsaw and heavy equipment assistance to those impacted on the gulf shores as soon as they can be available.
Concordia University Chicago top rated
Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., was recently named in Money Magazine’s “best colleges for your money” list. CUC was also named in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings as a “best regional university — Midwest “and listed for best value, best ethnic diversity, most economic diversity and as a top performer on social mobility among regional universities in the Midwest. In addition, CUC was nationally recognized by Lendedu for having one of the lowest student loan debt figures in the country for the class of 2019.
Students for Life called ‘hate group’
A chapter of Students for Life was nearly prevented from forming, after the student government at the University of Northern Iowa branded them a “hate group,” according to a video of the Zoom meeting obtained by Young America’s Foundation (YAF). YAF reported that the student government had a virtual meeting to debate whether the Students for Life group should be given official recognition on campus. Ultimately, it refused to recognize the chapter, solely due to the group’s pro-life beliefs. “This is a hate group! This is hate speech,” Student Sen. Max Tensen said. “Approving this bill is the same thing as approving a white supremacist group,” another student added. But Students for Life still has hope, according to a statement the University of Iowa supplied to YAF, rebuking its student government. The university officially encouraged the chapter to appeal the student government’s decision, noting that the pro-life group had the full support of university administration.
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Prayer banned at graduation ceremony
A school district in Kentucky has agreed to stop presenting prayers at its graduation ceremonies following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a prominent atheist group advocating for a strict separation of church and state. According to a news release Thursday, Pikeville Independent School District's legal counsel recently told FFRF, “I have had the opportunity to review your attached letter and wanted to let you know that I have advised the principal to refrain from religious prayer at future graduations.” In July, FFRF sent Pikeville Independent Schools Superintendent David Trimble a letter on behalf of a “concerned citizen” who reported that the 2020 Pikeville High School graduation ceremony included three student-led prayers.
Court rules church can gather for worship
A district court has temporarily granted a request from a Washington, D.C., Southern Baptist church to gather for outdoor worship services that violate the city’s rules for public gatherings. Capitol Hill Baptist Church argued that the District of Columbia’s covid-19 restrictions had violated its Constitutional rights and was causing “irreparable harm” to its congregation. Judge Trevor McFadden, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, agreed in a Friday ruling. McFadden said the limitations are causing a “substantial burden” under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law enacted in 1993 that aims to protect against government interference with religious beliefs.
New York Governor sued
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is violating religious liberty again, and two Catholic priests, two Catholic school students, and four Orthodox Jewish individuals are renewing an ongoing lawsuit against the head of New York State for imposing new, draconian restrictions on religious services, nearly four months after a federal judge enjoined Cuomo from treating houses of worship differently from exempted businesses and activities. The Thomas More Society filed an emergency amended complaint and motion for temporary restraining order on Friday in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of the priests and individuals. The new filing shows that Cuomo and other state officials are now singling out religious gatherings for special burdens without showing any evidence that religious gatherings, and not countless other exempted gatherings and activities, are unique sources of spreading covid-19. The Thomas More Society’s new complaint shows that Cuomo expressly singled out religious gatherings as the reasons for his new restrictions, without any evidence showing that they are unique sources of viral spread. In his Friday news conference, Cuomo admitted the new regime “is most impactful on houses of worship,” and any impact on secular businesses is “not what this is about.”
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Poll finds Americans say 'hands off' religion
First Liberty Institute sent to Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the results of a nationwide poll from Mason Dixon Polling & Strategy this week revealing almost two-thirds of Americans believe judicial nominees should not be questioned about their religious beliefs as part of the confirmation process. First Liberty, the nation’s premier law firm dedicated exclusively to religious liberty, commissioned the poll. The poll, conducted by Mason Dixon of likely voters nationwide Oct. 5-7, suggests that 62 percent of respondents view a nominee’s religious beliefs as off limits to examination by the U.S. Senate. The Judiciary Committee’s hearings on the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court starts today.
Prayer asked for Lutherans in Burkina Faso
The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is urging prayer for Lutherans in Burkina Faso, as the church there struggles in the midst of widespread violence and terrorist attacks. The nation of Burkina Faso has faced multiple terrorist attacks over the past five years, with targets ranging from military and police, villages, markets, schools and churches. The United Nations reports that violence in the African nation has led to the displacement of more than one million people as of august 2020 — an increase of more than 453,000 since the beginning of 2020 and a dramatic change from early 2019 when there were 87,000 internally displaced people in the country. Members of the small Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burkina Faso (Église Évangélique Luthérienne du Burkina Faso – EELBF) have not escaped the growing violence. During the past three years, the EELBF has seen 12 of its members killed in terrorist attacks. Several others have disappeared and remain missing. Those wishing to support the work of the EELBF during the current crisis can donate via The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, which has supported work in Burkina Faso since 2000. Gifts should be designated for “mercy work.”
California officials face suit
One Catholic priest has had enough of Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s seemingly endless “state of emergency” and the constitutional violations incurred with the resultant lockdown. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society have filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court against Newsom and 19 other state, county and municipal officials on behalf of Father Trevor Burfitt. Submitted on sept. 29, the case charges each of the named parties with eight distinct violations of Burfitt’s rights under the constitution of California. Burfitt oversees mission churches in Kern, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles Counties, each of which has been severely restricted during Newsom’s seven-month lockdown of the state of California. These restrictions imposed and enforced by Newsom and the other named officials in the name of covid-19 have severely obstructed the rights of Burfitt and others throughout California, despite the guarantees promised in the state’s constitution. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief for the constitutional violations committed by Newsom and those under his authority throughout California.
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Synod adopts a new budget
In this year like no other, the setting of a budget for FY21 — was reached at last on Sept. 22 when the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board of Directors adopted an operating expenditure resolution of $59.6 million. By contrast, the FY20 budget, after adjustments for big “one-off” events — the Triennial Synod Convention and the LCMS youth gathering — was more than 16 percent higher at $69.3 million. Such a cautious approach to expenditures in FY21 was justified in consideration of major economic uncertainties in the current forecasting environment, not the least of which has been the impact of covid-19.
Appeal for Nativity scene
Liberty Counsel filed its reply brief to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals refuting the opinion by an Indiana federal judge who ruled against the Nativity scene display at the Jackson County Courthouse. Liberty Counsel represents Jackson County and oral argument is scheduled for Nov. 12. In addition to the Nativity scene, the annual holiday display also includes a large lighted Santa Claus, sleigh with reindeer and a group of Christmas carolers. The courthouse grounds are also decorated with many kinds of lights and other non-religious symbols of the holiday season. Judge Tanya Pratt previously ruled in favor of a plaintiff who does not live or work in the county and does not transact any business in the Jackson County Courthouse. This building no longer hosts court proceedings as they are now conducted in the new courthouse. The U.S. Supreme Court and numerous federal appeals courts have recognized that government entities may recognize Christmas as a holiday and may maintain Christmas displays that include both religious and secular symbols.
Seminaries may enforce religious belief on students
In a landmark decision with nationwide impact, a federal judge ruled that a seminary has the right to train students for ministry according to its sincere religious beliefs, free from government entanglement. Wednesday, in Maxon v. Fuller Theological Seminary, the Central District of California blocked claims by two individuals who sued Fuller Theological Seminary, arguing that federal law made it illegal for the seminary to dismiss them from its school of theology for violating its religious standards. Becket Law is defending the seminary, arguing that the government cannot control how religious schools train future ministers and other religious leaders. When students apply to Fuller Theological Seminary, they agree to faithfully follow the seminary’s religious standards throughout their training for ministry and other religious service. Like all their peers, the plaintiffs made that agreement. But after the seminary learned that the plaintiffs had violated the standards, the seminary dismissed them and refunded their costs for the classes they were unable to complete. The plaintiffs then sued. The judge dismissed the plaintiffs’ lawsuit, explaining: “It is well established . . . That courts should refrain from trolling through a person’s or institutions religious beliefs.”
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LCMS helps Cambodian church
This summer, the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) partnered with the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC) and several other Lutheran organizations to assist local Cambodians suffering economic hardship as a result of covid-19. CLC pastors and church leaders delivered a month’s supply of basic food staples to more than 350 families during May, June and July. In the Asia region, Cambodia has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn caused by the shutdown. Tourism, which provides countless jobs in the country, has plummeted. Many factories also are shuttered for now. The CLC recognized these challenges and organized to fill material needs while also connecting people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rice, instant noodles, fish sauce, cooking oil, canned fish, soy sauce and soap were collected and sorted.
Netflix indicted for ‘Cuties’
A grand jury in Texas has indicted Netflix on a criminal charge of promoting “lewd” depictions of children for offering the film “Cuties” on its streaming service. Netflix has garnered controversy in recent months for its decision to carry the French film “Cuties,” which features 11-year-old girls dancing provocatively and simulating sex acts and has been compared to child porn. Texas State Rep. Matt Schaefer posted a photo on Twitter Tuesday of the first page of the indictment, made last month by a grand jury in Tyler County.
Abortion center injures two women
Two women seeking abortions at The Austin Women’s Health Center last month were transported by ambulance to South Austin Hospital in Austin, Texas, after both suffered uncontrolled hemorrhaging. According to 911 records obtained by Operation Rescue, the first incident took place on Sept. 2, 2020, when an abortion facility employee named “Julie” called 911 after a 28-year old woman suffered excessive vaginal bleeding after an abortion. The second medical emergency last month at the Austin Women’s Health Center occurred three weeks later, on Sept. 25, 2020, when a 25-year old woman hemorrhaged during a dilation and evacuation dismemberment abortion. Texas law limits abortions to 20 weeks or under, but the Austin Women’s Health Center offers abortions for “maternal and fetal indications,” which often allow a facility to bypass the 20-week limit for the “health of the mother.”
Doctor considered ‘dangerous’ performs abortions
In August, Arkansas abortionist 74-year-old Tom Tvedten had his medical license temporarily suspended after the Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB) decided that his certification of an underage girl for a medical marijuana card presented such “gross negligence and ignorant malpractice” that he was determined to be a danger to the public. Now, pro-life watchdog group Operation Rescue reports that Tvedten will be allowed to continue committing abortions but has been deemed too dangerous to continue certifying medical marijuana cards.
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New York rules for faith-based adoption
A federal court has concluded that a New York-Based Christian adoption agency cannot be forced to close because of its policy of only placing kids in married heterosexual families. New Hope Family Services filed suit against state officials after it was told that its faith-based policy of only placing children in married heterosexual homes violated a 2013 state law. U.S. District Court Judge Mae D'Agostino granted New Hope a preliminary injunction against the New York Office of Children and Family Services’ (OCFS) interpretation of the law. In her decision on Monday, D'Agostino concluded that the OCFS interpretation of the state adoption law against New Hope “demonstrates some animosity towards particular religious beliefs.”
Supreme Court will hear adoption case
In a related story, on Nov. 4, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia to decide whether the city can shut down Catholic Social Services (CSS), an adoption and foster care provider, because of the organization's religious beliefs about marriage. CSS has worked with foster families in the Philadelphia area for more than a century. It has always believed that a child is best raised by a married mother and father and has served children and families according to this belief. But in March 2018, just days after the city issued an urgent call for 300 more foster families, it cut all referrals to CSS. The city of Philadelphia claims Catholic belief concerning marriage is bigotry according to its law. By all accounts, any same-sex couple in Philadelphia that wants to adopt may do so. In fact, four Philadelphia agencies have received the LGBT Human Rights Campaign's "Seal of Approval." No same-sex couple has ever even asked Catholic Social Services for help fostering or adopting kids.
Court asked to dismiss charges against a journalist
Sandra Merritt of the Center for Medical Progress has filed a petition to the California Supreme Court asking it to review and dismiss all eight remaining felony charges pending against her. Merritt’s requests were previously denied by the San Francisco Superior Court and the California Court of Appeals. Multiple counts have already been dismissed. The criminal investigation and heavy-handed tactics began under then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris, now senator and vice presidential candidate, and then her replacement, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who filed 15 charges for Merritt’s undercover journalism work in exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby body parts. Becerra has not shown probable cause for any of the motivated charges. Merritt did not violate any laws but used legal undercover techniques to investigate and expose potential fetal-trafficking abuses and crimes being committed by Planned Parenthood. Under California law, conversations that “may be overheard” are, by definition, not “confidential,” and can be recorded without consent.
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SCOTUS ruling blasted by two justices
Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito issued a broadside against the high court's 2015 same-sex marriage decision yesterday when the court declined to hear a case brought by a former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue a marriage license for such couples. The two justices agreed with the decision not to hear the case but used the occasion to take a legal baseball bat to the court's 2015 decision Obergefell v. Hodges, which declared that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry under the 14th Amendment guarantee to equal protection of the law. Writing for himself and Alito, Thomas said that the court's decision "enables courts and governments to brand religious adherents who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as bigots, making their religious liberty concerns that much easier to dismiss." Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has indicated her disagreement with the 2015 decision. Roberts, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett have all been staunch supporters of robust religious rights, de-emphasizing the concept of separation between church and state, while emphasizing the importance of the free exercise of religion. In November, the justices are scheduled to hear a major test of laws that apply generally and neutrally across the board. At issue is Philadelphia’s decision to terminate a contract with Catholic Social Services for screening and certifying parents for foster care. The city terminated the contract because Catholic Social Services, citing its religious objections, refused to certify qualified same-sex couples.
New Jersey wants abortion up to birth law
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy introduced legislation Friday to expand abortions in his state amid speculation that the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade. The Democrat governor and his wife joined Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and other state lawmakers in supporting the Reproductive Freedom Act, which would keep abortion on demand legal in New Jersey even if Roe is overturned. The goal of the bill is to “expand access to essential reproductive health care … including abortion,” according to a press release from the governor’s office. To do this, the legislation would force private health insurers to cover elective abortions and eliminate abortion regulations that protect women as well as their unborn babies.
Human rights group supports abortion up to birth
Amnesty International has announced a new abortion policy that calls for countries around the world to introduce abortion-on-demand, for any reason, up to birth and allow sex-selective abortion. The self-declared human rights organization says that, in addition to campaigning for the full "decriminalization" of abortion around the world, they will call for “a universal access to safe abortions for all people who need them.” Amnesty International claims it “does not take a position on when human life begins,” however, its new policy states that the right to life doesn’t commence until birth.
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ILC welcomes a new church body
The Board of Directors of the International Lutheran Council held online meetings Sept. 21, 2020, during which time the board voted to accept the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania – Lake Tanganyika Diocese (ELCT-LTD ) into membership. The church, which is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), counts more than 10,000 members, 35 pastors, and 22 congregations. It grew out of mission work in the ELCT’s Rukwa region and was formally constituted in 2014. The ELCT-LTD was registered as a legally autonomous diocese in 2015.
Christian photographer challenges state law
A Christian wedding photographer in Virginia is challenging a recent state law that would force him to defy his religious beliefs about marriage or face hefty penalties. Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious freedom legal group representing photographer Bob Updegrove, filed the case Monday night challenging the Virginia Values Act, which requires professionals to create content for same-sex weddings if they’re also creating content for weddings between a man and a woman. Updegrove captures photographs for churches, schools, businesses, and has photographed more than 300 weddings over the course of his career. Business owners who defy the law face up to $100,000 for each violation, according to Alliance Defending Freedom. The Virginia Values Act was approved by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and put into effect in July.
Pro-life display vandalized
Pro-abortion students at the University of North Texas made a game out of vandalizing an abortion memorial put together by the Young Conservatives of Texas on Wednesday. The pro-abortion students created four teams to play capture the flag — stealing the pro-life student group’s flags placed to raise awareness about the number of lives lost to abortion. The Young Conservatives of Texas had received permission from the university to put up 1,000 small pink flags to represent the lives lost to abortion. The display was also to include signs such as “abortion is murder” and “overturn roe v. Wade.” As soon as the display was announced, pro-abortion students began to plan how they would vandalize it. On the day of the pro-life event, pro-abortion students started stealing the signs and flags, with the theft captured on video. The pro-life campus group also received hate on social media.
Abortion harassers are sued
Obscene harassment, stalking and harmful assault by radical abortion militants have led Erika Schanzenbach to sue for recompense in Tennessee’s Sullivan County Chancery Court. Thomas More Society attorneys filed a lawsuit last Friday seeking damages and an injunction on behalf of Schanzenbach, a peaceful pro-life witness, as a result of the physical harm and emotional distress that she has suffered at the hands of members of a radical pro-abortion organization. The lawsuit names Denise Skeen, her adult daughter Alethea Skeen, and the Bristol Regional Women’s Center abortion facility as the abusers responsible for the wrongs perpetrated against Schanzenbach.
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Religious liberty threatened in Virginia
Three Christian schools and a Christian network of pregnancy centers are suing Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring in order to prevent Virginia from implementing two pro-LGBT laws that force “people of faith to adopt a particular government ideology under threat of punishment.” The two laws purport to prevent “discrimination” against LGBT people but force Christian ministries to choose between violating their sincerely-held religious beliefs or paying hefty fines, as much as $100,000 per offense. Virginia Values, which Gov. Ralph Northam signed the day before Easter Sunday, compels churches, religious schools, and Christian ministries to hire employees who do not share their stated beliefs on marriage, sexuality and gender identity. A companion law requires ministries and others like them to pay for transgender surgery in employee health care plans, a procedure that violates these ministries’ convictions.
AMA supports abortion
The American Medical Association (AMA) is advocating openly for abortions. Yesterday, it joined Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and other pro-abortion groups in a petition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down President Donald Trump’s Protect Life Rule, The Hill reports. The Title X rule requires Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers to completely separate their abortion businesses from their taxpayer-funded services. That means housing their family planning services in separate buildings with separate staff from their abortion businesses and a denial of funds if they fail to do so. Planned Parenthood refused to comply and gave up about $60 million federal funding. The billion-dollar abortion chain also is suing to overturn the rule, and federal courts have issued conflicting rulings on the matter. Now, Planned Parenthood is turning to the Supreme Court for an answer, and the largest doctors’ association in the U.S. is supporting it.
Lawmakers push for abortion up to birth
Massachusetts lawmakers may try to push through a bill this fall that would legalize abortions through all nine months and allow young teens to get abortions without a parent’s knowledge or consent. The Roe Act has been stalled in the state legislature for 20 months, but abortion activists are demanding that lawmakers pass it in the wake of the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to the New Boston Post. The bill would eliminate most regulations and restrictions on abortion in Massachusetts. It would allow abortions through all nine months of pregnancy, even if there is no physical threat to the mother’s life and could put young sexual abuse victims at greater risk by eliminating the state parental consent requirement. Massachusetts Citizens for Life said the bill also allows for “passive infanticide” by eliminating a requirement to provide medical care to a baby who is born alive after an abortion.
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Satanists claim abortion is a ‘religious ritual’
After declaring abortion a “religious ritual” earlier this year, the Satanic Temple is suing an advertising company for refusing to place its pro-abortion billboards in Arkansas and Indiana. On Monday, the satanic group announced its lawsuit against Lamar billboard company, accusing it of religious discrimination and a breach of contract. The Satanic Temple said it wants to put up eight billboards that advertise its “abortion ritual” near pro-life pregnancy centers in Indiana and Arkansas. According to the satanic group, the company rejected its ad designs for being “misleading and offensive.
Legislation introduced to restrict abortion funding
On Sept. 23, 2020, Oklahoma Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe proposed The Women’s Public Health And Safety Act, which would allow states to exclude abortion businesses from receiving Medicaid payments. The bill would reverse a current law that requires states to allow any qualified provider to take part in the state Medicaid program. According to Students for Life of America, Planned Parenthood could be heavily hit if the bill is signed into law. Over three years, the abortion corporation received more than $1 billion in Medicaid reimbursements. The current ratio of federally qualified healthcare providers to Planned Parenthood businesses in the united states is 28 to 1, according to Students for Life. Women do not need Planned Parenthood.
Undocumented teen aliens may get abortions
Federal officials announced on Tuesday a new policy that will make it possible for undocumented teenage immigrants in federal custody to procure abortions, after nearly three years of litigation with the ACLU regarding the matter. In a memorandum released on Tuesday, The Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that staff and providers with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) would not “obstruct or interfere” with abortions or abortion counseling of “unaccompanied alien children.” But the policy also provides for opt-outs for religious providers and clarifies that federal funds cannot be used for legal petitions, if a judicial bypass of state law regarding parental consent is requested.
College coach forced out for Biblical statement
A former Illinois State University football coach said his sudden departure from the program last week came after some players were offended by a sign he posted on his office door that read: “all lives matter to our lord & savior Jesus Christ." Kurt Beathard, the son of former National Football League quarterback and General Manager Bobby Beathard, was in his third season as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Redbirds when it was announced last Wednesday that he was no longer part of the program. Beathard, who was in his second stint with the school after taking time off during his wife’s battle with cancer, told The Pantagraph daily newspaper that his sudden departure from the program came after he posted the sign on his office door.
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Congressional call to investigate abortion doctor
Led by Kansas Congressman Doctor Roger Marshal, 49 members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr calling for an investigation of abortionists who violated the partial birth abortion ban passed in 2003. This information has been corroborated in testimonial videos published by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP). The members of Congress have asked for an investigation of specific actions taken by the Vice President of Abortion Access at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Tram Nguyen, who admitted under oath to killing babies “intact” so as to harvest their body parts. As the Congressional press release reads, the abortionists were “deliberately killing a partially delivered baby.” Late last month, CMP released this video testimony from the April 2019 court hearing.
Nevada voters may change marriage definition
Voters in Nevada will decide in November whether to change the text of the state constitution to remove language defining marriage as a union between only one man and one woman. Nevada is one of the about 30 states that passed state constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage before such rules were struck down by the 2015 Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, which established a right to same-sex marriage nationwide. However, the text of the amendment remains in the Nevada constitution even though it is unenforceable.
Court order bans school officials from lying to parents
A Wisconsin state court issued an order Monday that prohibits the Madison Metropolitan School District from lying to or deceiving parents about the gender identity that their child may have adopted at school. The court’s injunction is in effect while a lawsuit against the district is on appeal. The lawsuit, filed in February by Alliance Defending Freedom Attorneys (ADF) together with lead counsel from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), challenges a school district policy that instructs district employees to assist children of any age to adopt a transgender identity at school upon the child’s request without notice to or consent from parents, to conceal from parents the fact that school personnel are doing this unless the child “consents” to the parents being told, and even instructs district employees to conceal these facts from parents. WILL and ADF attorneys represent multiple families at the school district in challenging the policy, which violates constitutionally protected parental rights.
Court rules for gender-confused student
A school district in Minnesota must allow trans-identified students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, a Minnesota appeals court ruled Monday. The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the parents of a biological female high school student who identifies as a male. The family sued The Anoka-Hennepin School District in 2019 and alleged that the student, identified in legal documents as N.H., was required to use a separate locker room when she participated on the boys' swim team. The court ruled that locker room segregation based on sex is a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other identifiers, including race and religion. Thus, the female student will be allowed to enter the boys' locker rooms and showers.
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President raises Roe revisit possibility
President Donald Trump has said it is "certainly possible" that his Supreme Court pick will be involved in a ruling revisiting the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Trump said he did not discuss abortion rights with Amy Coney Barrett before choosing her for the top court. She has been chosen to replace the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg but awaits Senate confirmation.
Gender-confused California inmates get to choose
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation during the weekend allowing gender-confused convicts to be incarcerated on the basis of their claimed “gender identity” rather than their actual biological sex. Under the new law, officers overseeing the prisoner intake process must ask inmates if they self-identify as transgendered, nonbinary or intersex, The Hill reported, at which point inmates can request to go to a male or female prison. Requests cannot be rejected solely on the basis of an inmate’s actual sex but on whether the state has “management or security concerns” about that inmate. State officials must further present inmates with a written explanation of any rejections as well as the opportunity to object to them.
Vermont challenged about religious discrimination
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a student, her parents and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington filed a federal lawsuit against Vermont officials last Wednesday for discriminating against students and denying them tuition vouchers because they attend religious high schools. Vermont maintains a town tuition program, which provides educational vouchers for students who live in towns without public schools. Towns that pay tuition for their students instead of maintaining a public high school are called “sending towns” and they directly pay the full amount of tuition, up to the town’s approved tuition rate, on behalf of their students. Students at public and secular private schools are eligible, students at religious private high schools are excluded. That includes Rice Memorial High School, which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington owns and operates. The complaint notes that some Vermont school districts continue to employ a “pervasively sectarian” test, which evaluates whether a child’s chosen school is “too religious” to participate in the town tuition public benefit. Other school districts, like the Grand Isle Supervisory Union, categorically refuse to allow any religious school to participate.
San Francisco is warned about its church policy
The Justice Department has warned San Francisco Mayor London Breed that the city’s limitations on indoor worship to one congregant at a time in response to the covid-19 pandemic “is contrary to the constitution and the nation’s best tradition of religious freedom.” In response to the city's policy of only allowing one person at a time to enter houses of worship, the Justice Department said in its letter to Breed that the city could not limit places of worship to a single congregant while “allowing multiple patrons in other indoor settings including gyms, tattoo parlors, hair salons, massage studios and daycares.”
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Supreme Court nominee praised by religious liberty group
This past weekend, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to the United States Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The following statement in response to the appointment may be attributed to Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO and chief counsel for First Liberty Institute, who was in attendance at the announcement: “President Trump has nominated a judge to the Supreme Court who we are confident will protect the religious freedoms and constitutional rights of all Americans. Judge Barrett’s record demonstrates her commitment to the Constitution’s text and its purpose. Judge Barrett understands that government exists to protect the God-given rights of the people and the Constitution exists to prevent government from infringing on those rights. She will make an excellent Supreme Court justice, and we expect the Senate to confirm her without delay.”
Pro-life speaker assaulted
Students for Life Action team member who is part of Students for Life’s “SCOTUS squad” was punched while peacefully advocating for the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Police were called and an arrest was made after a woman approached SFLAction Communications and Market Manager 23-year-old Autumn Schimmer, who was speaking on behalf of Judge Barrett. Schimmer spoke with police and reported that additional threatening behavior took place in the context of a crowd that included about 5 percent pro-life advocates and 95 percent abortion supporters. The woman who punched her fled into the crowd.
DA refuses to enforce a pro-life law
The district attorney of Nashville, Tenn., refused to enforce a new state law this week that informs women that a drug-induced abortion may be reversed to save their baby’s life. WLTV News 8 reports Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk said the law is unconstitutional, and he will not enforce it. Scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1, the pro-life legislation requires abortion facilities to display signs informing women that a chemical abortion may be reversed after the first dose of the two-drug abortion procedure. It also requires the abortionist to provide the same information during counseling 48 hours prior to the abortion.
Chinese Communists change the Bible
A Communist textbook that's being used in Chinese schools falsifies the Biblical account found in John 8:3–11. The textbook claims that Jesus murdered the woman who was found in adultery and said He, too, is a sinner. The textbook, published by the government-run University of Electronic Science and Technology Press, states: “The crowd wanted to stone the woman to death as per their law. But Jesus said, ‘let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.’ hearing this, they slipped away one by one. When the crowd disappeared, Jesus stoned the sinner to death, saying, ‘I too am a sinner. But if the law could only be executed by men without blemish, the law would be dead.’”
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A church gets its day in court
Attorneys for Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church prevailed in yet another hearing yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court, arguing that MacArthur and the church are entitled to a full trial on the merits of their challenge to the constitutionality of the government shut-down orders and the preliminary injunction. Los Angeles County has sought to shut down the church and hold MacArthur in contempt, but Thomas More Society attorneys argued that a final determination on the constitutionality of the orders must occur before the county could seek contempt against MacArthur for merely holding church. Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff indicated that he agreed there are serious constitutional concerns that have not been fully tried, and he reiterated that his prior ruling on the preliminary injunction was not a decision on the merits regarding the constitutionality of those orders. Because a contempt hearing is a quasi-criminal proceeding, Beckloff agreed that MacArthur and Grace Community Church are entitled to constitutional protections at any such trial.
Prayers will continue outside an abortion clinic
A church operating outside an abortion clinic in Washington State will continue holding services directly adjacent to the facility after a court order was issued this week and forced it to make changes. A Washington Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction Monday ordering the Church at Planned Parenthood, a monthly service held outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Spokane organized by Covenant Church, to move its services across the street from the facility and coordinate service times to avoid coinciding with the clinic’s hours of operation.
Black leaders protest black abortion rate
Black pro-life leaders, including Alveda King, gathered in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday in support of Life Legal’s petition to protect black children from abortion. Life Legal filed the petition with the Alabama Supreme Court this Tuesday, arguing that black children deserve equal protection under the law. More than 60 percent of abortions in the state are committed on black children — yet blacks make up less than 27 percent of the total population of Alabama. Black children are more than three times more likely to be aborted than children of other races.
Chinese teachers can’t talk about God
Teachers in China who mention God or religion risk employment termination as communist authorities increasingly control education materials and expand their list of banned topics teachers are not allowed to discuss in classrooms. According to Bitter Winter, a publication produced by the Center for Studies on New Religion that reports on human rights issues in China, the Chinese Communist Party is strictly monitoring what teachers say in schools and universities. Teachers are observed in their classrooms by authorities who watch for “reactionary thoughts” or “improper remarks,” ensuring students are not taught about democracy, religion, or exposed to any criticism of the regime. Schools in china are government-controlled, and therefore communist in ideology.
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A church fights a shutdown in the nation’s capital
A Christian church in Washington, D.C., is suing Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser for her ongoing ban on religious gatherings of more than 100 people. The lawsuit claims a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Unlike other states with restrictive measures imposed during the coronavirus crisis, churches in the District of Columbia don’t have the option of moving religious services outdoors to allow for greater crowds. Instead, the same limits apply.
The Bible is now available in American Sign Language
After nearly four decades, the complete Bible is now available in American Sign Language for the first time ever. Deaf Missions, a ministry dedicated to communicating “the Gospel of Jesus with deaf people through their heart language, culture and identity,” began the project in the early 1980s. The final books needed — Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel — were completed this fall. Now, the entire Bible is available to the world’s 70 million people who are deaf for free online, through social media, and on a smartphone app. The translation was led by people who themselves are deaf and trained in the Biblical languages.
Attorney General warns about ‘militant secularists’
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said yesterday that “no concept is more misunderstood than the notion of separation of church and state,” and explained that “militant secularists” have long seized on that slogan “as they drive religion from the public square.” Barr offered his remarks upon receiving the “Christifideles Laici Award,” presented to him during the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Barr spoke from his Department of Justice office during the virtual gathering. After recounting the important role that religion played in the founding of America as a free nation, Barr lamented, “unfortunately in the last half-century, that foundation of our free society has been increasingly under siege.”
The president signs an executive order protecting newborns
Congress refused more than 80 times to authorize medical care for babies who survive abortions. With Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats rejecting the Born Alive Bill more than 80 times, allowing abortionists to essentially get away with infanticide, President Trump announced an executive order yesterday that would require medical care be given to infants who are born alive after failed abortion attempts. The full text of the executive order has yet to be released, but it is expected to be similar to the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act that would provide for criminal penalties for abortionists who fail to provide proper medical care for babies who survive abortions. The order would likely cover hospitals and other public clinics where abortions sometimes occur. H.R. 962, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, introduced by Missouri Republican Representative Ann Wagner, ensures that a baby born alive after a failed or attempted abortion receives the same medical care as any other newborn. It would also penalize doctors who allow such infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn following a failed abortion. Former Vice President Joe Biden has never denounced the rejection of the anti-infanticide bill and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris voted to block it in the senate.
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L.A. County wants a contempt ruling against a pastor
Los Angeles County has expressed its intention to haul Grace Community Church Pastor John MacArthur back into court, attempting to secure a contempt ruling against him, which would involve hefty fines. On Monday, an L.A. superior court judge punted on contempt, but the county told MacArthur’s lawyers that it intends to refile charges in another court. Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued a preliminary injunction allowing L.A. County to ban indoor church services, but the church has appealed the injunction. MacArthur’s lawyers argue that since they are challenging the preliminary injunction, any contempt proceedings should wait until the underlying constitutionality of the county’s coronavirus lockdown orders has been fully litigated. Yet Los Angeles has refused to wait, instead rushing to use a constitutionally dubious order as a cudgel against Christians who insist on going to church.
Christian students fight back
University of Iowa officials were put on notice yesterday after a Christian student group asked a federal appeals court to hold them accountable for targeting and booting the group off campus because it requires its leaders to follow its religious beliefs. Officials at the University of Iowa kicked Business Leaders in Christ off campus and put it on a religious watchlist for simply requiring its leaders to sign a statement of faith
Professionals support abortion restriction
More than 130 medical professionals and scientists in Colorado have signed a letter in support of Proposition 115, a ballot measure seeking to ban abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy. Colorado currently has no laws regulating late-term abortion, either restricting the procedure or explicitly protecting it. As a result, abortions can take place up until birth. This November, Proposition 115 will ask voters if they want to ban abortion in the state after 22 weeks of pregnancy, unless a mother’s life is threatened. If the ballot measure passes, doctors would face a three-year suspension of their license for performing or attempting to perform an abortion. Women would not be charged with seeking or obtaining an abortion. More than 150,000 people from across Colorado signed a petition to place the initiative on the upcoming ballot.
Legislation introduced to protect women’s sport
A handful of GOP senators, led by Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, introduced legislation on yesterday that would further protect women under Title IX. Loeffler’s “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” makes a biological male’s participation in athletic programs that are designated for women and girls a violation of Title IX. The legislation would penalize schools receiving federal funding that permit such participation from biological males and threatens to pull the federal dollars all together. Loeffler’s legislation targets Title IX’s recognition of biological sex within women and girls’ athletic programs and aims to ensure that sex is accepted based on a person’s reproductive biology at birth. It follows a nationally watched case in Connecticut that resulted in two separate biological males winning multiple championship titles, that were previously held by women, in women’s track contests. The male participants inhibited the women from advancing further in competition.
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Lutherans respond to two hurricanes
On the morning of Sept. 16, just weeks after Hurricane Laura hit Louisiana, another hurricane — category 2 Hurricane Sally — made landfall near Gulf Shores, Ala. About two dozen Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) churches in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were directly in the path of the storm, expanding the need for hurricane relief efforts already concentrated in Louisiana and Texas. At an early estimate, about 100 Lutheran families in the path of Hurricane Sally have been affected, including multiple church workers. The response to Hurricane Sally will include mucking out homes that have been damaged by flooding, especially in southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Seven of the Synod’s historic black churches were among those in the path of the hurricane. All have buildings between 50 and 100 years old and significant history in the LCMS and the Southern District.
Concordia Seminary St. Louis hosts virtual event
College students and men and women considering a second career in ministry are invited to participate in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ Virtual Green & Gold Days event, set for 2–4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Green & Gold Days normally are full-day events that provide a quick opportunity for prospective students to visit campus and see all the Seminary offers. While usually these are in-person visits, the November event will be held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. The event is free, and the registration deadline is Nov. 11. Interested participants can learn more and register at csl.edu/greengold.
Christian student group challenges ban
A Christian student group at the university of Iowa will be asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for The Eighth Circuit today to hold school officials accountable for targeting the group’s religious beliefs, in BLinC v. University of Iowa. Business Leaders ln Christ (BLinC) was booted off-campus in 2017 because it asks its leaders to follow its religious beliefs, even though it accepted and served all students. University officials also put 32 religious groups on a special watchlist and deregistered 10 other religious groups, including the Chinese Student Christian Fellowship, the Imam Mahdi Muslim Organization and the Sikh Awareness Club — all for requiring religious leadership. But the university broadly exempted secular groups and even some favored religious groups from its rules, holding BLinC and disfavored religious groups to a very different standard.
Documents expose illegal abortion industry activity
Documents detailing repeated requests for aborted fetal body parts from the University of New Mexico (UNM) have been released by abortion on trial. Used as evidence in the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives — a Congressional investigation into the trafficking of aborted body parts after the Center for Medical Progress videos exposed illegal activity in the abortion industry — the e-mails show a long-standing relationship between UNM and the abortion industry. The e-mails show repeated requests from UNM for specific organs, like hearts and brains, while seemingly refusing to acknowledge how the organs were being obtained. In one e-mail, the sender asked rather nonspecifically if the abortion facility would be “getting more fetal tissue,” and requested the abortionist to spare the heart.
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City council rejects abortion facilities request
An Illinois city council rejected a request last week to approve the construction of a fence around an abortion facility to prevent pro-lifers from reaching out to women with information, support and prayer. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Granite City Council of Aldermen narrowly rejected the request in a 5-5 vote with Mayor Ed Hagnauer casting the tie-breaking sixth vote against it. The request came from the Hope Clinic, an abortion facility near the border of Missouri. Around since 1974, it advertises abortions up to 24 weeks, unborn babies are viable outside the womb around 22 weeks now. The abortion facility also tells women how to get Illinois taxpayers to pay for their abortions through Medicaid.
Undercover journalist files an appeal
Liberty Counsel has filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of the verdict in the multi-million dollar civil lawsuit against Sandra Merritt for her undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood’s trafficking of human baby body parts. From the beginning, the court severely restricted the evidence, and at the end gave instructions to the jury telling them how they should rule on critical issues. The jury decided in favor of the abortion giant on each count and awarded more than $2 million in damages. The case was heard by San Francisco’s U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick III, who is the founder of the Good Samaritan Family Resource Center that houses the Planned Parenthood of Northern California facility in its complex. In 2017, the defense requested that Orrick recuse himself from the case and he refused. Liberty Counsel’s chief litigation counsel Horatio Mihet said, “With the filing of this appeal, Sandra Merritt is one step closer to obtaining the justice that she was denied in the trial court. We are looking forward to the appeal and remain confident that planned parenthood’s legal maneuvering and cover up for its misdeeds will ultimately fail.”
Colorado to vote on late-term abortions
Ballot Proposition 115, if supported by a majority of Colorado voters, would prohibit abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy when unborn babies are viable outside the womb. Exceptions would be allowed if the mother’s life is in danger. Currently, Colorado is one of a few states that allows unborn babies to be aborted for any reason up to birth, and late-term abortionists there openly advertise abortions in the third trimester.
Christian housing community opens
New housing community in Victoria, Minn., is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is now accepting residence applications. Bethesda Cornerstone Village Victoria is a Christian community offering “joyous living” with state-of-the-art apartment homes and villas to adults 55+ and independent adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The community opened its doors Sept.1. Bethesda cornerstone village is a trusted partner with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, which provided the financing of this inclusive housing community.
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Planned Parenthood sued for defamation
The Center for Medical Progress (CMP) and its founder David Daleiden, responsible for the 2015 undercover video series exposing top Planned Parenthood leadership negotiating the harvesting and sale of aborted fetal body parts, are suing planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). for defamation in New York federal court after PPFA falsely and repeatedly accused the filmmakers of “manufacture[d]”, “fake”, and “false” undercover video reporting. In sworn deposition testimony in 2019, top planned Parenthood Officials admitted that their own actual statements were captured by the undercover video recordings. PPFA itself stipulated during a federal court trial that the words used by Planned Parenthood officials in the undercover videos “were spoken by those persons”. Yet on Sept. 18, 2019, PPFA issued a press statement claiming Daleiden and CMP filmed and published undercover video “to manufacture a fake smear campaign against Planned Parenthood”. On Nov. 15, 2019, PPFA tweeted that Daleiden and CMP “created a false smear campaign against Planned Parenthood”. After 30 months of undercover work, CMP began releasing its undercover video footage of documenting Planned Parenthood and its business partners’ participation in the harvesting and sale of human fetuses and their body parts from abortions. With each video release, CMP posted the full footage of the conversation with the Planned Parenthood representative, alongside a shorter summary version presenting the most significant parts of the conversation.
Supermarket chain sued for religious discrimination
A major supermarket chain is facing a lawsuit after firing two employees over their refusal to wear a rainbow emblem that violates their religious beliefs as part of their work uniform. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against the Kroger Co. Monday in response to action taken by Kroger store no. 625 in Conway, Ark., against two employees. The employees were terminated after they refused to abide by the new dress code, which required them to wear an apron depicting a rainbow-colored heart emblem. The women contended that wearing the apron would amount to an endorsement of the LGBTQ movement, which contradicts their religious beliefs. According to the EEOC, “one woman offered to wear the apron with the emblem covered and the other offered to wear a different apron without the emblem, but the company made no attempt to accommodate their requests.” The EEOC complaint comes more than a year after both women were fired from the supermarket chain.
Student suspended for posting Bible verse
A Christian high school student in Ohio was suspended last week after she posted Bible verses on lockers and walls after she saw LGBT Pride flags and posters decorating the halls of her school. Last Friday, mother Tina Helsinger posted a video to her Facebook page featuring her daughter, Gabby, explaining how she ended up being sentenced to an in-school suspension at Lebanon High School. Helsinger explained that as she was coming back from lunch, she saw teachers taking down the Bible verses she put up. Superintendent Todd Yohey clarified to Faithwire that the district’s student code of conduct prohibits the sharing or posting of religious text or imagery on school grounds.
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Election official says churches can engage politically
Trey Traynor, chairman of the Federal Election Commission, has reaffirmed that non-profits, including churches and religious leaders, “can absolutely engage” in political speech, like endorsing candidates and hosting them on church property. Traynor referred to a little-known executive order signed by President Donald Trump on May 4, 2017, less than four months into his presidency.
Women athletes appeal court decision
Two female athletes who joined a lawsuit in defense of Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act have appealed a federal district court decision that temporarily halts enforcement of the newly enacted law and forces female athletes to compete against males who identify as female while the lawsuit proceeds. Attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed the notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Wednesday. ADF represents the two collegiate athletes, who run track and cross-country at Idaho State University in Pocatello. The two women, Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall, are long-time athletes, well familiar with the difference in strength and speed between comparably gifted and trained male and female athletes. ADF attorneys also represent four female athletes in a federal lawsuit in Connecticut, where a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events has consistently deprived the four girls of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. The United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has found that the Connecticut policy deprives girls of equal athletic opportunities and violates Title IX.
Case defending faith-based foster care advances
Becket filed the final brief before November’s oral argument in the much anticipated supreme court case defending foster moms and faith-affirming care in Philadelphia. In Fulton v. Philadelphia, Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Busch are defending the faith-affirming foster agency that brought their families together. The Catholic Church has successfully served Philadelphia foster children and families since 1797, more than 150 years before the city government got involved. But, starting in 2018, city officials targeted and threatened to shut down Catholic Social Services’ foster care ministry because it upholds Catholic beliefs about marriage. Sharonell and Toni will be asking the Supreme Court on November 4 to protect the freedom of Catholic Social Services to serve its community without violating its religious beliefs. Sharonell Fulton has fostered more than 40 children over 25 years in partnership with Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia, and Toni Simms-Busch is a former social worker who chose to foster through the same agency because of its stellar reputation. More than 70 percent of the children Catholic Social Services support come from black and other minority communities, as do well more than half of the agency’s foster families. These are the families and children who will be harmed by the city’s actions. In March 2018, city officials stopped allowing foster children to be placed with families who partner with Catholic Social Services when they claimed to discover that Catholic Social Services, an arm of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia, upholds Catholic beliefs about marriage.
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LCMS helps Lutherans in Africa
Hand washing has been touted as the best way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But for people who don’t have regular access to soap and water in public places, this can be a challenge. In April, the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) approved a grant of $6,250 to the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church — Sierra Leone to help combat the transmission of covid-19 by increasing public awareness of the need for safety measures such as hand washing and by providing funds to build 154 hand washing stations, one at each church and school. Part of the grant also was used to print and distribute educational materials on good hygiene amid the pandemic. As part of this educational effort, members of the Sierra Leone church are using the Community Health Evangelism curriculum, which pairs health concepts with the gospel.
Concordia Texas offers new online degree programs
Concordia University Texas (CTX), Austin, Texas, is responding to the realities of covid-19 with two, new fully online degree programs. The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a competency-based graduate program to help meet the demand for public health knowledge and leadership. The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BSRC) is a degree advancement program for registered respiratory therapists who already hold an associate degree. CTX new online MPH program provides training in eight core competencies, then encourages students to apply them to their own passions, interests and career paths. The 16-month curriculum imparts leadership-level knowledge and skills to teach students how to become policy makers, advocates and change agents. Students can complete a capstone course to gain real-world, hands-on experience in their own specialization or focus. Many health care workers call respiratory therapists the true “heroes of the frontlines” right now, as they provide ventilator support to a high percentage of covid-19 patients. Respiratory therapists also treat any patient with breathing difficulty, often serving those with asthma, respiratory viruses, chronic lung diseases, and in neonatal and intensive care. Respiratory therapists with a two-year degree can now earn a bachelor's degree entirely online through CTX’s degree advancement program. Upcoming cohorts will begin in October 2020 and January 2021.
Christian owned company cancels plans
Chick-fil-A confirmed this week that the company has canceled plans to open a restaurant at San Antonio International Airport in Texas. On Monday, a spokesperson for the Christian-owned fast-food chain said the company won’t pursue plans at this time to open a restaurant in the airport after city officials last year blocked its plans do so, prompting complaints from the state’s attorney general, the passing of new state law, and an FAA investigation. In March 2019, the San Antonio City Council voted to remove Chick-fil-A from a concession agreement with San Antonio International Airport amid unproven accusations of “anti-LGBT behavior.”
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Abortionist loses license
The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners has suspended the temporary medical license of abortionist Leah Nicole Torres and has ordered her to cease and desist the practice of medicine after it found she had lied repeatedly on her permanent medical license application and committed unprofessional conduct. She was ordered to immediately surrender her license certificate. Torres has until Sept. 21 to file an appeal with the Medical Licensure Commission. A full hearing in the matter has been set for Dec. 21, 2020, in Montgomery, Ala.
Another city may become 'sanctuary for the unborn'
One of Texas’ largest cities could soon become the state’s 15th “sanctuary city for the unborn” if pro-life activists have their way. With an estimated population of more than 260,000, Lubbock is the 11th largest city in the Lone Star State. On Aug. 25, State Sen. Charles Perry and State Reps. Dustin Burrows and John Frullo wrote a letter to Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope urging him to enact a sanctuary city ordinance that would ban abortion within city limits. Two weeks after the lawmakers sent the letter to Pope, more than 200 Lubbock residents gathered outside of Lubbock’s citizen’s tower to express support for the proposed ordinance. The letter to Pope comes as Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, announced plans to open a new abortion clinic in Lubbock by the end of the year.
Netflix movie criticized
A number of politicians, most of them Republicans, have come out in recent days condemning the new Netflix movie “Cuties,” which has been widely characterized as “child pornography.” Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas wrote in a letter to Attorney General Bill Bar stating, “I urge the department of justice to investigate the production and distribution of this film to determine whether Netflix, its executives, or the individuals involved in the filming and production of ‘Cuties’ violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography.” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the company to answer several questions, including about the fact that Netflix rated the movie “TV-MA” for “language” but not for “its graphic sexual content.” The rating “TV-MA” indicates that “these programs are intended to be viewed by mature, adult audiences and may be unsuitable for children under 17.” Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Tom Cotton Of Arkansas also wrote to Netflix as did Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the only Democrat to question the movie.
The administration tightens Planned Parenthood funding
President Donald Trump took another step to defund the abortion industry yesterday through a new proposed rule to expand the Mexico City Policy. The pro-life policy has been in place during Republican presidential administrations since Ronald Reagan, defunding the International Planned Parenthood Federation and other abortion groups of hundreds of millions of tax dollars. The new proposed rule could lead to even more cuts to pro-abortion groups. Released yesterday in the Federal Register, it would require all groups that receive global health aid contracts to agree not to promote and/or provide elective abortions, The Hill reports. Those that refuse would not receive taxpayer funding. Abortion activist groups quickly blasted the proposal, claiming it “hurts women and families worldwide.”
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Illinois launches pro-abortion campaign
A new billboard campaign organized by the Chicago Abortion Fund is drawing attention to Illinois' Medicaid’s taxpayer-funded coverage of “abortion services” for state residents. According to WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR affiliate, the green and white billboards read, “Abortion is healthcare. It’s covered by Illinois' Medicaid. We’re here to help,” and lists the Chicago Abortion Fund’s website. The six signs statewide — including three on high-traffic interstates in the Chicago area as well as two in Peoria and one in Champaign the location of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — are scheduled to remain posted through September.
Navy agrees to provide priests
Less than 24 hours after First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the secretary of defense urging him to act, the United States Navy reversed its decision that it would no longer provide Catholic priests to cover the shortage of catholic military chaplains. First Liberty Institute’s letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressed concern over the decision and a series of other recent incidents in the U.S. military that have resulted in unlawful religious discrimination against service members.
College reverses discriminatory policy
Georgia Tech has agreed to change the unconstitutional policies that allowed its student government to deny funding for a speaking event featuring Alveda King, the niece of civil rights Activist Martin Luther King, Jr., because she is “inherently religious.” As part of a settlement ending a federal lawsuit Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed on behalf of the campus chapter of Students for Life, the university agreed to revise its policies to treat all student organizations fairly, regardless of viewpoint, and to pay $50,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees.
SPLC blocks Christian fundraising
A California-based fundraising software company that serves nonprofits will no longer provide service to the national Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, citing the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) listing of the organization as an anti-LGBT “hate” group. But after pushback to its decision, MobileCause informed the Christian Post on Thursday that it will review its policy of referring solely to the far-left SPLC to determine which nonprofits with which it won't work.
March for Life theme announced
During what might well be one of the most divided moments in America’s history, organizers of the March For Life are calling the nation to stand united. “Together Strong: Life Unites” will be the theme of the 2021 march for life in Washington, D.C. March For Life leaders announced the mantra for the 48th annual peaceful protest Thursday night, in the nonprofit’s first-ever virtual theme reveal. Next year’s march, set for Jan. 29, will mark the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide, and will take place nine days after the next president is inaugurated.
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California church remains open despite fines
The pastor of a large California church that was fined more than $50,000 for holding indoor worship services despite adhering to social distancing guidelines said that even as the county continues to increase penalties, the church will remain open. Jack Trieber, pastor of North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, Calif., said Tuesday that Santa Clara County posted an additional order on the church’s doors this week and is fining the congregation $5,000 for each service.
Christian student sues a university
The Catholic former head of Florida State University’s Student Senate is suing the school, saying his religious freedom was violated when he was removed from his position. Jack Denton, a member of Florida State University’s (FSU) class of 2021, was ousted from his position as head of the FSU Student Senate in June when comments he made in a private chat forum for Catholic students were made public. He had claimed that policy positions of blacklivesmatter.com, the ACLU, and Reclaim the Block contradicted the teachings of the Catholic Church, in a conversation about racial justice. A change.org petition called his comments “transphobic and racist” and the student senate subsequently voted to remove him as chair. He unsuccessfully appealed to the student supreme court and to university administrators for his reinstatement.
Lawmakers call for pulling the abortion pill off the market
Ninety-two Members of Congress have written the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) demanding that the abortion pill be pulled from the market as an “imminent hazard to the public health.” Twenty Republican senators led by Texas’s Ted Cruz signed one letter, and 72 GOP House members led by Georgia’s Jody Hice signed another. The lawmakers take aim at a federal judge’s recent decision to block the Trump administration from limiting abortion pills to in-person dispensation by physicians during the covid-19 outbreak, as opposed to letting women take the pills at home without medical supervision.
An abortion clinic is under criminal investigation
It has been confirmed that the death of a woman who visited the West Alabama Women’s Center abortion facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on May 7, 2020, is under criminal investigation. A coalition of pro-life groups, including CEC for Life, Life Legal Defense, Operation Rescue, and other Alabama organizations sought the autopsy report for a woman who reportedly died at Druid City Hospital, soon after leaving the Tuscaloosa abortion facility. The request was submitted on Aug. 5, 2020, by Dr. Patricia Gensemer for “autopsy reports for any females over 14 years of age and under 40 years of age with a date of death for May 7, 2020 in Tuscaloosa County. Your office confirmed on Aug. 5 that files matching this request are finally available.” Dr. Gensemer received a written response dated Aug. 27, 2020, from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, which stated in part, “District Attorney Hays Webb has notified the Alabama Department of Forensic Science that this case remains under criminal investigation. . . Consequently, the final reports in this case are not currently public record.”
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A church fights an abortion mandate
A Seattle-area church filed its opening brief yesterday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, asking for reversal of a lower court decision that dismissed the church’s lawsuit against the state of Washington. The lawsuit challenges a state law forcing churches to cover elective abortions in their health insurance plans. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Cedar Park Assembly of God, challenging the constitutionality of the state’s mandate requiring the church to cover abortion if it provides its staff members maternity coverage in their group health insurance. As a result of the state’s mandate, the church’s insurance carrier inserted surgical abortion coverage directly into the church’s health plan. The insurer indicated that it would remove the offensive coverage if a court were to hold that the state law is unconstitutional. The lawsuit, Cedar Park Assembly of God of Kirkland v. Kreidler, challenges the constitutionality of Washington State Senate Bill 6219, legislation signed into law in March 2018. The legislation requires Cedar Park to provide coverage for abortion if the church also offers maternity care coverage to its employees, or face fines and criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
Department of Education defends female athletes
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to write transgenderism into federal nondiscrimination law does not create a right for gender-confused male students to compete against actual girls, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) concluded in a letter explaining how the divisive ruling factors into its own judgment. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s (CIAC’s) official handbook says the conference “Shall defer to the determination of the student and his or her local school regarding gender identification,” without any conditions pertaining to physical transitions or testosterone levels. This has led to biologically male competitors consistently outperforming actual females and depriving them of numerous opportunities, according to a complaint filed by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on behalf of runners Selina Soule, Alana Smith and Chelsea Mitchell. The OCR has weighed in on the side of the runners, concluding that the CIAC policy violates the civil rights of female athletes, denying them “benefits and opportunities, including advancing to the finals in events, higher level competitions, awards, medals, recognition, and the possibility of greater visibility to colleges and other benefits.”
Abortion lobby sues
The abortion lobby filed a lawsuit Monday to block another provision of a sweeping pro-life law enacted in Tennessee this year, this time targeting language requiring that abortion-minded women seeking abortion pills be given information on how to reverse them should they change their mind. The omnibus law already faces legal challenge over its ban on abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, and the latest suit, brought by planned parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), challenges the requirement that women seeking a chemical abortion (the “abortion pill”) to be made aware of the abortion pill reversal (APR technique).
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LCMS aids hurricane victims
Tim Hetzner, Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO, was invited to Louisiana to meet with the Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Director Of Disaster Response, The Rev. Michael Meyer, LCMS Director of Disaster Response Training and The Rev. Eric Johnson, President Southern District LCMS, to survey extensive damage from Hurricane Laura and discuss recovery plans. Hetzner was able to bring the Rev. Eric Johnson donated funds to be used to help meet immediate needs within the Southern District. During this visit, they met with Pastor Charles Miller from St. John Lutheran Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Pastor Shane McCoy from Trinity Lutheran Church in Sulpher, Louisiana, and also\visited Grace Lutheran Church in Orange, Texas, to see the damage at each of these churches. St. John Lutheran sustained the most damage. Pastor Miller stated that his home is badly damaged, as well as the homes of most of his congregation members. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Disaster Response plans to open a camp at St. John Lutheran church in Lake Charles as a base for volunteers.
Retreat planned for pastors
As pandemic restrictions hit the six-month mark in many places across the United States, church workers — especially pastors — report feeling weary, discouraged and anxious amid this time of great uncertainty. In many cases, their workload has significantly increased, while they may wonder if they are doing enough or doing the right thing. “Generally, we can handle this kind of stress for short periods of time, but it doesn’t take long for the adrenaline to wear off and for fatigue to set in,” said the Rev. Michael Meyer, Director of Disaster Training for the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod’s Disaster Response. As part of the Soldiers of the Cross — amplified program, the LCMS Office of National Mission has partnered with DOXOLOGY: the Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel to provide resilience training and respite for pastors through two upcoming retreats. The “Take Heart! Strength and c\Confidence for Demanding Days” retreats are scheduled to take place Sept. 28–30 in Bel Aire, Kan., and Oct. 5–7 in Donaldson, Ind.
Pro-life activists are arrested
Ten pro-life activists were arrested last Thursday for blocking access to an abortion business in Sterling Heights, Mich., just outside of Detroit, in an attempt to stop unborn babies from being killed in the facility. The Christian pro-lifers showed up at Northland Family Planning Centers on Thursday morning, beginning their “rescue” minutes before 9 a.m. The term “rescue” refers to people blocking access to an abortion center to prevent unborn babies from being killed, or entering the waiting room and directly interacting with mothers who are scheduled for an abortion.
California seeks to ease adult-child sex restrictions
The California legislature passed a bill on Monday relaxing sex offender registry requirements for sodomy and other sexual acts with minors in efforts to end “Discrimination against LGBTQ young people on the sex offender registry,” according to the bill’s sponsor. The bill has not yet been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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Preemie babies saved in Louisiana
Thousands of people from Lake Charles, La, were forced to evacuate as Hurricane Laura approached from the Gulf of Mexico last week. The powerful Category 4 hurricane threatened 150 mph winds and catastrophic storm surges, causing nearly one-million people to flee from Texas and Louisiana, with the Lake Charles area ultimately the hardest hit. Yet a small group of brave people remained behind to care for babies who weren’t able to leave. Nineteen babies remained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, and a team of 14 nurses, two neonatal nurse practitioners, three respiratory therapists, and one doctor stayed behind to make sure they stayed safe. Some of the babies weighed as little as one pound, others relied on ventilators, feeding tubes, and respirators, and some were born premature as early as 23 weeks. The team slept in shifts when they could to make sure someone was always caring for the babies. The babies had been moved from the women’s hospital to the main hospital in advance of the storm, as the main building had a generator and was built to withstand hurricane-force winds.
California churches fight to stay open
As California officials continue threatening residents for exercising their First Amendment right to religious assembly, one Christian pastor is standing up to offer to pay any legal penalties for those who worship in defiance of state mandates. Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom has banned indoor religious services, along with various types of secular gatherings, in 29 counties representing 80 percent of the state’s population, in the name of containing the spread of covid-19. Numerous churches have defied the order, including Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, Cornerstone Church of Fresno, Destiny Christian Church of Rocklin and Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena. Last week, Pastor Ché Ahn Of Harvest Rock Church announced that he would pay for any tickets given to those who choose to attend in person despite the order, Pasadena Now reported. Local officials have threatened Ahn with fines, jail time, or worse for his civil disobedience.
Another pro-abortion group accused of racism
The National Organization for Women (NOW) appears to be the latest pro-abortion group accused of racism at the highest levels of leadership. Abortion giant Planned Parenthood has dealt with numerous accusations of racism in recent weeks, as has NARAL Pro-Choice America. NOW, founded in 1966 by feminist icon Betty Friedan, fractured after two pro-abortion men, Lawrence Lader qnd Bernard Nathanson, convinced Friedan to add abortion rights to the organization’s platform. Lader maintained that in order for abortion to be legalized, the eugenic agenda must be hidden from the public, and “women… and some blacks” must be kept “out front” once recruited to the cause. Recently, The Daily Beast reporter Emily Shugerman conducted interviews with nearly a dozen members and employees of now who claim that women of color were being “heckled, silenced, or openly disparaged at now meetings and offices.” As a result, 26 of 35 now state chapters signed a letter demanding the resignation of NOW’s president, Toni Van Pelt.
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Lutherans respond to Hurricane Laura
Thursday, at around 1 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Laura came ashore near the tiny town of Cameron, La., as a Category 4 storm. With sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, Laura snapped trees, knocked down power lines, tore roofs off buildings and shattered windows across the area. According to weather.com, the storm left parts of coastal Louisiana underwater, hundreds of thousands of people without power, and at least six people dead. While the worst damage was in Louisiana, the storm’s impact was also felt in parts of Texas and Arkansas. One of the areas most devastated by the storm was Lake Charles, La. St. John Lutheran Church in Lake Charles sustained significant damage to its sanctuary. Yesterday, LCMS Disaster Response Director the Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson and Director of Disaster Training The Rev. Michael Meyer traveled to Louisiana to meet with Southern District President The Rev. Eric Johnson, do an initial assessment and begin planning a response. Ross Johnson emphasized that the response will be a shared effort by multiple parties, including the affected congregations, the LCMS Southern and Texas Districts, the Synod and several LCMS recognized service organizations.
Concordia Seminary St. Louis opens its 182 year
With the theme “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” Concordia Seminary, St. Louis began its 182nd year with an opening service Friday morning in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Due to social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in-person attendance was limited, but the service was available for all to watch via livestream at csl.edu/live. During the service, Seminary Interim President Dr. Daniel Preus welcomed new students, preached and introduced the 2020-21 academic theme, which is based on Hebrews 13:8. New faculty and staff were recognized during the service, as well as new positions for existing faculty and staff. The seminary anticipates a fall enrollment of 623 students.
Los Angeles County evicts a church
On Aug. 12th Los Angeles County filed charges prohibiting Grace Community Church from holding religious services. But a local judge decided in favor of Grace Community Church to allow religious service if congregants wore face coverings and practiced social distancing. Pastor John MacArthur said at the time that the church was meeting indoors because it was their constitutional right and that it was commanded by God for his people to come together in worship. Factories, pot shops, liquor stores and department stores are allowed to stay open but not houses of worship. Yesterday, Los Angeles County sent a letter of eviction to Grace Community Church from a county-owned parking lot. They informed the church it can no longer use the parking lot it has for more than four decades. Los Angeles officials gave church officials 30 days to evacuate the premises. The county broke their agreement that was in effect for 45 years.
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LCMS sends missionaries into the world
As the world continues grappling with the effects of covid-19, the church continues sending missionaries into that world to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During an Aug. 7 service of sending at the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod International Center In St. Louis, the Rev. Daniel McMiller, executive director of the LCMS Office of International Mission, told four new LCMS missionaries that they don’t go into that world alone, but with the entire church behind them. Of the four new LCMS missionaries, one will be serving in Asia, two in Central America and one in Eurasia.
Court rules in favor transgender
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a trans-identifying student as it pertains to use of school restrooms. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that Gavin Grimm, a biological female who identifies as transgender and has been at the center of a lengthy legal battle starting several years ago, had been discriminated against and that maintaining sex-specific bathrooms was a violation of Title IX, the civil rights statute pertaining to the educational arena. The Richmond-based court held that for a school to prohibit a transgender-identified student from using the restroom of his or her "gender identity" is not constitutional.
Christian school fights to reopen
First Liberty Institute this week sent a letter to Santa Cruz County, California, health officials urging them to allow its client, At. Abraham’s Classical Christian Academy, to safely reopen next week. The state of California permits schools to open in counties that have been off the monitoring list for 14 days. Santa Cruz will have met this goal today, as case rates continue to decline. However, the county has threatened to refuse to allow schools to open next week, even if state guidelines are met. The county currently allows schools to open as childcare centers, serving classes of 12 students provided no “in-person instruction” is provided.
City sued for funding abortion
Yesterday, attorneys from the Thomas More Society sued the city of Austin, Texas, for giving taxpayer money to organizations that help women obtain abortions in violation of state law. The lawsuit alleges that the city’s expenditures are prohibited by the state’s abortion laws, which impose criminal liability on anyone who “furnishes the means for procuring an abortion knowing the purpose intended.” The lawsuit also alleges that the city’s expenditures violate the state constitution’s gift clause, which prohibits transfers of public funds to private entities unless the payment serves a legitimate public purpose and affords a clear public benefit received in return. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Texas Values, an Austin-based nonprofit, as well as several individual taxpayers. Austin recently passed a budget that gives $250,000 in taxpayer money to organizations that provide travel, lodging, and other logistical support to pregnant women seeking to abort their unborn children.
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Texas fights to end dismemberment abortion
Texas officials have asked the Fifth U.S. Court of Appeals to allow the state to enforce its ban on a certain type of second-trimester abortions, pending further court decisions. The rule in question bars “dismemberment abortions,” known medically as “dilation and evacuation” abortions. The procedure uses forceps and other instruments to kill and remove the unborn baby from the womb. The Texas legislature declared the procedure “brutal and inhumane.” While a panel at the New Orleans-based appellate court has already declined a motion to allow Texas to enforce the law, state officials are now asking the full appellate court to stay the decision. Republican-appointed judges outnumber Democratic-appointed judges on the court 12-5.
One charge dropped against undercover journalist
San Francisco Superior Court ruled that the charge for “false identification documents” brought against Sandra Merritt by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Dec. 13, 2019, is now permanently dismissed due to fact the statute of limitations had long expired. Liberty Counsel Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Litigation Counsel Horatio Mihet presented arguments before Judge Christopher Hite yesterday via Zoom. Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos previously dismissed the criminal charge, concluding there was insufficient evidence that Merritt used a “deceptive ID” that did not contain the disclaimer required by the statute. Liberty Counsel has already filed an appeal requesting the dismissal of the remaining eight charges brought against Merritt by Becerra for her undercover journalism work in exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby body parts.
Supreme Court asked to rule on abortion pill
The Trump administration asked The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday to restore federal regulations banning the abortion pill from being administered without an in-person doctor’s visit. Last month, District Judge Theodore Chuang agreed to the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU’s) request to allow mifepristone, the first half of the chemical abortion cocktail RU-486, to be taken home without medical supervision, arguing that the requirement posed a “substantial obstacle” during a pandemic, and ruled that, “particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur.” The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) appealed the ruling, and now the Justice Department is calling on the nation’s highest court to render an immediate verdict on the temporary suspension, CNBC reports.
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The LCMS examines pandemic's impact on Synod
2020 has been an unpredictable year, and the long-term repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic are only just starting to emerge. In an effort to begin to examine the pandemic’s impact on the Synod, LCMS Rosters, Statistics and Research Services sent a survey to every congregation with a valid email address — 4,787 in total — in June. More than 1,200 congregations responded, providing a representative sampling of what’s going on in congregations of every size, district and community type such as urban, suburban or rural. While many of the survey results are in line with what one might expect, there were a few surprises and bright spots regarding congregational finances and the Synod’s ability to walk together during difficult times. There’s no question that the pandemic has taken a financial toll on many Americans, who may have been laid off or furloughed during the shutdown. Based on the survey results, LCMS Rosters, Statistics and Research Services estimates that nearly 65,000 LCMS households have lost income. And yet, early signs suggest that this situation and the economic upheaval it has caused may be less severe for churches than originally thought. Most congregations have not had giving decrease due to the pandemic. Less than 12 percent say that it is down significantly, while more than 25 percent report that giving is actually up from the previous year. “I was encouraged by the overall resilience of our congregations and their determination to continue to proclaim Christ come what may,” LCMS President the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison said of the results. “and despite the challenges, the evidence of collegiality and trust in circuit, district and Synod is a blessing in our life together.”
Restraining order against California church is denied
In California Superior Court, Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued a five-page opinion, County of Los Angeles et al. V. Grace Community Church et al., Denying the County of Los Angeles’ renewed application for a temporary restraining order against the church and Pastor John MacArthur. Thomas More Society attorneys are defending the pastor and his congregation against an aggressive assault by the county over the right to hold indoor worship services. In an analysis of the prior proceedings, the court held that the county’s attempt to obtain a restraining order did not meet statutory requirements and that the court of appeal’s order did not justify a new temporary restraining order; rather, it simply stayed Judge Chalfant’s Aug. 14 order and gave the county permission to enforce its own health order.
More children are finding adoptive homes
The number of children in the U.S. foster care system has dropped for a second year in a row, and a record number of children in the child welfare system were able to find adoptive homes, according to new federal data released Monday. The annual report from the Department of Health and Human Services counted about 424,000 children in foster care as of Sept. 30, 2019, down from about 435,000 a year earlier.
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Another undercover video is released
A new video from the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) once again reveals that abortionists at Planned Parenthood have been committing illegal partial-birth abortions while harvesting the body parts of preborn children. In the video, Planned Parenthood leaders discussed how best to obtain intact body parts and organs from aborted children when abortion procedures are so destructive. Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s senior director of medical services from 2009 to 2016, now the medical director for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, is featured in video footage of a deposition, along with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s Tram Nguyen and Dr. Mary Gatter, medical director for Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. Planned Parenthood instructs its abortionists to describe their “intent” in medical records, and to check off a box allowing them to skirt federal law outlawing partial-birth abortions. In a previous video, Nucatola said, “The federal abortion ban is a law, and laws are up to interpretation. So there are some people who interpret it as, it’s intent. So if I say on day one, ‘I do not intend to do this,’ what ultimately happens doesn’t matter.”
California clamps down on churches
California Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks appeared before Judge Vincent O’Neill in Superior Court of Ventura County last Friday and was held in contempt of court. Godspeak Calvary Chapel was fined $500 per three services, for two Sundays, or a total of $3,000. Pastor McCoy received an order from a Ventura state judge on Aug. 7, banning the church’s in-person services. Superior Court Judge Matthew Guasco issued a temporary restraining order to Pastor Rob McCoy, the church, and Does 1-1000, along with anyone “acting in concert with them” who might attend worship in the future. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered no singing or chanting, and then ordered no worship, even in private homes with anyone who does not live in the home. Godspeak Calvary Chapel held three worship services on Sunday, Aug. 9 and Aug. 16. An evidentiary hearing is set for Aug. 31. North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, Calif., was also fined $5,000 for holding the morning service and $5,000 for the evening service. In addition it was served a written citation for singing in each of the two worship services, although social distancing was practiced. Santa Clara County acknowledged in its cease and desist letter they had been sending agents into the church to spy on the congregation during worship services.
A federal judge rules faith schools must stay closed
A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against three Christian schools seeking to re-open for in-person learning this fall, arguing that the state’s restrictions on in-person learning during the covid-19 pandemic are Constitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled in favor of Gov. Kate Brown’s June executive order last Thursday and denied a motion by Horizon Christian School, McMinnville Christian Academy and Life Christian School.
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Gun pulled on pro-life demonstrators
Police said they responded to the parking lot of Planned Parenthood In Dover, Delaware, after receiving calls from a group of pro-life demonstrators that a man pulled a handgun on the group. Police said the man went on the public sidewalk and started an argument with the group, he then pulled out a black handgun and made a threatening statement to them.
Pro-life journalist facing deadline
Pro-life investigative journalist David Daleiden must raise $600,000 in less than two weeks to pay an appeal bond or Planned Parenthood can begin seizing his assets and those of his organization, the Center for Medical Progress, according to a San Francisco judge’s ruling. United States District Judge William H. Orrick’s Wednesday judgment is the latest turn in Planned Parenthood’s retaliatory lawsuit against Daleiden and four others, which it launched after the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released undercover videos in 2015 exposing the abortion giant’s trafficking in aborted baby body parts. Daleiden was the mastermind behind a 30-month-long undercover sting operation during which he and others secretly recorded gatherings of abortionists and organ-harvesting companies. After Daleiden took his evidence to law enforcement agencies to limited effect, CMP began releasing the videos in July, 2015. The footage of top-level Planned Parenthood executives haggling over prices of aborted baby body parts and discussing how to change abortion procedures to obtain more intact organs, and of abortion facility staff picking through pie trays of baby parts, sparked public outcry, house and senate hearings, and an ongoing department of justice criminal investigation into Planned Parenthood.
School district wants parents out
A central Tennessee school district sparked concern when it asked parents to sign a form agreeing not to monitor their children’s online classes. The Rutherford County School (RCS) letter asking parents to steer clear of their children’s virtual classroom for privacy reasons was reported Aug. 15 by the Tennessee Star, which received a copy of the form. Parents are asked to sign the form, which warns that “vVolation of this agreement may result in RCS removing my child from the virtual meeting,” the Tennessee Star reported. The RCS incident comes as the Tennessee Bureau Of Investigation is warning parents to be exceptionally vigilant about what their children are doing online after tracking an increase in cyber-activity by sexual predators since March, as Fox13 reported. Concerns over the RCS form also come a a Philadelphia teacher complained n a private chat last week that the increased parental oversight that comes with virtual classrooms will “damage” sex education.
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Cash-strapped postal service cancels money-making program
The United States Postal Service (USPS) pulled the plug on a profitable custom stamp program rather than let Americans use religious imagery the cash-strapped agency generated millions of dollars by allowing customers to design their own stamps before eliminating the program in June. Jeremy Dys, special counsel at nonprofit religious freedom law firm First Liberty, said the decision came shortly after several people attempted to create stamps featuring religious backdrops and imagery. Dys criticized USPS —which requested $75 billion from taxpayers in April — for leaving money on the table. A USPS spokesman said that the decision to end the program resulted from the "insignificant" revenue, adding that the program had become an "unacceptable risk" to the service's brand.
Supreme Court will hear free speech case
Last month, the Supreme Court agreed to take up a case in which a Georgia public college weaponized its speech zone policies to silence a black Christian student who preached the Gospel on campus. While the college has since dropped its speech zone restrictions, the student is seeking damages so the college cannot claim it was in the right to silence him. In the course of defending the college, Georgia Attorney General Christopher M. Carr Briefly argued that preaching of the Gospel constituted “fighting words” and therefore was not protected by the First Amendment. Carr later disavowed this argument.
Turkey converts another Christian landmark into a mosque
A month after the former cathedral Hagia Sophia was converted from a museum into a mosque, another Istanbul church-museum, renowned for its exquisite Byzantine mosaics, will undergo the same transformation. Turkey’s president ordered Friday that the 700-year-old Chora Church — currently the Kariye Museum — be turned into a fully functioning mosque. The building’s history mirrors that of the famous former Byzantine cathedral Hagia Sophia. Holy Savior in Chora is a 4th-century Greek Orthodox church whose structure was originally part of a monastery in Byzantine Constantinople.
Planned Parenthood drops suit
Indiana’s 18-hour ultrasound law will go back into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, as a result of Indiana’s largest abortion chain, Planned Parenthood, conceding it will not win its suit, which has blocked the law since 2017. The ultrasound law, part of the 2016 Dignity for the Unborn Act signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence, requires that women considering abortion be provided the opportunity to view a fetal ultrasound at least 18 hours prior to an abortion. A significant decline in abortions is expected in Indiana as a result of the ultrasound law going back into effect. From July through December 2016, while the ultrasound law was in effect, there were 496 fewer abortions in Indiana compared to the period of July through December 2017, when the ultrasound provision was blocked and abortions spiked to a 13 percent increase.
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Concordia St. Louis begins 182nd year on Aug. 28
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will begin its 182nd year with an opening service at 10 a.m. CDT Aug. 28 in the Chapel of St. Timothy And St. Titus. Due to social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in-person attendance will be limited to service participants; new students, their spouses and children; faculty and staff members who are being installed or ordained; and deans, department chairs and program directors. The service will be available for all to watch via livestream at csl.edu/live. Vicarage and internship assignments also will be announced for pastoral and deaconess Students In The Specific Ministry Pastor program, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology program, Center for Hispanic Studies program and the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center.
Parishioners threatened with jail
California’s Harvest Rock Church received a letter from the city of Pasadena’s chief assistant city prosecutor threatening daily criminal charges unless in-person worship services cease. The letter from the Pasadena prosecutor states, “Each day in violation is a separate violation and carries with it punishment up to one year in jail and a fine for each violation…. Your compliance with these orders is not discretionary, it is mandatory. Any violations in the future will subject your church, owners, administrators, operators, staff and parishioners to the above-mentioned criminal penalties as well as the potential closures of your church.” Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry Against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s covid-19 orders.
Puberty blockers cause sterility
Consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles that were made public this week reveal that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones used on gender dysphoric children do in fact cause sterility, contrary to repeated assertions made by some California Democratic lawmakers. Democrats in the California State Senate have in recent days dismissed those who've warned that a bill under consideration would fund the sterilization of physically healthy minors. They assert that such concerns raised by constituents amount to "fear-mongering. The informed consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles — which has one of the largest transgender centers in the country — obtained by the California Family Council, reveal that the hospital has also warned patients and parental guardians that the drugs do indeed yield infertility in those who undergo the experimental procedures.
Library paints over children’s display
The town of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, has painted over a Biblical display on a library playground following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist group. Stevens Memorial Library had featured at its playground a turning picture game of NOAH'S Ark, which FFRF said violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Madeline Ziegler, a staff attorney at FFRF, sent a letter to Terri Antsiss, director of the library, on July 22 on behalf of a “concerned community member.”
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Lawmakers want to know why pro-life students were arrested
Two lawmakers are calling for an investigation into what they say is the “Unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination” of two pro-life students who were arrested in Washington, D.C., after using sidewalk chalk to write the phrase “BLACK PRE-BORN LIVES MATTER” in front of a local Planned Parenthood. The students, who are affiliated with Students For Life Of America (SFLA), were charged with defacing public or private property, which is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. Fox News is reporting that Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. James Comer of Kentucky of the Oversight Committee, wrote a letter to Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband questioning the validity of the arrest. The arrest raised eyebrows particularly because the slogan “DEFUND THE POLICE” was recently painted on a prominent D.C. roadway adjacent to the mayor’s commissioned painting of “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” without similar consequences. SFLA has said it intends to pursue legal action against the metropolitan police department for its viewpoint discrimination.
Court overturns conscience protection
In June, President Donald Trump issued a pro-life rule that will protect pro-life Americans and help save babies from abortion. His administration implemented a rule to block the effects of an Obamacare provision that could be used to compel doctors to participate in abortions. The Department Of Health and Human Services finalized a rule that revises 2016 provisions of the Obamacare section 1557 rule that had redefined discrimination “on the basis of sex” to include “pregnancy termination.” The new rule protects doctors, nurses and medical professionals from being compelled to assist abortions. Monday, a federal judge blocked the rule, just one day before it was to have taken effect and relied on a Supreme Court decision related to sexual orientation and gender identity to block the rule, which also pertains to those issues.
Abortion prevented
An unborn baby may be protected from abortion in Florida after a court ruled against a teen who is trying to get a secret abortion without her parents’ knowledge or consent. The Miami Herald reports the Second District Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by 14-year-old “Jane Doe” who is challenging the new state parental consent law. The pro-life law, which went into effect July 1, requires girls under 18 to obtain a parent’s consent before having an abortion. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies and allows a judge to grant permission instead of a parent, a judicial bypass. Doe, who is living with her 17-year-old boyfriend, requested a judicial bypass, but a court rejected her request and, on Monday, the Second District Court agreed, according to the report. In their ruling, the judges said the teen did not show enough maturity to make the decision on her own. They also questioned her credibility after she gave two conflicting statements about her mother to the court.
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Pharmacist fired for not dispensing abortion-inducing drugs
Life Legal is representing a pharmacist who has told her employer she cannot dispense prescriptions for abortion-inducing drugs, including oral birth control and emergency contraception. The pharmacist, who is Catholic, has made it clear that dispensing the drugs violates her deeply held beliefs. The pharmacy said if she did not change her position, she would be terminated immediately. The pharmacist did not back down. She has worked for the pharmacy for many years and has always received a religious accommodation to exempt her from dispensing prescriptions that violate her conscience. This year, however, the pharmacy is saying that birth control and morning after pills are “essential” services.
Athletes allowed to defend women's sports law
A federal district court yesterday granted the motion of two female athletes to intervene in defense of Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging in court. The lawsuit seeks to dismantle Idaho’s newly enacted law and force female athletes to compete against males who identify as female. Alliance defending freedom attorneys represent the two collegiate athletes, who run track and cross-country at Idaho State University in Pocatello. The two women, Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall, are long-time athletes, well familiar with the difference in strength and speed between comparably gifted and trained male and female athletes. In its order granting the motion to intervene in Hecox v. Little, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho also temporarily halted enforcement of Idaho’s law while the lawsuit against it moves forward.
Church wins against state
Pastor John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church in California may hold indoor services without legal retaliation for now, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled Friday. California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has banned indoor religious services along with various types of secular gatherings in 29 counties representing 80 percent of the state’s population in the name of containing the spread of covid-19. Numerous churches have defied the order, including Grace Community Church, Cornerstone Church of Fresno, Destiny Christian Church of Rocklin and Harvest Rock Church Of Pasadena. In Los Angeles, conflict over the order has intensified to the point that Democrat Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered that power and water be shut off to buildings where gatherings continue taking place. Grace Community Church Sued The State Over The Ban, And Los Angeles County Counter-Sued, but Chalfant sided with Grace, the Associated Press reports. The judge’s ruling allows the church to gather in person for the time being, provided congregants wear masks and socially distance within the building. He set a September date for a hearing on Los Angeles County’s counter-demand for an injunction against the church meeting in person.
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Storms slam Lutherans in upper Midwest
Last Monday, a massive “derecho” wind storm tore through the Midwest, hitting thousands of square miles with winds of up to 112 mph. The storm took down trees and power lines, leveled corn crops, and cut off power and phone signal throughout a massive region spanning much of Iowa, and parts of Nebraska and Illinois. Unlike a tornado, the hurricane-force winds that hit the region, did not just devastate a mile-wide path, but a swath of the Midwest that stretched for miles and miles in every direction. In an area of hundreds of miles through eastern Iowa, nearly every standing tree was damaged. Countless homes were hit by trees or sustained wind damage. Central Lutheran School in Newhall, Iowa, lost the roof to its gymnasium completely. Power and phone signal were cut off to the whole region for days, including major cities such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and The Quad Cities. St. John’s and Central Lutheran sustained damage that will need repairs, as did many other homes and businesses. One elderly member of St. John’s completely lost her home’s roof, which caved in on the kitchen and the living room, though she was unharmed. Last Thursday morning, The Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care Disaster Response, traveled to the affected area and met with local LCMS disaster response coordinators to help organize response plans.
Wedding photographer wins in court
A federal district court issued an order Friday that halts enforcement of a Louisville, Ky., law against a photographer and blogger while her artistic freedom lawsuit moves forward in court. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Chelsey Nelson — an entrepreneur who specializes in photographing, editing, and blogging about weddings — in a legal challenge to a city law that forces her to use her artistic talents to promote same-sex wedding ceremonies if she photographs and blogs about weddings between one man and one woman. The court also denied the city’s request to throw out the lawsuit. The Louisville law also forbids Nelson and her studio, Chelsey Nelson Photography, from publicly explaining on her studio’s own website or social media sites the religious reasons why she only celebrates wedding ceremonies between one man and one woman. Louisville considers such “communications” as indicating that services will be denied because of sexual orientation. The court’s order halts enforcement of that part of the law against Nelson as well.
Lawmakers urge end tax breaks for abortion
More than 100 U.S. senators and representatives have written to the Department of the Treasury to end tax breaks in the IRS code for abortion. Presently, the IRS allows abortion expenses to be tax-deductible as a "medical expense." They urged the IRS not to consider abortions except when the mother’s life is physically endangered to be medical care. The IRS should not treat premiums for health insurance that covers such abortions as medical care, unless in compliance with the law’s separate accounting requirements for coverage of non-medical care the lawmakers say.
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Undercover journalist ask for charges be dismissed
Sandra Merritt is asking the California Court of Appeals to dismiss all eight remaining felony charges pending against her. The criminal investigation and tactics began under then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris (now senator and VP candidate) and then her replacement, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who filed 15 charges for Merritt’s undercover journalism work in exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby body parts. During a press conference, Becerra stood with a sign reading, “I stand with Planned Parenthood.” Multiple counts have already been dismissed. Becerra has not shown probable cause for any of the charges. Merritt’s appeal details with evidence that she did not intend to violate any laws but used legal undercover techniques to investigate and expose potential fetal-trafficking abuses and crimes being committed by Planned Parenthood.
Teenagers sue state medicaid program
Two teenagers in Arizona have sued the state's medicaid program, arguing that the state was violating their civil rights by declining to pay for gender transition surgeries. Under the banner of anti-discrimination provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the claimants argue that a 1982 state ban on using medicaid funds is an affront to their civil rights. The lawsuit goes on to argue that two biological females who came out as transgender a few years ago experienced challenges as puberty started changing their bodies and that they had to rely on breast binders and heavy hoodies in order to appear more masculine. Presently, 22 states and Washington, D.C., cover transgender medical practices through government agencies. Eighteen states have no explicit policy and 10 states prohibit it.
City funds abortion efforts
Austin, Texas, is doubling down on their stance as a sanctuary city for the abortion industry. The city’s 2021 budget, approved unanimously by the all-Democrat Austin City Council yesterday, cuts funding for the Austin Police Department and redirects a portion of the funding to subsidize abortion. Last year, the Texas legislature passed a law prohibiting state and local governments from using taxpayer dollars to support abortion businesses and their affiliates. However, the city of Austin circumvented this law by including a line item of $150,000 in the city’s budget for abortion logistical services. While the funding cannot pay for the abortion procedure directly, this money is earmarked for expenses related to abortion, including transportation to the appointment, lodging, childcare, and legal services.
Chinese authorities tell Christians to pray to its president
Authorities in Communist China replaced a cross in the home of an elderly Christian man with an image of Xi Jinping and ordered him to pray to the country’s president instead of God as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to “sinicize” Christianity. The 84-year-old man in Shanxi province was among a number of Christians in several provinces ordered to remove Christian imagery from their homes and replace them with pictures of communist leaders, religious rights magazine Bitter Winter reported.
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Medical journal retracts study on sex change treatment
Dr. Andre van Mol, American College Of Pediatricians adolescent sexuality committee co-chair, was the lead author of one of six letters to the editor of American Journal Of Psychiatry (AJP) critical of the methods and findings of the 2019 Branstrom & Pachankis study in AJP claiming decreased mental health treatment use from gender-affirming surgeries. His team included endocrinologist Michael Laidlaw and renowned psychiatrists Miriam Grossman and Prof. Paul McHugh. AJP decided “to seek statistical consultations” on the study, along with reanalysis by the study authors, leading to AJP issuing a correction that there was “no advantage to surgery,” and the study authors conceding “our conclusion . . . Was too strong.” The Branstrom study itself stated that “gender-affirming hormone treatment” provided no improvement either. Consequently, the study, and transgender affirming interventions, now seem invalidated.
Lawmakers defend ‘heartbeat bill’
Georgia Republican leaders are fighting in court to defend a state pro-life law that bans abortions once an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable. The 2019 Heartbeat Law currently is blocked by a court order, but Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration is appealing to the 11th circuit court of appeals, Bloomberg Law reports. The state law bans abortions after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, about six weeks of pregnancy. State lawmakers expected a legal challenge when they passed the law in 2019. The Georgia pro-life law allows exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the mother’s life. In addition, the law allows parents to claim unborn babies as dependents on their taxes and includes unborn babies in census data. It also allows mothers to collect child support for pregnancy and delivery costs from the father prior to the baby’s birth.
Woman dies following an abortion
The West Alabama Women’s Center is estimated to have killed over 80,000 preborn babies in its decades of operation, and recently, an abortion client died after a procedure there. According to Operation Rescue and CEC for life, the botched abortion which caused the woman’s death was committed on May 7. Witnesses saw the woman, escorted by another person, leaving the facility in clear distress. The woman was pale and could barely walk even just a few feet to a vehicle waiting for her. Despite these clear signs of an injury, it appears that a 911 call was not made by anyone at the facility. The woman was taken to Druid City Hospital, where facility staffers confirmed she passed away. The West Alabama Women’s Center was sold in the same month that the woman was killed. Long-time owner Gloria Grey was seeking to retire, and abortion activists with the Yellowhammer Fund launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to buy the facility. The Yellowhammer Fund’s communications director at the time was noted pro-abortion writer Robin Marty, who is now the communications director for the West Alabama Women’s Center.
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Lutheran Witness more visible
For almost 140 years, The Lutheran Witness (LW) has served the church and proclaimed the Gospel by publishing theological essays and reflections that interpret “the contemporary world from a Lutheran perspective.” Now, LW seeks to continue this mission by refreshing and expanding its web presence with its own website, witness.lcms.org. Online LW content was previously housed at the Reporter site, where it was less visible and harder to find. Now, with its own domain name, the refreshed LW site is more user-friendly and accessible. The updated site will continue to provide all the same content that was housed under the old domain name.
California city cracks down on worship
Yesterday, Harvest Rock Church received a letter from California's city of Pasadena's code compliance officer demanding that in-person worship services cease. The letter states that the city of Pasadena will continue to enforce the governor’s orders, “Until the present emergency ends. Today, Liberty Counsel appears in the federal district court regarding Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry’s request for a preliminary injunction against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s covid-19 orders. The governor’s orders prohibit all in-person worship, including home Bible studies and fellowship. This ban applies to about 80 percent of the state's population. In the remaining 20 percent, limited in-person worship is permitted but no singing and chanting.
California county declares itself sanctuary for worship
San Luis Obispo County, located in central California, has become a sanctuary county for churches struggling to cope state restrictions on worship gatherings. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow confirmed late last month he will not prosecute churches for holding worship services or for singing in church, which was deemed unlawful by an order from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. More than 30 counties in California are not allowed to gather for church services, according to Newsom’s order that places even greater restrictions on counties included in the state’s covid-19 watch list. Gatherings of 10 people or more in households in those counties are also banned, essentially prohibiting some in-home Bible study gatherings. Whether a church can legally gather or not, singing during worship is disallowed under Newsom’s order.
Democratic nominees go full pro-abortion
Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden yesterday announced that Sen. Kamala Harris Of California would be his vice-presidential running mate. By picking Harris, Joe Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to abortion on demand at any time for any reason and paid for by taxpayers. As a U.S. Senator, Kamala Harris has a 0 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee. By contrast, Harris earned her a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
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Americans doubt salvation in Jesus alone
A new survey shows that the majority of Americans no longer believe that Jesus is the path to salvation and instead believe that being a good person is sufficient. As part of the ongoing release of the Arizona Christian University-based Cultural Research Center's American Worldview Inventory, the latest findings — exploring perceptions of sin and salvation — from George Barna, the group's director, show that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that having some kind of faith is more important than the particular faith with which someone aligns. Slightly more than half of Christian respondents said they believe someone can attain salvation by "being or doing good," a figure that includes, 46 percent of Pentecostals, 44 percent of mainline Protestants, 41 percent of Evangelicals, and 70 percent of Catholics. In addition to the viewpoint that eternal salvation can be earned, survey results show that 58 percent of Americans believe that no absolute moral truth exists and that the basis of truth are factors or sources other than God. 77 percent said that right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible. 59 percent said that the Bible is not God's authoritative and true word and 69 percent said people are basically good.
Planned Parenthood refuses to return funds
Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas say they have no intention of returning funds issued to them under the Small Business Administration’s covid-19 relief package, despite their ineligibility to receive the aid. The loans were distributed as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP )under the Cares Act. As previously reported,43 Planned Parenthood affiliates received more than $80 million in PPP funds knowing they had been disqualified from receiving the loans. According to Department of the Treasury records, three Texas Planned Parenthood affiliates received loans. To date, only Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas has returned its loan, which was listed at between $2 million and $5 million. The two remaining affiliates, Houston-based Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast ($2m to $5m) and Planned Parenthood South Texas ($350k to $1m), located in San Antonio, have refused to return the funds.
Mobile pro-life pregnancy center continues operations
A mobile pro-life pregnancy clinic can operate in Connecticut’s capital city without having to adhere to an ordinance requiring that it post signs inside and outside the facility that imply that it does not have medical professionals on-site. Caring Families Pregnancy Services, Inc. and the city of Hartford recently agreed to a settlement over a lawsuit the pro-life clinic filed against the city over its ordinance. As part of the agreement, Caring Families will be exempted from the ordinance because it has licensed medical professionals on staff and will still be allowed to operate in the city. For its part, the city will maintain the ordinance and will not have to admit liability in the case. Both sides agreed to cover their own legal expenses.
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The Rev. Dr. Ray Halm called to Glory
The Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, who served as president of Concordia University, Irvine (CUI), Calif., from 1980 to 1998, died Aug. 4. He was 79. Halm was the longest-serving president of CUI. Before becoming CUI president, he served congregations and schools in Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota as an LCMS teacher, administrator and pastor. He also served as vice-chairman of the LCMS Board for Higher Education, a member of the LCMS Blue Ribbon Task Force on Missions, and the Synod’s assistant secretary. Most recently, he acted as senior director of Concordia University Education Network while remaining an active ambassador for CUI.
Marines cave to atheists
The U.S. Marine Corps scheduled an annual training for military lawyers earlier this month, at which the Battle of Gettysburg would be discussed. The instructor for one portion of that training was supposed to be Jay Lorenzen, an Air Force veteran who taught for 10 years at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Lorenzen’s biography, provided to the military lawyers in advance of the training, included references to Christianity, including his affiliation with Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as “Cru”, and a couple of religious-themed courses he teaches in his spare time. Several of those lawyers complained to Mikey Weinstein, who heads up a secular, anti-christian group called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, that Lorenzen was going to teach about religion. That allegation was false, but it didn’t matter. Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute said of the situation, “The Marine Corps bravely cancelled a speaker chosen to lead a discussion on the battlefield tactics and leadership lessons of Gettysburg based upon his expertise as a retired military officer and academy professor because that retired officer, in his speaker’s bio, confessed to be religious and associated with a religious organization.”
Dismemberment abortion ban upheld
Arkansas soon may be allowed to enforce a law to protect unborn babies from brutal dismemberment abortions after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the state Ariday. The AP reports the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously vacated lower federal court injunction blocking the dismemberment abortion ban and three other pro-life state laws. The 2017 laws include the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection from dismemberment abortion act, which protects nearly fully formed unborn babies from being brutally dismembered alive in the womb. These abortions typically are referred to as Dilation and Evacuation, or D&E, and are common in the second trimester when unborn babies are nearly fully developed. A second law, the Sex Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act, protects unborn babies from discriminatory sex-selection abortions. The other two laws involve requiring the remains of aborted babies to be buried or cremated and reporting evidence of the sexual abuse of young girls under 14 to authorities.
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Order closing churches is challenged
Liberty Counsel filed the reply brief to the first Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Calvary Chapel of Bangor’s appeal in the lawsuit against Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ orders against churches. Under the governor’s challenged orders when the complaint was filed, no religious gatherings were permitted, including parking lot services. Under the orders, the church can hold secular but not religious meetings. The church can feed, shelter, and provide social services to an unlimited number of people, but religious services are severely limited in the same building where non-religious services can be held. Mills said that churches will only be allowed to meet in small numbers when she is satisfied with the “metrics,” and when that happens, she will require churches to apply to reopen. Approved churches would then need to display a “badge” at the front door signifying they are approved to open. However, Mills has no process in place to begin the approval process and no application for the churches. Even the notion that churches would have to apply to reopen and display a “badge” signifying approval is offensive to the first amendment.
Satanists call abortion a religious rite
The Satanic Temple admitted Wednesday that, in their belief system, killing an unborn baby in an abortion is a religious ritual similar to communion or baptism for Christians. According to The Friendly Atheist Blog, the satanists described their surgical abortion ritual in detail Wednesday. They said it involves two tenets of their religion involving bodily autonomy and adherence to what they call “best scientific practices.” They oppose laws that require abortion facilities to show mothers the ultrasounds of their unborn babies or have them listen to their unborn baby’s heartbeat. They oppose waiting periods that ensure mothers have time to consider informed consent information prior to going through with the abortion and they want to be exempted from laws that require abortion facilities to bury or cremate the remains of aborted babies.
Planned Parenthood targets minorities
Despite Planned Parenthood’s recent disavowal of racist founder Margaret Sanger and her philosophy of eugenics, last month Planned Parenthood North Central States opened a new abortion facility in the minority community of Brooklyn Park, Minn. Minnesota requires abortion facilities to report information about abortions, including detailed demographics. According to 2019 statistics published by the state, more than 30 percent of reported abortions were done on black women, while less than 6.2 percent of Minnesotans are black. Other racial minorities accounted for an additional 12 percent of abortions done in Minnesota last year. That means 42 percent of all abortions done in Minnesota last year involved racial minorities, while the state’s population is 84 percent white.
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Pro-life supporters sue D.C. mayor
Pro-life activists plan to sue the mayor of Washington, D.C., after police arrested two students for chalking a pro-life message outside of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Students for Life will file a lawsuit against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser following the arrest of a student activist and staffer for writing "BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER" with sidewalk chalk outside of the clinic. In a letter from Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins the group outlined its upcoming lawsuit, which alleges Bowser violated the group's First Amendment rights. The activist group was met with six police cars and members were threatened with arrest before writing the message.
California seeks to expand abortion
Lawmakers in California are currently considering a bill that would ultimately expand abortion access so that certified nurse-midwives could commit abortions without doctor supervision. The bill seeks to remove physician oversight of certified nurse-midwives. Supporters of the bill say that it is designed to remove current restrictions on midwives so that they can provide care in rural areas where there are few OB/GYNs. However, because a 2013 law enabled non-physicians like nurses and midwives to commit abortions, this bill would ultimately mean that midwives could commit first-trimester surgical and medical abortions with no oversight. The bill has already cleared the senate. It is next slated to be discussed in a hearing before the assembly business and professions committee on Aug. 10.
Dismemberment abortion on the block
Yesterday, Nebraska lawmakers in a contentious vote, gave first-round approval to a ban on dilation and evacuation abortions, which pro-life lawmakers are hoping to pass before the end of legislative session. D&E abortions, commonly known as “dismemberment abortions,” are typically done in the second trimester of pregnancy and result in the dismemberment of an unborn child. Multiple senators attempted to filibuster the bill, but the bill earned the 33 votes necessary to break the filibuster.
Religious discrimination in Vermont is challenged
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit issued an order yesterday that halts Vermont’s discrimination against children based on the religious status of the high schools they attend. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent two students, their parents, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington challenged the discrimination in the state’s dual enrollment program. The program provides funding that allows Vermont high school juniors and seniors to dual-enroll in two free college courses before they graduate. Students at public, secular private, and home-schools are eligible, but the state categorically excluded students at private religious high schools, such as Rice Memorial High School, which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington owns and operates. The 2nd Circuit halted the discriminatory treatment while the lawsuit moves forward, explaining that “In light of the supreme court’s recent decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue…, [the students, parents, and diocese] have a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claims.” In May, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the Vermont case in support of the students, their parents, and the Diocese, arguing that they “have plausibly pled a first amendment claim.”
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Ethics board meets
The Trump administration established the National Institutes of Health Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board earlier this year amid calls to end the practice of using aborted baby body parts in taxpayer-funded research. The Scientist reports President Donald Trump appointed the 15 board members, and at least 10 of them are pro-life. The board met for the first time July 31. The new ethics board is made up of 15 non-government employees, including doctors, scientists, ethicists, attorneys and theologians. Its task is to research the use of aborted baby body parts in taxpayer-funded scientific research and make ethical recommendations about it. The board will create a final report with recommendations for U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
World Day against human trafficking
July 30 was the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a day of awareness for sex trafficking around the world. To emphasize the subject, the Women’s Rights Without Frontiers organization noted that Communist China is ranked among the world’s worst offenders in sex trafficking by the U.S. State Department. China has “an insatiable market for sexual slavery, but china also is a major purveyor of sexual slavery around the world,” said Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, in a press release.
ACLU sues Catholic hospitals
Catholic hospitals around the country are on a collision course with the ACLU, the Democratic Party and assorted social-justice secularists who insist that these religious institutions violate their own faith precepts in the provision of medical services. In Washington state, a proposed merger between a secular and Catholic hospital systems has brought down the ire of the ACLU and others, such as End of Life Washington and NARAL. Specifically, the ACLU wants to force the merged system to practice medicine in a secular fashion, meaning the Catholic hospital would be required to perform abortions, transgender surgeries, and assisted suicides — all legal in Washington, but all also prohibited in Catholic teaching. There have already been several lawsuits filed against religious hospitals around the country for obeying the principles of catholic health care, with the primary focus seemingly on hospitals denying transgender hysterectomies, abortions, and sterilizations.
Assisted suicides in Hawaii reported
The Hawaii assisted suicide law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The 2019 Hawaii Assisted Suicide Report, issued on July 1, indicates that in the first year of legalized assisted suicide: 30 people were prescribed lethal drugs, 15 people died by assisted suicide, eight people received a lethal prescription died but did not die by assisted suicide and seven people remained alive at the end of 2019. The report also includes preliminary data for 2020 from Jan. 1 to June 26, 2020, 24 people were prescribed lethal drugs and 13 people died by assisted suicide.
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Concordia Irvine adds new school
Concordia University Irvine has added a new school—the School of Health and Human Sciences — offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs in health-related areas of study. Academic offerings in the new School of Health and Human Sciences include a Master of Public Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Coaching and Athletics Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management, a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing. Previously housed in other schools at the University, officials have consolidated the related academic programs under one school to share resources, and to allow for the creation of new programs.
Official claims anti-Christian bias
The White House's deputy liaison to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is leaving her post after just two months in the job, calling lawmakers who she said had criticized her views on sexuality and gender identity “radical anti-Christian leftists.” Yesterday, shortly before Politico reported that Merritt Corrigan was exiting USAID, Corrigan chided her critics on Twitter, saying she planned to hold a press conference on Thursday to “discuss the rampant anti-Christian sentiment at USAID.” She also singled out several prominent Democrats, including Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia and Cory Booker of New Jersey.
Maryland's governor overrides a county's restrictions
Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order yesterday overriding a county’s decision to force private and parochial schools to remain closed against their will. Under the now-overruled order, parents and educators could have faced up to a year in jail for attempting to open or operate a school. Yesterday, Hogan followed up by issuing an amended emergency order, which states that local school systems retain the primary authority to decide whether to operate for themselves. Keeping schools closed is not among the covid-19 prevention or containment measures advocated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
PPP funds go to pregnancy centers
Pro-life pregnancy centers received millions of dollars to help mothers and babies in need this spring through the CARES Act coronavirus aid fund. According to research by the Guardian, the Trump administration gave more than $4 million to pregnancy resource centers through the cares act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). However, it noted that the estimate is likely low, and pregnancy centers may have received up to $10 million through the program. Pro-life pregnancy centers serve hundreds of thousands of women and babies each year in America, and most function primarily with donations and volunteers. Some receive government funding to support their life-affirming work, but many do not. Thousands of pregnancy centers are located in communities across the United States, offering free resources to pregnant and parenting families.
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Human trafficking shelter for girls wins permit
A Catholic charity that has prepared to open a home for underage victims of human trafficking has reached a resolution with California authorities after it was allegedly pressured to affirm LGBT sexuality, to inject sex hormones into any beneficiaries who identify as transgender, and to agree to drive minors to abortion clinics. The San Diego-based Children of the Immaculate Heart, which has served adult victims of human trafficking since 2013, had aimed to open a house for girls age 12-17 who had been victims of human trafficking. The charity and state government settled outside of court after California requested the process go to mediation. The California Department of Social Services issued the organization a provisional license to operate the refuge as a short-term residential therapeutic program.
Two arrested for chalking pro-life message
Police in Washington, D.C., arrested a man and a woman in front of Planned Parenthood because they were writing “Black Pre-Born Lives Matter” with a piece of chalk outside the abortion facility. A metropolitan police department spokeswoman told The Epoch Times that the arrests were for the defacing of property. The man and the woman were released with citations. Recently, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser painted the streets of the city with the slogan “Black Lives Matter,” the pro-life group pointed out in an online petition. After applying and receiving a permit and after being told by the metropolitan police that the mayor has “opened a pandora’s box” by painting public streets, students for life arrived at the D.C. Planned Parenthood on Saturday to six police cars threatening to arrest the team and student leaders if they painted "Black Pre-Born Lives Matter,” even using the temporary paint that the police department specifically requested. When the members of the group asked if they could use sidewalk chalk to chalk their anti-violence message on the streets, the police threatened to arrest them and then did.
Democrats again push abortion in Congress
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced legislation to repeal a longstanding restriction on overseas abortion funding, and plan to vote on a spending bill that would open the door to further pro-abortion spending, including targeting the Little Sisters of the Poor once more. The House is slated to take up a spending bill for several government departments that attacks current restrictions on abortion funding from multiple angles. The bill would allow the District of Columbia to pay for abortions with taxpayer dollars; gut the Trump administration’s protect life rule, which bars abortionists from receiving Title X funds; undo administrative rules protecting the right not to participate in or subsidize abortion; deny teen pregnancy prevention funds to programs that teach abstinence; and cut funding for “sexual risk avoidance” education, which is defined as “voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activities.” Further, a manager’s amendment would reverse the Trump administration’s move to protect religious entities such as the Little Sisters of the Poor from being forced to fund contraceptives under Obamacare. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the administration had the right to issue the exemption, but did not strike down the Obama-era mandate itself.
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Decision against journalists appealed
Thomas More Society attorneys will appeal the decision that a San Francisco Superior Court judge made after a hearing held Tuesday in the case of undercover journalist David Daleiden. Daleiden is being charged as a criminal by California’s attorney general for his investigative exposé of Planned Parenthood’s involvement in trafficking aborted baby body parts. Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos was asked to dismiss the 10 criminal counts levied against Daleiden by Xavier Becerra, California’s current attorney general, who took over the prosecution of Daleiden that was initiated by his predecessor, Kamala Harris. The political careers of both Becerra and Harris have been supported and financed by Planned Parenthood. Daleiden’s defense attorneys, including the Thomas More Society’s Tom Brejcha and Peter Breen, will challenge Bolanos’ findings. Breen, vice president and senior counsel, shared that the judge dismissed one complaint as “duplicative,” and tossed out a count against Daleiden’s investigative partner, Sandra Merritt, for lack of evidence.
Trump administration wants rule reinstated
The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a rule that has required women to visit a hospital, clinic or medical office to obtain an abortion pill during the covid-19 pandemic. A federal judge in Maryland agreed earlier this month to temporarily block enforcement of the rule. Justice department attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang to suspend his July 13 order while they appeal, but the judge refused yesterday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday docketed the government´s appeal of Chuang´s decision.
Planned Parenthood want a worship service closed
A Washington State Planned Parenthood sued a christian community for holding monthly pro-life worship services outside one of its abortion centers. The lawsuit failed to mention that the worship services begin at 6 p.m., which is when the abortion center closes. Planned Parenthood commits more than 345,000 abortions annually, according to its most recent annual report. Additionally, the organization handed out more than 593,000 emergency contraception kits, commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” which can also cause abortions in some cases.
Whereabouts of a Chinese bishop unknown
The fate of a long-imprisoned Catholic bishop in China was the focus of a Congressional hearing yestrerday, amid growing concern he may have died in the custody of the communist government. “President Xi Jinping: where is Bishop Su, and what have you done to him?” New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, co-chair of the commission, asked in his opening remarks yesterday at a hearing of the bipartisan Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Bishop James Su Zhimin of the Diocese of Baoding, in China’s Hebei province, was arrested by Chinese authorities in 1997. He was last seen by family at a hospital in 2003 while he was in government custody.
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Pro football players face restrictions
The National Football League and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) recently announced regulations forbidding players to attend church when a service is more than a quarter full of the faithful. On July 25, NBC Sports reported that the NFL and the NFLPA will restrict players this season from attending indoor church services when attendance is above 25 percent of capacity. In addition, players cannot go to nightclubs, indoor bars (except to pick up food), indoor house parties (with 15 or more people), indoor concerts, or professional sporting events. If players test positive for covid after engaging in prohibited activities, they will not be paid for the games they miss and future guarantees in their contracts will be voided. Although the regulation details have not yet been publicly released, NBC Sports did not mention any restrictions on attending protests.
Athletes reject call to boycott Idaho
Female Olympians, Title IX pioneers, and more than 300 collegiate and professional athletes submitted a letter to the National College Athletic Association Board of Governors Wednesday, urging them to reject a recent call to boycott Idaho for passing its Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. In the letter, the current and former female athletes state they have benefited personally and professionally “from a fair and level playing field” and urge the NCAA to protect the integrity of women’s sports, consistent with the promise and purpose of Title IX. Signers include world-class cyclist Jennifer Wagner-Assali, world-champion track athlete Cynthia Monteleone, and Title IX pioneer and marathon swimmer Sandra Bucha-Kerscher. The coalition supports biology-based eligibility standards for participation in female sports and opposes efforts to bully or boycott the state of Idaho for passing the first state law that prevents males from competing in women’s sports. In May, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of a male athlete seeking to challenge Idaho’s newly enacted law. In June, the ACLU and various female athletes called on the NCAA to boycott Idaho.
Move to fund abortion services
The first bill to repeal a us law preventing aid from funding abortion services overseas was introduced to Congress on Wednesday. Democratic Congressswoman Jan Schakowsky said the Helms Amendment, a policy introduced in 1973, was in her words, “deeply rooted in racism” and must be replaced to allow U.S. money to be used to support safe abortion services worldwide. The new bill is not expected to pass in the short term but is seen as part of a longer-term strategy by Democrats to uphold abortion, which has come under sustained attack from the Trump administration. The bill states that abortion “is a critical component of sexual and reproductive healthcare and should be accessible and affordable for all people” and adds that restricting abortion does not reduce need or numbers. As introduced to Congress on Wednesday. Democratic Congressswoman Jan Schakowsky said the Helms Amendment, a policy introduced in 1973, was in her words, “deeply rooted in racism” and must be replaced to allow U.S. money to be used to support safe abortion services worldwide. The new bill is not expected to pass in the short term but is seen as part of a longer-term strategy by Democrats to uphold abortion, which has come under sustained attack from the Trump administration. The bill states that abortion “is a critical component of sexual and reproductive healthcare and should be accessible and affordable for all people” and adds that restricting abortion does not reduce need or numbers.
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Some charges dropped against pro-life journalists
Additional charges against two pro-life investigative journalists have been dropped in the case of the People of the State Of California vs. David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP). In a hearing held over Zoom yesterday, two of the ten charges against Merritt and one of the ten against Daleiden were dropped, according to My Valley News. Daleiden and Merritt are the undercover journalists from CMP responsible for exposing the fetal body part trafficking scandal taking place at Planned Parenthood affiliates around the nation. Yesterday, California’s criminal case against them went before Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos in a hearing to request the dismissal of all or some of the criminal charges. the charges that remain for the journalists include recording Planned Parenthood staffers without their consent.
New Jersey is challenged on worship restrictions
Attorneys from the Thomas More Society filed a motion for leave to file a third amended complaint in a federal religious liberty lawsuit against New Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy. given the decline of covid deaths and hospitalizations to near zero in the state, the Rev. Kevin Robinson, a Catholic parish priest, and Rabbi Yisrael Knopfler, leader of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, have expanded their claims for relief against Murphy and his administration on account of indoor “gathering” restrictions that interfere with worship. Robinson and Knopfler are asking the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to prevent Murphy and other state officials from enforcing executive orders that bar their respective houses of worship from holding indoor religious worship at more than 25 percent of capacity, leaving them with only minuscule congregations.
'Baby Lives Matter'
A pro-life activist painted a blue and pink mural displaying the phrase “BABY LIVES MATTER” in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington, D.C., during the weekend and plans to paint more murals across the country. This mural is the latest effort of the Baby Lives Matter movement, which began two weeks ago after artist and pro-life activist Tayler Hansen spent seven hours painting a baby lives matter mural on the street in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah.
College officials block talk from pro-life speaker
An evangelical university in Minnesota has blocked a conservative student group from hosting a lecture by African-American pro-life activist Star Parker because of what the administration called her “radically” held beliefs. the University of Northwestern – St. Paul informed its chapter of Young America’s Foundation, a conservative student group, last month that it could not hold an open event featuring the 62-year-old conservative activist. Parker is the founder of the 800-pastor Network Center for Urban Renewal and Education and has long argued that the conservative agenda of traditional values, limited government and free markets are the greatest benefit to low-income Americans, especially African-Americans, in inner cities. She has also long spoken about the negative impact that abortion and Planned Parenthood has had on the African-American community.
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Tennessee's abortion law put on hold
After issuing a temporary injunction against a Tennessee law that would ban abortion in most circumstances, U.S. District Judge William Campbell blocked on friday the law from taking effect while it is being challenged in court. Campbell cited imprecision in the bill’s language as well as the likelihood that portions of it would be found unconstitutional in court as reasons for issuing the additional injunction against it while litigation is ongoing. The Tennessee Senate passed the pro-life bill on june 19 by a 23-5 party line vote. The legislation bans abortion after the point at which a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The bill also has a provision would automatically enact a ban on abortion at 10 different stages of pregnancy, should the heartbeat portion of the bill be struck down in court. It also banned abortions that were sought on the basis of race, sex, or a diagnosis of down syndrome.
Coach Kennedy appeals for reinstatement
First Liberty Institute and Kirkland & Ellis filed an opening brief on behalf of football coach Joe Kennedy in his appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In 2015, the Bremerton, Wash., school district suspended the longtime football coach for the season and then refused to rehire him because he took a knee in brief, silent, personal prayer after football games. In March, a federal district court ruled against Coach Kennedy. In January 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the case at that time and instead allowed Coach Kennedy’s case to continue through the court system. Coach Kennedy’s case received national attention and support from political and religious leaders including President Trump and Franklin Graham, Hall of Fame Football Coach Bobby Bowden, and Former NFL players Steve Largent and Chad Hennings. In January, Trump invited Coach Kennedy to the Oval office as he announced new actions to protect religious freedom in America’s public schools.
Muslims celebrate while Orthodox Christians mourn
As the Muslim call to prayer resounded through Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia on Friday, church bells tolled in mourning in Greece, flags flew at half-staff, and during at least one protest Turkish national flags were set alight. Turkish President Erdogan’s decision to restore Muslim worship at the sixth-century landmark, viewed by many Orthodox Christians as a central symbol of their faith, has raised temperatures between the longstanding rivals, stirring nationalist sentiment on both sides. The Hagia Sophia was the epicenter of Eastern Christianity for about 900 years, before the Ottomans turned it into a mosque in the 15th century following the conquest of Constantinople. It was finally declared a museum in 1934, until this month’s court ruling and decree by Turkey's Islamist president. On Friday, Erdogan led thousands of Muslims in prayer there, the first time Muslims had held public worship in the building in 86 years.
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Small child will remain on life support
Trinity Lewis, the mother of 17-month-old Tinslee Lewis, has secured a win in the Second Court of Appeals In Fort Worth, Texas. The court ruled 2-1 that the little girl, born prematurely and with a rare heart defect, will not be removed from life support against her family’s wishes. According to Court House News, this ruling will allow Lewis to challenge the state’s 10-day rule. The court issued a temporary injunction that prevents Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth from withdrawing life support until after the full trial is held. That court decision will either uphold the state’s 10-day rule or strike it down as unconstitutional.
Casinos, yes. Churches, no
By a 5-4 vote Friday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Nevada’s coronavirus regulation that limits attendance at indoor religious services to 50 persons. Some businesses in the state, such as casinos, may admit 50 percent of their capacity. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, decided July 24 to deny the application for injunctive relief presented by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, an ecclesial community in Dayton, Nev., About 40 miles southeast of Reno.
Groups ask court to rule ERA is dead
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Concerned Women for America and Susan B. Anthony List filed a friend-of-the-court brief Friday that urges the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to acknowledge that the Equal Rights Amendment’s ratification deadline has expired. Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, promotes Constitutional principles through advocacy and has led campaigns and participated in litigation against the ERA.
State legislators attempt to shut down pregnancy centers
A bill to “intimidate, silence and shut down” pro-life pregnancy centers and the vital support that they provide to moms and babies is moving through the New York State Legislature this week. The pro-abortion bill appears to be the latest attempt by pro-abortion lawmakers to reduce access to any pregnancy choice other than abortion. Both the New York Catholic Bishops and leading pro-life advocates in the state are asking New Yorkers to call their state lawmakers and urge them to oppose it. The legislation would establish a taskforce, including abortionists and abortion activists, to help the New York State Commissioner of Health inspect and report on the actions of pro-life pregnancy centers. It also would require pregnancy centers to submit huge amounts of paperwork to the state, including information about the women whom they are serving. Pro-life pregnancy centers serve about 2-million mothers and babies each year in the U.S., Providing free counseling, ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, diapers, cribs, clothing and more. Most are small, non-profit organizations that primarily rely on volunteers and donations to provide community-based services. Unlike abortion facilities, very few pregnancy centers receive taxpayer funding.
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Ohio wedding business challenges county law
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a Cleveland minister and wedding business owner filed suit in federal court Wednesday challenging a Cuyahoga County law that forces her to use her ministry and business to officiate and compose homilies, vows, and prayers for same-sex weddings if she officiates or promotes weddings between one man and one woman. Cuyahoga County also forbids Kristi Stokes and her business, Covenant Weddings, from publicly explaining on her own website and social media sites the religious reasons why she only celebrates weddings between one man and one woman. The county considers such communications to be unlawful “discrimination” based on sexual orientation. The law threatens fines of $1,000-$5,000 per violation, depending on their frequency, and the threat of investigation and expensive legal fees.
NAACP sues to take funds from non-public schools
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the latest entity to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over its guidance that local education agencies must use federal coronavirus aid to provide “equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools.” The lawsuit contends that Congress intended the cares act, which the president signed into law March 27, to apportion coronavirus relief funds based on the number of low-income students at both public and private schools in each district, “in the same manner” as Title I funds. In contrast, an Education Department rule stated that the funds ought to be distributed based on the total number of students in both public and private schools, resulting in fewer dollars for public schools, the lawsuit contends. The Education Department amended the rule in late June, following concerns that Catholic and other non-public schools were being excluded from sufficient epidemic relief funds to support protective equipment for students and teachers, cleaning, training in remote education, and distance education tools.
California challenged to permit in-home Bible study
A multi-campus church has filed a complaint in federal court against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s covid-19 executive order that it believes effectively bans church members from holding Bible studies and other small group meetings in their homes. The new lawsuit was filed last Saturday on behalf of the Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church, which has campuses throughout the state, and Harvest International Ministries, a nonprofit corporation with 162 member churches statewide and more than 65,000 affiliates worldwide. Both organizations are led by Ché Ahn, an author and international chancellor of Wagner University who has been seen on networks like Trinity Broadcasting Network and GODTV. The legal complaint says the governor’s order earlier this month that bans all indoor worship services in as many as 30 counties on the state’s covid-19 county monitoring list also bans members from gathering at each other’s homes for Bible studies in those counties.
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Brazilian Lutherans cope with pandemic
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing in March 2020, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil has been concerned with helping its members and pastors acclimatize to the current reality the world is facing. With the covid-19 pandemic in mind, President Geraldo Walmir Schüler encouraged congregations to suspend all onsite activities, including worship services. At the same time, the church made available to congregations a variety of resources to assist their ministry work during the pandemic. Worship services were organized with the assistance of its communication agency and pastors from the church’s national board and transmitted live via the web radio station on Sunday mornings.
A Christian student fights back
Alliance Defending Freedom sent a letter yesterday to Florida State University administrators appealing the student senate’s decision to remove him from his seat as president of the FSU student government association student senate for sharing his personal beliefs with other students. In a private text conversation with fellow Catholic students, Jack Denton suggested that blacklivesmatter.com, reclaim the block, and the ACLU advocate for causes opposed to Catholic teaching and Catholic students may wish to avoid supporting them financially. After one student took screenshots of Denton’s private messages and shared them publicly on social media, students mocked and misrepresented his remarks and demanded his removal from leadership as the SGA’s student senate president. After a failed vote of no-confidence on June 3, student senators approved Denton’s removal two days later. Students who supported the motion stated that they sought to remove Denton because of his beliefs, communicated in private texts.
Nebraska moves to ban dismemberment abortions
Nebraska lawmakers voted Tuesday to advance a pro-life bill to protect unborn babies from brutal dismemberment abortions. The pro-life bill would prohibit abortion procedures that use clamps, forceps or similar instruments to remove pieces of a living unborn baby from his/her mother’s womb. These abortions typically are referred to as dilation and evacuation, or D&E, and are common in the second trimester when unborn babies are nearly fully developed. The ban does not apply to unborn babies who are already dead. Doctors who violate the ban would face fines and felony charges.
More protections for religious freedom
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took two important steps Tuesday to protect religious freedom during the covid-19 pandemic. The agency’s Office for Civil Rights announced that patients at hospitals within the University of Maryland medical system may receive visits by clergy amid the pandemic. And, the office said, a medical student at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City may follow his religious belief by not shaving his beard despite having to wear a mask.
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Christians mourn for Hagia Sophia
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said yesterday that July 24 “is a day of mourning” for Hagia Sophia. The former church and museum in Istanbul will that day be inaugurated as a mosque. In a July 21 tweet, the Conference said that it joins the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America “in offering our prayers for the restoration of Hagia Sophia as a place of prayer and reflection for all peoples.” Turkish President Erdoğan signed a decree July 10 converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The decree followed closely on a ruling by the Council Of State, Turkey's highest administrative court, which declared unlawful an 80-year old government decree which converted the building from a mosque into a museum.
Hope for faith-based adoption agencies
The U.S. Court Of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit issued a resounding victory yesterday for New Hope Family Services, a faith-based adoption provider. The court reversed a district court’s dismissal of New Hope’s lawsuit against New York officials seeking to shut down the provider simply for its religious beliefs about marriage. In November, at the request of Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing New Hope, the 2nd Circuit temporarily halted state officials from interrupting current adoption placements or mandating the closure of New Hope’s adoption program until the court had a chance to consider whether to reverse the federal district court’s decision. The case now goes back to district court for further proceedings. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services singled out the religious nonprofit for its policy prioritizing the placement of children it serves in homes with a married mother and father. In its decision in favor of New Hope, the 2nd Circuit concluded that the district court should not have dismissed the lawsuit because the adoption provider’s arguments demonstrate that the government’s regulation may not have been neutral and may instead have been “informed by hostility toward certain religious beliefs.” In the past, the state agency praised New Hope for the quality of its services, but the state agency later changed course and singled out the nonprofit’s policy regarding child placements. The state agency described the policy as “discriminatory and impermissible” despite the fact that New Hope respectfully refers couples to other providers and has faced no formal complaints from prospective parents due to the policy. The state agency issued an ultimatum that New Hope revise its policy or submit a close-out plan for its adoption program.
Another city declares itself a 'sanctuary for the unborn'
East Mountain became the 14th Texas city to declare itself a “sanctuary for the unborn” on Monday, joining a growing effort to protect unborn babies from abortions across the state. KETK reports the city council voted to approve the pro-life ordinance Monday for its city, population 797. The vote was three in favor, two abstentions.
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Americans say God is important
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center found that 72 percent of Americans said God plays an important role in their life, and 67 percent said prayer also plays an important role. Worldwide, the poll showed that 61 percent of people say God plays an important role in their life. Prayer was slightly less important globally, with 53 percent of people agreeing that prayer plays an important role in their life. The survey also showed that religion is “very” or “somewhat” important to 62 percent of people, while 34 percent said “not at all” or “not too much.” However, when asked whether belief in God is necessary to be moral and have good values, 54 percent of Americans said it was not, while 44 percent said that it is. The median percentage for the world was 44 percent.
Hands off Texas religious schools
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday told religious private schools in the state that local governments are not allowed to order them to close or to dictate covid-19 precautionary measures to them. Paxton said local public health ordinances must be consistent with the governor’s orders and the attorney general’s guidance, adding that local governments are “prohibited from closing religious institutions or dictating mitigation strategies to those institutions.” Gov, Greg Abbott had also exempted houses of worship from the statewide masking order, while at the same time encouraging the houses of worship themselves to require masks.
Finnish Lutheran theologian called home
The Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki, a major figure in Finnish Lutheranism and African missions, passed away on July 6 at his home. He was 75 years old. He left a deep spiritual impact on Finland and more broadly on missions. He was known as a powerful preacher of the Gospel, a versatile theologian, a courageous ecclesiastical debater, and a prolific writer and wordsmith. He was a founding member and longtime general secretary of the St. Paul’s Synod in 1975, a forum and think tank for the confessional Lutheran defense of the office of the ministry in public discussions — including in the theological debate on woman’s priesthood, a debate which led to deep divisions in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
China cracks down on Christians
Chinese communist authorities have ordered poor Christian villagers to remove Christian images from their homes and replace them with portraits of Chairman Mao and President Xi Jinping or risk losing their welfare benefits. The Chinese Communist Party has continued its program of “Sinicization” of religion by channeling religious fervor in the country toward the party rather than god, the Christian Post reported this weekend. In April, for instance, party officials visited the homes of Christians in Linfen, in the northern province of Shanxi, ordering those who receive welfare payments from the government to remove crosses, Christian symbols and images in their homes and replace them with portraits of china’s communist leaders. The officials threatened the Christians that non-compliance with the order would result in suspension of their welfare subsidies.
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Pro-life protects its speech
Citizens across the state of Texas are taking legal action to protect themselves from speech-chilling lawsuits filed by abortion proponents. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society are playing offense in the Lone Star State to protect the rights of pro-life advocates in eight separate counties. The not-for-profit, national public interest law firm filed the complaints in Texas’ district courts on July 16 seeking protections for life-advocating individuals against three abortion extremist groups that are actively attempting to silence pro-life speech. The filings were prompted following aggressive attacks by abortion promoters, Afiya Center, Texas Equal Access Fund and Lilith Fund For Reproductive Equity, that sued pro-life advocate Mark Lee Dickson and Right To Life of East Texas In June 2020 for alleged defamation over statements that described abortion as “criminal.” The Thomas More Society Seeks a declaratory judgment on behalf of Texas individuals who hold life-affirming views and understand that the Texas statutes criminalizing abortion remain state law.
'Pro-life' called racist
The Blaze reports Rolling Stone Writer Jamil Smith proposed that the term “pro-life” be banned Wednesday along with many other terms and products deemed to be racist. “The moniker ‘pro-life,’ so often used in the service of not just misogyny but also racism, should be retired right along with Aunt Jemima and the Redskins team name,” Smith wrote. Smith is a senior writer who covers “the intersection of politics and identity” for Rolling Stone magazine.
SBA wants Planned Parenthood to return money
A Planned Parenthood affiliate in California that allegedly sold aborted baby body parts received $7.5 million in coronavirus aid money meant for small businesses this spring. According to Just The News, Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties received the largest Paycheck Protection Program grant of all of the abortion chain’s affiliates across the country. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has demanded that planned parenthood return the money, but it is not clear if it has done so.
Religious vandals will be punished
Those who have vandalized and targeted Catholic churches and religious statues will be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law,” a senior White House official told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Friday. The White House official cited the “recent onslaught of violence against Catholic monuments like the Virgin Mary statue in Boston and the Jesus statue in Miami,” calling these acts “absolutely appalling.” The president signed an executive order June 26 promising to punish anyone who desecrates public monuments, Trump’s campaign also weighed in on the matter following numerous reports of vandalism at Catholic churches throughout the United States, as well as one instance in Alberta, Canada.
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LCMS former CFO called home
Dr. Thomas W. Kuchta, who served as Chief Financial Officer of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) from 2001 to 2010, died Tuesday in Elm Grove, Wisc. He was 78. Kuchta served three terms as the Synod’s CFO. At the 2004 LCMS convention, he was the only nominee to receive 100 percent of the vote — all 1,122 votes cast. Kuchta served on numerous Synod boards, including for Concordia Publishing House, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, the LCMS Foundation, the LCMS Board of Directors and Concordia Plan Services. Kuchta is survived by his wife, Ilona; two daughters, Michelle Kuchta and Stacey Setzer; two grandsons, Alexander and Broderick Setzer; and one brother, James Kuchta.
Religious freedom is 'foremost'
A draft report from an advisory body to the U.S. State Department on human rights says that religious freedom is “foremost” among human rights. The commission was established last July by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced that Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. Ambassador to The Holy See, would lead it. Pompeo explained the need for the commission yesterday, noting that an increase in the number of recognized human rights presents “risks of collision” between rights claims, as well as “risks of trivializing core American values.” In his time at the state department, he said, as cables from around the world came in he realized officials were discussing rights in ways that were “deeply inconsistent.”
Churches sue California's governor
On Wednesday, three churches sued pro-abortion Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom for singling out houses of worship in his latest coronavirus restrictions, the Washington Examiner reports. The churches, Calvary Chapel of Ukiah, Calvary Chapel Fort Bragg and River of Life Church, said California leaders are unfairly targeting them by allowing massive protests to continue while heavily restricting religious worship. On July 1, the California Department of Public Health issued new guidelines outlining steps that houses of worship must take to help prevent further spread of the virus. One of those measures prohibits singing, even when people are social distancing and wearing masks. The state also limits indoor religious attendance to “25 percent of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower.” According to the lawsuit, the churches could face fines, imprisonment or both if they violate Newsom’s mandate.
City ends partnership with church
Local government authorities ended a partnership with a Christian church in Alabama offering outreach programs at public housing communities after a senior pastor was criticized online for liking several conservative-based memes. The church also was banned from leasing public high schools for its worship services. According to a report by al.com, Senior Pastor Chris Hodges was first denounced by high school English teacher Jasmine Faith Clisby, who pointed out on Facebook that “Hodges, founder of the Church of the Highlands, repeatedly ‘liked’ social media posts by (Charlie) Kirk.” Kirk is the founder and president of Turning Point USA, a national student movement promoting the principles of free markets and limited government among young people.
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Governor vows to fight for ‘heartbeat law’
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee promised Tuesday to do “whatever it takes” to defend unborn babies from a lawsuit filed by several prominent pro-abortion groups. On Monday, the pro-life republican signed a broad pro-life law to protect unborn babies from abortions once their heartbeats are detectable, about six weeks of pregnancy. However, a judge blocked the law just 45 minutes later after Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and The Center for Reproductive Rights sued. Responding to the lawsuit, Lee said he is committed to defending the law in court, the AP reports. The pro-life legislation includes informed consent measures as well. It requires abortion facilities to inform women about the abortion pill reversal procedure and the size and gestational age of their unborn babies. It also requires abortion facilities to allow the mother to hear her unborn baby’s heartbeat and see the baby on an ultrasound.
Lutherans worldwide keep the faith
As people across the globe struggle with the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, confessional Lutherans are reaching out with the comfort of the Gospel and practical care. Since April, the International Lutheran Council (ILC) has been chronicling the response of member church bodies around the world in a series of reports at the ILC website. To date, the ILC has highlighted the response of 24 Lutheran church bodies across the globe, including churches in Argentina, Australia And New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, India, Japan, Nicaragua, The Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Sweden, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many of these nations have restricted church gatherings to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In response, churches have acted quickly to provide online resources for members during the pandemic — through livestreamed worship services, downloadable devotional resources and social media outreach.
Life Ministry director is installed
Deaconess Tiffany Manor joined the Office of National Mission as director of LCMS Life Ministry on April 14, but due to covid-19 restrictions, her installation was delayed until June 12. LCMS President the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison preached for the installation on John 3:1–17, telling Manor, “You come at an interesting moment. … the Lord will bless. He will give you everything you need.” Manor is married to the Rev. Jonathan Manor, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior in Bedford, Mass., and they have four children. She enjoys walking, crafts, swimming, kayaking and “all things water.” The Manors are expecting their first grandchild in November.
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Charges are dropped against a pastor
The Commonwealth of Virginia has dropped the criminal charges against Pastor Kevin Wilson of Lighthouse Fellowship Church on Chincoteague Island. As a result of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s covid order 55, police served a summons to Wilson for holding a church service on Palm Sunday for 16 people spaced far apart in a sanctuary that is rated for 293 people. The penalty included up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The General District Court for Accomack County has now dropped the charges. Liberty Counsel represents Lighthouse Fellowship Church, which has filed its opening brief to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in the federal lawsuit against Northam for violating its religious freedom. Under the orders, the church can hold meetings with an unlimited number of people to feed, shelter, and provide social services, but religious services are restricted to no more than 10 people. The 10-person restriction is still in effect. Even though the criminal charges were dropped, the civil case will continue.
Judge blocks 'heartbeat law'
A federal judge has blocked Georgia’s 2019 law banning most abortions on babies with detectable heartbeats, ruling that it violates the u.s. Constitution. Signed into law in may 2019, the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act would forbid abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, except in cases of rape, incest, physical medical emergencies, and pregnancies deemed “medically futile.” If allowed to take effect, it would have banned abortions in all other cases as early as six weeks into a pregnancy – when a baby’s heartbeat can be detected. Last year abortion advocates with the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood challenged the law’s constitutionality and U.S. District Judge Steve Jones placed an injunction on the law before it ever took effect. Yesterday, Jones blocked the law altogether. Gov. Brian Kemp has said the state will appeal the ruling.
California closes churches, exempts abortion facilities again
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is once again putting California on a lockdown. Because of increased cases of the coronavirus, Newsom is closing down most businesses and forcing churches to close, canceling worship services, but abortion businesses are exempted. Newsom just shut down indoor church services again in more than 30 counties and the announcement was made during his noon press briefing Monday discussing efforts to combat the spread of covid-19. The order comes after Newsom further discriminated against churches by banning singing and chanting in houses of worship and limiting in-person services to 25 percent of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, yet for weeks he allowed thousands of people to protest in mass gatherings. Newsom hinted that some of the new restrictions might stay in place until a vaccine is developed.
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Planned Parenthood was exposed five years ago today
Five years ago today in 2015, David Daleiden released the first of many incriminating videos that showed the world the gruesome underbelly of illegal practices by the abortion industry. The Thomas More Society would soon thereafter begin its defense of undercover journalist Daleiden. As researchers and reporters for the Human Capital Project of the Center for Medical Progress, Daleiden and his investigative partner, Sandra Merritt, posed as human tissue buyers. What they uncovered shocked the country as the videos they recorded revealed planned parenthood’s involvement in aborted baby body parts trafficking. Daleiden has been charged by pro-abortion interests with a broad range of both felonies and misdemeanors.
Trump finalizes another pro-life regulation
The Trump administration finalized another pro-life regulation yesterday, this one to clarify that the definition of sex discrimination in Obamacare does not include abortions. The new rule officially ends a 2016 regulation from the Obama administration that could have forced medical workers to help abort unborn babies. It restores the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination to “the plain meaning … as determined by biology,” according to the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services.
Judicial ruling favors abortion
A federal judge has struck down a rule from the Trump administration requiring greater transparency for health insurance plans within the Affordable Care Act marketplaces that cover elective abortions. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake ruled against a regulation introduced by the Department of Health And Human Services to require insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act to issue a separate bill and collect a separate payment for coverage of elective abortion. Critics, however, argued that Obama-era enforcement regulations were so permissive as to render the rules meaningless, allowing health insurers to collect an abortion surcharge without separately identifying it on monthly invoices or collecting it separately. A government accountability office report in 2014 found that many insurers were ignoring section's requirements.
Satanic Temple threatens Mississippi
A Satanic Temple in Mississippi sent a letter warning that they will sue if the new state flag includes the phrase “In God We Trust,” saying that it is an “exclusionary religious phrase.” The state of Mississippi voted to retire their current state flag, which has included an image of the Confederate battle flag for 120 years, on June 28. When Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed it into law, the law stated that the new flag could not have any images or references to the Confederacy and must include the national phrase “In God We Trust.” Mississippi voters will have the opportunity to vote for the new flag’s design this November.
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Lutheran church leader called home
The Rev. Dr. David Rakotonirina, president of the Malagasy Lutheran Church, passed on to glory suddenly on July 11, after a brief stay in hospital. A funeral service was held the following day. Because of the covid-19 pandemic, a funeral open to the public was not possible, but the service was streamed online. During his presidency, the Malagasy Lutheran Church pursued greater relationship with confessional Lutherans worldwide. In May 2018, the church voted to pursue altar and pulpit fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Later the same year, the Malagasy Lutheran Church was accepted into full membership of the International Lutheran Council on September 26, 2018, during the ILC's world conference meeting in Antwerp, Belgium.
Islamic Turkey is criticized
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom decries the decision of Turkey’s Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court, to permit the conversion of the historic Hagia Sophia from its current status as a museum back into a mosque. Built in the sixth century, the Hagia Sophia served as a Greek Orthodox cathedral for nearly 1,000 years before Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II converted it into a mosque following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It became a museum in 1935, following the founding of the Republic of Turkey. In its 2020 annual report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department place Turkey on its special watch list for engaging in or tolerating severe religious freedom violations. The present Hagia Sophia was completed in 537, and it remains standing today. The first religious services in Hagia Sophia were held on December 27, 537.
'No Religious Services' order is challenged
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed another amicus brief at the federal court of appeals continuing to support Liberty Counsel’s lawsuit on behalf of Maryville Baptist Church against Gov. Andy Beshear’s “no religious services” orders on churches. The federal court of appeals already issued two 3-0 decisions in favor of the church regarding parking-lot and in-person services. The church is continuing the case to obtain a permanent injunction against Beshear to prevent him from returning to the prior orders, which he clearly wants to do based on his arguments before the courts.
A Florida abortion center is under investigation
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has called for an investigation of an abortion center that provided an abortion to a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant in the course of being repeatedly assaulted and filmed in videos that were eventually uploaded to pornhub. The girl’s trafficker took the girl for an abortion in an attempt to cover up his crimes. Moody now wants to know if the abortion center failed to report “abuse or neglect” of the minor and if such failure did “enable the further exploitation of the victim in this case.” If the abortion center had followed Florida's parental notice of abortion act, the girl could have been rescued from her trafficker earlier.
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Religious liberty wins in the Navy
The United States Navy has revised its policy prohibiting active service members from attending in-person religious services. Those who disobeyed and attended church services had risked court-martial. The move is seen as an important victory on behalf of religious liberty by Navy personnel affected by the previously enacted ban, and by those who fought on their behalf. The change comes just days after First Liberty Institute sent a letter on behalf of active duty officer Daniel Schultz and several other service members affected by the order, asking the U.S. Navy to grant an accommodation so that he could attend indoor religious services. On June 24, the Navy issued an order banning troops from attending indoor religious services, although other activities such as using mass transit, hosting social gatherings of any size, and participation in protests were all permitted. The order specifically stated that “service members are prohibited from visiting, patronizing, or engaging in ... indoor religious services.”
Planned Parenthood gets a new neighbor
The largest Planned Parenthood facility in Texas has a new neighbor in the form of a pro-life pregnancy center that will provide life-saving support and alternatives to the deaths taking place across the street. The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center has moved to a new location in southwest Dallas, where it will offer free sonograms, ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, medical referrals, childbirth classes, and pregnancy counseling free of charge, Fox News reported. Its new location is directly across the street from Planned Parenthood’s largest abortion center in the state. Prestonwood currently has two permanent locations in Texas as well as several mobile clinics that offer pregnancy tests, sonograms, and referrals for further care. The new clinic says that since opening there is already a 50 percent increase in the number of women it has seen, 90 percent of whom ultimately decided to choose life – indicating that the location’s proximity to planned parenthood has made a significant difference in the number of babies and women saved.
Partial win for pro-life in Indiana
A federal judge upheld part of an Indiana pro-life law Wednesday requiring annual inspections of abortion facilities, a move that will protect both unborn babies and mothers. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Young was only a partial victory for the pro-life cause. He did permanently strike down part of the law that requires abortion facilities to report to the state when patients suffer abortion complications. Passed in 2018, the Indiana law requires annual inspections of abortion facilities and increases reporting requirements when patients experience complications from an abortion. It also includes language to help ensure abortion facilities are reporting suspected abuse, whether by a partner, parent or human trafficker. Planned Parenthood challenged both the reporting and annual inspection requirements in a lawsuit soon afterward, alleging that even the annual inspections are unfair.
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Twin wins for religious liberty
Religious freedom scored two victories today at The U.S. Supreme Court. In one ruling, government cannot interfere with a religious school’s judgement on who should or should not teach religion classes, according to a 7-2 ruling handed down by the United States Supreme Court. The case concerned two Catholic schools right to select educators who reflect their understanding of their faith, free from government interference. The religious liberty legal firm Becket Law is represented the schools that are facing lawsuits from two teachers fired for unsatisfactory performance. Becket argued that the schools’ hiring and firing decisions fall under a “ministerial exemption,” meaning religious institutions have the right to decide whom they want imparting the faith to others, free from government interference — even when the employees in question, in this case teachers, are not “ministers” in the strictest sense.
Little Sisters of the Poor win
The second win was also a 7-2 ruling, this decision siding with the Little Sisters of the Poor and their bid to stop being forced to distribute abortion-inducing and contraceptive drugs to their employees. The Obama administration had first mandated that employers subsidize the provision of contraceptives, including abortion-inducing drugs, to their employees under the auspices of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic institution that provides support for the elderly poor, refused to comply, as did other religious employers, sparking years of litigation.
Millions of PPP dollars to abortion provider
On Monday, the Small Business Administration released the names of more than 650,000 companies that received emergency small business aid due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among them are 43 Planned Parenthood affiliates. Each of these affiliates received at least $150,000 with 16 getting between $1-2 million, 16 getting between $2-5 million, three receiving $5-10 million, and eight receiving $350,000-$1 million. In total, Planned Parenthood received between $65.8 million and $135 million, according to Life Site News. In addition, other pro-abortion organizations received PPP loans as well, including the National Network Of Abortion Providers ($350,000-$1 million), National Abortion Federation ($350,000-$1 million), and NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation ($350 – $1 million). Independently owned abortion businesses also received loan money. The loans were given out as part of the $2.2 trillion cares act paycheck protection program. Companies that received funds were required to use the money to pay their employees while the businesses were closed down. To qualify, companies had to employ fewer than 500 people. Despite this, multiple private equity-backed businesses received loans, which, if used properly, do not have to be repaid.
Missouri funds pro-life options
Missouri lawmakers just dedicated six and a half million dollars in their new state budget to support mothers who choose life for their babies. Last week, pro-life Republican Gov. Mike Parson signed the budget, which includes funding for the state alternatives to abortion program. The program supports pregnant and parenting mothers and babies through pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes in the state. These organizations provide free services, including pregnancy tests and prenatal care, counseling and job training, diapers and cribs, clothing and food, temporary shelter and more to families in need.
Students consider the ministry
High school students considering a future in ministry are invited to participate in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ Virtual Vocatio event Aug. 2–4. The event is usually held on campus but has been moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic. During the event, students will explore God’s calling and direction through Bible study and thoughtful conversation about vocation. Students will interact with seminary faculty throughout the event, as well as with representatives from the Concordia University system during a virtual college fair. The event is free, and the registration deadline is July 17. Interested participants can learn more and register a csl.edu/vocatio.
Lutheran missionaries in Asia continue the Lord's work
LCMS Asia missionaries remain hard at work in their fields of service. Two families returned to the U.S. because they were in high-risk categories and in places where decent medical care was not available. The vast majority of LCMS Asia personnel opted to stay in their assigned countries in the places where they have made their homes. Borders are closed everywhere, and so missionaries find community with neighbors and via remote visits. Sri Lanka was subject to particularly strict lockdowns, with personnel enduring days-long curfews. Teaching conferences may have been put on hold, but the development and translation of resources continues at a rapid pace.
Planned Parenthood received PPP funds
Multinational abortion provider Planned Parenthood was revealed this week to have made off with millions of dollars in government assistance by way of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Established to provide bridge loans to American small businesses crippled by public health lockdowns, the program has been plagued with controversy since its April roll-out as a result of numerous questionable loan approvals for corporate organizations widely believed to have applied without any real need of financial relief. According to official data released Monday by the PPP’s administrators at the United States’ Small Business Administration, Planned Parenthood Federation of America was one such offender, with its locations and affiliates nationwide receiving as much as $150 million in aid from the program.Consolidated financial statements reveal Planned Parenthood possessed roughly $1.9 billion in net assets and saw its total annual revenue exceed $1 billion in both 2017 and 2018.
In today’s News:
The Navy eases religious restrictions The Navy updated its coronavirus restrictions after chaplains and a religious liberty law firm complained last week alleging that service members were being unlawfully prohibited from attending indoor religious services. Capt. Sarah Self-Kyler, director of fleet public affairs, told Fox News the temporary measures have been in place since late March to protect the health and safety of sailors and their families, noting that conditions still "prohibit sailors from attending off-base indoor religious services, and remain necessary given existing medical information about the current rise in covid-19 cases in certain locations throughout the country." However, if conditions are met locally, as they are by several Navy installations across the country, "sailors are not prohibited from attending off-base indoor religious services," she said." Mike Berry, the First Liberty Institute general counsel who sent the letter last week, expressed assurance that the Navy would do the right thing in light of President Trump's executive actions.
Supreme Court lets 'bubble zones' stand The U.S. Supreme Court decided last week not to hear challenges by pro-life advocates to two “bubble zone” laws that ban them from exercising pro-life speech outside abortion centers. The court’s July 2 written order declining to hear the cases from Chicago and Harrisburg, Penn., came scant days after its 5-4 ruling striking down a Louisiana law requiring abortion centers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The justices followed the usual practice of not commenting on turning away the cases, Associated Press reported, adding that the court’s order noted that Justice Clarence Thomas would have heard the Chicago case. The Chicago ordinance has been in place since 2009 and forbids pro-life advocates from going within eight feet of a pregnant mother who is within 50 feet of an abortion center.
Protests, yes. Bible conference, no The Colorado state attorney general attempted to ban Andrew Wommack Ministries from holding in-person gatherings of more than 175 people in accordance with the governor’s orders, while permitting mass protests with no social distancing or other health precautions. The attorney general sent a Cease-and-Desist letter to the ministry in an attempt to shut down its Bible conference held at Charis Bible College on the last day, as well as any future conferences. Liberty Counsel is representing Andrew Wommack Ministries. The attorney general stated that the ministry must cancel the remainder of the conference that ended on July 3 in addition to the July 4 celebration. However, on June 26, Andrew Wommack and his executive team met with Teller County and Woodland Park public health and law enforcement officials to review and discuss the hosting of a safe and large faith-based gathering. As a result, the ministry submitted an updated plan, which the county offered further recommendations that was acceptable to the ministry. Then ministry officials received a cease and desist order from the state.
No singing in church allowed Worship if you must, but no singing, California health officials told state residents last week in new guidelines about the Coronavirus. Beginning in March, California heavily restricted religious gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and save lives. However, the Democrat-led state also allowed abortion facilities to continue elective abortions without restriction. On July 1, the California Department of Public Health issued new guidelines outlining steps that houses of worship should take to help prevent further spread of the virus. One of those measures prohibits singing, even when people are social distancing and wearing masks. In April, three California churches filed a lawsuit against pro-abortion Gov. Gavin Newsom after he exempted abortion facilities but not churches from his stay-at-home mandate during the coronavirus crisis. Several pro-life Christians also filed lawsuits to demand their right to peacefully assemble and speak freely outside abortion facilities that continue to kill unborn babies during the pandemic.
Ohio's oldest abortion facility closes its doors The Founder’s abortion clinic in Ohio has finally closed for good. Founder’s, which first opened in 1973, was Ohio’s oldest and longest-operating abortion facility. Founder’s had its share of problems and issues over the years. Ohio’s longest-practicing abortionist lost his license in November 2018 after he allegedly broke prescription drug laws, according to state documents. Columbus abortionist Harley Blank, 79, was accused of wrong-doing multiple times during his decades-long abortion practice. The Columbus Dispatch reported Blank agreed to surrender his medical license rather than face disciplinary proceedings for alleged prescription drug violations. According to the state order, Blank allegedly violated state laws by “failing to keep any charts or patient records” on the men to whom he prescribed the drugs. Blank worked at Founder’s women’s health center, an abortion facility in Columbus, and other abortion facilities in the state. According to the report, he became known as the first abortionist to legally abort an unborn baby in Ohio in 1973. The Planned Parenthood abortion chain gave blank an award in 2012 for his work.
States move to protect women's sports Bills restricting transgender students’ involvement in school-sponsored athletics are up for consideration in 14 states, according to the left-wing Human Rights Campaign. A poll released in November, 2019, found that less than a third of Americans believe biological males who identify as transgender should be allowed to compete on girls sports teams. Another poll released in October, 2019, found that Americans said by a 57-20 margin that male athletes who self-identify as transgender have competitive advantages over female athletes. Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington are all considering bills to inhibit transgender athletes from participating in school-sponsored sports, Axios reported.
In today's News:
Woman sues St. Louis Planned Parenthood
As reported by pro-life watchdog group Operation Rescue, a woman named in the 2019 deficiency report for RHS Planned Parenthood in St. Louis sued the abortion business for damages after she was forced to undergo three abortions for the same pregnancy. According to the records, patient Maureen Peal went to RHS Planned Parenthood on May 26, 2018, for an abortion at 10 weeks and two days gestation. Abortionist Justin Diedrich, who was trained at the UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, committed a first-trimester suction abortion without the guidance of an ultrasound and the abortion was determined to have been completed. But Peal returned to RHS Planned Parenthood a month later and learned she was still pregnant and that her baby — now 15 weeks and one day old — had a strong heartbeat. Now in the second trimester, she underwent a dismemberment abortion committed by Diedrich. That abortion was also determined to be complete. However, three days later, peal was admitted to Barnes Jewish Hospital with sepsis from an infected uterus. This led to a third abortion to remove the pieces of her deceased preborn child that Diedrich had left in inside her.
Push for Veterans Administration to pay for abortions
Democrats in Congress have been pushing for years to force taxpayers to fund abortions for military members and veterans. During a hearing Tuesday in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, they debated another bill, sponsored by u.s. Rep. Julia Brownley Of Calif., to allow the Department of Veteran Affairs to start doing elective abortions with taxpayer dollars, according to the military news site Stars and Stripes. Pro-abortion democrats claimed a 30-year-old law prohibiting abortions in the VA is a “harsh” inequality for female military veterans. The VA does not abort unborn babies in elective abortions, and abortions are excluded from the VA health benefits package. Under a 1992 law, elective abortions are not considered part of “general reproductive health care” for veterans.
Pro LGBTQ law is challenged
A Christian wedding photographer and blogger in Virginia filed suit against that state’s attorney general, seeking to prevent the enforcement of a new non-discrimination law that its democrat supporters admitted was intended to be “punitive” against those who decline to celebrate same-sex weddings. The law presents the photographer with an impossible choice: violate his conscience, close his business, or face a $50,000 fine for the first offense and $100,000 fines for each later offense. Chris Herring, owner of Chris Herring photography, filed the pre-enforcement lawsuit on Tuesday before the law came into effect on Yesterday. The lawsuit claims the Virginia Values Act — Which Gov. Ralph Northam signed on the Saturday before Easter during a pandemic — violates Herring’s rights to free speech, free association, freedom of the press, religious liberty, and the Constitution’s ban on a government establishment of religion. “I happily work with and serve all customers, but I can’t and won’t let the state force me to express messages that contradict my beliefs,” the photographer insisted.
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Missouri medicaid payment for abortion stays
Yesterday, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down state lawmakers’ efforts to defund Planned Parenthood as a “Clear and unmistakable violation” of the state constitution, the AP reports. By a 6-1 majority, the justices ruled that a state budget law prohibiting medicaid funds to abortion groups is unconstitutional
Biden declares for abortion 'under any circumstances'
In a statement praising the Supreme Court for striking down a Louisiana law requiring doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced his support for abortion “under any circumstance,” staking out an extreme position on the issue. Biden, once a self-proclaimed “pro-life Democrat” stood by his personal opposition to abortion as recently as the 2012 presidential election, when he explained, in a debate against then-republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, that he was “personally opposed” to the procedure but felt he had no reason to prevent women from exercising “choice.”
Religious equality scores a win
The Supreme Court sided with a group of families in Montana that challenged a state law which banned scholarship money from being used toward faith-based schools in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. the grants were given via donations that were tax deductible. the court ruled that discrimination against non-secular schools is a violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, and that although states “need not subsidize private education,” non-secular institutions cannot be discriminated against in the distribution of such subsidies based on religious ties.
Lutheran students help first responders
In St. Charles, Mo., a cooperative effort of the Lutheran High School of St. Charles County Stem Program, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, and a group of individual donors has resulted in the production and delivery of over 5,000 PPE face shields to health care workers, first responders and others. the project, called “help From Home,” began in March and is still underway. David Zilz, director of LHS’ stem robotics team, the Roboteers, explained that, while many groups around the country have been producing 3D-printed headbands for protective face shields, fewer have been performing all the steps needed to assemble and deliver complete, ready-to-wear shields. Zilz added that the “Help From Home” team has been involved in not only producing and assembling the face shields but delivering them as well, all while following social distancing guidelines.
Navy bans indoor religious services
On June 24, the Navy issued an order that banned troops from attending indoor religious services, although other activities such as using mass transit, hosting social gatherings of any size, and participation in protests are all permitted. but the order specifically states that “service members are prohibited from visiting, patronizing, or engaging in . . . indoor religious services.” the Navy’s orders apply to everyone assigned to navy units and vessels including, its chaplains.
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Court victory for abortionists
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a law restricting abortions in Louisiana is unconstitutional. In a landmark decision, the justices said a law requiring that doctors who provide abortions have the right to admit patients at a local hospital placed an undue burden on women. Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberal justices in the 5-4 decision in a blow to pro-life groups. This was the first major abortion case ruling from the Supreme Court during the Trump presidency. The 2014 Louisiana law said that doctors must hold admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of their practice. But critics said the law would limit the number of providers in the state, violating a woman's right to an abortion. In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “Today a majority of the court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction.” On behalf of President Donald Trump, the White House issued a statement slamming the ruling and saying it “devalued the lives of unborn children.”
Missouri's abortion facility remains open for a year
A Missouri Planned Parenthood facility In St. Louis, described as one of the worst abortion facilities in the country for women’s safety, will be allowed to remain open for another year. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was forced to renew the St. Louis abortion facility’s license last week because of a ruling in may. Over the weekend, Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt said the state will not appeal the ruling, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Lutheran students serve their community
The coronavirus shutdown drastically changed the way most brick-and-mortar schools around the world wrapped up their academic years, but that didn’t stop schools in the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod from continuing serving their communities and each other. Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island, Neb., held its last day of on-campus classes on March 12. As the school transitioned from classroom-based instruction to school at home, Heartland’s senior class began looking for ways to serve their community amid the shutdown. During the height of the covid-19 outbreak in April, Grand Island was one of Nebraska’s virus hotspots, recording the highest number of confirmed cases in the state. With the support of Heartland Principal Timothy Leech, the students organized a food drive for families in need. In addition to collecting over 12,000 nonperishable grocery items, the students also received over $11,000 in donations. The cash and approximately three-quarters of the grocery items were donated to the United Way’s Food for Thought Program, which hosts a backpack drive and provides food to 200 families a week during the summer months. The remaining grocery items were donated to other food banks and shelters in town.
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A pro-life law is struck down
A Louisiana law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals was struck down this morning by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision. Four liberal justices; Kagen, Sotomayer, Breyer and Ginsberg; ruled that the law was similar to a Texas law that was struck down in 2016. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the majority in a concurring opinion stating that while he believes the Texas ruling was incorrect, the concept of precedent requires him to uphold it in subsequent ruling. Conservative Justices Thomas, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and Alito, all dissented. In his dissent, Alito wrote “The abortion right recognized in this court’s decisions is used like a bulldozer to flatten legal rules that stand in the way.”
Religious restrictions struck down
Friday, a federal judge ruled that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Letitia James, and Mayor Bill de Blasio may not order or enforce indoor or outdoor restrictions on religious worship gatherings. Represented by the Thomas More Society, two Catholic priests from upstate New York and a trio of orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn sued Cuomo, James and de Blasio for violations of their free exercise of religion and freedom of speech. Senior u.s. District Judge Gary l. Sharpe issued a preliminary injunction and said that Cuomo is wrong to limit worship services as a “matter of public safety” yet condone mass protests. In awarding the injunction, the court noted that “nonessential businesses” that enjoy a 50 percent capacity limitation are not justifiably different than houses of worship.
Concordia Seminary hold virtual event for prospective students
Prospective students and their families are invited to learn more about Concordia Seminary, St. Louis during the next steps visitation event, set for 2–4 p.m. Central time Saturday, July 11. Due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, the event will be held online. Designed for prospective pastoral and diaconal students who are married or who are engaged and will be married when they come to the Seminary, the event will give participants valuable information about the application process, financial aid and housing. The event also will include a panel discussion with current students and their spouses who will answer questions and provide information about campus life, local schools and transitioning to the Seminary.
Planned Parenthood names new president
After spending nearly a year as Planned Parenthood’s acting president and CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson has officially been named the abortion organization’s permanent leader. Last July, Leana Wen, an emergency room physician and the former Baltimore city health commissioner, was fired in a supposed “secret” meeting. Wen claimed it was because she had attempted to make Planned Parenthood less political, and to shift the organization’s more toward health care. Wen was summarily fired, and McGill Johnson was brought on board in her place. In an interview for Planned Parenthood, McGill Johnson claimed she knew she wanted to work in the abortion industry when she saw a pro-life billboard in New York City which read, “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.”
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Planned Parenthood gets a license
Missouri's health department yesterday issued another license to the state's only abortion clinic following a year-long legal battle over whether the St. Louis Planned Parenthood Center could stay open. The Department of Health and Senior Services last year declined to renew the clinic's license, which meant the clinic wouldn't have been allowed to provide abortions. Planned Parenthood sued. After a year-long legal battle, the state's administrative hearing commission ruled in may that the health department was wrong not to renew the clinic's license. The health department, which is represented by the state Attorney General's office, hasn't indicated if it will appeal the administrative hearing commission ruling. Monday is the deadline to appeal.
Online courses offered to pastors, church workers
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is partnering with Concordia University Wisc., For the first time to offer two online continuing education courses for pastors, one in the fall and one in the spring. The courses are especially appropriate for ordained pastors, commissioned church workers and lay leaders. The courses are fully online. Each course features six modules over six weeks, with video lectures, optional readings, recommended assignments and peer discussion activities. The opening and closing sessions will be held live online and will be recorded for later viewing. All other sessions will be fully asynchronous, meaning they can be completed at any time during the run of each course.
Faith-based adoption groups gain support
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to bolster the federal government’s work with community and faith-based groups in adoption and foster care. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the order will encourage better partnerships between states and faith-based and community organizations in adoption and foster care, help publicize best practices, and states and local authorities to recruit more foster and adoptive families. The executive order comes ahead of a Supreme Court case involving Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia. In 2018, the city stopped referrals of foster children with the organization due to its faith-based stance on marriage. The case has been scheduled for the Supreme Court’s fall 2020 term.
Senator opposes the 'Equality Act'
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said on Wednesday that he opposes the unamended Equality Act, which passed the Democrat-controlled House last year, because, among other things, "It would force people of faith, doctors, others to perform abortions." The equality acts says an official summary that it, "prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity," says the summary. The bill also "prohibits the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 from providing a claim, defense, or basis for challenging such protections.”
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Newspaper calls pro-life ad 'racist'
A pro-life organization has been blocked from running a pro-life “All Lives Matter” ad in a local newspaper. The paper claimed the ad was “racist.” The Rockford Family Initiative, an Illinois based pro-life organization, attempted to place the pro-life ad in a local newspaper, The Rockford Register Star. The ad depicts a picture of an unborn baby with the words “All Lives Matter” above the picture. Originally, the newspaper agreed to run the ad. It later refused, however, asking that the wording be changed since it was “racist.” The Register Star sales manager told the Rockford Family Initiative that “all lives matter is seen as racist to the black community.”
Department of Justice scolds New York City's mayor
The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to New York City Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday calling out the hypocrisy of enforcing covid-19 restrictions against religious gatherings while giving a pass to crowded Black Lives Matter protests. The letter reads, “Mayor de Blasio’s recent public statements and enforcement of covid-19 orders have demonstrated a troubling preference for certain First Amendment rights over others. New York City had vigorously enforced restrictions on religious gatherings, including by sending police officers to disperse numerous gatherings of the Jewish community, including outdoor funerals. At the same time, Mayor de Blasio marched in large in-person political gatherings concerning the recent tragic death of George Floyd and made statements suggesting — in a manner forbidden by the First Amendment — that religious exercise was less valued and protected by New York City than political exercise.”
Pro-abortion groups sue Iowa
Planned Parenthood And the American Civil Liberties Union have filed a lawsuit against a new law in Iowa that requires mothers to wait at least 24 hours after their initial appointment before getting an abortion. As reported by KCCI 8 News, the law, which was passed earlier this month, also requires mothers to view an ultrasound of their baby and receive adoption information. The legislation was made public on the evening of June 13 and pushed through by republicans in the early hours of June 14.
Ohio expands religious rights of students
Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine signed a bill into law expanding the religious freedom for students in public schools that was criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union. The Student Religious Liberties Act, introduced in March 2019, passed with a near-unanimous vote and was signed Friday. The new law clarifies that students can pray, wear religious clothing, meet on school grounds and express their faith in school, as long as they are not disruptive. The law also will abolish restrictions on students from engaging in religious expression in completion of homework, artwork, or other assignments. Critics of the bill say it could allow students to avoid penalties for scientifically wrong answers if those happen to conform with their religious beliefs.
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Planned Parenthood exec fired
A top executive at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has been fired over allegations of racism. The organization’s board of directors announced yesterday that they had “parted ways” Monday with Laura McQuade, who had served as chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York since 2017, the New York Times reported. The news came after allegations of both abusive and discriminatory behavior towards black Planned Parenthood employees.
Virginia is for snitches
The Virginia Department of Public Health is urging residents to “snitch on” public gatherings and other activities that violate Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam’s coronavirus orders, including churches. The Washington Free Beacon reports that the health department’s website has been updated to include the option to anonymously report to the state neighbors who exceed the emergency limits on building capacity or refuse to wear masks. The form allows users to specify the “type of establishment” they’re reporting, including “indoor gun range” or “religious service.” Under Northam’s phase two” rules, “religious services must be limited to no more than 50 percent of the lowest occupancy load on the certificate of occupancy of the room or facility in which the religious services are conducted. Individuals attending religious services must be at least six feet apart when seated and must practice proper physical distancing at all times” with the exception of family members.
Groups wants taxpayer money for 'gender transition'
Several pro-LGBT pressure organizations filed a federal lawsuit Monday in hopes of reversing the Trump Administration’s decision to roll back an Obama-era regulation that would allow healthcare providers that receive federal funds to perform “gender transition” operations and abortions. In May of 2016, the Obama Administration redefined “sex discrimination” under Obamacare to include an individual’s “internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female.” The rule also covered “termination of pregnancy” under its definition of sex discrimination. The Trump Administration’s Department O\of Health and Human Services announced this month that it will “enforce section 1557 by returning to the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology.”
Survey on morality of abortion released
A plurality of Americans believe that killing babies in abortions is morally wrong, a new Gallup Poll finds. The Values And Beliefs Poll, which Gallup conducts every year, found that 47 percent of Americans believe abortions are morally wrong, while 44 percent said they are morally acceptable. Gallup also broke down the numbers into those who identify as liberal or conservative. Just 18 percent of conservatives said abortions are morally acceptable, while 70 percent of liberals did. That 52 percent difference was the largest split on any issue between liberals and conservatives. Other polls have found similarly strong opposition to the killing of unborn babies in abortions.
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'Chapel Talks for LCMS Schools' is released
LCMS School Ministry has released this year’s "Chapel Talks for Lutheran Schools," an annual resource provided for Lutheran schools to use as an outline for weekly school chapel. Under the theme “Sent To Serve,” the 2020–21 “Chapel Talks” contains 43 devotions — one for each week of the school year — plus services for the beginning and ending of the school year and for Christmas. Each week’s devotion uses a Scripture reading corresponding to the three-year lectionary to explore the theme of service — both Christ’s service to the world and Christians’ service to others. Lutheran school workers are encouraged to provide “side dishes” to go along with the devotions. The devotions may also be adapted for different age groups and local contexts. Hymn selections from both Lutheran Service Book and All God’s People Sing are provided for each week.
Illinois is tracking church goers
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on the case of the two Illinois Romanian churches included a statement about “contact tracing” to determine “how dangerous religious services are” compared to other “similar activities.” The court stated: “perhaps with more time — and more data from contact tracing —Illinois could figure out just how dangerous religious services are compared with warehouses and similar activities”. Gov. J.B. Pritzker previously announced the launch of Illinois’ statewide contact tracing program, Illinois contact tracing collaborative, a “locally-driven approach to scale up contact tracing in Illinois” for covid-19 cases as part of his restore Illinois program. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the contact tracing program consists of tracers interviewing people who have newly tested positive about whom they had significant contact with in the past 48 hours. Those people, often family, friends or coworkers, are then contacted and encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing for 14 days or get tested. Pritzker called contact tracing “arguably our most sustainable tool” in further slowing new covid-19 cases and lifting social and economic restrictions.
Tennessee passes a 'heartbeat bill'
Tennessee lawmakers passed one of the tightest abortion restrictions in the country on Friday, banning the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected at around six weeks, which is often before a woman realizes she is pregnant. The “heartbeat” bill follows a wave of similar strict pro-life measures passed by Republican-majority legislatures in an effort to prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case granting a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. In the last two years, federal judges have struck down “fetal heartbeat” laws banning abortion after six weeks in several states on the grounds that they were unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood filed a joint lawsuit in federal court on Friday challenging the bill.
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Apply now for deaconess studies program
A new distance deaconess studies program will launch in the spring 2021 semester at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. This program will allow students to become certified to serve as commissioned deaconesses in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The four-year program will prepare women to share the Gospel through works of mercy, spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith. Students who complete the program will be eligible for placement as commissioned deaconesses in the LCMS. The seminary is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the spring 2021 semester; the application deadline is Aug. 31.
Democrats move to repeal religious protections
Last Monday, the Supreme Court Ruled 6–3 that the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s prohibition on sex discrimination in employment also prohibits such discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and “transgender status.” In his dissent, Justice Samuel Alito warned that the decision presents clear threats to religious liberty, while Justice Neil Gorsuch countered in his majority opinion that there are still a variety of legal protections for religious Americans, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. While it’s unknown what religious exemptions the Supreme Court “might” actually provide in cases involving claims of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, Congressional Democrats made it clear that they don’t want to leave anything to chance, pushing forward with a bill that would explicitly strip religious Americans of the ability to defend themselves under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in future employment-discrimination lawsuits.
Illinois Dioceses join Supreme Court case
A Philadelphia law that purports to prevent discrimination actually harms children through religious discrimination, according to an a friend of the court brief filed with the United States Supreme Court by the Thomas More Society. Representing Catholic Charities from two Illinois Dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church, the brief, filed June 3, in Sharonell Fulton. V. City of Philadelphia, supports Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese Of Philadelphia, along with foster parents Sharonell Fulton and Toni Lynn Simms-Busch. The Thomas More Society filing speaks to Philadelphia’s alleged First Amendment violation in requiring a religious agency to make statements and perform actions that contradict its religious beliefs in order to participate in the foster care system. Having experienced in Illinois what happened in Philadelphia, Catholic Charities of the Diocese Of Springfield in Illinois and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, are asking the high court to side with their Pennsylvania counterparts and the foster parents suing for their religious rights. The amici brief notes that Illinois presented no evidence that same-sex couples were not readily able to find assessment and qualification services from over 60 department of children and family services offices and over 50 alternative foster care agencies, stating, “the state’s exclusion of faith-based foster care providers was thus a solution in search of a problem and harmed Illinois children without any countervailing benefit.”
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Congressional Democrats support transgender athletes
Twenty-eight Congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls sports are violating Title IX Civil Rights legislation. Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the Department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls sports to biological females. The Education Department on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics. The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Blind woman banned from library
First Liberty Institute and William Wray Jr., An attorney at Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., yesterday filed a charge of discrimination with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights against Westerly, Rhode Island’s Memorial and Library Association for banning a blind woman from Wilcox Park and Westerly Public Library in Westerly, Rhode Island. Park officials demanded that Gail Blair, who was 63-years old at the time and blind, stop having conversations with others in the public park about Jesus in which she would offer them a small copy of the Gospel of John. As a result, park officials banned Blair from their park and library. Park officials then called on the local police to issue a formal “trespass warning” to Blair, threatening to arrest her if she enters the park or library within a period of two years.
'Falling in love with Jesus'
Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback who is the highest-paid player in the NFL, has sent out a series of tweets in recent days expressing his devotion to Jesus Christ. “Falling in love with Jesus was the best thing I've ever done,” Wilson said in a tweet sent out on Tuesday. In 2014, Wilson led the Seahawks to a 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Bill to ban discriminatory abortions
The Mississippi Senate has advanced a bill that will ban discriminatory abortions. The Life Equality Act, sponsored by Mississippi State Senator Jenifer Branning and endorsed by Chairman Brice Wiggins, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and others, would ban abortions based on “a child’s race, sex, disability, or genetic makeup,” according to the Susan B. Anthony list. The bill passed by a vote of 33-11. The Life Equality Act passed the Mississippi House in March, but following the senate’s recent passage, the house and senate bill amendments must concur and will then head to Gov. Tate Reeves for his signature. Discrimination against the preborn occurs globally, especially against females in societies where women have been treated as “less than” for centuries—and even today. Race discrimination is also common. While African-Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, black women account for 38 percent of reported abortions.
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Senator blasts Supreme Court sex decision
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision prohibiting employment discrimination against homosexuals and transgenders, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri on Tuesday called for religious conservatives to “stand up and speak out.” Hawley declared that because of the SCOTUS’ decision, the conservative legal project has failed the project’s “core” - religious conservatives. Congress is “terrified” of being held accountable, he said.
Nickelodean celebrates homosexuality
Spongebob Squarepants and the network that runs the show, Nickelodeon, are promoting homosexuality for June, the designated "pride" month for LGBT Americans. Nickelodeon, which is owned by ViacomCBS, is a cable channel for children, aimed at kids age 2 to 17.
Americans support 'ministerial exception'
In a new survey of a nationally representative sample of American adults, respondents showed an intuitive understanding of and support for the First Amendment principles that protect a religious organization’s ability to determine its own religious mission and beliefs, including by selecting those who pass its faith to the next generation. The survey especially focused on this ability to pass on the faith to the next generation free from government interference, a protection often referred to as the “ministerial exception.” The survey, fielded in late April, found that more than two-thirds of respondents agreed that keeping the government out of a religious organization’s internal religious disputes is an important facet of a healthy separation of church and state. A majority of respondents also said that the religious organization should have the final say when a dispute arises over who can or cannot teach its beliefs to the next generation. In fact, more respondents chose this option than all other options combined.
Planned Parenthood attacks new pro-life law
Planned Parenthood, the billion-dollar abortion chain, is criticizing a new Iowa law that ensures abortion facilities give women the opportunity to see their unborn babies on an ultrasound and hear their baby’s heartbeat at least 24 hours prior to the abortion. In addition, Iowa requires abortion facilities to provide women with information about abortion risks and resources available for parenting and adoption, and to confirm in writing that women received it. The Iowa legislature passed the pro-life waiting period bill on Sunday, and already Planned Parenthood is considering a legal challenge. Informed consent laws help protect unborn babies from abortion, and the abortion industry knows it. Research indicates that when women see ultrasound images of their unborn babies, they are more likely to choose life. A 2017 study out of the University of California San Francisco also suggests that some women do change their minds about abortion as a result of informed consent laws. A majority of states require a waiting period prior to an abortion and 35 require informed consent counseling, which typically includes facts about an unborn baby’s development, the risks of abortion and alternatives to abortion, according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute.
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Concordia Irvine helps Concordia Portland employees
Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., and the LCMS Northwest District formed a partnership earlier this year to establish the Concordia University, Portland, Ore. (CUP), employee assistance fund. Over 100 donors, individuals and congregations have come together to raise over $55,000 to support CUP employees. The funds raised will go toward covering the medical premium expenses of CUP employees.
Illinois refuses to leave churches alone
In a key appeals court hearing concerning Illinois' restrictions on churches, the Office of the Governor refused to commit to leaving churches alone, opening the door for more draconian measures against houses of worship. The assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois was asked twice Friday by the judicial panel of the 7th Circuit whether Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker would never again restrict or ban church meetings. "No your honor, we are not," replied Pritzker's attorney.
Iowa considers pro-life legislation
Iowa legislators have passed informed consent legislation that would require a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortion. It would also require abortionists to give a woman the opportunity to see an ultrasound of her baby before the abortion and to give her information about adoption, the risks of having an abortion, and other community resources that are available to her. The amendment was passed Sunday morning, after legislators worked overnight. If signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the legislation will be an amendment to the state’s existing abortion laws.
Congressman says religious liberty mean discrimination
Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Of New York Said Monday that religious liberty is a "bogus term" that merely serves as a "pretext for discrimination." Maloney was celebrating the the high-profile victory for LGBT rights at the Supreme Court, but he took time to criticize the author of the decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch, for having supported religious liberty. The Supreme Court Ruled Monday that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination, protects lesbian, gay, and transgender workers. Gorsuch, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, delivered the opinion in a six-to-three decision. Maloney co-chairs the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and has previously criticized defenders of religious liberty for attempting to "sanction discrimination."
An American commission calls for agreement with Pakistan
A U.S. Panel yesterday called for a binding commitment from Pakistan to improving its treatment of religious minorities, including by tackling abuse of blasphemy laws. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which advises but does not set government policy, said the United States should seek written promises in return for Pakistan exiting the State Department's blacklist of violators.
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Concordia Nebraska aids students
Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., (CUNE)Is providing funds it has received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to any student who has been impacted financially by the transition to online-only classes. Each student who submits qualified expenses is expected to receive up to $400 from CUNE’s $500,000 in higher education emergency relief funds. “We are thankful to have this opportunity to provide each of our students who were affected financially by this pandemic at least some funding to help them recover,” said Scott Jenkins, CUNE director of financial aid.
LGBTQ wins in Supreme Court
In a 6-3 ruling issued yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court said an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The court found that "homosexuality and transgender status are inextricably bound up with sex. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, said: “The majority opinion departs from the clear language of Title VII and is no less than legislation from the bench. While the case did not include a religious freedom defense, the court expressly stated that religious employers will likely have a valid defense under the first amendment and the Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”
Planned Parenthood endorses Joe Biden
Abortion business has officially endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president. In a statement, Acting President and CEO Alexis Mcgill Johnson made the election out to be a life-and-death issue. “This election is a fight for our country’s very survival,” she said, while touting Biden’s extensive pro-abortion positions. “Joe Biden is the only candidate in this race who will stand up for our health and our rights.” In addition to endorsing Biden, Planned Parenthood has promised to triple its election spending this year, with $45 million earmarked towards battleground states.
Pro-life protestors targeted for arrest
A pair of pro-life New Yorkers arrested for sidewalk counseling outside of an abortion facility in alleged violation of state “social distancing guidelines” is calling out the hypocrisy of forbidding safe, peaceful pro-life demonstration while allowing the massive, crowded protests of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. On May 30, Bevelyn Beatty and Edmee Chavannes were outside Manhattan’s Margaret Sanger Center Planned Parenthood in hopes of persuading women entering the facility not to go through with abortion, Live Action reports. A security guard called the police, who ordered them to leave for “social distancing” reasons. When they didn’t, they were arrested for failure to disperse. BLM supports “reproductive justice that gives us autonomy over our bodies.” An estimated 40 percent of all U.S. Abortions are sought by black women, meaning that Black Lives Matter supports the annual elimination of more than 344,800 black lives every year.
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Supreme Court rules 'sex' included sexual identity
The Supreme Court today issued its ruling on a historic case about LGBT employment discrimination, with the majority deciding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, also applies to gay or transgender people. It was a 6-3 decision. One of the cases involved was Harris Funeral Home. This family-run funeral home fired one of its male employees when the employee changed gender to female. Although the court ruled that gender identity is sex as described by law and therefore may not face discrimination, it noted that Harris did not claim religious exemption in the firing. The court further noted that its ruling does not impact those with religious or moral objections.
Boston accused of religious discrimination
Liberty Counsel filed an opening brief to the First Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Boston resident Hal Shurtleff and his christian civic organization, Camp Constitution, arguing that the city of Boston violated the First Amendment by censoring a private flag in a public forum merely because it contained a cross. The city refers to its flagpole as a “public forum” and allows private organizations to temporarily raise their own flags on the flagpoles. Never has Boston censored any flag until the Christian flag. The city’s records show Boston has allowed at least 284 applications by private organizations on the city hall flagpoles without denial except for the Christian flag.
Religious protection extended to healthcare workers
The Department of Health and Human Services has just finalized a new rule that protects patients, aligns with current medical research, and complies with rulings from two federal courts. An older rule, imposed in 2016, had required doctors to perform gender transition procedures even if doing so would violate their religious beliefs and potentially harm their patients. That rule was struck down in two lawsuits brought by nine states, several religious organizations, and an association of more than 19,000 healthcare professionals. The new rule, finalized Friday, complies with those court decisions and ensures that sensitive medical decisions are kept between patients and their doctors without government interference.
Christian giving remains strong
When the U.S.economy shut down in March due to covid-19, financial predictions for churches and other ministries were dire. But a new survey suggests those predictions may have been overblown. Most evangelical churches and ministries saw giving remain steady or grow during the height of stay-at-home restrictions, according to a survey of more than 1,300 christian ministries released last week by the Evangelical Council For Financial Accountability. Among those surveyed, total cash giving in April 2020 equaled or surpassed April 2019 giving levels at 66 percent of churches and 59 percent of nonprofits. An even greater percentage of churches, 72 percent, and other Christian nonprofits, 61 percent, said their April 2020 cash gifts met or exceeded January 2020 levels, when the economy was booming and the stock market’s Dow Jones industrial average was approaching its all-time high.
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Scholarships increase for Lutheran schools
The St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) will award a record $505,000 for need-based scholarships to help fund a 49 percent increase in qualified applications due in part to the covid-19 crisis. The increased need and funding amount mean LESA will award scholarships to 624 students of all faiths this year during the first round of awards, compared to 371 in 2019-20 school year. The additional funds were made possible by endowment earnings, extraordinary gifts from LESA's donors, and the unprecedented success of its first-ever Cooking For Kids online auction, which raised a record $263,000 (a 25 percent increase over last year) to support scholarships and services for LESA member schools. In addition, a generous family redirected their $50,000 annual endowment gift to be applied exclusively to scholarships due to the pandemic. Since 2004, LESA has awarded more than $5.5 million in financial assistance through its building blocks scholarship fund to children of all faiths enrolled in Lutheran elementary schools. More than 8,300 students attend LESA-member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis metro area, making it the second largest private school system in the bi-state region.
Justice Department supports faith-based adoption
The U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a Catholic foster care agency because it refuses to compromise its religious beliefs by placing children with same-sex couples. The Supreme Court agreed to review Sharonell Fulton, et al. V. City of Philadelphia and oral argument is expected in the fall. In March 2018, the city canceled its contracts with Catholic Social Services due to its religious beliefs about marriage, not long after the city issued an urgent call for 300 families to provide foster care to help care for the flood of children coming into the system due to the opioid crisis. The city then prohibited Catholic Social Services from placing any more children with the families it had already certified, in order to investigate whether the agency had violated the city’s fair practices ordinance, a policy that prohibits “discrimination” on the basis of “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.” There are currently 6,000 foster children in the city of Philadelphia and dozens of families licensed to foster through Catholic Social Services who are willing to take in children. However, as a result of the city’s actions, their beds have remained empty for two years.
Senator call for investigation of speech double standards
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri called for an investigation into free speech double standards, saying that state officials have favored protests while targeting religious freedom. Hawley asked Attorney General William Barr and the Department of Justice in a Tuesday letter to launch a “full civil rights investigation” into violations of “free exercise and free speech rights of religious Americans.” The move came as lawmakers such as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy refrained from telling protesters to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.
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New archbishop chosen for St. Louis
Pope Francis has named Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield, Mass., as the next Archbishop of St. Louis, Succeeding Robert J. Carlson, who last year reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and submitted his resignation to the pope. Rozanski, who will be formally installed on Aug. 25, will become the 10th archbishop of St. Louis, leading the region’s largest faith group, with more than 505,000 Roman Catholics spread over 179 parishes.
Illinois taken to court
In the aftermath of covid-19-related religious liberty lawsuits, the Thomas More Society has now sued the state of Illinois to challenge a law requiring all health insurance policies sold in the state to provide coverage for elective chemical and surgical abortions, with no exemptions, even for churches. Yesterday, the Thomas More Society filed a complaint in the Sangamon County Circuit Court, charging the state with abuses of the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act in relation to the abortion insurance mandate. The case was filed on behalf of a Baptist church association, a dental practice and its owner, and a freight company and its owner. The lawsuit charges that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker; the Department of Insurance, and its director Robert Muriel; have refused to protect the plaintiffs’ sincerely held religious beliefs, which forbid them from funding and providing coverage for elective abortions.
Satanic Temple loses in court
States may inform women that life begins at conception before they go through with an abortion, a federal appeals court said this week. The case — a victory for pro-life advocates, unborn babies and mothers — involves a Missouri informed consent law and a challenge by “Judy Doe,” a member of the Satanic Temple. Doe claimed the law violated her religious freedom because she does not believe that “the life of each human being begins at conception.” That information is included in the Missouri informed consent booklet, which abortion facilities must offer women prior to an abortion. Yesterday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed doe’s case and allowed the law to stand.
Churches defy a mayor's order
First Liberty Institute and the Massachusetts Family Institute yesterday sent a letter to Somerville, Massachusetts Mayor Joseph Curtatone informing him that several churches in the city will immediately resume in-person church services on Sunday. Curtatone arbitrarily requires all places of worship in somerville to limit attendance to no more than 10 congregants. On May 18, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued order 33 providing that churches and other places of worship “may open [their] premises to workers . . . And the public” so long as such places of worship followed specific health and safety guidelines and limit to 40 percent occupancy. Further, Baker’s order clearly states that “[n]o municipal or other local authority should adopt or enforce any workplace health or safety rule to address covid-19 that is in addition to, stricter than, or otherwise in conflict with any covid-19 workplace safety rule adopted in [order 33].”
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Lutheran Church Charities responds to storm
Tropical Storm Cristobal moved up through the plains and into the Great Lakes region of northern Illinois and Indiana earlier this week. Multiple storms went through the region with a possible tornado, outbursts of 60-80 mph wind shear and strong thunderstorms. There have been many reports of downed trees, power lines, roof, and home damage in many communities. Lutheran Church Charities Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’day has and will continue to reach out to L.E.R.T. volunteers and churches and will begin assessments of damage to provide assistance to those affected while maintaining coronavirus safety precautions.
Undercover journalist moves to dismiss charge
Sandra Merritt filed a reply yesterday in support of the motion asking the San Francisco Superior Court To dismiss the charge regarding “false identification documents” brought against her by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for her undercover journalism work in exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby body parts. Judge Christopher Hite dismissed six of the original 15 felony charges, as he made factual findings that the recorded conversations were not confidential. Given those factual findings, Becerra cannot bring those dismissed charges again. But Becerra then filed an “information” on Dec. 13, 2019, adding an additional count to Merritt’s charges, even though the statute of limitations had expired for any new claims. Liberty Counsel represents Merritt and has shown that, to date, no other citizen journalist or journalism organization has ever been charged with a crime for undercover recordings made in the public interest. In fact, Merritt and her co-defendant, David Daleiden, the founder of the Center for Medical Progress, are the first undercover journalists to be criminally prosecuted in California’s history.
Casinos, yes; churches, no
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys representing a Lyon County, Nevada, church filed a supplemental brief Thursday in their federal lawsuit against Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and other state officials for allowing casinos and restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity while continuing to restrict churches to gatherings of 50 or fewer people as part of the state’s reopening plans during the coronavirus pandemic. The church, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, is requesting court orders that would immediately halt enforcement of the church gathering ban while the lawsuit moves forward. ADF’s brief includes video footage of a recently reopened, crowded casino floor where the majority of patrons pictured are not wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Among the exceptions to Sisolak’s gathering restrictions, restaurants can resume on-site dining at 50 percent capacity and gyms and fitness centers can open at 50 percent capacity. But the governor has refused to allow churches and other places of worship to open their doors to 50 or more people under any circumstance. Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley wishes to resume in-person worship services that would amount to less than 50 percent of its building’s capacity and has developed comprehensive social distancing and health and safety protocols to govern those services. Despite these health and safety measures, however, the governor’s church gathering ban threatens the church with criminal and civil penalties.
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Illinois is taken to court
Liberty Counsel filed the final reply brief on behalf of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church and Logos Baptist Ministries in their federal lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his executive orders discriminating against churches. The Court of Appeals ordered expedited briefing and has already scheduled oral argument for June 12. Instead of taking many months or more than a year to complete an appeal, this appeal has been fast-tracked. Within a few hours after two Romanian churches filed an emergency injunction pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh ordered Pritzker to respond by 8 p.m. on May 28. Just hours before his deadline to respond to the high court, Pritzker removed all restrictions by issuing “guidelines,” none of which are mandatory. However, unless and until there is a judicial declaration that Pritzker has acted unconstitutionally thus far, there is nothing keeping him from changing his mind again, whether in this crisis or any future crisis.
Religious exception struck down in New York
The U.S. District Court for The Northern District of New York has upheld most of a law allowing the Empire State to force pro-life organizations to employ workers who oppose their religious values and pro-life mission while throwing out one provision of the law as compelling speech. Last fall, Alliance Defending Freedom took up the case on behalf of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, First Bible Baptist Church in Hilton, and the pro-life pregnancy care service Compasscare, arguing that the law “intentionally and by design sacrifices the associational, speech, and religious freedom of employers in New York state” to “the government’s desire to promote abortion rights.” On June 5, the District Court ruled against the pro-life groups, the religion clause blog reported.
Pandemic closes abortion facilities
Independent abortion facilities are struggling financially and may have to close because of the coronavirus shutdowns, according to the progressive news site Shadowproof. Nikki Madsen, executive director of the Abortion Care Network, said dozens of abortion facilities may close, leaving up to four states completely abortion-free. Her organization represents 125 independent abortion facilities across the country. Independent means they are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood, Whole Woman’s Health or another abortion chain. Madsen said a majority of abortion facilities within her network could close permanently in the coming months. According to the report, some of these abortion facilities chose to temporarily and voluntarily close during the coronavirus crisis because they did not have enough equipment, “while others could not afford the massive sanitization and personnel efforts required to work through the pandemic.” Recently, medical groups representing more than 30,000 doctors in America emphasized that abortions are not “essential” or “urgent,” and abortion facilities that continue to operate during the pandemic are being “medically irresponsible.” Abortion complications include infections, blood clots, hemorrhaging and an incomplete abortion.
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New opportunities for Concordia University students
Concordia University, St. Paul, is providing pathways and solutions for nursing students from Concordia University, Portland, Oregon School Of Law In Boise, Idaho, to continue in their degree programs with as little interruption as possible. CSP will provide high-quality nursing education opportunities to students in the Portland region and become the new parent institution for the law school. The transition will provide students, faculty and staff financial and institutional stability and preserve the legacy established by CUP leadership.
Religious liberty wins in Wisconsin
The public health department for the City of Madison and Aane County, Wisc., put out a new “Forward Dane” order Friday, removing a 50-person cap on in-person religious services that did not apply to any similar secular activities. The new order came after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison stood up for its right to free exercise of religion. Global law firms Sidley Austin and Troutman Sanders, along with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent a letter to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Public Health Director Janel Heinrich last Wednesday. The letter explained that Madison/Dane County’s arbitrary 50-person cap on houses of worship violated the First Amendment as well as the Wisconsin Constitution. Because the Diocese stood up for its rights, Catholic churches in Madison/Dane County will now conduct in-person masses at the same 25 percent capacity level as secular activities such as malls and theaters, but with even more rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols. Under Madison/Dane County’s previous order, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, spas, gyms, salons, museums, movie theaters, community centers, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and trampoline parks were allowed to open at 25 percent capacity, while houses of worship were subject to an arbitrary 50-person cap regardless of how large the church building was.
Baby girl is saved
Parents of a baby girl born just a few hours prior left her safely at a fire station in Crosby, Texas, thanks to a law that allows parents to surrender infants with first responders within a designated period of time after birth. According to a local news station, the sheriff’s office said deputies received a call about the girl being dropped off at the fire station. Deputies and firefighters found the girl a short time later at the station’s front door, which was around 3:30 a.m. On June 1. The mother of the child will not face charges because she did not abandon her baby, but left her child at the fire station in accordance with the state’s Baby Safe Haven or Baby Moses Law, and notified an employee of her child’s location.
Video claims a state university is aiding abortion
A new video documentary provides evidence that the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is the nation’s leading center for committing, and teaching how to commit, late-term abortions. Titled “UCSF: An American Horror Story,” the video produced by Pro-Life San Francisco reveals how “abortion extremism influence in America emanates from one of the most prestigious institutions in California.” According to the pro-life group, “There are over 100 active abortion training programs” in the United States that are “run and funded by UCSF. Thus, the publicly funded institution ended up training almost 3,000 currently practicing OB/GYNS in the country.
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LCMS grant assistance amplified
The coronavirus pandemic and its associated shutdown have led to unexpected and serious challenges for people around the world. Church workers are no exception. In response, the Synod’s long-time Soldiers Of The Cross grant assistance program has been “amplified” so that not only those workers who are on the Synod’s roster, but also lay workers in LCMS churches, schools and organizations, may apply for assistance. As of yesterday, nearly $500,000 in Soldiers Of The Cross-amplified grants has been disbursed to 334 workers, with an average grant of nearly $1,500 per worker. The grants process is administered by the LCMS Office of National Mission, and workers in crisis are encouraged to contact their district office for an application and guidance. Funding for the Soldiers Of The Cross program depends entirely on designated gifts and offerings from those who want to assist workers confronted with ministry-disrupting personal crises.
Ohio makes adoption more affordable
For individuals wanting to adopt children in Ohio, a newly passed initiative may help them realize their dream of giving a child a forever home. The Ohio House passed the Family Forward Initiative May 14, creating the adoption linked deposit program, to help remove financial barriers for families wanting to adopt. The initial proposal came last November, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and State Rep. Jon Cross proposed the program with interest rate reductions of 1 to 3 percent on loans of up to $50,000 to help pay for adoption expenses, with loan terms up to 10 years. Local pro-life advocates praised the measure, believing the reduced rate loans will be enough to significantly expand adoptions.
More court briefs support faith-based adoption
Among 34 friend-of-the-court briefs, dozens of diverse religious groups, 76 Members of Congress, 16 states, and many others urged the Supreme Court yesterday to protect religious ministries for vulnerable children. In Sharonell Fulton, Et Al. V. City Of Philadelphia, Philadelphia foster moms Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Busch are defending one the city’s best foster care agencies, Catholic Social Services, from the city’s attempt to shut it down over of the agency’s beliefs about same-sex marriage and unmarried couples. The friend-of-the-court briefs argue that the court should keep CSS's doors open, protect faith-based ministries nationwide, and ensure that the First Amendment protects religious exercise so that religious people can continue to serve their communities.
Baptists lose membership
The Southern Baptist Convention lost 2 percent of its membership last year—the largest drop in more than a century, according to its annual report. Certain state conventions did report increases in baptisms and church growth, including in places outside the Bible Belt strongholds. But overall, the denomination’s annual church profile—released yesterday by Lifeway Christian Resources and capturing 2019 statistics—shows a trajectory of serious decline and a sharp challenge for leaders concerned about evangelism and retention. The loss of 288,000 church members last year brings total Southern Baptist Convention membership to 14.5 million, down from its peak of 16.3 million in 2003.
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LCMS head condemns racism
“God's word rejects racism,” says Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison in a statement in the wake the killing of George Floyd and the riots that followed. Harrison quoted Bible verses stressing the evil of racial discrimination evil that produces only hatred and anger. Harrison called prayers, but also says more is needed. He quotes Micah 6:8, “He has told you, o man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Harrison's full statement my be read online at lcms.org.
Faith-based foster care receives legal help
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing faith-based adoption and foster-care providers in New York and Michigan filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday in support of a Catholic adoption agency in Philadelphia. The brief filed in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia argues the Constitution prevents governments from banning faith-based providers over disagreement about the meaning and importance of marriage. The brief also argues that, to prevent abuses by lower courts, the Supreme Court should reaffirm that government interests must be truly compelling to justify interfering with religious freedom. “every child in need of a forever home deserves the chance to be adopted or cared for by a foster family. That’s what it means to keep kids first,” said ADF legal counsel Chris Schandevel.
Facebook bans group
A Facebook group started by a woman dedicated to ending drag queen story hour was kicked off Facebook this week for the third time. Anna Hall Bohach, founder of 500 Mom Strong, told LifeSiteNews yesterday that the grassroots group’s Facebook page was removed on Monday because it was deemed “transphobic,” just like the other 500 Mom Strong pages Facebook had previously removed. The first page, also called 500 Mom Strong, disappeared last July 19. The second, 500 Mom Stronger, was taken down this February. A company spokesperson for Facebook told LifeSiteNews yesterday that the third 500 Mom Strong page was “taken down for violating our community standards.” Bohach told LifeSiteNews that she thought it was hypocritical for Facebook to remove 500 Mom Strong’s page while allowing copycat group, 500 Drag Queen Strong, to post support for antifa.
Multi-national pro-life groups protest abortion requirement
A total of 434 human rights organizations from 16 countries have released a manifesto condemning the push from external groups to promote abortion in their nations during the coronavirus pandemic. The “International Manifesto for the Right to Life” was delivered to the foreign ministry offices of Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador. It repudiates the U.N.’S “Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19” for Ecuador, which requires “safe, legal abortion” as a condition for aid.
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Electors choose interim seminary president
At a meeting yesterday, the electors charged with calling the next president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis chose to issue a new call for candidates. Also yesterday, the Seminary’s Board of Regents named Dr. Daniel Preus Interim president effective July 1. He will serve until the new president is called and takes office. Preus previously served, at various times, as the LCMS’ first, third, fourth and fifth vice president. He also has served congregations in Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado and Missouri. From 1995–2001, he served as director of Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis, and from 2005–12, as director of Luther Academy, also in St. Louis, an organization devoted to promoting confessional Lutheran theology. The call for nominations is the second one issued for the presidency after the first round, originally issued in October, and the subsequent process resulted in a call that was declined last week.
Call accepted for LCMS Life Ministry
Deaconess Tiffany Manor has accepted a call from the LCMS Office of National Mission to serve as director of LCMS Life Ministry. She began her new role on April 14. Before joining the Office of National Mission, Manor served the LCMS New England District in the areas of church worker wellness, human care and school ministry. For the last several years, Manor has served on the Synod’s Ministerial Care Coalition, a project of Concordia Plan Services that began in 2014 to foster wide-ranging discussion and advocacy of worker wellness in the LCMS. Manor’s installation is currently scheduled for June 12 at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis.
Religious freedom priority in U.S. foreign policy
President Donald Trump Issued an executive order yesterday that prioritizes international religious freedom concerns for United States foreign policy. Specifically, it requires the U.S. Department of s\State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to create long-term strategic plans for advancing religious freedom internationally, provides $50 million per year for religious freedom programs and requires U.S. foreign service members to receive extensive training on religious freedom. The order also provides for the greater use of economic tools—including reductions of foreign assistance, visa restrictions, and sanctions—to advance religious freedom in countries that have been deemed serious religious liberty violators.
Dismemberment protection is struck down
A federal appeals court struck down a Kentucky law Friday that protects unborn babies from dismemberment abortions. The 2018 law prohibits abortions “that will result in the bodily dismemberment, crushing or human vivisection of the unborn child” while he or she is still alive. These gruesome methods commonly are used in D&E abortions in the second trimester. Last year, U.S. District judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr., A nominee of pro-abortion President Bill Clinton, argued that the law creates an “undue burden” for women seeking second-trimester abortions. Friday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that ruling. The American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of EMW Women’s Surgical Center, the only abortion business in Kentucky, and a judge temporarily blocked the law in 2018 before Judge McKinley issued the injunction.
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Defeat for Missouri pro-life
Last Friday, the pro-life movement received some disappointing news out of Missouri, when the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission determined that the state must renew the license of the Planned Parenthood facility in st. Louis. In May 2019, citing multiple health and safety violations, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services refused to renew the facility’s license. Local pro-life activists have documented that at least 80 ambulances have been called to the St. Louis Planned Parenthood facility since 2009. However, since this Planned Parenthood facility has performed more than 4,000 abortions since 2018, the commissioner ruled that it was substantially compliance with the rules and is therefore “entitled to renewal of its abortion facility license.” Multiple aspects of the decision concern pro-lifers. The state’s expert witness included Dr. Randall Williams, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and Dr. Donna Harrison, Executive Director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The commissioner acknowledged that both Williams and Harrison had provided “important testimony regarding gynecological care,” but he discounted their testimony because, unlike Planned Parenthood’s expert witnesses, they did not have extensive experience performing abortions.
Supreme Court ducks religious liberty case
On Friday in a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal by the Thomas More Society on behalf of a California church fighting for religious rights in the face of ongoing gubernatorial restrictions during the covid-19 crisis. San Diego-area South Bay United Pentecostal Church sued California Governor Gavin Newsom for prohibition of in-person worship, after deeming churches “nonessential” and on par with tattoo parlors. After the case was submitted to the high court, Newsom pulled back, changing his ban to an arbitrary cap on the number of people allowed to gather at a church. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a dissent in which he noted that supermarkets, restaurants, hair salons, cannabis dispensaries, and other businesses are not being subjected to the same restrictions. Justices Clarence Thomas A\and Neil Gorsuch joined the dissent. Justice Alito joined them in voting to grant relief to the church.
The U.S. Denies an international right to abortion
During the recent virtual meeting of the World Health Assembly,-the decision-making body of the World Health Organization,-the U.S. submitted its written explanation of position on the covid-19 response resolution, disassociating itself from a number of paragraphs, including two related to “sexual and reproductive health”. The U.S. statement expressed regret at the failure to achieve consensus language in all areas of the resolution. The U.S. letter stated in part, “the United States strongly supports women reaching the highest attainable outcomes for health, life, dignity, and well-being throughout their lives. However, we do not accept references to “sexual and reproductive health,” or other language that suggests or explicitly states that access to abortion is included in the provision of population and individual level health services.
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LCMS President Harrison speaks on reopenings
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison on Friday released a video statement of encouragement and resources for reopening of churches. Harrison noted that communities are in various stages of reopening in the wake of covid-19 crisis and its lockdowns. He told the faithful that we now face the challenges and the opportunities of reopening: gathering your flock back together and reaching out to your community. Harrison suggested resources are available for congregations planning reopening of services. One is the Centers For Disease Control Guidelines For Community And Faith-Based Organizations and the welcome back kit provided by the LCMS Office Of National Mission and The LCMS Communications Department.
Seminary electors meet tomorrow
The electors charged with calling the next president of Concordia Seminary will resume the search at a virtual meeting set for 1 p.m. CDT tomorrow. A call was extended may 16 but was declined earlier last week. Thus, in accordance with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Bylaws, the Seminary’s Board Of Regents has called this meeting of the electors and, as prescribed in the bylaws, will either reissue that call, elect another person from the remaining five finalists, create a new slate from the original assembly of nominees or issue a new call for candidates. He new president will succeed Dr. Dale A. Meyer, who will retire June 30.
Missouri's last abortion facility stays open
Missouri’s only abortion clinic on Friday won its legal fight to stay open, as an independent arbiter found the State’s Health Department was unjustified in denying the clinic’s application to renew its license. Missouri health officials last year declined to renew the license of the St. Louis Clinic, operated by women’s abortion provider Planned Parenthood, on the grounds that it failed to meet their safety standards. They threatened to close the clinic and make Missouri the only U.S. state without legal abortion services. The administrative hearing commissioner overruled the state on Friday after finding the Planned Parenthood clinic, “provides safe and legal abortion care.” A spokeswoman for Missouri’s Republican Governor Mike Parson said in an email the governor’s office would review the decision and consult with the State Attorney General’s Office on next steps.
Pro-life advocate wins settlement
Pro-life advocate Mark Mayberry will receive $50,000 in a settlement with the city of Portland, Oregon. According to Oregon Live, the settlement was approved by the Portland City Council on Wednesday and the city has admitted to violating Mayberry’s rights in June 2019 when a park ranger at Tom Mccall Waterfront Park tried to force him to leave while Mayberry was holding a pro-life sign. Mayberry was banned from the park for 30 days. When Mayberry refused to leave, the ranger issued a citation and called the police. This act was a violation of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which states that people can’t be legally removed from public areas when engaging in free speech. Mayberry’s citation and 30-day ban were dismissed.
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Connecticut told men can's compete as women
Following its months-long investigation into the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and several Connecticut school districts, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has issued a letter of Impending Enforcement Action, finding that the athletic conference’s policy allowing males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events disadvantages female athletes, denies them equal athletic opportunities, and violates federal law. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing three female high-school track competitors and their mothers requested the DOE Office O\of Civil Rights investigation after the conference decided to allow male students who identify as female to compete on the girls’ athletic teams. Since 2017, males consistently deprived ADF clients Selina Soule, Alanna Smith and Chelsea Mitchell and others of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. The letter gives the conference and six Connecticut public high schools until June 4 to bring their policies into alignment with Title IX. The Department of Justice has already filed a brief supporting the position of ADF’s clients in the separate litigation challenging the same policy.
Illinois houses of worship are now open
Less than four hours before the deadline for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to file his response to the U.S. Supreme court to the emergency injunction request brought by two Romanian churches, the governor unilaterally removed all restrictions on churches and houses of worship. Within a few hours yesterday after two Romanian churches filed an emergency injunction pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme court, Justice Kavanaugh ordered Pritzker to respond by 8 p.m. Thursday night. Just before the deadline. Pritzker issued “guidelines” for houses of worship, none of which are mandatory. The guidelines are only suggestions and contain no legally enforceable requirements whatsoever.
Planned Parenthood responds to latest video release
Pro-life activist David Daleiden and Planned Parenthood traded blows Wednesday over newly released videos showing Planned Parenthood employees testifying in court about the sale of fetal organs. Fox News reported Tuesday that it had obtained footage from sworn depositions of Planned Parenthood staff in their lawsuit against Center for Medical Progress in which Daleiden’s attorneys questioned Planned Parenthood about their use of different techniques in abortions to preserve fetal tissue. Daleiden released his own video Tuesday that used clips of the depositions to renew accusations that Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal organs. Planned Parenthood has publicly acknowledged that it was paid for fetal tissue but said argued it was within the law because the payments only reimbursed for costs. However, the videos show the organization has subsequently said they would no longer accept even reimbursements for fetal tissue provided for research.
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Dr. Rast declines call By letter yesterday to the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Board of Regents, President Of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind, Dr. Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., declined the call to serve as Concordia Seminary’s 11th president and will continue serving as President at Fort Wayne. The Seminary extended the call May 16 and Rast’s decision was made within the 15-day window allowing for deliberation of the call. In accordance with the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod bylaws, the Seminary’s regents now must call a meeting of the electors and, as prescribed in the bylaws, determine whether to reissue the call, elect another person from the remaining five finalists or issue a new call for candidates. The seminary’s next president will succeed Dr. Dale A. Meyer, who retires June 30.
Methodists reschedule their general conference The United Methodist Church has rescheduled its general conference for August 29-September 7, 2021, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. It’s looking into ways to use technology to ensure delegates can participate in the quadrennial meeting, according to the Commission on the General Conference. The general conference — during which delegates from across the globe are expected to discuss a proposal to split the denomination over the inclusion of its LGBTQ members — had been set for earlier this month in Minneapolis. It was postponed in March when the Convention Center announced it was restricting events at the venue to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Preparing young men for fatherhood Nearly one in four children in america live without a father, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative. This lack of a dad in the lives of American kids translates into numerous behavioral and societal problems, including a four-fold increase in the risk of poverty. A group of pregnancy centers in Missouri is tackling the absent father issue and seeing strong success in saving lives and families. Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Centers, with operations in Lee's Summit, Independence and two Kansas City locations, engaged with nearly 470 men last year. Those interactions included one-on-one meetings with men coming in with their girlfriends and men also attending fatherhood classes. Two large lessons learned from engaging with new fathers are that many feel they have no say regarding the woman’s pregnancy, and they have no male role model with whom to talk.
Conscience rule is defended House and Senate members urged a federal court Tuesday to uphold a new conscience protection rule that protects doctors and nurses from being forced to help abort unborn babies. U.S. Rep, Andy Harris of Maryland and U.S. Sen James Lankford of Oklahoma led 65 House and 13 Senate lawmakers in filing an amicus brief to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing in favor of the rule. The court is considering a lawsuit from New York State, led by pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo, challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule. The 2019 rule protects health care providers from discrimination if they refuse to participate in abortion, sterilization or assisted suicide because of their religious or moral beliefs.
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New video exposing Planned Parenthood The Center For Medical Progress, who exposed Planned Parenthood leadership negotiating the harvesting and sale of aborted fetal body parts, released a new video today featuring Planned Parenthood officials’ sworn videotaped testimony about the sales. The new video release documents the Planned Parenthood officials’ admissions, which came in Planned Parenthood’s own retaliatory lawsuit over the undercover footage and contradict Planned Parenthood’s public claims about both the undercover videos and the abortion provider’s fetal tissue research programs. The testimony was unsealed this spring. The video shows how Planned Parenthood Federation of America, while under investigation in 2015, told Congress that its Gulf Coast affiliate in Houston had “rebuffed” an undercover proposal to sell fetal livers for $750 per liver and $1,600 for liver/thymus pairs. But Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast‘s Senior Director of Abortion Access, Tram Nguyen, testified that she “wanted to move forward with it,” as documented in contemporaneous emails between her and PPGC’s Regional Director Dyann Santos.
Female athletes challenge law Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing two female athletes have filed a motion in federal court to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the state’s fairness in women’s sports act. The lawsuit, which the American Civil Liberties Union filed on behalf of a male athlete, seeks to challenge Idaho’s newly enacted law and force female athletes to compete against biological males who identify as female. ADF attorneys represent two collegiate athletes who run track and cross-country at Idaho State University in Pocatello. As ADF attorneys explain, the proposed intervenors are long-time athletes, well familiar with the difference in strength and speed between comparably gifted and trained male and female athletes. ADF attorneys also represent four female athletes in a federal lawsuit in Connecticut, where a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events has consistently deprived the four girls of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels.
An actor stands up for maternity homes Pro-life actor Kevin Sorbo is speaking up for mothers and babies in one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus. Today, he is scheduled to co-host an online event supporting the work of Good Counsel, a Catholic maternity home charity in New York. New York has been struggling to combat the spread of the virus, and Good Counsel has adapted its services to protect mothers and babies in need, according to the report. The charity runs five maternity homes in New York and New Jersey. Since it began, the charity has sheltered more than 7,800 mothers and babies, according to its website. It also has helped to establish maternity homes in other states.
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The Supreme Court is asked to intervene
Southern California’s South Bay Pentecostal Church, represented by a law firm doing pro bono work in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., as the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, joined by the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to intervene and issue an emergency injunction against California Governor Gavin Newsom. The attorneys are asking the high court to command him to cease and desist his shutdown of religious worship in California, in violation of the First Amendment’s constitutional guarantee that citizens may freely exercise their religious faith. So far, the South Bay United Pentecostal Church and its senior pastor, Bishop Arthur Hodges III, have failed to prevail in their lawsuit before both San Diego’s Federal District Court and the 9th Circuit U.S. Court Of Appeals. In the 9th Circuit the church lost an emergency appeal, 2-1 before a three-judge panel. Judge Daniel Collins sided with the church, filing a powerful 15-page dissent that declared the church deserves the relief it seeks. The South Bay United Pentecostal Church is asking to hold in-person worship services, fully subject to social distancing and other contagion-mitigation steps.
Physicians recognize the importance of spirituality
Four medical school educators have said that fully to address a patient’s needs, physicians should begin asking questions about the patient’s spirituality and religion. A May 19 opinion piece in the Annals of Internal Medicine was written by a group of medical educators: Doctors Kristin Collier, Cornelius James, Sanjay Saint, and Joel Howell. “is it time to more fully address teaching religion and spirituality in medicine?” assessing a patient's religious beliefs is important to understanding fully the person. They also highlighted the significance of spirituality in America.
A governor attempts to stop a pro-life petition drive
Colorado is one of only seven states in the U.S. that allows abortion until the day of birth with no restrictions whatsoever. Volunteers across the state are aiming to change that as they collect signatures to get a measure on the 2020 ballot. These volunteers must collect 10,000 additional valid signatures by May 29th after turning in over 114,000 valid ones on March 4th. The state’s governor, Jared Polis, in the middle of the night, handed down an executive order changing the signature collection process for ballot measures. He explained that citizens ought to be able to participate in democracy and keep their constitutional rights while still being able to preserve their health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Polis has declared that Colorado remains under a state of emergency through early June. Despite the governor’s stated intention to preserve rights and health at the same time, he ended his order with a single exception: Directive K. Directive K ordered that none of the changes he was making would apply to the pro-life campaign currently collecting signatures in-person. At a press conference a few days after Polis handed down his executive order changing the signature collection process, he claimed it would be “next to impossible” to collect signatures in person. And yet, despite this belief, he is forcing one campaign to do it anyway: the campaign to ban late-term abortions in Colorado.
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Memorial Day approaches
Next Monday is Memorial Day, an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the civil war and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe memorial day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season. LCMS chaplains have served in the military since the Civil War. Nearly 200 are serving today.
A church is arsoned for holding Easter Services
A Mississippi church that is suing to stay open during the coronavirus shutdowns was destroyed by arson Wednesday, according to local officials. Fox News reports someone also spray-painted graffiti on the First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs, including a message that read, “I bet you stay home now you hypokrits [sic].” Local authorities said there was an explosion in the front of the church, and the building caught fire sometime between 2 and 4 a.m. Wednesday. Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Major Kelly Mcmillian told the local news that the fire is being investigated as a criminal act of arson. It appears the church was targeted because it continued to hold services during the coronavirus shutdowns. Lawyers with the pro-life Thomas More Society are representing the church in court after Pastor Jerry Waldrop was cited by local authorities for holding services on Easter.
Two new members of Congress support the Born Alive Act
The newest members of Congress, Representative Mike Garcia of California and Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, both signed the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Tuesday, just hours after being sworn into office. The petition is intended to force a vote on the bill which would end infanticide and protect infants born alive during abortions. With the two additional signatures, the petition now has 205 of the 218 signatures it needs to force a floor vote. Originally sponsored by Representative Ann Wagner Of Missouri, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires that infants who survive an abortion attempt receive immediate medical attention. The petition effort arose after a Senate version of the bill failed to receive the 60-vote majority threshold it needed to pass. If this petition succeeds, it would force a full-floor vote on the issue. The petition expires at the end of the 116th Congress session in January 2021.
Carillon series returns to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
The annual summer carillon series, part of the 2019-20 Concordia Seminary concert series, will be held at 7 p.m. Each Tuesday in June. All recitals are free and open to the public. Following St. Louis County guidelines, guests must observe safe physical distancing from others while on campus. The carillon at Concordia Seminary is one of only 170 such instruments in North America. The 49 bells have been played atop Luther Tower since 1971, and are dedicated to all pastors who have served the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It is housed in Luther Tower, the 120-foot structure designed by architect Charles Klauder and dedicated in 1966. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets to campus and sit outdoors to enjoy the music. All guests must observe physical distancing guidelines as noted on signage placed around the campus.
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LCMS President Harrison has a recorded statement
LCMS President The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison has recorded a statement to the church regarding the changing situations as states and communities face reopening. This follows a letter Harrison submitted to U.S.. Attorney General Barr asking him to safeguard religious liberty. Harrison's address may be viewed on line at Vimeo, YouTube or lcms.org/freetobefaithful.
Minnesota Lutherans and Catholics will defy the governor
The heads of Minnesota’s Lutheran and Catholic churches say they will defy Governor Tim Walz’s executive order and reopen on May 26 — without adhering to the requirement of no more than 10 worshipers at a given service. Becket Fund law firm released a statement early yesterday evening on behalf of the the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Minnesota and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, citing the perceived hypocrisy of allowing retail stores, casinos, bars and restaurants to have a 50 percent capacity as a major reason to not follow the governor’s order. Both denominations say they plan to reopen with only about a third of their congregation inside during services, and they will follow social distancing guidelines.
The Justice Department warns California about its church restrictions
The U.S. Department of Justice has warned California Governor Gavin Newsom that his plan to reopen the state discriminates against churches and that “the Constitution calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship and that the governor places an “unfair burden” on them that violates civil rights protections through “unequal treatment of faith communities.” In a letter to the governor, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, pointed out that Newsom’s plan allows a variety of businesses to reopen in “stage 2,” but does not allow churches and other houses of worship to reopen until “stage 3.” Dreiband stated that Newsom should allow some in-person worship under the current second phase of his four-part reopening plan. Currently, restaurants and other secular businesses are being allowed to reopen under social distancing guidelines but not churches, which are limited to online and similar services. A coalition of about 3,000 California pastors are committed to beginning in-person services on Pentecost, which is on May 31. Pentecost is the seventh sunday after Easter, and it marks the birth of the Christian church when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and followers of Jesus.
Two senators are demanding Planned Parenthood return $80 million
Lawmakers and pro-lifers slammed Planned Parenthood following a report from Fox News saying that the nation’s largest abortion provider applied for and received over $80 million in coronavirus funding. Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight reported Tuesday evening that 37 Planned Parenthood affiliates applied for and received a total of $80 million in coronavirus funding loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. Senators. Marco Rubio of Florida and Josh Hawley of Missouri both called for Planned Parenthood to immediately return the funds in statements following the Tuesday night report.
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LCMS President Harrison asks the Attorney General to protect religious liberty
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison wrote a letter to the U.S. Attorney general in defense of religious liberties. This letter is in concert with the work of several LCMS district presidents who have addressed officials concerning the role of government and the church. The district presidents of Illinois wrote a letter to their governor regarding recent plans for reopening, which they believe are unnecessarily restrictive on church-affiliated bodies. The LCMS has 500 congregations and 115 schools in Illinois.
A Maine congregation wants meeting restrictions lifted
Calvary Chapel of Bangor, Maine, filed an emergency injunction to the First Circuit Court of Appeals pending an appeal regarding the lawsuit against Governor Janet Mills’ orders that discriminate against churches and prohibit in-person and drive-in worship services. Under the governor’s orders, no religious gatherings are permitted, including parking lot services. Mills said that churches will only be allowed to meet in small numbers when she is satisfied with the “metrics,” and when that happens, she will require churches to apply to re-open. Approved churches will then need to display a “badge” at the front door signifying they are approved to open. However, Mills has no process in place now to begin the approval process and no application for the churches.
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia is commended
First Liberty Institute commended United States Department Of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia for issuing a directive and new guidance that protects religious liberty for faith-based organizations that partner with the federal government. The secretary’s actions reflect principles implemented by president Trump’s executive order 13798, “promoting free speech and religious liberty.” Religious organizations, like their secular counterparts, provide essential services desirable to federal agencies through government contracts.
$80 million in relief funds went to Planned Parenthood
According to a Fox News report, $80 million in stimulus funds intended to help small businesses struggling through coronavirus economic hardship have gone instead to Planned Parenthood, the multi-billion dollar abortion business. Under the Cares Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, Congress allocated $349 billion in federal funds to provide assistance to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. In August 2019, Planned Parenthood rejected Title X federal funding after the Tump administration’s rules required abortion facilities to fiscally and physically separate family planning services from abortion, organizations like Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are ineligible to receive the PPP relief funds under affiliation rules established by the Small Business Administration.
In today's News:
The US wants cover-19 aid not fund abortions internationally
The US government’s foreign aid agency on Monday warned the United Nations to stop “promoting abortion” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic — invoking billions of dollars in US donations. US Agency for International Development Acting Administrator John Barsa noted his agency gave the UN $3.5 billion in 2019 and demanded that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres revise wording in its covid-19 global humanitarian response plan. Barsa’s letter comes after President Trump last month ended roughly $400 million in annual aid to the UN’s World Health Organization. Trump last month ended US contributions to the WHO, a UN entity, alleging the agency failed to prevent the coronavirus pandemic by negligently accepting as true Chinese assertions about the scope of the initial outbreak.
A woman is injured during an abortion
A woman choked on her own vomit during a surgical abortion at the Cherry Hill Women’s Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and required emergency transport to the Cooper Medical Center for suspected aspiration pneumonia. This occurred on May 2 during a serious COVID-19 outbreak when elective surgeries were banned due to a strain on medical resources. Abortions in New Jersey were exempted from the ban. After the vomiting episode during the abortion, the 35-year old woman suffered a drop in her oxygen levels. Once the abortion was completed, she was placed in a recovery room where her oxygen levels failed to fully recover. She was not provided supplemental oxygen at the abortion facility. Pro-life witnesses at the scene recorded the woman being removed from the abortion facility on a gurney. The ambulance had lights flashing, but ran without sirens.
Some Ohio college students want to defund a pro-life group
Some Ohio students were not happy with the fact that a pro-life group on campus was treated fairly, so they demanded, and achieved, a referendum vote on the matter. Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, recently held an undergraduate student government vote to allocate university funds to student organizations on campus, including Students for Life. In response, a group of pro-abortion students decided to petition against the vote, hoping for a referendum vote on Students for Life's status. The referendum was sent to undergraduate students on May 4. To recall the decision of the USG, there must be a simple majority with at least 20 percent of the undergraduate student body voting, according to the USG constitution. The results of the referendum for another two weeks” after the vote.
A federal judge reopens North Carolina churches
A federal judge in North Carolina granted a statewide temporary restraining order on Saturday to block Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order that criminalizes churchgoers for attending indoor worship services of more than 10 people. In his ruling, Judge James C. Dever III wrote, “there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution of the United States or the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.”
In today's News:
The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast is asked to be seminary president
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis has extended a call to Doctor. Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, to serve as the 11th president in the school’s 181-year history. The call was extended Saturday after a unanimous vote on the first ballot by the electors, including unanimous support from the seminary’s board of regents, and following interviews with the final slate of six candidates. Rast, who would assume the presidency July 1 upon formal acceptance of the call, was elected to succeed Doctor Dale A. Meyer, who retires June 30 after serving 15 years as president. Rast has 15 days to deliberate the call. Rast is the chairman of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Commission on Theology and Church Relations, on which he has served since 2006. He also serves as president and member of the board of directors for the journal, Lutheran Quarterly. He and his wife, Amy, have three children: Lawrence III, Karl and Joanna.
The House-passed 'Heroes Act' would fund abortion
Planned Parenthood is celebrating after Nancy Pelosi’s “Heroes Act” passed the House of Representatives, potentially clearing the way for abortion facilities across the country to receive more taxpayer funding. The $3-trillion bill passed the house largely along party lines, with only one Republican voting in favor of the bill. Twelve Democrats also broke with party lines to vote against it. The bill, if passed, would provide another round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans, as well as aid to local and state governments. Pelosi claimed its passage was crucial to fighting the covid-19 pandemic. The bill was named the “Heroes Act” by Democrats because it will allegedly aid workers on the front lines of emergency health care. However, while the bill contains the paycheck protection program, it removes safeguards preventing abortion facilities from applying to receive funds. The aid local and state governments receive from the federal government can be used to aid abortion facilities.
Twenty Congressmen ask the Defense Secretary to defend religious freedom
Representative Doug Collins, joined by 19 Republican colleagues in the house, wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Thursday morning complaining of, "multiple, unfounded complaints ... Preying on military chaplains." The Georgia representative and others, call on Esper to "follow federal law in protecting their religious liberties and ensure that the ongoing pandemic is not exploited by nefarious organizations bent on removing faith from the U.S. Military." In April, U.S. Army Colonel Moon H. Kim, garrison chaplain at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, sent an email to his chaplain colleagues with a pdf of Christian author John Piper's book, "Coronavirus and Christ." It explained the book helped him refocus his calling and that he hopes it helps the chaplains as well. Military Religious Freedom Foundation President and Founder, Mikey Weinstein demanded in an April 29 letter to Esper that Kim "be officially, swiftly, aggressively, and visibly investigated and disciplined in punishment for his deplorable actions."
In today's News:
Groups appeal to the Defense Secretary to protect chaplains
First Liberty Institute yesterday sent a letter to Secretary Of Defense Mark Esper to express concern over recent incidents within the U.S. Army that have resulted in unlawful religious discrimination against service members, and to urge the secretary to issue guidance that strongly protects religious freedom within the Department of Defense. First Liberty is joined on the letter by the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty and the Restore Military Religious Freedom Coalition. Recently, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an atheist organization, publicly demanded immediate adverse action against several Army chaplains for carrying out their constitutionally-mandated mission. At Fort Drum, New York, chaplains assigned to the Army’s 10th Mountain Division published a series of videos to a social media site inviting viewers to pray in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. At Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, another Army chaplain also published a video to social media in which he sought to encourage viewers with a message of hope during difficult times. At Camp Humphreys, South Korea, yet another Army chaplain who sought to offer encouragement and hope sent an email to his fellow Christian chaplains commending to them a christian book he recently read. In each case, the atheist organization demanded the Army censor or discipline the chaplains and the Army complied with the demands. The letter further points out that the Army’s actions in each incident are unlawful. The atheists' demands are based on the flawed notion that military chaplains may not carry out their official duties outside of a religious ceremony that occurs within the four walls of a chapel.
Concordia Seminary St. Louis receives 15 awards
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis recently received a total of 15 awards from the Associated Church Press and the Evangelical Press Association during the organizations’ recent award ceremonies. The ACP, the nation’s oldest interdenominational religious press association, presented its awards March 19 during an online broadcast in place of its annual banquet. The awards were given in recognition of exceptional content produced in 2019. In addition to the ACP awards, the Seminary was recognized by the EPA, a professional organization of christian publications including magazines, newspapers, newsletters and content-rich websites. Its awards, which were given in recognition of exceptional content produced in 2019, were presented live online April 21.
An 18th abortion facility opens in Illinois
In Illinois, Planned Parenthood just opened its 18th facility, which will offer abortions. The facility is located in Waukegan, and was originally supposed to open in March. Though the opening was pushed back temporarily due to covid-19, they’re now accepting appointments, and appear eager to get the word out. While 4,000 people in Illinois have died from covid-19, causing politicians to close businesses, the abortion industry is allowed to remain open.
In today's News:
The Center For Medical Progress sues California politicians
David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress filed a lawsuit yesterday against some of California’s most powerful politicians for prosecuting him for exposing Planned Parenthood’s aborted baby body parts harvesting practices. The lawsuit accuses U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, planned parenthood and others of conspiracy to violate first and 14th amendment civil rights. The lawsuit says Harris, the former attorney general, and Becerra used state video-recording laws as a “political weapon” to silence speech with which they disagree. Currently, the California attorney general’s office is pursuing felony charges against Daleiden and fellow undercover investigator Sandra Merritt, claiming they broke the law by filming conversations with abortionists and others without their consent. Daleiden and Merritt are facing possible jail time and fines if convicted. Becerra and Harris both are pro-abortion democrats who have received campaign donations from planned parenthood.
A appeals court rules a church can challenge mandated abortion insurance
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled yesterday that a San Diego–area church properly challenged the state’s abortion-coverage mandate and that a lower district court was wrong to dismiss the church’s claims. The 9th Circuit recognized that Skyline Church suffered an injury when the state issued its August 2014 letters mandating that church healthcare plans cover elective abortions. In those letters, the California Department of Managed Health Care rescinded existing religious accommodations and mandated immediate coverage of all legal abortions, regardless of existing plan language. As a result, the church’s plan was rewritten to include coverage for elective abortion. The church filed suit after the department refused to back down from its application of the law. Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa believes it has a religious obligation to care for its employees, and, because of that belief, it offers them a generous health insurance plan. Skyline also believes that all life is valuable and deserving of protection and that abortion is incompatible with that belief. The church only employs people who share its beliefs.
California's governor is sued for keeping churches closed indefinitely
A Christian congregation in Chula Vista, California, and its pastor are suing Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials for stay-at-home orders and actions during the coronavirus pandemic. After weeks of mandatory isolation to stop the spread of covid-19, Governor Newsom has begun a four-stage plan to “reopen” California’s economy. Retail and supporting manufacturing are now resuming business; and shopping malls, car washes, pet grooming, dine-in restaurants, and schools will be allowed to reopen within a few weeks. Despite claiming that 70 percent of California businesses are available to reopen, the governor continues to shutter places of worship indefinitely with no timeline for reopening.
In today's News:
Lutherans in Russia keep in touch Disaster equipment is donated to Lutheran Church Charities Religious institutions ask Congress for protection The gender-confused man at the heart of a legal case dies
In today's News:
ADF attorneys want a judge removed for forbidding the term 'men' Supreme Court justices appear split on a ministerial exception decision California is considering public funding of transgender treatments A pro-abortion institute says 15 states may be close to limiting abortion
In today's News:
Givers raised more than $21,000 for Concordia St. Louis New York is taxing volunteers who helped fight COVID-19 Jacksonville's pro-LGBTQ ordinance is struck down An appeals court rules Kentucky church services may continue
In today's News:
Lutherans in the Philippines cope with the pandemic Illinois' governor may not fully reopen churches for a year The virus is forcing Planned Parenthood to cut back Liberty Counsel appeals a decision forbidding a Nativity display
In today's News:
The Lutheran Church of Ghana is keeping track of its members The Supreme Court heard the Little Sisters case yesterday More churches are suing their governors Idaho's law restricting women's athletics to women is challenged
In today's News:
David Daleiden faces prison for exposing Planned Parenthood The FDA is asked to crack down on online abortion drugs The Supreme Court is asked to strike down a city's stifling of pro-life voices
In today's News:
Global mission organization hits a milestone
Jesus is Lord Mission has given $3 million Crosses for Losses founder dies Illinois allows some worship Samaritan Purse's field hospital closes
In today’s News:
Special Soldiers of the Cross grants are available Concordia University Texas plans reopening in the fall A New York politician wants to shut down a field hospital President Trump says no relief funding goes to Planned Parenthood
In today’s News:
Walter Rosin, former LCMS secretary, enters God’s kingdom Pro-life activists ordered to pay $1.5 million to abortion industry The International Olympic Committee asked to bar men from women’s competition A U.S. Commission finds China the worst religious persecuted
In today’s News:
Concordia University Wisconsin is making masks Little Sisters of the Poor as SCOTUS to end their persecution Doctors and others sue Minnesota to stop elective abortion Florida to enact parental consent for minor’s abortion
In today’s News:
13 seminary students received calls yesterday Pro-abortion bills die in California’s legislature Assisted suicide stopped in Connecticut
In today’s News:
Concordia Seminarians receive their calls today A North Carolina city now allows drive-in church Atheists force Army chaplains off Facebook Kentucky’s governor vetoes pro-life legislation
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom tells a county it cannot shut down services Chick-fil-A donates millions for coronavirus relief Indiana is investigating abortion facilities that defied the closure order
In today’s News:
A survey of 1,000 churches show decline in collection First Responders refuse to follow a state Do Not Resuscitate order A judge orders elective abortions to continue in Ohio Northern Ireland pro-life advocates score a win
In today’s News:
Seminary graduation will be online May 15 An appeals court rules Arkansas can enforce its surgical abortion ban Planned Parenthood injures another woman
In today’s News:
President Matthew Harrison warns against in-home consecration More hints from the Supreme Court concerning Roe v Wade California now allows drive-in church services
In today's News:
Concordia Texas is offering free housing to first responders An appeals court rules Texas can stop chemical abortions A Supreme Court justice hints at how he my view Roe v Wade Once again, Little Sisters of the Poor argue before the Supreme Court
In today’s News:
A federal judge stays Kansas’ order closing churches The first Unplanned Movie Scholarship is awarded More than 5,500 International Planned Parenthood facilities close
In today’s News:
Chattanooga is sued concerning church closures LGBT activists take Idaho to court on gender-confused issues Kentucky’s legislature moves to stop elective abortions
In today’s News:
The Attorney General reaffirms that religious freedom is guaranteed A Mississippi mayor reminds his order banning drive-in church services LGBTQ activists protest a field hospital run by evangelicals Pelosi calls the religious exemption ‘despicable’
In today’s News:
The Justice Department sides with a Mississippi church on closing A federal judge calls a Kentucky mayor’s closing order ‘Beyond all reason’ Lawyers for an undercover journalist is asking a judge to dismiss all charges.
In today’s News:
Concordia Lutheran Ministries serves seniors Wolverine’s head coach calls abortion ‘horrendous’ Virginia opens locker rooms to gender confused
In today’s News:
Singling out religious organizations gets the attention of Attorney General Barr The coronavirus shutdown is hurting Planned Parenthood’s finances Virginia eases abortion restrictions Christian cake maker Jack Phillips is back in court.
In today’s News:
KFUO will broadcast Good Friday and Easter services Mississippi police issued $500 citations to worshipers at a drive-in service
In today’s News:
KFUO offers special Good Friday and Easter services Texas’ hold on abortion may go to the Supreme Court Alabama will not ration health care
In today’s News:
A federal appeals court rules in favor of Texas’ abortion ban Oklahoma fights pro-abortion forces attempting to overturn its ban An LGBT activist was arrested for protesting an evangelical hospital San Francisco police arrest an 86-year-old pro-life activist
In today’s News:
Thomas More society files suit against Greensboro mayor Sen. Ted Cruz slams a city for arresting pro-life advocates The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear a religious liberty case
In today’s News:
SBA rules religious institutions are eligible under the CARES act New York legalizes commercial surrogacy Michigan’s governor is sued for First Amendment violations Two major protestant denominations postpone their conventions
In today’s News:
ILC member churches have dedicated websites with resource information Maryland now rules religious services as ‘essential’ Georgia Tech taken to court after refusing funding for a pro-life speaker A Planned Parenthood guard harasses a pro-life activist
In today’s News:
CPH allows special access to Lutheran Service Builder until April 15 Concordia Seminary’s call day will be a virtual event April 28 Texas declares religious services as ‘essential’ Two more states halt abortions during the pandemic
In today’s News:
Missionaries in Kenya stay in country An appeals court stops Texas abortions Abortion marketers suffer a court defeat Seven pro-lifers arrested for public praying
In today’s News:
Abortions can continue in three states despite coronavirus restrictions New York’s mayor threatens to ‘permanently’ close houses of worship A Texas city relaxes stay-at-home order for religious services Idaho’s governor signs a law preventing boys from competing in women’s sports
In today’s News:
The President said social distancing is extended to the end of April Health and Human Services warns medical providers not to discriminate Wyoming’s governor vetoes ‘born alive’ legislation The Rev. Dr. Herb Mueller, Jr., goes to his reward
In today’s News:
The House votes today on the coronavirus relief bill Eleven California Planned Parenthood centers close Phyllis Wallace, host of ‘Woman To Woman’ enters glory The Supreme Court is asked to rule on a Pittsburgh ordinance outlawing public prayer
In today’s News:
The House now takes up the coronavirus relief bill More states are ordering the halt of elective abortions Attorneys warn that medical treatment cannot be denied because of age or disability The administration sides with girls forced to compete with gender-confused boys
In today’s News:
Missionaries in Ghana evacuate because of coronavirus A major fundraiser is postponed Anheuser-Busch InBev switches from beer to hand sanitizer Mississippi’s governor tells the state’s abortion clinic to close
In today’s News:
Regular worship services are heard on KFUO Radio The federal government takes steps to prevent hoarding All of Louisiana’s abortion facilities are closed 20 Days For Life suspends public protests
In today’s News:
Lutheran Church Charities is one service organization that can help The former president of the Iowa District East enters his reward Concordia University Texas is waiving certain entrance requirements Planned Parenthood in Ohio is ignoring an order to close
In today’s News:
The Treasury Secretary announces $1 trillion relief package A ruling is expected shortly concerning Missouri’s last abortion facility Massachusetts bans nonessential services, but allows abortion Idaho moves to keep sex at birth on birth certificates
In today’s News:
Lutheran schools and churches find resources at lcms.org/coronavirus Congress passes a coronavirus relief package Wyoming moves to protect abortion survivors
We bring you a special program, giving the resources entities in the LCMS provide during this time for families and congregations.
LCMS Youth Ministry:
YouthEsource Studies youthesource.com/2019/08/01/26866 youthesource.com/2005/11/01/why-a-resource-kit-for-talking-to-students-about-disaster-tragedy Devotions youthesource.com/category/psalms-devotions youthesource.com/category/free-resources/devotions Check out EndGoals Podcast at kfuo.org/endgoals, including a special episode on how to stay connected when you can’t meet face-to-face We are encouraging using technology to stay connected, especially face to face – FaceTime, Zoom, etc. Concordia Publishing House
cph.org/care Lutheran Witness
Subscribe to Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. There are options for print and digital subscription. Read the Lutheran Witness blog at blogs.lcms.org/category/lutheran-witness FB Live events
Written to Speak: Live Poetry Event tonight (3/18 at 7pm CT) facebook.com/events/297948124521200 Online Prayer Vigil at Time of a Pandemic: (3/19 at 7pm CT) facebook.com/events/2622841554489023 LCMS School Ministry:
For those who work in Lutheran Education, LuthEd.org (luthed.org/2020/03/12/covid-19-resources) And #LuthEd Facebook group (only for workers in Lutheran Ed) KFUO Programs, all at kfuo.org:
Morning Prayer/Evening Prayer (sermons are podcast) Oratio (Message is podcast) Sharper Iron (podcast) Coffee Hour (podcast) Daily Chapel (sermons are podcast) Thy Strong Word (podcast) Lenten Services broadcast live at 11am CT Wednesdays Cross Defense (podcast) Concord Matters (podcast) News Updates (podcast) Moments of Assurance (podcast) The Student Union (podcast)
In today’s News:
Live worship services continue on KFUO Radio A pro-life Democrat loses to a pro-abortion Democrat A federal judge says Alaska must pay for an employees sex-change A Christian student group says it wants to choose its own leaders
In today’s News:
President Trump declared last Sunday a day of prayer Concordia Seminary St. Louis prepares for virtual classes Religious freedom cases are postponed by the Supreme Court
In today’s News:
LCMS President Harrison addresses how the coronavirus impacts the church Early testing on a coronavirus vaccine starts President Trump tests negative for the virus Museum of the Bible’s Dead Sea Scrolls fragments are fake.
In today’s News:
A professor fired for refusing to address a male student as female appeals his firing An Ohio law banning abortion because of Down Syndrome is heard in full circuit appeals court A guide and bulletin insert concerning churches and pandemic are on the LCMS website LCMS disaster response personnel visited tornado-stricken Tennessee
In today’s News:
A guide and bulletin inserts for pastors is on lcms.org Kentucky’s governor urges churches to suspend services this weekend Kentucky’s legislature moves to place pro-life language in the state’s constitution A Texas city is taken to court for levying special fees on churches
In today’s News:
A new sex education program in Washington state starts with five-year-olds A woman is rushed to a hospital following a botched abortion Registration opens at Concordia Seminary St. Louis for the 2020 Multiethnic Symposium Attorneys argue the case of a man sued for protesting abortion on public property
In today’s News:
A Finnish parliamentarian and a pastor are accused of hate speech for publishing Bible verses Medical professionals oppose an attempt to legalize assisted suicide in Massachusetts The Little Sisters of the Poor are again in court Utah moves closer to stronger pro-life legislation
In today’s News:
The March on the Arch started in front of Planned Parenthood Saturday A Minnesota city calls for ‘Abortion Providers Appreciation Day’ Display of the LGBTQ rainbow flag in a school cafeteria is causing problems A federal judge rules against Coach Joe Kennedy who was fired for silent prayer
In today’s News:
Local congregations and organizations cleanup following estimated 8 tornadoes near Nashville Seminaries prepare for Call Day, Vicarage, and Deaconess internship assignments
In today’s News:
LCMS Disaster Response and local congregations respond to community following Tennessee tornadoes Pro-Life March on the Arch plans underway for this Saturday Rev. Sean Daenzer installed as Synod director of Worship and International Center Chaplain.
In today’s News:
The constitutionality of Louisiana’s abortion law is before the high court Lutherans respond to Nashville’s devastating tornadoes Parental consent passes the Florida legislature The Lutheran Witness names a new editor
In today’s News:
No LCMS missionaries have contracted coronavirus A sexual assault is reported in an Wisconsin school’s ‘gender-neutral’ bathroom An Illinois task force wants to eliminate prom kings and queens an non-inclusive West Virginia enacts a ‘born alive’ law
In today’s News:
The high court will hear arguments on Louisiana’s abortion law Indiana moves closer to informing women about abortion ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ returns to public TV with a lesbian couple Kathy Luther is named Director of Seminary Support for Concordia Seminary St. Louis
In today’s News:
The Justice Department rules a Christian photographer cannot be forced to photograph same-sex weddings The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod prepares for the March On The Arch Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs help in Milwaukee following a tragic shooting The ACLU files suit against Texas ‘Sanctuary for the Unborn’ cities
In today’s News:
President Trump tells Christians he joins them in prayer Ash Wednesday Attorney General Barr says religion is an essential pillar of our society All Democrat senators vote against a ‘born alive’ bill, killing the legislation Planned Parenthood and the ACLU sue about HHS abortion restrictions
In today’s News:
The Third Annual March On The Arch takes place March 7 A Democratic lawmaker wants U.S. passports to have ‘non-binary gender option’ The LCMS hears sad news about charitable giving Concordia Nebraska offers opportunity for Concordia Portland students
In today’s News:
The Supreme Court decides of religious foster care agencies may exclude same-sex couples An appeals court rules in favor or a regulation barring federal funds for abortion California officials say they will continue ignoring religious exceptions for abortion coverage Oregon Sen. Orrin Hatch receives religious liberty’s highest honor
In today’s News:
David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt of the Center for Medical Progress plead not guilty President Trump is in India and will discuss religious freedom in that country NFL great Tim Tebow says he wants to be remembered as pro-life, not for the Superbowl The Rev. Dr. Karl Barth is called home
In today’s News:
David Daleiden is indicted on felonies stemming from his undercover work exposing Planned Parenthood Concordia University, Portland, closes at the end of the current semester Mississippi’s ‘heartbeat law’ is blocked Colorado lawmakers reject a ‘born alive’ bill
In today’s News:
An advisory board to consider ethical policies in HHS is formed Parents sue a Wisconsin school board over parental notification March for Life asks the Supreme Court to rule on religious exemptions The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria has a new bishop
In today’s News:
‘Heart To Heart’ tour of colleges is organized by Students for Life Iowa considers legislation to notify parents of LGBTQ topics taught in schools The Rev. Dr. Karl Barth enters glory Concordia University Irvine has a new president
In today’s News:
Boy Scouts seek protection from sexual misconduct suits A judge rules a professor must use a transgender’s preferred gender terms Presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg releases his abortion proposal Maine legislators want to raise taxes to support abortion
In today’s News:
A biological male might qualify for women’s Olympic marathon The Senate puts major pro-life legislation on the calendar Pro-abortion groups sue the Trump administration on new Obamacare rules A Mississippi Democrat wants homeschoolers be taught government approved history
In today’s News:
First Liberty Institute wants the VA to treat faith-based organizations equally Democrats storm out of a Virginia chamber during opening prayer Studies indicate the rate of people claiming no religious affiliation is slowing Utah moves to decriminalize polygamy
In today’s News:
A bill would restrict states from enforcing pro-life measures Connecticut schools are sued to stop allowing men to compete as women Christian college graduates are more inclined to help people Girl Scout Brownies sell cookies at a marijuana dispensary
In today’s News:
Utah’s senate passed a ‘fetal remains’ act More than 2,400 aborted fetuses were buried today One of the highest paid athletes in the NFL recommends everyone read the Bible More U.S. companies are providing religious support for employees
In today’s News:
The Senate Judiciary Committee is re-introducing the ‘Born Alive’ act The new proposed budget slashes abortion funding Democratic presidential hopeful pledge pro-abortion positions An atheist group is protesting a Navy chaplain’s seminar
In today’s News:
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos highlights religious freedom in schools Nearly 200,000 signatures ask the Office of Civil Rights to defend female athletes Twenty-seven nations form an international religious freedom alliance
In today’s News:
A Tennessee law protecting faith-based adoption agencies is under fire Evangelist Franklin Graham is denied a venue in Britain The administration is adding a religious advisor to the National Security Council Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignores Christian persecution at a prayer breakfast
In today’s News:
Hospice, not suicide, is called for in New York Students For Life score a legal victory Two banks withdraw from a scholarship program in opposition to religious schools Supporting Biblical tradition has a Finnish Lutheran cleric under hate investigation
In today’s News:
President Trump asked Congress to ban late-term abortion during the State of the Union address LCMS rescue efforts are underway in earthquake-stricken Puerto Rico Some Georgia legislators are trying to remove informed consent for abortion Some Church of England officials disapprove of the Biblical definition of sexual relations
In today’s News:
LCMS Black Ministry Director Roosevelt Gray spoke at Making Disciples for Life conference A Kansas legislator wants to put ‘In God We Trust’ on all state and municipal buildings Pro-life ads in Indiana are vandalized again
In today’s News:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls Christian schools, ‘anti-LGBTQ’ NFL great Matt Birk thanks the mothers of his two adopted children Pro-life forces in New Hampshire push for a ‘heartbeat law’ New emojis are coming including a ‘gender-neutral’ Santa Claus
In today’s News:
Attorney General Barr says ‘militant secularists’ impose values on people of faith A sex offender is freed because he now claims he’s a woman Tennessee moves to enact a ‘Heartbeat’ law Virginia moves to liberalize abortion
In today’s News:
A state constitutional amendment restricting abortion in Kansas moves ahead A judge rules against a woman who wants to change her son to a girl Maryland moves to legalize assisted suicide
In today’s News:
A new poll shows 70% favor restricting abortion Kentucky moves ahead with a ‘born alive’ bill Houses of worship enact security measures LCMS offers congregational Easter media kits
In today’s News:
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom warns of anti-Semitism Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden says transgender equality is the main issue Notre Dame University goes back to court defending it’s refusal to provide abortion-inducing drugs Concordia University Texas awards its first Ph.D. degrees
In today’s News:
St. Louis-area LCMS school groups visit the International Center The Trump Administration tells California it cannot force abortion coverage Concordia University Irvine is closer to full Healthcare Management accreditation
In today’s News:
President Trump attends today’s March For Life Democratic presidential hopefuls all pledge to support abortion on demand A senator and a representative want to tighten federal law for abortion centers Once again, a religious freedom case is being heard in Colorado
In today’s News:
President Trump announced he will attend the March For Life in person The Little Sisters of the Poor once again head to the Supreme Court Medicaid funds are granted to Texas crisis pregnancy program A U.S. commission warns of increasing religious oppression in Iran
In today’s News:
Arguments are made today for choice for religious schools Lutherans prepare for the annual March For Life President Trump declares today ‘National Sanctity of Human Life Day’ States move to protect women’s sports
In today’s News:
The LCMS will have a strong presence in the 47th annual March for Life A non-profit organization pledges $52 million to help elect pro-life candidates South Dakota moves to make gender ‘transitioning’ for minors illegal Virginia lawmaker hope to enshrine abortion in the state’s constitution
In today’s News:
President Trump protects prayer in public schools Tennessee’s governor signs into law protection for religious adoption agencies A senator wants to remove abortion as a tax deduction The Reverend Doctor Arthur W. Scherer is called home blogs.lcms.org/2020/obituary-rev-dr-arthur-w-scherer-president-emeritus-of-the-southeastern-district/
In today’s News:
George W. Wright is named Dean of CUI’s business school Hundreds of pro-lifers march to a new California abortion facility A Florida high school recognizes a student pro-life club Michigan adds ‘non-binary’ to drivers’ licenses
In today’s News:
A report to the Missouri legislature shows a 78 percent drop in abortions for 2019 Doctor assisted suicide remains illegal in Massachusetts Tennessee is close to protecting faith-based adoption agencies Atheists are outraged that a Bible was used to swear in the commander of the Space Force
In today’s News:
The abortion giant appeals Missouri’s cutting Medicaid funding for abortion LCMS President Matt Harrison told a crowd of 9,000 that abortion doesn’t make sense Pro-life forces in Kansas consider banning dismemberment abortion
In today’s News:
An estimated 9,000 marched in Chicago Saturday in support of life Democrats in the House killed a bill describing pre-born children as ‘human beings’ A brief filed before the Supreme Court calls Roe v. Wade obsolete Atheists want to remove a cross on an Illinois mural
In today’s News:
Sweet Cakes by Melissa is argued before the Oregon Appeals Court Maine’s school choice program is challenged A new cartoon series features demons and witches Organ harvesting of euthanasia victims takes place in Canada
In today’s News:
LCMS officials are going to Puerto Rico to assess earthquake damage Abortions supporters try to unseat a pro-life Illinois Democrat A Congressional report calls for sanctions against China Chick-fil-A president apologizes for discrediting Salvation Army
In today’s News:
The Trump Administrations asks the Supreme Court to uphold Louisiana’s law The plug will not be pulled in an 11-month-old baby girl Planned Parenthood loses hundreds of thousands of donors Football quarterback Kirk Cousins says God gives him strength
In today’s News:
Jerry Wulf, LCMS CFO, retires at the end of the month Planned Parenthood’s annual report shows $1.6 billlion in revenue Thirty-six abortion facilities closed last year The Methodists split over traditional Biblical views of sex and marriage
In today’s News:
An evangelical editor partly walks back his editorial calling for President Trump’s removal More than half state capitols are displaying nativity scenes Senators remove items from spending bills that would have benefited abortions The Supreme Court receives more briefs regarding religious freedom
In today’s News:
The Postal Service is taken to court for banning religious stamps Medical professionals are challenging a New York law forcing them to aid euthanasia A man is sentenced to 16 years in prison for burning a Rainbow LGBT flag The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom receives funding
In today’s News:
The Rev. Luis Coronado was killed in Venezuela Lutheran Church Charities is on standby to aid tornado victims in the Southern District Students for Life of America are denied recognized status at a Christian university The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear another religious liberty case
In today’s News:
New York City residents can now list ‘X’ on their death certificates The House approves $500 million to Planned Parenthood A Montana school de-recognizes a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club Tennessee moves to restrict school athletics to gender at birth
In today’s News:
Mississippi is taking its pro-life law to the Supreme Court A Kentucky college reverses itself and recognizes a pro-life club Texas adoptions reach record levels Christian diners leave a Glory to God tip
In today’s News:
The Washington Post gives Planned Parenthood its biggest ‘Pinocchio’ award Pro-life forces are fighting to keep a North Dakota law on the books The U.S. leads the world in children living in single-parent households
In today’s News:
March For Life features ‘Born Alive’ speakers in January’s rally A third of independent abortions center have closed since 2012 The Hallmark Channel may start LGBT programming Privately funded nativity scenes are on public property
In today’s News:
First Liberty Institute is challenging a school’s refusal to approve a Christian club New figures show African-American woman abort their babies three-times more than others A Florida pro-life bill advances in the state senate
In today’s News:
Missouri’s Supreme Court hears arguments about cutting Medicaid to Planned Parenthood Pro-life organizations join in legal battle for North Dakota’s informed consent abortion law A transgender convicted murderer will not receive sexual reassignment surgery An atheist groups wants a sheriff’s department to stop asking for prayers
In today’s News:
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to Kentucky’s new pro-life law New York state is considering providing abortion drugs to a university A test on abortion reversal treatment is cut short
In today’s News:
David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress are indicted Impact Award is given to former Planned Parenthood director who became pro-life The Finnish Lutheran Church is under investigation for promoting Biblical sexuality President Trump praises Christians for their charity work
In today’s News:
The European Court of Human Rights is asked to investigate Russia Chick-fil-A distances itself from a contribution to the SPLC The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear the case of same-sex locker rooms in a school
In today’s News:
The senate approves a Trump-appointed judge for the Eastern District of Missouri Congressional Democrats want the Supreme Court to overturn a pro-life law Presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren promises to wear a Planned Parenthood scarf if elected Congressional Democrats want to endorse abortion internationally
In today’s News:
First Liberty is asking the Army to continue allowing ‘Shields of Strength’ Pro-abortion forces join in a case attacking Louisiana’s abortion restrictions Major retailers are stocking ‘A Children’s Book of Demons’
In today’s News:
The CDC reports a 24 percent decline in abortions during 10 years OSU football star J.K. Dobbins tweeted ‘All Glory to God’ for his success A governor’s choice for senator runs into conservative opposition Registration is open to Lutherans for ‘Making Disciples for Life’
In today’s News:
Center for Medical Progress sues for defamation New York’s new law removes religious protection regarding abortion Abortion rates in the U.S. continue falling Chick-fil-A is asked to reinstate its charitable giving to the Salvation Army
In today’s News:
Louisiana’s justice department says an abortion facility repeatedly broke the law A man who injured a pro-life protester goes to court Hobby Lobby says it keeps to its Christian traditions An international conference on Christian persecution gathers in Hungary
In today’s News:
The Ohio Nurses Association calls for legislation helping terminal patients die South Carolina considers outlawing gender transition for minors The LCMS releases the latest ‘Preach The Word’ module
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom files in support of Missouri’s protection law A Christian publishing house refuses to print a magazine touting LGBT students The Thomas More Society and others are fighting for the Center for Medical Progress
In today’s News:
Pennsylvania’s governor vetoed a bill outlawing abortion on Down Syndrome babies Two news agencies want a judge to open her courtroom to them Instagram apologizes to a Baptist group Google search shows bias for pro-abortion groups
In today’s News:
A city ordinance mandating artists must create against their religious belief is challenged Catholic adoption agencies in Pennsylvania continue closing An attorneys general association will only support pro-abortion candidates Drag queens perform for a Planned Parenthood event
In today’s News:
The American Medical Association announces its opposition to conversion therapy An Illinois school district lets students choose their bathrooms and locker rooms The majority of American states have conscience protection for medical personnel Registration is open for the LCMS ‘Making Disciples for Life’ Conference
In today’s News:
A new law in New York strips religious exemption protection A court okays Christian schools praying before a football game Chick-fil-A stops funding Christian groups A pro football player says he ‘glorifies God’
In today’s News:
The Center for Medical Progress was found liable for undercover videos of Planned Parenthood Students at the University of Georgia say a pro-life display was ‘hate speech’ Oklahoma’s dismemberment abortion ban is put on hold An atheist group complains about a high school football team praying after the game
In today’s News:
Paula Ross, former managing editor of the Reporter passed away Wednesday The U.S. and 10 others nations oppose a U.N. position on abortion Planned Parenthood seeks to help more women find abortion facilities Less than half self-identified Christians are solidly pro-life
In today’s News:
Closing arguments in the civil case of undercover journalists v Planned Parenthood is over Democrat lawmakers introduce a bill stripping health care workers of religious protection Gallup find that the vast majority of Americans believe in God
In today’s News:
A court puts on hold a New York regulation banning faith-based adoption providers Michigan moves to liberalize its abortion laws A transgender college student complains about ‘women-centric’ issues The National’s third baseman credits Jesus for his talent
In today’s News:
Following a threat to sue, a Florida school will allow a pro-life club on campus The White House is considering linking foreign aid to religious freedom Midshipmen at the Naval Academy may form a Satanic Temple study group Massachusetts college students may soon have free abortion pills
In today’s News:
Concordia University Nebraska celebrates its 125th year The Ohio Supreme Court shuts down surgical abortion at a Dayton facility A bill in Congress seeks to outlaw telemedical abortion ‘Drag as therapy’ workshop was held at the University of Arizona
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom tells a school district it cannot deny a pro-life club status A Constitutional scholar appeals a decision striking down a state pro-life law South Carolina’s senate is considering pro-life legislation An Episcopal priest calls abortionists ‘modern-day saints’
In today’s News:
An HHS rule granting protection to medical workers is ruled unconstitutional Testimony ends in the civil suit against the Center for Medical Progress Opposing high school football players unite in prayer
In today’s News:
The Reverend Doctor Charles S. Mueller Senior died Oct. 30 Testimony continues in the civil case against the Center for Medical Progress A 7-year-old may now attend school as a boy Sen. Warren pledges federal payment for transgender surgery for vets
In today’s News:
Center for Medical Progress head testified that Planned Parenthood haggling haggled price Senators move to make abortion because of Down Syndrome illegal Concordia University Irvine has a new president
In today’s News:
Faith-based adoption agencies my receive federal grant money The Senate kills legislation to restore abortion funding in foreign aid Texas Lutherans rally to help a school damaged by a tornado
In today’s News:
Kentucky’s highest court says a print shop cannot be forced to print objectionable messages A Pennsylvania lawmaker refers to miscarriage as ‘…a mess on a napkin’ CMP head David Daleiden continues testimony in San Francisco
In today’s News:
This day in 1518, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses The LCMS invites all to the 2020 March For Life Planned Parenthood St. Louis license hearing continues A biological male is named Woman Athlete of the Week
In today’s News:
Alabama’s new pro-life law is stopped by a federal judge A Texas school district enacts a radical sex-ed program A religious school is being sued by LGBT activists Colorado contemplates taxing sacramental wine
In today’s News:
Testimony is being heard concerning a St. Louis abortion facility’s license Attorneys appeal a court ruling violating religious freedom The Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier II enters glory Presidential hopeful Joe Biden is denied Holy Communion
In today’s News:
A commission is deciding on St. Louis Planned Parenthood’s license A gag order is imposed on a couple fighting a transgender issue A judge allows faith-based adoption agencies to contract with Minnesota Idaho is making it harder to change gender on birth certificates
In today’s News:
A report this week shows abortion centers losing funding A judge gives joint custody to a couple fighting about transitioning their son to a girl Pennsylvania’s governor vows to veto pro-life legislation Yesterday was International Religious Freedom Day
In today’s News:
Government departments are investigating a decision to allow a child’s sexual transition Once again, a court says the Little Sisters of the Poor must provide abortion coverage South Carolina moves closer to enacting a heartbeat bill Mississippi officials are questioning why the state’s health department worked with an abortion advocate
In today’s News:
Kellogg comes out with an LGBTQ breakfast cereal Thomas More Society takes Illinois to court Another Cross display is under attack Beto O’Rourke walks back his threat to end churches’ non-profit status
In today’s News:
A father lost his fight in court to stop is 7-year-old son from chemical castration Another biological male wins in a female sport competition A lawsuit against Louisiana’s abortion regulations goes forward A Planned Parenthood official says she was only ‘joking’ when haggling price for fetal remains
In today’s News:
Testimony continues today in the case of the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover videos Pittsburgh cannot censor pro-life demonstrators, rules a court An abortion doctor is under arrest accused of pointing gun a pro-life demonstrators Research says fewer than half of millennials call themselves Christian
In today’s News:
San Francisco announces restrictions on 22 pro-life states Christian restaurant chain Chick-fil-A thrives despite LGBTQ boycott The International Lutheran Council names a new general secretary
In today’s News:
A district in Georgia now says transgender students must use bathrooms of their birth The March for Life adopts its theme for the 2020 March For Life The president slams a Democrat who says he want to punish churches opposed to same-sex marriage The civil trial of the Center for Medical Progress continues
In today’s News:
A father wants to stop his son from receiving chemical castration and hormone blockers Sen. Corey Booker says closing Planned Parenthood facilities is an existential threat to the country The civil trial for the Center for Medical Progress continues A Texas judge rules for religious liberty
In today’s News:
Attorney General Barr call education ‘ground zero’ in the fight for religious liberty Testimony continues in the civil trial of the Center for Medical Progress The remains of more aborted babies are found in an abortion doctor’s car
In today’s News:
An appeals court says a law preventing abortion on Down Syndrome babies cannot proceed The criminal preliminary hearing in the case of undercover journalists ends The civil trial against journalists who exposed Planned Parenthood selling body parts continues A memorial to aborted babies and those lost to miscarriage opens in Chattanooga
In today’s News:
The Rev. Dr. Norman Nagel passes A Democratic candidate promises to punish traditional churches Former Vice President Biden calls for monitoring groups that support Biblical marriage Demonstrators gather at the U.S. Supreme Court
In today’s News:
It was confirmed today that the president will speak to the VVS The NFL rescinds the fine levied against a player who wore a headband with the word ‘Man Of God’ ADF argued before the Supreme Court that courts shouldn’t rewrite law The Little Sisters of the Poor head back to court
In today’s News:
The annual Values Voter Summit opens this weekend An online list of victims of religious persecution debuts California is about to offer the abortion pill on state campuses Planned Parenthood is launching $45 million pro-abortion campaign
In today’s News: Oral argument are heard today about courts redefining legislation The new Supreme Court session begins without one justice, who is ill Oklahoma’s law banning dismemberment abortions is challenged China forces a protestant denomination to remove the 10 Commandments from its churches
In today’s News:
Louisiana’s abortion law goes to the Supreme Court The civil trial against the Center for Medical Progress continues An atheist organization files a complaint against a judge
In today’s News:
The civil trial of pro-life undercover journalists begins Comfort dogs are heading to Iowa in the wake of a pastor’s murder Concordia Seminary St. Louis’ president announces retirement Minnesota continues proceedings against Christian filmmakers
In today’s News:
Police say the senior pastor of an Iowa church was murdered Planned Parenthood secretly built a huge abortion facility near St. Louis The civil trial against undercover journalists who exposed Planned Parenthood begins
In today’s News:
An athlete supporting kids taking Bibles to school received Congressional support The NFL fined a player for wearing a headband with the words ‘Man Of God’ Atheists criticize a governor for starting news conferences with prayer Georgia’s pro-life abortion law is blocked by a federal judge
In today’s News:
A teacher was fired for not using transgender pronouns An Illinois lawmaker wants to stop state employees from traveling to pro-life states University of Iowa officials are slammed by a judge for discrimination
In today’s News:
A Texas father tries to stop his ex-wife from ‘transitioning’ their 7-year old son to a female The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week on the meaning of ‘sex’ A writer for the liberal site Vox says the right to abortion is about to collapse
In today’s News:
The FDA reports thousands of deaths related to puberty blocking drugs Faith-based adoption scores a win in Michigan New York’s attorney general continues attempts to shut down pro-life voices 2019 40 Days For Life campaign kicks off
In today’s News:
First Liberty Institute is defending a Bible display at a VA medical center Lutherans gathered in Gardena, California for a ‘Defend Life’ conference Another Texas town outlaws abortion
In today’s News:
President Trump told the United Nations abortion is not an international right Attorneys are challenging a ruling that tax credits don’t apply to religious schools A judge throws out a suit against Maryland’s anti-conversion therapy law Planned Parenthood is active in Hollywood
In today’s News:
The president spoke of the importance of religious freedom at the U.N. A judge will soon decide on letting Georgia’s strict pro-life law stand Maine enacts to new extreme abortion laws Atheists object to a governor speaking at a church gathering
In today’s News:
A federal judge stays implementation of Missouri’s abortion law A abortion facility in Ohio no longer performs surgical abortions A pro-life event in Minnesota was evacuated following a stink bomb attack A gender-confused woman is suing a hospital for refusing to remove her uterus
In today’s News:
An abortionist testifies that there were live births at Planned Parenthood Abortion facilities in Indiana were searched following the discovery of 2,200 preserved fetuses A report shows while abortions decline nationwide, Planned Parenthood’s abortion rate isn’t United Methodists come closer to an official split concerning LGBTQ issues
In today’s News:
A Catholic hospital is being sued because of not allowing assisted suicide More Texas cities are outlawing abortion The U.S. abortion rate is at a historic low A judge allows a ban on dismemberment abortion to stand
In today’s News:
The state’s highest court rules artists cannot be forced to make messages Some charges are dismissed in the case of Center for Medical Progress California moves to put abortion pills on state college campuses Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich, will host Clergy On Campus event
In today’s News:
A judge may throw out a search warrant in the case of the Center for Medical Progress More than 2,200 aborted fetuses were found in the house of an abortionist Pro-lifers around the country gathered Saturday in memoriam of aborted babies Another Christian club is denied status on a college campus
In today’s News:
The preliminary hearing in the case of undercover journalists continues Assisted suicide in Maine is legal as of Sunday A judge cancels part of a law in North Dakota informing woman medical abortion may be reversed Austin, Texas is providing financial support for women seeking abortions
In today’s News:
Attorneys for Arlene’s Flowers again appeal to the Supreme Court No gag order in the case against Center for Medical Progress U.S. Senators question Facebook’s censoring of a pro-life site Ghana’s Lutheran Church celebrates its 60th anniversary
In today’s News:
Obama’s attorney general sparked the investigation into pro-life journalists President Trump announces that religiously-affiliated black colleges are eligible for funding The Cleveland, Ohio, city council is informed it’s constitutional to open with prayer
In today’s News:
A ‘Drag Queen Storytime’ in a Missouri town faces prayer protest today Two Ohio Planned Parenthood facilities are closing A European doctor files suit to prescribe abortion drugs through the internet Texans sue for Chick-fil-A
In today’s News:
A witness confirms StemExpress purchased aborted baby body parts Free speech and religious liberty win in Michigan A Texas city ends a ‘Drag Queen Storytime’ at its library Canada denies funding for jobs organizations that are pro-life
In today’s News:
Attorneys for the Center for Medical Progress catch Planned Parenthood in a contradiction Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders unveils radical support for abortion Planned Parenthood vows to make abortion medication available in all states A Finnish politician is under fire for quoting Bible verses condemning homosexuality
In today’s News:
Districts prepare for storm damage recovery Pro-life undercover journalists’ hearing is this week A Virginia school district appeals a decision on bathroom use Facebook censors LifeSite news again
In today’s News:
Facebook is censoring Live Action Both Christian and LGBT groups join in a legal battle over free speech Teen Vogue magazine advises teens how to get abortions without their parents knowledge
In today’s News:
A judge tells a father he had no standing in an abortion case Activists are upset about Chick-fil-A on campus Every One His Witness is now available in Spanish The Democratic National Committee praises non-religious people
In today’s News:
An abortion clinic lets women hold their dead babies A Democratic presidential candidate uses wrong information on abortion A court rules an atheist cannot by definition pray
In today’s News:
A biological man who says he’s a woman competes in NCAA women’s event Vice President Pence tells veterans the Bible stays in VA facilities A North Carolina official resigns after posting anti-Catholic tweets
In today’s News:
Department of Health and Human services rules against Vermont in an abortion case Idaho must pay for sex reassignment surgery for a confessed sex offender Catholic officials protest a governor’s appointment of an anti-Catholic activist Numerous groups side with a case stating courts cannon redefine the word ‘sex’
In today’s News:
A judge prevents the Missouri pro-life law from taking effect New Jersey is given the go-ahead for assisted suicide Idaho must pay for an inmate’s sex change Ethiopian Lutherans break relations with Presbyterians
In today’s News:
A federal judge says he will rule on Missouri’s abortion law today The UN cancels a pro-life workshop Missouri’s attorney general joins a suite on the definition of ‘sex’ A citizen journalist scores a win against Planned Parenthood
In today’s News:
Christian filmmakers cannot be forced to film gay weddings in Minnesota The case of a Christian t-shirt printer moves to a state supreme court Washington State pulls out of Title X because of abortion restrictions
In today’s News:
A pastor encourages others to post pictures of families with #GreatJoys hashtag to counter an actress praising abortion An Ohio full-term abortion facility receives a court setback The Satanic Temple vows to rally in pro-life states The UN commemorates victims of religious persecution
In today’s News:
ADF joints two court cases concerning conscience rights Georgia’s ‘Heartbeat Law’ is under attack Abortion groups fight to censor pro-life pregnancy centers on Google A Canadian man opts for suicide when denied medial care
In today’s News:
The Trump Administration advises the high court not to redefine ‘sex’ Planned Parenthood ignored a doctor harming women in Arizona Austin, Texas, wants to fund abortion providers despite a state ban The co-creator of Veggie Tales says Christian filmmakers must stand fast
In today’s News:
Planned Parenthood will no longer receive Title X funding Figures are released on the number of babies born alive during abortions The Supreme Court is asked to rule that courts cannot redefine the word ‘sex’ Christians should be allowed to fly the Christian flag in Boston
In today’s News:
‘Unplanned’ opens in Australia and New Zealand A scholarship fund is established for pregnant women Planned Parenthood says it will opt out of a federal program New Jersey’s assisted suicide law is on hold
In today’s News:
Bibles printed in China will are exempt from new tariffs The United Methodists may split Statues honoring women ‘who built NYC’ may go to two biological men
In today’s News:
The Labor Department expands protection to religious organizations Pro-abortion forces are unhappy with Missouri’s secretary of state A federal court says a pro-life campus organization must receive fair funding Kentucky’s governor signs pro-life bills into law
In today’s News:
‘Unplanned’ is listed as Amazon’s number one in DVD sales LCMS congregations give comfort to shooting victims A California school district says LGBTQ must be taught to children
In today’s News:
A judge says a school district discriminated against a transgender person An Anchorage, Alaska, women’s shelter wins a court fight Illinois passes sweeping pro-LGBT legislation for schools Michigan may cut funding for pro-life pregnancy program
In today’s News:
An LCMS pro-life conference takes place in California in September Trump administration tightens timeline for pro-life guidelines Christians in Maine are mobilizing to stop two anti-life laws China cracks down on classic literature
In today’s News:
Lawyers for Aaron and Melissa Klein file with the Oregon court of appeals A court rules a cross in a county seal is Constitutional The Department of Education investigates if women athletes face discrimination Questions arise about AmeriCorps possibly using tax dollars to promote abortion
In today’s News:
The Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich names president of Concordia, St. Paul Ohio defunds Planned Parenthood and increases funding for pro-life centers Pro-life wins a victory in Florida’s court
In today’s News:
Despite objections by atheists, Alabama students held a prayer service asking for God’s protection Once again, Washington’s highest court rules against a Christian florist A Louisiana abortion facility seriously injures a woman
In today’s News:
K9 comfort dogs head to Dayton and El Paso A Mississippi man faces to murder charges for killing a woman and her unborn baby An Arkansas abortion facility stays open temporarily South Dakota public schools will display ‘In God We Trust’ this fall
In today’s News:
The Satanic Temple wants Missouri’s informed consent law tossed Vandals damage a pro-life van A Wichita man admits he threatened Operation Rescue employees Iranian Revolutionary court throws a Christian woman in prison
In today’s News:
The LCMS passed a resolution pledging continued support of the International Lutheran Council Six medical organizations are asked to retract pro-abortion positions Transgender athletes are defended by the ACLU Two more states offer a third choice for gender for drivers’ licenses
In today’s News:
LifeSiteNews is banned from Apple News A Florida county will allow a church to keep a school on its property A senator slams Senate Democrats for imposing ‘religious tests’ on judicial nominees
In today’s News:
The abortion giant sues Missouri to overturn its pro-life law An effort is underway in Colorado to stop abortions past 22 weeks A city is trying to force a consulting firm to take progressive clients Winner of the Tour de France pays homage to God
In today’s News:
A judge cuts back Planned Parenthood’s suit against the Center for Medical Progress An Alabama court throws out the conviction of a pro-life advocate Lawyers ask a court to dismiss a case against a Christian cake artist Gallop poll reports 40 percent of Americans believe in creationism
In today’s News:
New Jersey now allows assisted suicide Oregon eliminates waiting period for some assisted suicide cases A school district argues that gender is not a societal construct ‘Abortion is Freedom’ billboard are erected outside a Texas town
Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, Rev. Joel Fritsche, who serves as a missionary in the Latin America Region with the LCMS Office of National Mission, based in the Dominican Republic, joins Kip Allen to talk about how to spread the Lutheran message in a predominately Roman Catholic environment.
Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, Rev. Dr. Charles Cortright, theological educator for the Eurasia Region for the LCMS Office of International Mission and based in St. Petersburg, Russia, joins Kip Allen to talk about theological education in this part of the world and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR). Read more about the Cortrights at lcms.org/cortright.
Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, Rev. Matt Heise, Executive Director for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), and Jonathan Muhly join Kip Allen to talk about serving the Lord in Russia and Central Asia, challenges they encountered while in these regions, and how they shared the Gospel. Learn more about LHF at lhfmissions.org.
Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, Debbie Larson, the newly elected president of the LWML, joins Kip Allen to talk about the mission of the LWML and what she hopes to accomplish during her time as president. Learn more about the LWML at lwml.org.
Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz, Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, and Congressman John Shimkus, U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 15th congressional district, join Kip Allen to talk about religious liberty and how Lutherans interact with politics in American society.
In today’s News:
Lutheran church bodies in Belgium, Denmark and Portugal join in altar and pulpit fellowship The 67th annual convention reaffirms life and biblical marriage President’s office asked to investigate the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Pastor John Sias is re-elected Synod secretary
In today’s News:
67th regular LCMS convention opens in Tampa, Fla. Matthew Harrison is officially installed for fourth time The Rev. Peter Lange elected first vice president Five regional vice presidents are chosen
In today’s News:
Center for Medical Progress defendants present motions in court tomorrow The pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ opened in Canada Research report increased anti-religious efforts increase worldwide
In today’s News:
A study reports teen boys benefit from their girlfriends abortions Oklahoma’s dismemberment ban is upheld The Teachers’ Union supports abortion The VA moves to protect faith
In today’s News:
Debbie Larson is elected LWML president Title X rules cutting of some Planned Parenthood funding may advance Two pro-life medical associations applaud rules mandating emergency aid for newborns A pro athlete who lost his arm praises God for his recovery
In today’s News:
Doctor Eric Lamott is chosen to temporarily head Concordia St. Paul One member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup team credits God A videotape shows an ACLU attorney instructing teachers on how to cover for students’ abortions Religious freedom and human rights should be part of trade talks with China
In today’s News:
Wayne State University is taken to court for refusing recognition of a Christian club Boston’s refusal to allow a Christian flag is taken to court San Antonio is sued for release of documents
In today’s News:
A referendum to repeal Missouri’s ‘heartbeat law’ may take place Illinois lawmakers say minors shouldn’t need permission for an abortion The Veterans Administration safeguards the display of the Bible in POW/MIA displays A designer has been uninvited to a professional gathering because of his religious beliefs
In today’s News:
Concordia Nebraska wants to raise $65 million The American Medical Association sues pro-life laws An Ohio school district removes a Ten Commandments plaque The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case involving school choice
In today’s News:
The St. Louis abortion center stays open until late October New York City refuses federal hospital funds Gallup poll reports more Americans are pro-life than pro-abortion
In today’s News:
For the 67th time, House Democrats prevent a vote on the Born Alive Act A sidewalk pro-life counselor in Pennsylvania wins a court case Justice Clarence Thomas says the High Court must address the abortion debate Missouri’s only abortion facility stays open until at least Aug. 1
In today’s News:
A stay leaves Missouri’s only abortion facility open until Aug. 1 Alabama’s dismemberment law is struck down Women in Kentucky can see ultrasounds before an abortion A rule granting conscience protections to medical workers is on hold
In today’s News:
Missouri’s only abortion facility’s stay expires today at 5 p.m. Congress hears a blistering report on religious freedom in Asia Ohio is set to defund Planned Parenthood Texas demands documents from San Antonio officials suspected of religious bigotry
In today’s News:
The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison wins a fourth three-year term as LCMS president A university wants pregnant women to smoke marijuana as an experiment North Dakota abortion supporters challenge the state’s laws California calls biblical views on sexuality ‘ineffective, unethical and harmful’
In today’s News:
President Harrison wins a new term as Synod president Despite a threatened boycott, director Clint Eastwood will start filming in Atlanta The State Department calls out China for ‘war on faith’ Maryland stops voucher payments to a Christian school
In today’s News:
Election results for LCMS president are expected tomorrow Planned Parenthood St. Louis may operate until this Friday Rhode Island now allows abortion up until birth A California university says bells symbolizing early missions are racist
In today’s News:
Results of the Synod’s presidential race are expected Wednesday The Supreme Court will hear a case defining sex California lawmakers want to shape speech from the pulpit Missouri’s only abortion facility remains open
In today’s News:
A hearing on Missouri’s last abortion clinic is today The Supreme Court says the Bladensburg Cross can stay Planned Parenthood stands to lose $60-million thanks to a court ruling House Democrats try to restore funding for foreign abortion agencies
In today’s News:
A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow on Planned Parenthood’s fate in Missouri Texas enacts ‘Born Alive’ legislation The House of Representatives debates revoking nine pro-life measures Senators want to know how criminal investigation into Planned Parenthood is progressing
In today’s News:
A girl claims it’s unfair that biological males beat her in track MasterCard has a special program for transgenders A religious scouting group wins Abortion up to the moment of birth is legal in Vermont
In today’s News:
Documentation of Planned Parenthood St. Louis’ violations are sealed A judge says Missouri cannot cut off Planned Parenthood’s funding New York City allocates transportation funds for women seeking abortions Starbucks will fund transsexual employees’ cosmetic surgery
In today’s News:
The high court sends a bakers case back to a state court An atheist group drops its suite against the parsonage allowance Planned Parenthood is suing to stop conscience protection Planned Parenthood plans to open a new facility in Alabama
In today’s News:
Missouri officials asked a judge to remove his injunction for an abortion facility Atheists upset that coaches baptized football players A scholar is disinvited to speak following complaints by Muslims
In today’s News:
Illinois’ governor signs abortion up to birth law Some business owners say pro-life laws are ‘bad for business’ Maine legalizes suicide Texas forbids religious discrimination
In today’s News:
The Supreme Court declines to hear a challenge to ‘In God We Trust’ on American currency Senators hope to make adoption more affordable for families A California Christian boarding school is raided by armed police
In today’s News:
Missouri’s last abortion facility remains open until at least June 21 The AMA votes to officially opposes assisted suicide Texas cuts off funding to Planned Parenthood A Michigan hotel offers free room and board to women seeking abortions
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom says it is appealing a state decision on Arlene’s Flowers A Catholic Bishop bans Illinois lawmakers from communion for supporting abortion LGBTQ events have been cancelled in Ohio public libraries Bakersfield, Calif., police and fire vehicles will display ‘In God We Trust’ decals
In today’s News:
Washington’s Supreme Court says a florist must make special arrangements for same-sex wedding Colorado baker Jack Phillips is sued by an LGBTQ activist Presidential hopeful Joe Biden flip-flops on tax dollars for abortion
In today’s News:
The FDA no longer will buy fetal tissue from elective abortions Twitter doesn’t like Live Action posts Lawmakers fail to override a veto of a ‘Born Alive’ bill Catholic Social Services appeals again to the Supreme Court
In today’s News:
A judge in St. Louis is holding a hearing today on an abortion clinic’s license Media outlets no longer use the term ‘fetal heartbeat’ Concordia University Chicago names a news president
In today’s News:
Pro-life advocate Abby Johnson has a baby boy A new poll shows voters don’t like abortion after the first trimester A judge allows an Indiana abortion center to open without a permit Maine may approve assisted suicide
In today’s News:
A hearing is set for tomorrow to determine a St. Louis abortion providers license Illinois is set to enact the most wide-sweeping pro-abortion law in the country Volunteers are needed to help Nebraska Lutherans
In today’s News:
A judge is expected to rule today on closing a St. Louis abortion facility Louisiana’s Democratic governor signs a ‘Heartbeat’ bill into law An Ohio town backs exempts a religious school from its discrimination ordnance ‘Grill for Glory’ barbecues hope to build community
In today’s News:
Planned Parenthood St. Louis is fighting to keep its license Louisiana’s legislature approves a ‘Heartbeat’ bill The Satanic Temple claims religious protection ‘Unplanned’ may be shown in Canada after all
In today’s News:
Missouri’s only abortion facility’s license expires Friday Illinois removes nearly all restrictions on late term abortions Fetal remains must be treated as human remains according to the Supreme Court A biological male wins a woman’s NCAA track event
In today's News:
Alabamans show care for children both in and outside the womb The Pope reaffirms that abortion is forbidden for Catholics The Supreme Court is asked to rule on forced speech in school China boosts Confucianism to counter Christianity
In today's News:
Special health care transgender inclusion by the Obama administration is eliminated Two airports are being investigated for religious discrimination Mississippi’s ‘Heartbeat’ law is blocked by a federal judge Oklahoma pro-life pregnancy centers get state funding
In today's News:
Illinois Democrats again move to liberalize abortion Twenty-four states sue to remove conscience protections Planned Parenthood’s abortion income reaches $200-million A Catholic school wants to outlaw skirts for females
In today’s News:
Hope Family Services to appeal New York decision to shut them down Suit is filed against a senior community that prohibits Bible study and prayer Vermont’s governor will not block a pro-abortion bill Arson destroys a Christian television station in Israel
In today’s News:
Canadian distributors reject ‘Unplanned’ because of content Alabama Public Television won’t broadcast a children’s program on gay marriage Texas legislature protects businesses with Biblical beliefs Sen. Ted Cruz is looking at Yale Law School for discrimination against Christians
In today’s News:
Sens. Bernie Sanders and Kirsten Gillibrand both want to codify abortion Pro-abortion graffiti mars a Philadelphia Catholic Church Chick-fil-A takes the high road Liberty Counsel takes California to court
In today’s News:
Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling for unlimited tax-supported abortions A Christian student group wins campus recognition Little Sisters of the Poor are back in court again A Texas church reopens after the worst mass shooting in the state’s history
In today’s News:
Christian leaders voice opposition to H.R. 5 An African-American leadership group accuses Planned Parenthood of deception California moves ahead prosecuting those who exposed Planned Parenthood’s baby parts sale A Pennsylvania legislator who bullied an older woman and teenage girls will not be disciplined
In today’s News:
Missouri’s senate passed a ‘Heartbeat’ bill Alabama’s governor signs into law the nation’s strictest pro-life act An Arizona congressman wants to eliminate abortion expenses as deductions for taxes California enacts a radical sex education program
In today’s News:
Alabama’s legislature approves the strictest abortion law in the country The House will vote on the controversial ‘Equality Act’ Friday Religious freedom advocates take a Texas city to court Pakistan accuses an illiterate Christian of texting blasphemy
In today’s News:
‘Stand firm,’ was the message the vice president gave to Liberty University graduates Democrats in Congress try to eliminate ‘so help me God’ from oaths Amazon denies there’s a new rule prohibiting religious content advertising Atheist demand a Bible’s removal from a memorial
In today’s News:
Hundreds of pro-life supporters gathered were a state representative harassed women and teens A Texas county rejects atheists demand to remove crosses from its courthouse Twitter bans an expert on gender dysphoria A New York abortion center sends a woman to the hospital every 12 days
In today’s News:
Sen. Ted Cruz calls a state representative’s bullying pro-lifers “hateful” Parents sue a school district for telling their son he is transgender A U.S. Commission welcomes the release of a Pakistani Christian China calls Christianity a threat to its security
In today’s News:
Calls for criminal investigations follow a pro-abortion lawmaker’s harassment of women A Utah city declares itself a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’ A Democratic presidential hopeful call abortion ‘health care’ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with church leaders
In today’s News:
Hundreds of pro-life supporters will rally where others were harassed A Texas hospital says it will pull the plug on a patient Iran admits Christianity is spreading in that country A Pakistani Christian is safe in Canada
In today’s News:
An estimated 20,000 pro-lifers rallied in Times Square Georgia’s governor is set to sign a heartbeat bill today Massachusetts lawmakers want to remove ‘So Help Me God’ when taking an oath A Pennsylvania state representative offered money to dox pro-life teenagers
In today’s News:
City officials challenge Health and Human Services religious exemptions A Pennsylvania state representative harasses an elderly pro-life worker Native Americans to address Southern Baptist Convention members Between 750 and 800 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria this year
In today’s News:
A federal department releases conscience protection rules A report finds the vast majority of religious persecution is against Christians An Alabama state representative says shocking things about abortion A California school district will teach elementary pupils about LGBT historical figures
In today’s News:
A woman who disrupted abortion debate in the Alabama house faces charges Pro-abortion demonstrators vandalize a pro-life display at the University of Texas Teen suicides spike following a Netflix drama Islamic terrorists kill six Christians in Africa
In today’s News:
North Carolina senators override the governor’s veto of a ‘Heartbeat’ bill Louisiana moves to enact a ‘Heartbeat’ law Washington state makes religious accommodations on its college campuses Violent attacks against Jews are rising.
In today’s News:
A U.S. commission finds China is cracking down on religion California wants to make the abortion pill available in its universities and colleges More than four abortions are performed for every one murder in New York City Euthanasia accounts for more than 1% of all deaths in Canada
In today’s News:
Suit is filed against Michigan for discriminating against faith-based adoption agencies A Kansas court ruled abortion is protected by the state’s constitution Half of Americans believe evangelicals face discrimination The IRS rules the Satanic Temple is a church
On Sharathon today, Rachel Bomberger, Brianne Gerzevske, and Katie Schuermann join Sarah Gulseth to talk about the mission of KFUO Radio and encourage you to support us. Give today at kfuo.org/sharathon.
On Sharathon today, Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller and Kantor Phillip Magness join Ian Burger to talk about the mission of KFUO Radio and encourage you to support us. Give today at kfuo.org/sharathon.
In today’s News:
Sri Lanka’s defense minister says Islamic extremists are responsible for Easter bombings The U.N. Human Rights Council is silent on the Easter bombings A White House aide say the president often discusses Christianity Kansas governor vetoes legislation informing women of abortion pill reversal
In today’s News:
Attorneys for a pro-life pregnancy center oppose compelled speech A court rules that Philadelphia can stop a Catholic adoption center from placing babies The Supreme Court agrees to hear a case on the definition of ‘sex’ The case against undercover journalist David Daleiden is put on hold
In today’s News:
Churches in Sri Lanka were targets of bombings Easter Sunday Louisiana’s ‘Heartbeat Law’ is before the U.S. Supreme Court The FDA records two more deaths related to the abortion pill Missouri lawmakers consider a ‘Heartbeat Bill’
In today’s News:
‘Gosnell’ will be shown at the White House Friday A Christian farmer seeks court protection against city officials An atheist group protests a Bible at a POW/MIA display Rhode Island seeks to outlaw sex between students and teachers
In today’s News:
Ignoring a Hollywood threat of boycott, Georgia’s governor will sign a ‘Heartbeat Law’ A health center apologizes for censoring ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ reading The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom announces anew Prisoner of Conscience Parents protest explicit sex education in California elementary schools
In today’s News:
An abortionist calls the movie inaccurate but admits hasn’t seen it A lawsuit proceeds against an Illinois law on transgender locker rooms Tennessee move to protect faith-based adoption agencies Atheists threaten to sue over a license plate
In today’s News:
As many people say they have no religion as there are Catholics or protestants Three California churches file an appeal requiring them to cover abortion A federal appeals court upholds Kentucky’s ‘Heartbeat’ law Twenty states try to stop one state’s abortion law
In today’s News:
Sen. Ted Cruz is opening an investigation of Yale law school regarding religious discrimination A Michigan senior care center stopped the reading of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Three California churches are suing the state about requiring abortion insurance
In today’s News:
The Venezuela Relief Medicine Project helps Lutheran Venezuelans Virginia marchers protest the state’s radical abortion law Indiana expands conscience protection California boycotts South Carolina over faith-based adoption
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom sues to stop an ordinance that would force LGBT values on ministries An appeals court upholds a ruling closing an abortion facility Georgia moves closer to a ‘Heartbeat Law’ despite Hollywood threats California is once again considering making abortion pills available on campus
In today’s News:
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear a case asking that a Planned Parenthood suit be dismissed The pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ had a good opening week $44 million in federal funding has been cut from Planned Parenthood The New York Planned Parenthood clinic sends another woman to a hospital
In today’s News:
HHS gives $5-million Title X to a California pro-life pregnancy center Major networks refuse ads for the ‘Unplanned’ movie A New York City won’t allow Chick-fil-A at their airport A suite against an Illinois school district’s gender policy moves ahead
In today’s News:
Companies tell Texas legislature not to grant religious protections to businesses Texas Attorney General is investigating a Chick-fil-A ban ADF sues a Florida county for attempting to shut down a Christian school A Chinese city is offering a reward for reporting on ‘illegal’ religious services
In today’s News:
Concordia University, Irvine, receives Hispanic Serving Institution designation Massachusetts lawmakers want its taxpayers to pay for abortion Pro-abortion lawmakers in Texas delay a ‘Born Alive’ hearing with a boycott An atheist group is protesting an Ohio council for opening with prayer
In today’s News:
The State Department announces new restrictions on foreign aid banning abortions The court removes injunctions preventing a ban on transsexuals in the military North Carolina’s abortion ban is struck down A Pennsylvania state representative calls a prayer to Jesus ‘offensive’
In today’s News:
The New Jersey Legislature approves an assisted suicide bill Lutherans aid flood-stricken neighbors Some states say they will refuse funding if abortion isn’t included A crucifix comes down from Montreal’s city council chambers
In today’s News:
Michigan says faith-based adoption agencies must serve same-sex couples or lose state funding Illinois’ highest court says taxpayers must pay for abortions San Antonio says Chick-fil-A is not welcome at the airport A pro-life activist was uninvited at a Cornell debate because of her Christian views
In today’s News:
A British department the Bible is too violent to justify an asylum claim Mississippi is set to enact some of the toughest pro-life laws in the country South Dakota law places new requirements on those seeking abortion Indiana will allow a ‘third sex’ on divers’ licenses
In today’s News:
Thousands of pro-life demonstrators protested in Springfield Notre Dame hosts a discussion on the new pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ with Abby Johnson Kentucky’s governor signs a bill outlawing abortion for sex, race or disability
In today’s News:
Democrats introduced HR 5 into the House, which removes religious protections A Christian church is kicked off a video hosting site because of its views of homosexuality A Christian college now allows same-sex dating Fifty kindergarten children were given a transsexual presentation
In today’s News:
The Supreme Court won’t hear the case of a Christian B&B owner who refused to serve a lesbian couple A New Mexico city declares itself a ‘sanctuary city for the unborn’ A Houston library apologies for having a sex offender read to children A Democratic lawmaker calls religious liberty an excuse for discrimination
In today’s News:
A court rules against an atheist challenge to churches tax-free housing allowance for pastors An Indiana government-owned bus service agrees to accept pro-life ads New Mexico’s senate rejects a radical abortion proposal An Ohio abortion clinic sends women to emergency rooms twice in a month
In today’s News:
Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke announces his presidential campaign The Equality Act is anything but equal A high school student is suspended for posting Bible verses New Mexico rejects extreme abortion legislation
In today’s News:
Pro-life lawmakers work to bring “Born Alive’ to the floor for a vote Utah and Arkansas face pro-abortion challenges Taiwan promises to work with the U.S. for religious freedom A 125-foot statue of Jesus Christ may be erected in Russia
In today’s News:
The top three candidates for president of the LCMS are announced Democrats move to repeal the Hyde Amendment that bans public funding for abortion Ohio’s law defunding Planned Parenthood is ruled constitutional Education Secretary DeVos allows religious groups to provide federally funded services to private schools
In today’s News:
A black Students For Life leader says abortion targets African-Americans Massachusetts lawmakers want to remove the words “mother” and “unborn child” from pregnancy’s legal definition Transgender activists sue the state of North Carolina A U.S. commission urges Turkey to let Armenians choose their spiritual leader
In today’s News:
Attorneys filed suit against Washington state for demanding churches include abortion in their insurance A black, pro-life speaker is banned from speaking on campus Assisted suicides rise in Oregon Transgender military ban is upheld
In today’s News:
A teacher forced a fourth grader to wash the ashes off he forehead on Ash Wednesday California wants Planned Parenthood phone numbers on all student ID cards A New Hampshire VA medical center rejects atheists’ demands to remove a Bible from a POW/MIA display Maryland moves closer to legalizing assisted suicide
In today’s News:
An Alabama man sues an abortion clinic for aborting his baby against his wishes New Mexico moves closer to full term abortion status The AMA sues the Trump administration concerning defunding Planned Parenthood A Christian convert faces a settlement conference for sharing the Gospel
In today’s News:
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission drops charges against Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop The issue of same-sex marriage is causing concern in the Anglican church Atheists score a win in Oregon Missouri moves closer to a ‘Heartbeat’ law
In today’s News:
Twenty-two states are suing to keep Title X funds for abortion providers Sen. Kamala Harris says she favor legalizing prostitution The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear a case involving historic restoration funds for churches California Veterans Home officials threaten a widow with eviction because of her Bible studies
n today’s News:
California Sen. Kamala Harris, who’s running for president, says the mother should determine when to abort California prepares to sue the Trump administration for withholding Title X funds to abortion providers House Democrats challenge the administrations Title X rule stopping funds for abortion providers Health and Human Services renews its six-month contract for aborted baby parts
In today’s News:
Liberty Counsel asks the court to dismiss an ACLU suite against an Indiana city’s nativity display Washington state lawmakers want to start sex education in kindergarten Illinois is considering the most liberal abortion laws in the country Missouri moves to restrict abortions
In today’s News:
The president slams Democrats for blocking the ‘Born Alive’ bill The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments about the Bladensburg Cross The United Methodist Church reaffirms the biblical truth of marriage and sexuality South Dakota legislators want high school sports restricted to biological males and females
In today’s News:
Senators were unable to block a filibuster stopping the ‘Born Alive’ bill A federal court rules against Planned Parenthood in Missouri Boys identifying as girls dominate girls’ track A judge rules the male-only military draft is unconstitutional
In today’s News:
The Senate tries to break a filibuster stopping an anti-infanticide measure Planned Parenthood’s federal funding is threatened The pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ gets an ‘R’ rating Thousands gathered in New York for a Day of Mourning protesting that state’s abortion law
In today’s News:
Methodists gather to determine scripture and sexuality California parents protest sex ed curriculum Twitter suspends two pro-life accounts The U.S. Supreme Court is asked to rule on a church land use case
In today’s News:
Arizona lawmakers defeat an attempt to legalize infanticide Iowa will not appeal a ruling striking down it’s ‘Heartbeat Law’ Trailer for pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ is first place on iTunes California is ordered to pay pro-life pregnancy centers
In today’s News:
The Trump Administration is spearheading an effort to prevent countries from executing homosexuals Two Notre Dame professors say pro-lifers are white supremacists Facebook permanently bans a user for posting a photo of 21 Christians murdered by ISIS The U.S. Supreme Court denies a request by an abortion group to see private correspondence of Catholic bishops
In today’s News:
A pro-life bookstore owner urges cities to declare themselves sanctuaries for the unborn Missouri joins other states defending Alabama’s outlawing dismemberment abortion At least 10 states are considering ‘Heartbeat Bills’ The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on a cross-shaped memorial on the 27th
In today’s News:
The Alaska Supreme Court says public funds must pay for Medicaid abortions Ohio moves to enact a ‘Heartbeat” law Planned Parenthood operates more than half the nation’s abortion clinics A vegan couple faces charges for nursing a baby with potato mash instead of milk
In today’s News:
The Missouri Supreme Court throws out a suit by Satanists about abortion Iowa lawmakers move to add pro-life protection to the state’s constitution The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the ‘Born Alive’ bill Feb. 25 An independent investigation clears the Covington teens
In today’s News:
A Republican senator rebukes Democrats about asking religious questions of nominees An Oregon man pleads guilty of hate crime against a church Tennessee lawmakers move to protect faith-based adoption agencies The Mississippi Senate approves a ‘Heartbeat Bill’
In today’s News:
For the fourth time in four day, Democrats kill Born Alive legislation in Congress A California judge hides the names of abortion workers and brokers California is ordered to pay legal fees Tennessee is considering legislation to punish woman who abuse drugs during pregnancy
In today’s News:
A man accused of murdering a woman and her unborn baby in New York only faces charges for killing the woman New Mexico moves to remove religious protection for medical workers opposed to abortion Missouri lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate attempt to pass Born Alive legislation New Jersey moves closer to assisted suicide
In today’s News:
An Arizona Democrat wants to eliminate specialty plates with ‘In God We Trust’ Virginians are calling for a pro-life demonstration in April The U.S. opposes WHO wording that includes abortion A mother in England is arrested for calling a transgender woman a man
In today’s News:
The Supreme Court stops Louisiana from enforcing restrictions on abortion clinics Organizers call for national protest against late-term abortion laws New Jersey moves to legalize assisted suicide The president spoke of his pro-religious liberty record at the National Prayer Breakfast
In today’s News:
A court rules a University must reinstate a Christian club House Republicans introduce a born-alive protection bill Arkansas legislators move to ban abortion if Roe v Wade is overturned A Democratic lawmaker omits ‘so help me God’ when swearing in witnesses
In today’s News:
A bill banning dismemberment abortion advances in North Dakota’s legislature Missouri lawmakers seek increased parental notification for abortion by minors Twenty-one states support Alabama’s pro-life law The University of Iowa presents a list in court showing discrimination against religious clubs
In today’s News:
Democrats killed a proposal to unanimously pass a Born Alive bill Eight states and the District of Columbia allow late-term abortion The Supreme Court is expected to rule tomorrow on a Louisiana abortion law All-girl troops were admitted for the first time to the Boy Scouts this weekend
In today’s News:
Southern Wisconsin District Lutherans operated a shelter during last week’s cold snap Wyoming lawmakers consider a 48-hour waiting period before abortion A Virginia pro-life pregnancy center is vandalized A university bars certain faith-based projects from scholarship funding
In today’s News:
Sen. Ben Sasse calls for passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors’ Protection Act President Trump says religious bigotry is becoming a crisis Colorado parents object to a Planned Parenthood sex-ed plan Vermont religious students want equal access under the law
In today’s News:
Sen. Ben Sasse says Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam should get out of government because of infanticide Pro-life leaders are calling on President Trump to defund Planned Parenthood House Democrats strike the phrase “so help me God” from the swearing in oath Missouri lawmakers move to pass “heartbeat” legislation
In today’s News:
Pro-abortion forces want the Supreme Court to rule on Louisiana’s abortion laws Virginia defeats a measure to allow abortion up to birth New Jersey birth certificates to include a gender neutral choice One in four deaths in Netherlands attributed to euthanasia or assisted suicide
In today’s News:
Alliance Defending Freedom files notice of appeal concerning the abortion mandate A New Mexico house committee passed a radical abortion bill Rhode Island lawmakers vote today to make abortion available up to birth President Trump call for Bible literacy classes in public schools
In today’s News:
New York’s new abortion law deprives babies born alive of medical aid Vermont moves to liberalize its abortion laws Four Planned Parenthood California facilities must answer questions Virginia considers allowing firearms in church
In today’s News: Statement by LCMS President the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison on abortion
In today’s News:
Ohio’s new governor says he will sign a heartbeat bill One World Trade Center was lit up pink Tuesday celebrating New York’s expanded abortion law California’s attorney general tries to suppress undercover videos of Planned Parenthood HHS rules South Carolina adoption agencies can follow religious faith
In today’s News:
Nearly all abortion restrictions in New York are removed Iowa’s ‘Heartbeat Law’ is struck down The Supreme Court will not hear the case of a coach fired for praying on the sidelines A senator says a resolution condemning religious tests for office is ‘alt-right’
In today’s News:
Two women argue for religious liberty in Arizona Planned Parenthood’s annual report reveals increasing funding and abortions A court rules undercover videos of Planned Parenthood are authentic A former abortion worker has won 500 abortion workers to the pro-life side
In today’s News:
Brush & Nib studios case goes to the Arizona high court Health and Human Services finds California violated federal religious protection laws President Trump vows to veto any legislation that promotes abortion A senator introduces a bill stating life begins at conception
In today’s News: The Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision was built on a foundation of lies.
In today’s News: Neither major political party seriously address the issue of life before the Roe v Wade decision in 1973. Since then, Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides.
In today’s News: Special Report on how the two major political parties stand on life issues.
In today’s News:
Annual pro-life marches are beginning nationwide Pro-abortion forces oppose the president’s choice for attorney general No decision has been made by the National Institutes of Health about fetal tissue research Pennsylvania high school students fight school administrators to share Bibles
In today’s News:
A Republican representative introduces legislation defunding Planned Parenthood New York’s governor vows to expand abortion opportunities Planned Parenthood president affirms abortion is its core value Democratic senators are criticized for anti-Catholic bigotry
In today’s News:
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are scheduled for the pro-life march Two Democratic senators criticize the Knights of Columbus as holding “extreme positions” A pro-life vandal must pay restitution and perform community service The Little Sisters of the Poor are heading back to court
In today’s News:
A federal court rules Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop can sue the state of Colorado Hillary Clinton and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo push for abortion until birth Connecticut expands its abortion programs while cracking down on pro-life pregnance centers The Church of Satan salutes actor Christian Bale
In today’s News:
‘Unique From Day One’ is the theme of this year’s March For Life The number of Christians in Congress drops House Democrats vote to fund a U.N. agency that promotes abortion A Court of Appeals overturns a lower court’s block on transgender people in the military