The 3 - June 22, 2025

Just after LA law on 10 Commandments in schools put on hold by federal appeals court, TX governor signs similar bill

Over the weekend, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation that, according to the Texas Values website, would "allow the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools." The website noted that the bill, "SB 10 will go into effect September 1, 2025."

Jonathan Saenz, President and Attorney for Texas Values, issued a statement that said:

“This is a Texas-sized blessing that the Ten Commandments will now be displayed for students to see, much like the Ten Commandments Monument at the Texas Capitol and in the U. S. Supreme Court. Just like twenty years ago when he protected the Ten Commandments at the U. S. Supreme Court, Governor Abbott “fulfilled the law” by signing SB 10 today, making it clear that there will be a Ten Commandments displayed in every Texas public school classroom.”

Meanwhile, as The Christian Post reported last Friday, "An appeals court panel has unanimously ruled against a recently passed Louisiana law that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools." The article said:

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a decision on Friday upholding a lower court ruling against House Bill 71, which was passed last year.

Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Biden appointee, authored the panel opinion, ruling that the law “inflicts significant practical harm on Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights.”

SCOTUS rules in favor of TN law preventing gender-change procedures

Meanwhile, at the U.S. Supreme Court, a much-watched case was decided by the justices regarding surgeries and treatments that are intended to help an individual change his or her gender.  The case involved legislation out of Tennessee that would ban these procedures on minors.

Alliance Defending Freedom reported online:

In a landmark victory for children’s health and science-based medicine, the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s law protecting minors from harmful and life-altering drugs and surgeries. The ruling will help protect 26 similar state laws and return common sense to America’s medical system.

ADF CEO and President Kristen Waggoner stated that, “The Biden administration and ACLU asked the court to create a ‘constitutional right’ to give children harmful, experimental drugs and surgeries that turn them into patients for life. This would have forced states to base their laws on ideology, not evidence—to the immense harm of countless children. The court’s rejection of that request is a monumental victory for children, science, and common sense."

And, as The Daily Citizen reported earlier this month:

The FBI is targeting medical professionals and institutions that mutilate children with experimental “transgender” interventions – drugs, hormones and surgeries – that leave children sterile, sick and permanently damaged.

The FBI action followed a memo from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.  The Daily Citizen article noted:

Bondi rebuked the medical community, which should be rooted in evidence-based science and medicine, for not serving “as a bulwark against this sociological disease,” adding,

“Between 2019 and 2023, an estimated 14,000 children received “treatment” for gender dysphoria, with more than 5,700 subjected to life-altering surgeries.”

“The practitioners who provided this so-called ‘care’ profited while their patients were left permanently disfigured, scarred and sterilized.”

CA mom invited back to speak (and presumably pray) at City Council meeting

Tarin Swain decided she wanted to speak out about a local policy that she believed was in opposition to her Biblical beliefs.  So, she attended a Ventura City Council meeting in California to exercise her free speech rights as allotted by the council.  First Liberty reported on its website:

At the April city council meeting, Tarin Swain, a devout Christian, took her turn at the podium to give her comment for the 60 seconds she—like the 130 other commenters—was allocated. The comments concerned the CARE policy, which addresses “reproductive rights, immigrant residents, gender-diverse individuals and all residents of the City of Ventura from restrictive laws and external enforcement affairs.” Compelled by religious conviction, Tarin Swain used part of her time to pray about the situation. She was immediately met with boos and screaming from the audience. But she continued to pray through the disruptions until the mayor interjected with a warning about prayer. All other commenters were allowed to speak as they pleased, even a bird puppeteer who voiced his comments through squawking. The censorship was reserved solely for Tarin Swain’s prayer.

As the article pointed out, the mayor had chastised Swain by telling her "we don't do prayer" in that setting.  It states:

Tarin Swain has been invited back to re-offer her prayer at an upcoming Ventura City Council meeting after previously experiencing an interruption from the mayor during public comments and admonishment that “we don’t do prayer” at council meetings.

First Liberty relates: "The next city council meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2025. In addition to her time to pray, Tarin will also be given the opportunity to share her comments when the CARE policy is raised for consideration."

The 3 - June 15, 2025

California attempts to stare down Federal government on trans sports

One might think that a male student-athlete from California is on his way to superstardom in track and field.  After all, as The Daily Citizen reports, as of mid-May, AB Hernandez had "led the state" in "...triple and long jump. In regional championships, he won the triple jump by “nearly seven feet,” according to Sports Illustrated, the long jump by more than three feet and the high jump by a foot."

And, as the story, goes, Hernandez "...won state titles in the "...high jump and triple jump at the championship on May 31, 2025. He took second place in the long jump."

But, take a second look, AB Hernandez is a male - you could say "biological male," but as its been pointed out, that is "redundant."  And, he is competing against female athletes.

California has placed itself at odds with Federal policy, according to the Daily Citizen article.  It states:

California planted itself on the Department of Education’s (DOE) radar in February after the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) publicly vowed to defy “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” — an executive order prohibiting boys from playing girls sports in programs that receive federal funding.

The article goes on to say:

CIF didn’t just wreck female competitors’ athletic ambitions by allowing Hernandez to compete — it played fast and loose with the state’s federal education funding.

On May 27, just days before the competition, President Donald Trump weighed in on social media.

“California … continues to illegally allow men to play in women’s sports,” he wrote, citing Hernandez’s qualification for state finals.

It stated:

On May 28, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would be joining DOE’s investigation against CIF for violating Title IX.

“My office has found reasonable cause to believe that CIF… is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination against female athletes,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Department of Civil Rights Investigations, wrote in a letter to the organization.

The implications?  The Daily Citizen article says, "If guilty, the state’s federal education funding, which totaled $10 billion in FY 2024, could be on the line."

FBI's investigation of Catholics wider than once thought

You may remember the reports about the discovery that the FBI had launched an investigation against certain Catholics, painting them as threats.  The Washington Times reported recently that the...

FBI concealed the extent of its anti-Catholic operation, which then-FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told Congress was limited to a single 2023 memo, newly revealed bureau documents show.

The FBI ​files were obtained by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley and shared first with The Washington Times.

The files show that the agency was engaging in a bureauwide investigation of “Radical Traditionalist Catholics,” but Mr. Wray and other top FBI officials characterized it as a one-off memo.

In February of 2023, a whistleblower had made public a memo that, according to the article...

...was an alert that “Radical Traditionalist Catholics” adhere to an “anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ and white supremacist ideology” and said these Catholics are prone to “extremist ideological beliefs and violent rhetoric.”

The Times reported that information was spread to other FBI offices beyond the initial release to the Richmond office to Buffalo, Portland, and Milwaukee and may have involved some 1,000 agents!

Texas passes faith-affirming laws

The Texas Legislature has passed bills that could expand the practice of religion in schools throughout the state. First Liberty Institute, at its website, stated recently that the Legislature "...passed SB 10, SB 11, and SB 965, which require the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools and protect the religious liberty rights of teachers and students, bringing state law in line with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Kennedy v. Bremerton School District."

Matt Krause, Of Counsel for First Liberty, in a statement, said: "...Placing the Ten Commandments and national motto on schoolhouse walls is a great way to remind students of the foundations of American and Texas law. And bringing state law in line with what the U.S. Supreme Court has said about prayer in schools should make it clear to school administrators that student and teacher prayer is completely Constitutional."

Bill sponsor, Sen. Phil King, stated: "For 200 years, the Ten Commandments were displayed in public buildings and classrooms across America," adding, "The Court has … provided a test that considers whether a governmental display of religious content comports with America's history and tradition. Now that the legal landscape has changed, it is time for Texas to pass SB 10 and restore the history and tradition of the Ten Commandments in our state and our nation."

The 3 - June 8, 2025

Not religious enough?  SCOTUS overturns state Supreme Court ruling on religious activity

It was a unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court involving Catholic Charities.  First Liberty reported on its website that the high court "...unanimously reversed a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that said Catholic Charities was not a religious organization because their ministries and outreach to the poor was not religious enough. First Liberty Institute filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Catholic Charities."

At issue, according to FoxNews.com, was "...unemployment tax credits for religious institutions." The article said, "...the justices agreed that the state had engaged in an 'unnecessary entanglement' in attempting to define whether religious groups should be entitled to an otherwise-available tax exemption based on the state’s criteria for religious behavior."

Ryan Gardner, Counsel for First Liberty, is quoted as saying on its website: Any attempt by the government to determine which religiously motivated actions are sufficiently religious enough to enjoy either constitutional protection or eligibility for a government benefit like tax exemption is ‘obnoxious to the Constitution...,'" adding, "We applaud the Justices for again affirming unanimously that the First Amendment guarantees the right of all Americans to engage in religious exercise defined by the manner dictated by their sincere religious beliefs rather than the government’s preferences."

Emergency room doctors will not be forced to perform abortions under new policy

Over the past few years, there has been an attempt to essentially turn emergency rooms into abortion clinics under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA.  That issue came into play before the U.S. Supreme Court last year in a challenge to Idaho's strong pro-life law. The Supreme Court, according to the SCOTUS Blog, dismissed the case and sent litigation back to a lower court. 

Fact is, the language of EMTALA is actually pro-life. Alliance Defending Freedom, on one of its websites, reports that in 2022, "the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a memorandum and a letter from then-Secretary Becerra stating that EMTALA grants the administration authority to override state pro-life laws, even though EMTALA does not mention abortion but explicitly protects the “unborn child.”

ADF goes on to say:

Now, the Trump administration’s health department and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has rescinded that mandate and letter and has affirmed the plain words of the statute: EMTALA protects both the “pregnant woman” and the “unborn child.”

The piece on the website notes: "Because the administration’s action now protects mothers, unborn children, and doctors’ conscience rights, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit they had filed against the Biden administration earlier this year to challenge the mandate."

Administration officials reject declaration of LGBT "Pride Month"

For years, the month of June has been designated as a time to "celebrate" and "affirm" what is termed, "Pride," which is offensive to Christians, who hold to the Biblical belief that homosexuality is not to be celebrated, rather, it is a sinful act from which a person should repent. 

This year, according to The Christian Post, the Trump Administration will apparently not be issuing a proclamation of June as "Pride Month." An article from last week notes:

During a White House press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the Trump administration would not be issuing a presidential proclamation for pride month...

She said, "There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June," adding, "I can tell you this president is very proud to be a president of all Americans regardless of race, religion or creed."

But, the U.S. Department of Education has announced a declaration for the month of June; the Christian Post article states:

The U.S. Department of Education announced in a statement Monday that it is recognizing June as "Title IX Month" in commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into law.

Title IX requires all educational institutions that receive federal funding to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls in education, including when it comes to athletics.

The article goes on to say:

Shortly after taking office in January, Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to interpret Title IX rules prohibiting sex discrimination in education as prohibiting males who identify as women from participating in female athletic contests. The administration has also threatened to strip funding from states that permit male trans-identified athletes to compete in female sporting events 

The 3 - June 1, 2025

Prayer service conducted at the Pentagon - Secretary of Defense invites, but does not mandate, employees to attend

Gary Bauer, writing for the James Dobson Family Institute, which presents Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk weeknights at 8:30 on Faith Radio, states:

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an overtly Christian prayer service in the Pentagon’s auditorium on May 21, 2025. A pastor spoke at the event, which was voluntary and well attended. Secretary Hegseth said that his plans are to have such events each month. JDFI commends him.

After highlighting several media sources which denounced the event, Bauer wrote this:

The First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing an official religion in America. A prayer service on government property does not establish an official religion. The First Amendment also guarantees the “free exercise of religion.” Hegseth’s prayer service at the Pentagon is a perfect example of this freedom.

Erin Smith, Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute, issued this statement, published at the organization's website:

Secretary Hegseth’s exercise of his religious faith is protected just like it was for the Navy SEALs we represented against the prior administration when it tried to kick them out for their faith objection to Covid requirements. We commend Secretary Hegseth for standing up for the Constitution and against censorship.

Gary Bauer added: 

This prayer service is well within the historic traditions of the American Republic. Our first president, George Washington, credited God for the birth of our country and victory in our War of Independence. Our Declaration of Independence states explicitly that our Creator—a reference to the God of the Bible—is the author of our liberty. The American Revolution itself was inspired by colonial pastors who roused their congregations to stand for liberty. President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address referred directly or indirectly to the Bible a dozen times.

He also noted that President Franklin Roosevelt led the nation in prayer via radio as American troops embarked on the D-Day invasion. Bauer states: "Many of our soldiers carried small Bibles, consisting of the New Testament and the book of Psalms, provided by the Gideons organization with the consent of the US government."  There was a personal note from FDR in the front of those Bibles.

Court rules drag queen show can move forward near children's park

As backlash continues in various sectors of our society to the incredible lack of self-awareness of the gay community, who have been pushing this notion of "pride" upon the public during June, CBN.com reports that:

A U.S. District Judge has issued a preliminary injunction allowing a "grossly inappropriate, and sexually explicit drag show," to be held in view of children at a June 7 "pride" festival, a non-profit legal group reports.

As CBN News reported, Liberty Counsel filed a motion on behalf of three Collier County parents to keep the sexualized LGBTQ performance away from a children's playground.

The article notes:

The lawsuit came after the Naples City Council voted 5-2 in April to move the proposed drag show indoors away from Cambier Park, which is frequented by children, and to restrict the event to adults only. However, Naples Pride, an LGBT advocacy group, and the ACLU sued the city, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights by moving the event.

But, apparently, based on the article, the city of Naples did not offer a particularly strong defense.  A statement from Liberty Counsel was quoted, which said: "The city noted that Cambier Park, which has a children's playground a mere 100 feet away from where Naples Pride wants to hold its drag show, is a limited public forum where permits are subject to reasonable and viewpoint neutral criteria," adding, "While this is true, Liberty Counsel argues this defense leaves out more significant arguments that would require the court to deny the injunction in the interest of protecting children..." The article stated:

They point out that Florida's "Protection of Children Act" of 2023 expressly outlaws public drag shows held in view of minors.

Christian event in Seattle draws protests, ire of mayor

Members of the Christian community in Seattle and the mayor's office are at odds due to a protest at a service event that has been mischaracterized, according to a FoxNews.com article, which reported, about the original event on Saturday, May 24 and a subsequent event at City Hall on Tuesday, the 28th:

Organizers hosted a Mayday USA rally at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle on Saturday, which The Pursuit NW Pastor Russell Johnson helped lead. The event reportedly offered free haircuts, free bike giveaways and free groceries for the community as well as time for prayer and worship.

The event was later "swarmed" by protesters, some of whom reportedly threw urine-filled water balloons at attendees, and more than 20 arrests were made.

The article related:

"[Saturday's] event has, of course, been labeled by the media as some sort of anti-LGBT-type rally, and it wasn't," Johnson said Thursday on "The Ingraham Angle."

"We were swarmed by hundreds of Antifa militants... They were throwing water-balloons filled with urine at Christians who stood in the park and were assaulted for the high crime of worshiping Jesus in a public space," Johnson told Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

FoxNews.com went on to say:

After police reported multiple arrests at Saturday's rally, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's office released a statement defending the LGBTQ community and protesters while criticizing the "far-right rally" for provoking the violent reaction.

Then the Tuesday skirmish at City Hall occurred - the Fox website said:

In response to the mayor, Johnson helped organize an event at Seattle City Hall on Tuesday, which he said was met with "similar" opposition from protesters.

"Antifa was out in force. They bloodied and beat up good church people who stood in line to try to get into a rally to sing hymns and worship songs and pray for the direction of the city," Johnson said.

The pastor noted that after announcing Tuesday's rally, he was "inundated" with support from people beyond Christian and conservative circles who wanted to "stand with Christians at City Hall because we believe in the First Amendment."

Well, it was announced last week that the FBI has become involved in investigating what has occurred; the article said:

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Tuesday he had requested an investigation into allegations of "targeted violence" against religious groups after the rally at Seattle City Hall in response to the mayor purportedly blaming Christian activists for igniting a weekend demonstration that turned violent.

The 3 - May 25, 2025

Court rules in favor of lawsuit challenging FCC proposals on increased employment information

Broadcasters across the nation were facing the possibility of having to provide increased information about their employees if a new proposal had gone into effect.  A new ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has greatly reduced that possibility.

National Religious Broadcasters, which brought the challenge, along with one of its members, released the information on its website recently, stating:

...the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FCC had overstepped its regulatory authority by attempting to force broadcasters to report the race, ethnicity, and gender of each of their employees.

The NRB action was what was called a "petition for review of FCC 24-18, the rule that reinstated the Form 395-B collection and disclosure requirements."  

Troy A. Miller, President & CEO of NRB stated:

“NRB has always fought to protect Christian communicators from baseless attempts to restrict their First Amendment liberties which hinder their work of proclaiming the Gospel. This ruling helps ensure that the government cannot create a backdoor to control broadcasters through public intimidation, misuse private data against them, or interfere with the sacred and constitutionally protected mission of religious broadcasters.”

The article noted: "FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has stated that the FCC will not appeal the decision of the Fifth Circuit. NRB will continue in its legal and political efforts to fight for Christian communicators’ freedom to operate without unlawful government interference."

High court issues tie vote on matter involving a religious charter school

One high-profile case at the U.S. Supreme Court involved a Catholic virtual school that had been approved as a charter school in Oklahoma.  However, the state's attorney general filed court action to block the school in its attempt.  The Daily Signal reports:

In a tied decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday allowed an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision to stand, disqualifying a Catholic charter school from receiving state funding.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the ruling, resulting in the 4-4 decision.

The court did not issue an opinion, only stating, “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court.”

State attorney general Gentner Drummond "...sued the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and its members, seeking to invalidate its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School."  The state supreme court had sided with the attorney general, and that decision will now be allowed to stand. 

The article notes:

The Trump administration had previously filed a brief supporting the school, arguing that excluding it from the program would violate its free exercise rights.

The administration argued that Oklahoma’s exclusion of St. Isidore violates the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, and that charter schools like St. Isidore do not represent part of the state government.

Federal judge strikes down Equal Employment Opportunity Commission transgender guidelines

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had been attempting to enact special rules in American workplace, showing favoritism toward transgender employees. The EEOC, which, of course, is under new leadership, posted on its website:

On May 15, 2025, a Texas federal court held the Biden-EEOC’s expansion of the definition of “sex” in its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace was contrary to law...

The website, under new management, explained:

The EEOC previously issued the Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace by a 3-2 vote in 2024. EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas voted against the guidance and issued a dissent after it was approved by the EEOC majority. In particular, Lucas has been vocal in her opposition to portions of EEOC’s harassment guidance that took the enforcement position that harassing conduct under Title VII includes “denial of access to a bathroom or other sex-segregated facility consistent with [an] individual’s gender identity;” and that harassing conduct includes “repeated and intentional use of a name or pronoun inconsistent with [an] individual’s known gender identity.”

It notes:

President Trump directed the EEOC to rescind portions of the guidance that conflicted with the executive order. However, any modification or recission must be approved by a majority vote of the Commission, and as of January 27, 2025, the EEOC lacks a quorum. Acting Chair Lucas has made clear that she remains opposed to those portions of the guidance.

The 3 - May 18, 2025

Pro-life organizations take aim at mifepristone after shocking study on abortion pill

Within the last few weeks, the Ethics and Public Policy Center has released the results of a study that shows, regarding the abortion pill, mifepristone, according to The Washington Stand, "although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that less than half a percent of women experience serious complications, the actual rate of damage done by the drug is significantly higher."

The article relates that over 865,000 mifepristone abortions were studied between 2017 and 2023. The report found that almost 11% of "women who used the abortion drug mifepristone experienced serious complications within 45 days as a result."

The Washington Stand stated:

The EPPC’s report finds that complications arising from mifepristone are at least 22 times more common than the 0.5% of cases touted by the FDA. The new report is, according to EPPC, “the most comprehensive study of chemical abortion safety ever conducted in the U.S.” It relies on data collected from 28 times more mifepristone abortions than the FDA’s research does and, further, is more recent and more accurate to real-world circumstances. The EPPC noted that the FDA relies “entirely on data from more than a decade ago” from “a prescreened group of generally healthy women recruited into various clinical trials conducted at different times around the world.”

As a result of these findings, a consortium of over 50 organizations, led by Family Research Council, have sent a letter to President Trump "detailing the dangers of mifepristone and asking him to support state-level pro-life laws and reconsider the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) approval of mifepristone, or at the very least reinstate safeguards originally enacted when the abortion drug was approved in 2000." That's according to another Washington Stand article. 

Meanwhile, according to the Missourinet website: "The Trump Administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s lawsuit that seeks to restrict access to a popular abortion drug."

The article states: 

A U.S. Justice Department brief says Bailey’s lawsuit was filed in Texas, which is not a plaintiff in the case. It says the suit should have been filed in a federal court in Missouri, Kansas, or Idaho.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho fail to identify imminent harm they personally face regarding the access of mifepristone.

Bailey, in a statement published by the website, cited what appears to be the EPPC study, stating: "Beyond a reasonable doubt, the evidence clearly establishes that mifepristone poses a grave risk to the health of women. The most recent study says 1 in 9 women who ingest this powerful chemical will end up in the ER or worse."

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is quoted as saying: “The chemical abortion drug, which is what this case is about, (harms) more than 10% of the women who take it,” adding, “It causes serious medical episodes, hemorrhaging, mass infections, trips to the emergency room. The lawsuit is about, should there be safety regulations around the drug? There should be.” He said that “I don’t think the President has anything to do with it...I think it’s lawyers in the Department of Justice and the Deep State who like Biden’s rules on abortion and want to protect them. And I just think that’s a mistake.”  However, it has been reported that the President has indicated support for future distribution of mifepristone. 

In his questioning of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in a congressional hearing last week, according to The Daily Citizen, Hawley referenced the EPPC study.  The article says:

Secretary Kennedy confirmed that he had seen the study and acknowledged the data was “alarming” and that, at the very least, the label should be updated to reflect its true danger to women.

He then explained he has instructed the director of the FDA to do a “complete review” of the chemical abortion pill and report back to him with the findings.

Secretary Kennedy confirmed the review is a top priority, but didn’t have a deadline for when the work will be finished.

Tennessee governor signs bill to prevent use of "gender pronouns"

A major legislative victory in the state of Tennessee involves the use of so-called "gender pronouns," which refer to a student using pronouns that are not consistent with his or her biological sex - in other words, these are falsehoods.  

Recently, Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that,  according to Alliance Defending Freedom, "prohibits government entities from forcing students, teachers, professors, and other public employees to use inaccurate pronouns in violation of their sincerely held beliefs..."

ADF Senior Counsel Matt Sharp, in a statement, said:

Words and language carry meaning, and when used properly, they communicate truth about the world. Forcing individuals to say things that are false—such as inaccurate pronouns—imposes real harm on the speaker. In no world is it acceptable for the government to discipline students or force good educators or other public servants out of a job all for the sake of promoting gender ideology. With this legislation, Tennessee is rightfully stepping into the gap to protect freedom of speech and conscience.

California school district secures victory in gender notification case

More now from what I call the "genderverse," an uncomfortable, godless place in which men can become women and women can become men, there are more than the two genders that are stated in Scripture, and people are punished for "misgendering," or using a pronoun that does not comport with one's biological sex:

The power of the genderverse, I believe, is being systematically and incrementally broken.  Gov. Lee's signature on the Tennessee bill is one example.  So, is a court ruling recently that temporarily upholds the rights of parents to opt their children out of classes where gender ideology will be taught.  First Liberty Institute states:

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California granted a motion for preliminary injunction requiring the Encinitas (CA) Union School District to provide notification and opt-outs to parents and students when promoting gender ideology in “buddy classes,” a mentoring program coupling older and younger students. First Liberty Institute and the National Center for Law & Policy filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction in September 2024.

Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel for First Liberty, is quoted as saying: “No child should be forced to speak a message that violates his religious convictions,” adding, “We are grateful for the court’s decision and will continue to fight to ensure that elementary children are not forced to participate in lessons about gender identity that violate their faith.”

The 3 - May 11, 2025

New pope selected, speculation taking place on direction

Within the space of two days, Robert Prevost, the first American-born pope, became Pope Leo XIV, succeeding Pope Francis, who had passed away not long ago. 

There is certainly a digital footprint that Cardinal Prevost has, and that has raised speculation about whether or not he will become an extension of the term of Pope Francis or chart his own course.

USA Today reported:

Before being elected on May 8 as the leader of the Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV shared social media posts criticizing President Donald Trump's and Vice President JD Vance's stances on immigration.

In three posts, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was critical of Vance's take on religion, shared an article critiquing Vance's statements on deportation of migrants and retweeted criticism of Trump and President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele's response to the deportation of El Salvadorian national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland.

One post from Feb. 3, 2025, pointed to an article in the National Catholic Reporter titled "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

At The Stream, John Zmirak, who is Catholic, stated: "On the one hand, he seems to genuinely oppose abortion...," embedding a tweet from noted pro-life advocate Frank Pavone. And, Zmirak states, "Leo in the past has expressed conventionally orthodox Christian opinions on the Sexual Revolution...," and embedded a tweet from Breitbart's Alana Mastrangelo.

But, Zmirak also noted that, "The bulk of public commentary that Leo has made in the past leans far to the left, alas, on issues where genuine Catholic teaching is either neutral or actually conservative, as John West...noted..."

Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, writes at WORLD Magazine:

What does this mean for the future of the Roman Catholic Church? The two most basic facts to consider are these: First, Pope Francis appointed the vast majority of the cardinal electors in the room. Second, Prevost had been personally chosen by Pope Francis to direct the process of choosing and appointing bishops around the globe. In other words, there is little chance that the new pope was chosen to do anything but continue the trajectory set by Francis. That is of great concern to conservative Catholics.

Mohler also presented concern about the packaging and optics:

Francis presented himself as a genial grandfather, but behind the scenes he hit conservatives hard, forbidding, for example, the Latin mass. At times Francis appeared downright confused about basic issues of Catholic tradition and teaching. My guess is that Pope Leo XIV will present himself very differently. Conservatives now wonder out loud if Leo will be simultaneously more polished and more effective at the task of liberalizing Catholic doctrine and practice.

But, two commentators for EWTN, the Catholic network based in Birmingham, see Pope Leo as potentially building bridges.  Teresa Tomeo, on Friday's Meeting House on Faith Radio, shared that description from one of her radio show guests and cautioned people from perhaps jumping to conclusions about the direction of this next papacy.  And, Mediaite quoted from a Fox News appearance by Raymond Arroyo, who said this to Will Cain:

Well, hope springs eternal, Will, even in The Eternal City. Here’s what I’d say. It’s a mixed bag. The record is a mixed bag, but there are indications when you saw the pope come out today, ok, he was wearing the traditional mozzetta, that red garment atop his white cassock. That’s kind of a cry back to the past. That’s a wink at tradition. So, a lot of traditionalists and conservative people said, “Oh look, he’s dressing like a pope.”

We frankly haven’t seen this in 12 years with Pope Francis. So, maybe Leo will be as he mentioned in his speech today, a bridge-builder. One hopes, I mean, when you look at his Twitter feed, he was for open borders in the United States and kind of took potshots at JD Vance and the Trump administration.

But look, all popes are going to support migrants, support the poor, support peace. Their heart goes out for humanity. That’s with the job. Jesus would do the same. I don’t know if he’d get so political. And that, they’re gonna have to be careful of.

The record shows concern, but Pope Leo XIV's record as pope is just beginning to be written.  Because of his status as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church and his profile in the world as an influential moral and spiritual leader, what he does - and says - potentially impacts all people of faith and is highly significant.  

University agrees to pay psychiatrist fired for his views on gender transition

Allen Josephson once headed the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Louisville.  That changed, according to CBN.com, when he spoke at a 2017 event sponsored by the Heritage Foundation.  The article said that (including information from Alliance Defending Freedom):

According to the ADF, a non-profit legal group, Josephson spoke in his personal capacity during a panel discussion about his views on children experiencing gender dysphoria. As a result of his comments, the school "demoted, harassed, and ultimately fired" him for "speaking out on the harms of 'transitioning' children."

The article continued:

In his own words, Josephson said the retribution was swift.

"As a medical professional who cares about my patients, my answer was simple, obvious, and innocuous. We must start by finding out the cause of the child's 'transgender' confusion and resolving any emotional problems before considering more invasive, risky treatments," Josephson explained, writing for the Daily Signal.

"It seemed a reasonable enough response," he continued. "According to the scientific method, every study begins with questions. One of the first is: 'Why?'"

CBN reported: "Josephson said that after 14 years of building a successful program at the school, he was demoted within a matter of weeks after speaking at the Heritage event, ultimately ending his 40-year career." He was quoted as saying, "The university ended my career because I elected not to surf the current wave of social activism..."

ADF filed a lawsuit on Josephson's behalf, and a federal appeals court ruled that the case could proceed. CBN.com stated:

In a lawsuit filed against the school, ADF argued the university violated Josephson's freedom of speech and other constitutionally protected freedoms.

In September of last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that Josephson's case should proceed to trial, declaring public university officials can be held personally accountable for censoring professors or retaliating against them as the University of Louisville was accused of doing in Josephson's case.

ADF announced earlier this week that the school has agreed to settle the case, paying Josephson almost $1.6 million in damages and attorneys' fees.

U.S. Supreme Court declares that Administration can continue to ban transgender people serving in the military

As the SCOTUS Blog website reports, on Inauguration Day this year, "...President Donald Trump...issued" an "order requiring Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to put into effect a ban on 'individuals with gender dysphoria' – the medical term for the psychological distress caused by a conflict between the sex someone is assigned at birth and that person’s gender identity."

The website points out that the Department of Defense, on February 26, "issued that ban, which generally disqualifies anyone who either has gender dysphoria or has undergone medical interventions to treat gender dysphoria from serving in the military. The department explained that 'the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service.'"

A group of plaintiffs went to court to stop the ban from taking effect, and a federal district judge ordered the implementation of the ban stopped, and an appeals court agreed with the lower court judge.  The Administration appealed to the high court, which put the lower court order on hold, allowing the ban to continue while the trial is progressing in the 9th Circuit. 

The 3 - May 4, 2025

National Day of Prayer I: Religious Liberty Commission announced

There are several developments for which this year's National Day of Prayer could be remembered.  In addition to gathering at a variety of locations from city halls to county courthouses and a variety of venues, there was a National Day of Prayer event that occurred in the Rose Garden at the White House.

At that event, it was announced that a Religious Liberty Commission would be established. Fox News reported that:

Trump unveiled plans for the new commission during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House and signed it later in the event.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will serve as the chairman of the commission, Trump said from the White House Rose Garden.

"The last administration attacked people of faith for four years," Patrick said Thursday. "There's a saying that no one should get between a doctor and a patient. I think we would say no one should get between God and a believer. No one should get between God and those seeking him."

The article at the Fox website reported:

The Religious Liberty Commission will compose a report evaluating threats to religious liberty in the U.S., ways to enhance religious freedom and examine the history of American religious liberty, according to a White House fact sheet on the executive order.

The report will address issues including parental rights in religious education, school choice, attacks on religious places of worship, and free speech issues for religious organizations, according to the fact sheet.

Members of the Commission include President, CEO, and Chief Counsel of Christian legal organization Kelly Shackelford.  First Liberty's website also listed other members of the group, including Chairman, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Vice-Chairman, former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and other notables including: Franklin Graham, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Phil McGraw, and others.

National Day of Prayer II: HHS announces report on gender transition attempts, lawsuit against Alabama law dropped

The subject of gender identity and troublesome attempts by some in the medical community to assist minors in changing their "gender" was front and center on Thursday, May 1, the National Day of Prayer.  

Christian Newswire published a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services, which stated:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Office of Population Affairs, released a comprehensive review of the evidence and best practices for promoting the health of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. This review, informed by an evidence-based medicine approach, reveals serious concerns about medical interventions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, that attempt to transition children and adolescents away from their sex.

The press release quoted from National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, who said: “Our duty is to protect our nation’s children—not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions,” adding, “We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas.”  The HHS press release also related:

Despite increasing pressure to promote these drastic medical interventions for our nation’s youth, the review makes clear: the science and evidence do not support their use, and the risks cannot be ignored.

The website, JustTheNews.com reported:

The Biden administration politicized the science of treatment for youth gender confusion by hiding taxpayer-funded research that found no improvement in mental health for youth on puberty blockers and by bearing down on a standards-setting group to remove age minimums for so-called gender-affirming hormonal and surgical procedures from a draft.

The Trump administration is pushing back on both fronts, rushing a new policy to immediately make public National Institutes of Health-funded research results and releasing a massive review of youth gender medicine that echoes earlier findings from Europe, which has drastically restricted drugs and surgery for gender-confused youth.

The article went on to say:

The moves pleasantly surprised administration critics such as University of California San Francisco HIV researcher Monica Gandhi, who has repeatedly intoned against cuts to health research funding but praised NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya for the "extremely fair and good" transparency policy.

Science writer Jesse Singal, who broke the news that transgender Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine interfered in Standards of Care 8 by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, said he was shocked the gender medicine review was neither "hackish" nor "authored by cranks."

Rachel Levine is a former HHS assistant director, a biological male named Richard, presenting as a female. Just the News reported that his treachery was discovered by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in his defense of an Alabama law preventing the use of surgeries and treatments designed to help young people change their "gender."

The website article noted:

... the plaintiffs in litigation against Alabama's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which had accidentally exposed Levine's interference, dropped the case Thursday.

Legal discovery showed "key medical organizations misled parents, promoted unproven treatments as settled science, and ignored growing international concern" over the procedures, said the office of state Attorney General Steve Marshall.

"It is no surprise" they quit, Marshall said.

New proposed OK school could become the nation's first religious charter school; SCOTUS hears challenge

Last Wednesday, according to article at the Liberty Counsel website:

...the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond where the Justices appeared to favor including a faith-based school in Oklahoma’s public charter school program that had been excluded due to being a religious institution. The case considers whether a state may discriminate and exclude a faith-based school from state funding in a public charter school program simply because of its religious affiliation. A second question in the case asks whether a religious private school that partners with the state to offer a free educational option for interested students becomes a “state actor” that treads over the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by funding religious education.

Liberty Counsel's interest in the case?  The piece on its website noted:

Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of Covenant Journey Academy (CJA) noting that SCOTUS has long recognized that parents bear the primary responsibility for directing their children’s education – a fundamental right that must necessarily include the ability to choose a school that accords with their values and meets their children’s needs.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, heard on Freedom's Call on Faith Radio, is Founder and Chancellor of CJA, which is an online school.  Staver is quoted as saying on the Liberty Counsel website: "...Faith-based, virtual schools offer parents an alternative when government-run schools fail to provide a safe or ideologically neutral environment for the families they claim to serve. The Supreme Court has made clear that when a state attempts to impose an educational model that contradicts the deeply held beliefs of parents, it trespasses on the Constitution."

The 3 - April 27, 2025

Pope Francis laid to rest, Catholic Church deals with its direction

There has been no shortage of coverage and response to the death of Pope Francis.  His funeral took place this past weekend, and according to WORLD Magazine:

The Vatican estimated that more than a quarter of a million people filled St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican for the service. The 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church died of a stroke on April 21, Easter Monday, after a dozen years of leadership.

Before the mass, uniformed pallbearers carried Francis’ simple wooden coffin from St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body had lain in state, to the square outside. Cardinals lined the basilica’s central aisle until the pope’s coffin passed through.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, gave the funeral sermon. He said Francis was a pope of the people, a simple pastor with an informal and spontaneous speaking style.

The article went on to say: "After the funeral mass, a modified popemobile carried Francis’ coffin to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he had asked to be buried."

Another WORLD article noted that the conclave to select a new Pope will begin next week:

Catholic cardinals on Monday said they will begin next week the conclave process to elect Pope Francis’ successor, according to the Vatican’s news service. Until the conclave begins, cardinals are working on getting to know one another as the mourning period for Francis continues, British Cardinal Vincent Nichols told the Associated Press. One of them will be chosen by the rest as the new pope.

A total of 135 cardinals are qualified as electors for the conclave, according to Vatican statistics. Only cardinals younger than 80 can be electors. The majority of them were appointed by Francis. But some of them may not actually travel to Rome to participate in the vote—just over a hundred electors were in Rome on Monday, Vatican News reported. About 22 cardinals worldwide are considered papabili, or leading candidates for the job of pope, by Catholic journalists and researchers at the College of Cardinals Report.

The death of Pope Francis marks a potential pivot point for the Roman Catholic Church.  As a practicing Protestant, I think it is very clear within a variety of Protestant denominations that choices are being made - are these bodies going to pursue a more traditional direction based on Scripture or a more progressive direction based on a worldly interpretation of Holy Writ?

It is also happened within the Catholic Church - and while many have praised the character and compassion of Pope Francis, there are, among conservative, or traditional Catholics, concerns about the direction of the Church.

I came across several commentaries over at The Stream, the Founder and President of which is evangelical minister James Robison. 

Jules Gomes wrote:

The pope’s cheerleaders portrayed him as the long-awaited messianic reformer who spoke truth to political power — and even in his final days, challenged their nemesis, Donald Trump, by egging the U.S. bishops to defy his efforts to deport illegal aliens.

For his detractors Francis was nothing short of Machiavellian — a manipulative micromanager, a megalomaniacal dictator, and a Neville Chamberlain redivivus who struck Faustian bargains with Islamic jihadists, globalist vaccine peddlers, pro-Palestinian antisemites, and Beijing’s communist nabobs while trading Catholicism for kitsch.

Gomes added: "For the media, it was love at first sight...," adding, "It seemed like the pope’s honeymoon with the chattering classes would last forever, with the media devouring his daily soundbites that veered dangerously off script, especially during high-altitude press conferences on the papal plane."  He also wrote:

Francis, ad libbing on how atheists would go to Heaven and the existence of a “gay lobby” in the Vatican, confirmed that his would be a papacy of improvisation — and, adventurous, perhaps even risky, innovation.

And then on July 29, 2013, during an press conference on the plane while flying back from Brazil, he uttered five little words that would become the signature of his papacy: “Who am I to judge?” he said when asked about gay priests in the Church.

Also in the Stream piece, Gomes wrote:

As his health continued to fail, Francis devoted his attention to creating the optimal conditions for his successor to seal his legacy. In a series of consistories, the pope nominated cardinal-electors who align with his agenda on LGBT rights, synodality, climate change, migrant issues, and social justice, most recently in October 2024.

Another Stream piece, by Auguste Meyrat, included his comments how Pope Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict "labored to reform the church," relating about Benedict, that "however brilliantly he articulated the profundities of Catholicism, most people simply remembered how he made them feel: guilty, mediocre, and incredibly stupid. For conservative Catholics like myself, this seemed appropriate when we were seeing our beloved religion succumb to hollow ideologies of multiculturalism, relativism, and neopaganism. For everyone else, it was an unpardonable offense."  So, as Meyrat points out:

Naturally, Pope Francis went in the opposite direction, doing his utmost to convert the Church into a leftist NGO. He prioritized the same things as leftist secular governments, had the same soft spots for dictators and communist regimes, and treated moral controversies with unbelievable flippancy. As promised, he “made a mess” by promoting shameless cronies and demoting principled detractors, allowing chronic problems to fester, and stomping on the few instances of growth in the Church.

Stream Senior Editor John Zmirak, a notable Catholic writer, said regarding Pope Francis:

But must we pretend that we will miss him? Or that it would be anything but a catastrophe if the cardinals Francis handpicked — many of them proteges of the child-molesting leftist Machiavelli Theodore McCarrick — were to elect another pope with Francis’s theology and politics? Indeed, if the next pope follows Francis even further into surrendering before the secular world and refashioning the Gospel to accommodate sexual perversion and woke politics, it would discredit the authority of the papacy itself.

He goes on to say:

Must we spin webs of words about Francis’s “compassion” and “humility” that even his supporters don’t really believe? His carefully staged humility photo ops were markedly at odds with his rigorous grasp on power, and his persecution of traditional Catholics who dared to question his doctrinal deviations from Catholic tradition and Scripture: convents seized, religious orders dissolved, bishops fired, cardinals stripped of office.

Francis has largely forbidden the traditional liturgy of the Church around the world, even though it has been the center of religious revival among young Catholics, fostering large faithful families and many religious vocations. Francis has seen the green shoots springing up in the Church, and sprayed them with weed killer.

So, we recognize the Catholic Church as a powerful force for good in this world, and a recognized spiritual force, even though there are deep theological differences between Protestants and Catholics. But, leadership can certainly shape the direction of the Church, and it does seem that there are concerns about a progressive bent over which Pope Francis presided.  Will the cardinals who are tasked with selecting a new Pope continue in this direction?  Or will they signal a return to the steady traditionalism of Pope Benedict?   People who name the name of Christ worldwide can certainly watch and pray.

EEOC Commissioner sues to get job back, Christian organizations stand with President in lawsuit

An article at The Daily Signal relates that two commissioners serving on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Jocelyn Samuels and Charlotte Burrows, "used their years on the...Commission to require employers to facilitate gender transitions and abortions. Shortly after his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump ordered the independent agency to rescind its gender-identity mandate."

They chose not to comply, so the President fired them.  Samuels wants her job back, so she's filed a lawsuit against the President. 

The article notes that, "On Thursday, the Christian Employers Alliance and Choices Pregnancy Center of Greater Phoenix moved to intervene in a lawsuit opposite...Jocelyn Samuels, who they say imposed unlawful gender identity and abortion mandates on them, violating their religious freedom."

Julie Marie Blake, who serves as Senior Counsel for Regulatory Litigation at Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the two Christian organizations; she is quoted as saying: “Our clients are both Christian organizations. They recognize the biological reality that humans are male and female, and the biological reality that life begins at conception, and so neither of them can comply with these unlawful mandates." She adds: "Our clients are the real people who will be harmed if [Samuels] gets back into office and is able to reinforce and continue to go after employers through these mandates..."

The Daily Signal article provided more information about these mandates, stating:

The gender-identity mandate imposed by Samuels required employers to treat males as females and allow employee access to private spaces based on gender identity. The abortion mandate misused the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which is supposed to protect pregnant women, to promote a pro-abortion agenda, silence pro-life speech by employers, and force employers to facilitate elective abortions.

SCOTUS hears case involving parents wishing to "opt-out" their children from LGBT materials

In a key case involving parental rights, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case out of Maryland in which parents in a school district had filed a lawsuit after they were denied the right to remove their children from classes where LGBT-friendly materials were being used.  The New York Post reported:

The Supreme Court indicated Tuesday it would rule in favor of a group of parents who sued a suburban Maryland school board over its refusal to allow parents of elementary school children to opt out of classes with LGBTQ-themed storybooks.

Plaintiffs argue that the school system in Montgomery County, just outside Washington, DC, cannot require children to sit through lessons involving the books if their family has religious objections.

The article goes on to say:

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) approved certain LGBTQ-themed curriculum books in late 2022. Initially, MCPS allowed an opt-out for parents with religious concerns, but by March of 2023, it reversed course, citing concerns about absenteeism and administrative burdens.

A group of parents from Muslim, Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox faiths, sued the school district, arguing the lack of an opt-out system trampled upon their religious rights as parents.

The New York Post highlighted comments from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who "expressed concerns that the LGBTQ-laced classroom instructions aren’t merely trying to expose students to different ideas, but are about trying to impress upon students that 'this is the right view of the world' and 'how you should think about things.'” The article noted: "At times, some of the conservative justices sounded uneasy about the content of some of the books in question."

For example...

...“That’s the one where they were supposed to look for the leather and bondage things like that,” Justice Neil Gorsuch asked about the “Pride Puppy” book for pre-K students, which was later removed from the curriculum by the board.

“Pride Puppy” is a picture book aimed at three- and four-year-olds that instructs kids to look for items they might find at a gay pride parade, such as underwear, lip rings, drag kings, and late gay liberation activist Marsha Johnson, whom critics noted was once a sex worker.

Eric Baxter, attorney for one of the parents, said, “The [school] board does not dispute that under its theory, it could compel instruction using pornography, and parents would have no rights,” adding, “The First Amendment demands more. Parents, not school boards, should have the final say on such religious matters.”

The 3 - April 20, 2025

South African missionary taken at gunpoint released without harm

Last week, I told you about Josh Sullivan, a missionary from America to South Africa who was abducted from the church where he was preaching.  Prayers were requested, and late last week, it was announced that prayers were answered in a dramatic fashion.  

The Christian Post reported that:

Five days after he was kidnapped by armed men from his church in Motherwell, South Africa, Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued and “miraculously unharmed” following a “high-intensity shootout” that left three people dead.

The article went on to say that, "A statement from the South African Police Service said the shootout happened at a safe house...where the 34-year-old pastor was being held captive." The statement said:

“As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded..."

Now, listen to what the official statement had to say: “The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.”

A previous Christian Post article gave insight into the character of Pastor Sullivan: 

Months before he was abducted from his growing church in the impoverished Motherwell township in South Africa last Thursday, Tennessee missionary and married father of four, Josh Sullivan, said he was robbed of his wallet by a young neighborhood man who almost got killed for the crime.

The article said that "Sullivan...recounted the robbery during a sermon at Tri-City Baptist Church in late December. He said members of the community offered to put the thief to death on his behalf after he was caught but he forgave the man and used the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the community instead." 

New AR law protects children, prevents faith-based adoption agencies from placing kids with gay couples

Recently, the state of Arkansas passed a law called the Keep Kids First Act, which was signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to a WORLD Magazine article, which reported:

Under the Keep Kids First Act, state officials cannot force faith-based groups to place children in homes not aligned with the groups’ religious beliefs. Agencies can continue to place children with families who affirm Biblical beliefs about gender and marriage. The bill also protects Christian adoptive or foster parents from discrimination if they refuse to accept government policy about sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with Biblical truth.

The article has a link to an article on an Alliance Defending Freedom website, in which Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen is quoted as saying that the new law "...prioritizes the well-being of kids by prohibiting state and local government officials from discriminating against adoption and foster care providers and parents simply because of their religious beliefs and moral convictions."
 

Lawmakers in Washington make attempt to advance and protect the work of pregnancy resource centers

Members of Congress, recognizing the incredible work of pro-life pregnancy resource centers, have introduced legislation that counterbalances actions against these centers - physical and legislative - in several states across the nation.  A CBN.com article notes:

For decades, pro-life pregnancy centers have faced attacks from abortion providers and their political allies including federal, state, and local governments.

Recently, several pro-life lawmakers on Capitol Hill have set out to change that by introducing legislation designed to keep these centers and their employees safe.

In addition to protection, the "Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025" would prohibit government discrimination and retaliation against care centers that refuse to point to abortion as an option. Pro-life lawmakers maintain the measure is needed now more than ever.

Pro-life House member Chris Smith, who joined with other members of the House to introduce that legislation, is quoted as saying: "Notwithstanding any other law, the federal government and any individual or entity that receives federal financial assistance, including any state or local government, may not penalize or retaliate against an entity because the entity offers life-affirming support and resources to women facing unexpected pregnancy or offers life-affirming alternatives to abortion or refrains from abortion actions..."

The CBN article related that:

Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe versus Wade, violent attacks on crisis pregnancy centers increased. In 2022 alone, more than 100 such attacks took place nationwide, including firebombings, vandalism and deadly threats, yet authorities did not make one single arrest at that time.

Now certain states are joining the fight against pro-life centers, weaponizing various laws to stop them from saving lives.

The article pointed out examples, provided by Gabriella McIntyre, Legal Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, including New Jersey's Attorney General investigating a group of centers and demanding certain documents that invade the center's privacy.  Plus New York's AG is attempting to prevent centers from talking to women about abortion pill reversal, which is possible after the first pill is taken.  And, the CBN article refers to an Illinois law that would force pregnancy centers to hire employees that do not share their beliefs.  

The 3 - April 13, 2025

Court rules that pro-life centers in IL do not have to promote abortion

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, a consortium of pro-life pregnancy resources centers, in the face of an attempt by the state of California to force centers there to promote abortion.

Illinois lawmakers apparently wanted to do something similar, passing a law that would force pro-life centers to refer clients to abortion clinics in the state.  Alliance Defending Freedom announced online:

A federal district court permanently blocked an Illinois law that forced pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion in violation of their deeply held beliefs about protecting unborn life. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and three pro-life pregnancy centers in a seven-year-old lawsuit against the state of Illinois.

ADF, on one of its websites, said:

In its decision, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois found that a provision of the law compelling the centers to promote abortion and its supposed “benefits,” regardless of their ethical, medical, or moral views, violated their freedom of speech...

ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot stated: "The U.S. Supreme Court held in NIFLA v. Becerra that forcing people to promote abortion is unconstitutional. Pro-life pregnancy centers must be free to continue their life-affirming work without fear of government punishment.”

Colorado bill passes House that would remove children from homes if parents do not affirm "gender identity"

Colorado lawmakers last Sunday passed legislation that could result in children being removed from their homes if their parents do not go along with the LGBT agenda and affirm their children's supposed "gender identity."  The Daily Signal stated: 

The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill Sunday that would remove kids from parents’ custody for behaviors like “misgendering” and “deadnaming”...

Rep. Jarvis Caldwell, an opponent of the legislation, said: "It’s codifying into law that if their ideology confuses your child, and you don’t affirm that delusion, you’re committing child abuse and can lose custody of your child.” Caldwell also said: “We have now crossed the Rubicon of parental rights with this bill...” The article says:

According to the bill summary, HB 1312 defines “coercive control” as including “deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to publish material related to an individual’s gender-affirming health care services.” 

The bill's summary states, "A court shall consider reports of coercive control when determining the allocation of parental responsibilities in accordance with the best interests of the child..."  The Daily Signal article offered this glossary:

“Deadnaming” involves referring to an individual who claims to be transgender by the name that person has rejected. “Misgendering” involves referring to a person who claims to be transgender with the pronouns associated with their biological sex, rather than their preferred pronouns. “Gender-affirming health care” is a euphemism for experimental medical interventions designed to make a man appear female or vice versa.

The Washington Stand, in an article that was published prior to the passage of the bill, known as the Kelly Loving Act, through the House, quoted from Jeff Johnston, described as a "culture and policy analyst" from Focus on the Family; the article relates:

He deemed the bill as “an unconstitutional assault on parents’ rights, religious freedom, and freedom of speech.” Johnston emphasized that parents should “have the right to raise their children according to what their beliefs are,” overseeing their nurture and care. Yet, the Kelly Loving Act would shift that authority to the government.

Additionally, Johnston continued, “It forces businesses and employees to lie and use names and pronouns of those who believe they are the opposite sex or some other so-called gender altogether.” Citing the decade-long legal battle of Colorado baker Jack Philips, he argued that such laws compel individuals “to use language that would violate their free speech and their religious freedom” and that doesn’t “comport with reality.”

Lawmakers attempt to expand freedom of speech for pastors on political issues

Recently, Michael Farris, General Counsel for National Religious Broadcasters, visited with me at the NRB Convention in Dallas - that conversation can be found in our Media Center at FaithRadio.org.  One of the topics that we discussed was the Johnson Amendment, which has been characterized as restricting freedom of speech for pastors with regard to political issues, including endorsing candidates.

NRB, in a recent e-mail newsletter, highlighted proposed legislation by Rep. Mark Harris and Sen. 
James Lankford, who have...

...introduced the "Free Speech Fairness Act" which would prevent the IRS from silencing the voices of America's pastors, churches, and non-profits. The bill targets the Johnson Amendment, a tax code provision which has stripped the ability of churches and non-profits to speak out for or against any political candidate by threatening to pull their tax-exempt status.

The newsletter linked to an article on Rep. Harris' website, which said:

Since 1954, the Johnson Amendment in the tax code has suppressed the free speech of religious leaders, churches, and nonprofits by threatening the loss of tax-exempt status if they simply speak for or against any political candidate.

Representative Harris said, “People of faith should not fear exercising their First Amendment rights at the risk of the IRS coming after them. For too long, the Johnson Amendment has silenced pastors, churches, and non-profits from engaging on moral and political issues of our day for fear of losing their tax-exempt status. This attempt to muzzle people of faith must end – the Constitution is clear: Americans’ right to free speech shall not be infringed.”

The article noted that, "In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order to stop the enforcement of the Johnson Amendment while he was in office." It also said that Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise "have previously led the legislation to fix this provision in the tax code."

The bill has a total of 16 co-sponsors, including Alabama's Barry Moore.

The 3 - April 6, 2025

Justices at high court hear case on whether or not states can refuse to allocate funds to Planned Parenthood

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an important case that could have a dramatic impact on the amount of taxpayer funding going to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.

The case comes out of the state of South Carolina.  According to Liberty Counsel's website:

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and one of its Medicaid clients challenged Governor Henry McMaster’s 2018 executive order claiming it violated federal law under the Medicaid Act’s “any qualified provider” language. The law’s “any qualified provider” language grants beneficiaries the right to choose their provider from a pool of providers the state has deemed qualified.

The website goes on to say: 

Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief in the case noting the law’s language allows for states to disqualify providers that engage in unethical and illegal practices, in which Planned Parenthood has been credibly implicated in these types of practices.

The Christian legal organization notes: "The decision could either allow states to defund and weaken the abortion industry, or require pro-life states to keep subsidizing abortion access by having to direct Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood." It reported:

The Justices focused their questions largely around whether federal laws need to use certain “magic words” to explicitly acknowledge an individual right, and whether the Medicaid Act’s “any qualified provider” provision gives beneficiaries a mechanism to sue a state when their choice of doctor is denied.

Alliance Defending Freedom represented a South Carolina state agency, and in a post on one of its websites prior to the hearing, it included a quote from Senior Counsel John Bursch, who stated: "State officials should be free to determine that Planned Parenthood—a multi-billion-dollar activist organization—is not a real healthcare provider and is not qualified to receive taxpayer funding through Medicaid.”

Federal judge says Alabama cannot prosecute those who assist ladies in traveling to other states for abortions

A key federal court ruling occurred recently involving the state of Alabama.  The same judge that had put Alabama's strong pro-life law on hold after the Legislature passed it, who also allowed it to go into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade ended up with another case related to abortion - whether or not Alabama residents who assist ladies traveling to other states to obtain abortions can be prosecuted for committing a crime.

USA Today reported:

Alabama can’t prosecute people and groups who help women travel across state lines to end a pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Monday in a case that tested how far states can go to prevent residents from getting an abortion.

The decision came in response to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s threat to use criminal conspiracy laws to stop people from providing logistical or other help for out-of-state abortions.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson said that would violate a person's right to travel and the First Amendment.

The article provided a historical perspective, stating:

Before Alabama’s strict abortion ban kicked in two years ago, the Yellowhammer Fund offered financial and logistical assistance to women seeking abortions both in Alabama and, if necessary, out of state.

The nonprofit group had prepared for the ban by developing ties with clinics in states where abortion was likely to remain legal and budgeting for more staff.

It went on to say:

But those plans were canceled after the attorney general warned − including in an August 2022 interview − “if someone was promoting themselves out as a funder of abortion out of state, then that is potentially criminally actionable for us.”

Yellowhammer was one of the plaintiffs in that lawsuit against the Attorney General filed in federal court.

Man who has used signs to communicate Biblical messages about gender facing legal action for social media post, X assisting in his defense

At the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Elston, a Canadian man who is using signage that he carries into strategic locations to present a Biblically-inspired message about gender. He has come to be known as "Billboard Chris."

A recent Christian Post article relates that an online post has garnered legal action in Australia, stating:

The case concerns a Canadian man, Chris Elston, also known as Billboard Chris, who in February 2024 wrote a post on X that was critical of the World Health Organization's decision to appoint Australian trans activist Teddy Cook as an “expert” on trans issues.

The post also included a link to a graphically descriptive article at the Daily Mail website. The article goes on to say:

Cook took exception to Elston apparently questioning his credentials to work for the WHO, and submitted a complaint to Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner.

The commissioner demanded that X remove the post, which they initially refused to do. However, following a formal order, X geo-blocked the post, making it unavailable to view in Australia.

The Post article opened with these words:

Elon Musk’s personal crusade against the “woke mind virus” is a global one and the latest frontline is to be found in Australia, where his company X is joining in a case against the country’s “e-Safety Commissioner.”

It also reported: 

Elston, together with Musk’s X, the Australian Human Rights Law Alliance, and ADF International, are appealing the decision, saying it breaches Elston’s right to free expression.

Elston had been "threatened with arrest," and a fine of over 500 U.S. dollars was levied against him, according to ADF International. The article says that Elston was "forcibly moved in Brisbane by police after conducting what it says were consensual conversations with members of the Australian public about trans issues."

Prior to last week's trial, Elston said:

“No child has ever been born in the wrong body. As a father, I have grave concerns about the impact of harmful gender ideology on our children’s well-being.

“This reality is being increasingly recognized around the world, with government after government ordering a review into the use of toxic puberty blockers. This is a serious issue with real world implications for families across the globe and we need to be able to discuss it."