The 3 - December 31, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, examining three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is good news out of Indonesia for thousands of Christians in prison who have had their sentences lessened.  Also, violence struck another church in Egypt, in the midst of a heightened effort to protect Coptic churches in that country.  And, the Oregon bakers who declined to provide a cake celebrating so-called "same-sex marriage" have received a negative court ruling.

3 - Thousands of imprisoned Christians in Indonesia receive shorter sentences

Over nine thousand Christians in the country of Indonesia received a reduction in their sentences on Christmas Day, according to an article on the ChristianHeadlines.com website, which stated that:

According to Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Ministry cut down the sentences of 9,333 Christian prisoners.

“Of the total, 175 inmates were freed upon receiving remissions,” a Law and Human Rights Ministry official told reporters.

The changes in sentences came because of administration considerations and consideration for the type of crimes jailed for.

The Christian Headlines report, which included information from a Christian Post story, said that one of the Christians receiving a sentence reduction, albeit only 15 days, was former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, "who was sentenced to two years in prison after he was falsely accused of blasphemy in 2016."

2 - At least ten die in attack on Coptic Christian church in Egypt

Ten people lost their lives in a bombing at a Coptic Christian church in Egypt, according to CBN News.com, which reported that...

...the deadly terror attack on Cairo’s Coptic Church of Mar Mina could have been much worse. A senior government official confirmed one of the attackers wore “an explosive belt.” However, Egyptian police prevented the terrorist from detonating the suicide belt.

The article says that, "Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside the church..."  At least eight were Coptic Christians, six of them worshippers, according to ChristianityToday.com, which reported that another victim was a Muslim police officer who stood guard at the church and who was "hailed as a martyr." The report says that:

One week earlier, Egypt’s Minister of Islamic Endowments declared the guarding of churches to be “a legitimate and national duty.” Those who die defending Christian houses of worship are to be considered martyrs.

That is according to Egypt Today.  The minister, Mokhtar Gomaa, stated, “In our war against terrorism...there’s no difference between Muslims and Christians.”

The Christianity Today article pointed out that:

Last month, 300 people were killed in a terrorist attack on a mosque in the Sinai, where Christians have fled violence.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the police effort against the “vicious” attack, and urged heightened security. Two weeks ago, Egypt assigned more than 230,000 police to guard churches in advance of the Christmas holidays.

1 - Christian couple fined for not baking cake for gay wedding lose appeal

I have been following and reporting on the plight of Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Oregon, a couple that had declined to provide a cake for a gay wedding ceremony.  They had been found to be discriminatory in their actions and fined $135,000.  They appealed this ruling to the state's Court of Appeals in March, and finally, a three-judge panel issued a ruling this past week, according to the legal advocacy group, First Liberty Institute.  The organization's website stated, "The court ruled against the Kleins, upholding a decision by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) that resulted in a $135,000 penalty and led to the closure of the family-run bakery."

Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty, stated, "Freedom of expression for ourselves should require freedom of expression for others. Today, the Oregon Court of Appeals decided that Aaron and Melissa Klein are not entitled to the Constitution’s promises of religious liberty and free speech,” adding, “In a diverse and pluralistic society, people of good will should be able to peacefully coexist with different beliefs. We are disappointed that the court ruled against the Kleins.”

The 3 - December 24, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories relevant to the Christian community, there is the story of the reversal announced in the case of a memo strongly limited Christmas and holiday expressions at a university in Minnesota. Also, a Federal judge has blocked a Trump administration policy from taking effect, a policy that protects organizations from having to provide free contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plans.  And, the Atlanta fire chief, even though he was fired from his job due to his Christian beliefs, received exoneration from a court recently, which ruled against the city relative to its handling of the chief's case.

3 - University of Minnesota pans anti-Christmas memo

There was a bizarre memo that was issued at the University of Minnesota recently that presumed to restrict what should be displayed regarding Christmas celebrations.  According to The Federalist website:

Officials at the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences has deemed images of Santa, Christmas trees, dreidels, and nativity scenes inappropriate.

The dean’s office encouraged students and faculty to “consider neutral-themed parties such as a ‘winter celebration'” instead of Christmas or Chanukah-themed parties.

The article also said that: "Ironically, the pamphlet discouraging displays of religious symbolism was distributed at an event entitled 'Respective Religious Diversity' on campus earlier this month. Some religious freedom advocates say this is a perverse misunderstanding of religious diversity."

Well, the University stepped in and discredited the memo, saying, according to Liberty Counsel that...

it was an “ill-advised” memo from “one individual that was not distributed broadly.” The University has clarified and distanced itself from this holiday memo.

A spokesman is quoted in a Liberty Counsel press release as saying:

The document in question was created by one individual as part of a session for a segment of employees within one area of the University. It was not provided by, reviewed by, or approved by the University of Minnesota; the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; or the University’s Office of Equity and Diversity.

Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, said: "Public universities may acknowledge and even celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah along with secular aspects of the holiday season,” adding, "I am glad to see the University distance itself from this bizarre holiday memo. I agree with the University official that any distribution of this memo was ‘ill-advised...'"

2 - New court ruling strikes down Administration's regulation on contraceptive mandate

The debate over whether or not organizations can refuse to provide contraception or abortifacient drugs in their health care plans continued.  Earlier this year, the Trump administration, according to the Susan B. Anthony List website, issued a temporary rule "protecting employers who have religious or moral objections to providing abortion-inducing drugs and devices to their employees. The class of conscientious objectors includes employers like the Little Sisters of the Poor, as well as groups like Susan B. Anthony List."

The organization reports that a Federal district judge in Pennsylvania issued a ruling blocking that Administration rule from taking effect.  Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA List President, called the ruling "shameful," and said: “Why should Catholic nuns who care for the elderly poor be forced by the government to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plans? Moreover, moral objectors like my own pro-life organization, SBA List, should not have to pay for life-ending drugs that are antithetical to our mission. There is absolutely no ‘compelling state interest’ in forcing pro-life employers to violate their consciences to provide abortion-inducing drugs."

WORLD Magazine reported:

The rule, issued in October, allowed more employers to claim a religious objection to paying for the drugs. California, Washington, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia all sued to block the rule from taking effect. U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone in Philadelphia issued the first injunction against it.

That ruling was issued on Friday, December 15.  And, on Thursday, the 21st, a Federal judge in California also blocked the administration's rule.  USA Today reported:

A second federal court Thursday blocked the Trump administration from letting employers with religious or moral objections deny women insurance coverage for contraceptives.

The ruling from District Judge Haywood Gilliam in the Northern District of California accused the administration of abandoning the federal government's pledge in 2016 to ensure access to contraceptive coverage.

Gilliam said the Trump administration's decision in October to change rules implemented by the Obama administration represents "a reversal of their approach to striking the proper balance between substantial governmental and societal interests."

1 - Policy resulting in firing of Atlanta fire chief found unconstitutional

Perhaps you're familiar with the unfortunate story involving former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran - he was suspended, then fired from his job, all because of a book that he wrote espousing Christian principles regarding manhood.  Well, even though the Chief no longer has his job, he did receive a court victory recently.

Alliance Defending Freedom reports on its website that:

A federal district court ruled Wednesday that city of Atlanta rules which led to the termination of Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran are unconstitutional. The court found that the city’s policies restricting non-work speech, like a book for Christian men that Cochran wrote, are too broad and allow city officials to unconstitutionally discriminate against views with which they disagree.

ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot is quoted as saying, "The government can’t force its employees to get its permission before engaging in free speech," adding, "...as the court found, the city can’t leave such decisions to the whims of government officials. This ruling benefits not only Chief Cochran, but also other employees who want to write books or speak about matters unrelated to work. Atlanta can no longer force them to get permission or deny them permission just because certain officials disagree with the views expressed.”

The 3 - December 17, 2017

This week's edition of my weekly blog post of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, features some recent encouraging news about the Department of Justice investigating Planned Parenthood.  Also, the Luis Palau Association has ministered on three continents over the past two months.  And, the 2017 special U.S. Senate election for the open Alabama seat yielded an outcome that many thought unlikely just two months ago.

3 - Department of Justice investigating Planned Parenthood

In light of video information indicating that the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, was involved in trafficking body parts from aborted babies, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it is investigating the organization.

LifeSiteNews.com stated that Fox News reported that it had "obtained a letter from Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Stephen Boyd to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. This letter asked for unredacted documents from that committee, which had been investigating Planned Parenthood."

The LifeSiteNews story quotes David Daleiden of the Center for Medical Progress that had released a series of videos exposing Planned Parenthood's activity, as saying: "It is time for public officials to finally hold Planned Parenthood and their criminal abortion enterprise accountable under the law..."

The article included a review of Congressional committees:

The Senate Judiciary Committee announced in 2016 that it recommended the FBI and DOJ investigate and possibly prosecute Planned Parenthood, some of its affiliates, and companies involved in the trafficking of young human body parts.

The U.S. House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives also made 15 criminal referrals against abortion companies including Planned Parenthood, universities, and fetal tissue companies.

2 - 1 organization, 2 months, 3 continents of ministry

Over the last 60 days, the Luis Palau Association has been involved in ministry on three different continents, according to a news release from the association, posted at the Christian Newswire website.

The release states:

Evangelist Andrew Palau just returned from Beijing and Huai'an City, China, serving local churches to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the region through special Christmas events. Working directly with local churches and approval from authorities, Palau was met with great openness and joy as he shared the clear message of hope through Jesus Christ with thousands of individuals and distributed 9,000 copies of his Gospel-centered book What is Christmas?.

In October, Palau headed up an evangelistic outreach drawing 65,000 people in the African nation of Ivory Coast, and in November, he preached to 47,500 people in two Argentine cities.

Andrew Palau, the son of evangelist Luis Palau, said: It's been an immense blessing to experience so many different cultures in such a short amount of time," adding, "The beauty of the Church is the diversity and uniqueness of expressions coupled with the unwavering source of Truth that runs through each community of believers. It was wonderful to see the creativity of God in so many ways these past two months and it's been a tremendous honor for us."

The Association will be starting a three-year initiative called, 2020: Blessing the Nations.
 
1 - Moore defeat provokes question of role of faith in election

The race for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama, to fill the unexpired term of now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, attracted national attention.  A WORLD Magazine website analysis states:

Over the next year, the 49.9 percent to 48.4 percent victory that Democrat Doug Jones gained over Republican Roy Moore will force Republican senators to work with the slimmest possible majority in the Senate, 51-49.

But, the analysis by WORLD editor-in-chief Timothy Lamer, also said:

But in the November elections, they won’t have to defend Moore or deflect attention away from him at a time when public anger is focused on powerful men sexually abusing younger women. Democrats won’t be able to make Moore the public face of Senate Republicans in 2018.

He also pointed out:

It was a close-run race, but the closeness belies a massive swing away from Republicans. Jones won by 1.5 points in a state that Donald Trump won by 28 points in 2016, meaning the state swung 29.5 points in one year. But Jones, a conventional liberal Democrat, didn’t win over Republicans. Moore lost them.

He pointed to lower turnout in Republican areas across the state.

There was polling data that showed the demographic keys to Jones' victory.  According to a Fox News analysis:

Jones carried the day by rolling up strong margins among blacks (93-6 percent), younger voters (62-36 percent), and women (55-43 percent).

Men went for Moore by 10 points (54-44 percent). His greatest areas of strength were working class whites (32-67 percent for a 35-point margin), white men (33-65 percent and a 32-point margin), and white evangelicals (21-77 percent, 56-point margin).

Also, according to this research, 95% of black women and 89% of black men voted for Jones.  CNN exit poll data showed the number at 98% of black women and 93% of black men voting for Jones.

With regard to the impact of allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Moore, Fox stated: "by a narrow margin, Alabama voters believed the women – by a 49-44 spread. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said the allegations were important to their vote – and those voters went overwhelmingly for Jones."  The number was over two-thirds of those voters choosing Jones.

I had written in a blog post last Wednesday:

The main struggle for Christian voters, I believe, was the reputation of Moore vs. the validity of the allegations against him. Jones' support of abortion rights made that a non-starter for a number of Christian voters, and saw Moore as more aligned with their position. But, there was no doubt hesitancy when considering the allegations. It certainly became a matter of prayer and critical thinking.

Christianity Today stated, with regard to the evangelical vote:

According to exit polls, 44 percent of Alabama voters Tuesday were white born-again or evangelical Christians (self-identified). In the last two elections with state-level exit polling, 2008 and 2012, their share was 47 percent—making them “the only group showing slight signs of slippage,” according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

The 3 - December 10, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, spotlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is the story of the United States now recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  Also, the Parliament of Australia has decided to legalize gay marriage.  And, the case of a baker who would not provide a customized cake for a ceremony celebrating a gay wedding went before the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

3 - U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as capital of Israel

This week, President Trump announced that the United States now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  A piece on The Stream website stated the Trump...

...instructed the State Department to begin preparations to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv. The historic announcement fulfills both his own campaign promise as well as the promise America made with 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act. That Act, passed with broad bipartisan support, recognized Jerusalem and declared the U.S. would move its Embassy there within four years. However, presidents from Clinton to Obama have signed waivers stopping the move. President Trump did so himself six months ago.

According to the article, in his announcement, the President said:

After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result.

Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Columnist for The Stream, Michael Brown wrote:

Jerusalem is the historic capital of the Jewish people, going back to roughly 1,000 BC. Jews face Jerusalem when they pray and synagogues in the West face East. Every year at Passover, the hopeful prayer is recited, “Next year in Jerusalem!” And in terms of functional reality, Jerusalem is the capital of the nation. There’s nothing to discuss or debate. As the President said, that’s reality, plain and simple.

Brown also believes that God will bless the President for what he calls a "bold and courageous move." He gives four reasons:

1. On doing so the president is blessing Israel. God still blesses those who bless His covenant nation, despite that nation’s sins.
2. Out of all the cities on the earth, the Bible only calls us to pray for the welfare of Jerusalem (see Psalm 122; Isaiah 62:1-8).
3. The tremendous resistance to the president’s decision gives evidence to the intensity of the spiritual battle over this city.
4. There are prophetic scriptures that speak of a Jewish Jerusalem welcoming back the Messiah. So the decision to fortify the unity of the city is in explicit harmony with those Scriptures (see especially Zechariah 12 and 14).

2 - Australian Parliament approves gay marriage

Gay marriage is now legal in Australia, as the result of votes in both chambers of the nation's Parliament, following a mail-in survey that occurred a few weeks ago.  According to Life Site News, the bill passed the lower house of Parliament "almost unanimously," after having passed the Senate.

The report states:

The new law deletes “the union of a man and a woman” from the definition of marriage and inserts “the union of two people” in its place. Australia already had “equality” laws giving special status to homosexuals in the workplace, and for government benefits and tax laws.

Significantly, none of the promised amendments protecting freedom of conscience, religious liberty, and parental rights were allowed. All opposition concerns were defeated, including the right of parents to opt out of homosexual or transgender indoctrination in schools.

The story also points out, based on an earlier article on the site:

The path to legalization came via a referendum sent through the mail to all registered voters. Nearly 62 percent of returned forms favored gay “marriage.”

Although the postal referendum was an end-around after 22 legislative attempts to legalize homosexual “marriage” failed, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the popular vote was the best avenue for a country to take.

The Life Site story quotes from current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said, according to The Hill: “This is Australia: fair, diverse, loving and filled with respect,” adding, “For every one of us this is a great day.”

1 - Baker's case goes before high court

This past Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments on the Masterpiece Cakes case, which involved a Colorado cake baker named Jack Phillips, who declined to provide a customized cake for a ceremony celebrating a gay marriage.  He was represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom and the U.S. Department of Justice had entered the case on his side.

Issues at stake in the case were framed by Emily Belz of WORLD Magazine, who made these comments about the conflict at hand:

Would providing an accommodation to religious bakers like Phillips undermine civil rights laws? Was it compelled speech to require him to put out a cake that conveys a certain message? Is a wedding cake a form of speech, and what counts as speech? Is a wedding hair stylist using expression in hairdos?

Belz writes:

Alliance Defending Freedom’s Kristen Waggoner, arguing her first Supreme Court case, had clearly prepared for an array of hypotheticals. A premade cake is not speech (“it’s already been placed in a stream of commerce”), so Christian cake bakers should sell any generic wedding cakes off the shelves to gay couples. A hairdo is not speech. Other forms of participation in a wedding ceremony, like delivering a cake in the event, would fall under a free exercise claim.

Justice Breyer stated: "We want some kind of distinction that will not undermine every civil rights law..." Waggoner contended, according to WORLD, that the "test was whether the objection is to a message (as she argues was the case with Phillips) or the person."

Ultimately, the case could come down to Anthony Kennedy, who has been sympathetic to religious freedom issues, but also wrote the majority opinion in the Obergefell decision legalizing so-called "same-sex marriage."  Belz points out that Kennedy said to the Solicitor General of Colorado: “Tolerance is essential in a free society, and tolerance is most meaningful when it’s mutual. It seems to me the state in its position here has been neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips’ beliefs.”

As Belz said, "Kennedy was also critical of one commissioner’s remarks about Phillips’ religious freedom claims as 'despicable,' hinting that that might count as viewpoint discrimination."

The 3 - December 3, 2017

This week on The 3, there are three legal cases worth noting:  one involves restrictions of free speech by pro-lifers on an Ohio campus.  Another deals with ads proclaiming the true meaning of Christmas that a religious group wanted to place on public transportation in the nation's capital.  And, there's a legal victory in a case involving a Pennsylvania high school senior who was not allowed to include a prayer in a graduation speech.

3 - Miami (OH) campus officials nix pro-life display, organization files suit

A pro-life display that had been erected at Miami University's Hamilton campus in Ohio faced new restrictions this year, and the group responsible for the display has filed a lawsuit, according to the 
Alliance Defending Freedom website.

Students for Life at the campus, according to the site, "has regularly conducted its Cemetery of the Innocents display on the campus’s Central Quad. The display features small crosses placed in the ground to commemorate the lives lost to abortion, along with an explanatory sign." Earlier this year, the chapter president sent an e-mail to request permission for the display. ADF states:

The official responded by saying that the group could conduct the display only if it placed signs around campus warning people about its content. She justified this warning sign requirement by saying she feared that the pro-life display might cause “emotional trauma” for those who might view it and because she wanted to help them “better protect and manage their emotional reactions to the display.” Additionally, she offered to meet with the group to discuss “less harmful” ways of expressing its pro-life views.

ADF has now filed a lawsuit against the school on behalf of the Students for Life group. The ADF site says, "The lawsuit challenges the university’s policies that give officials broad powers to determine whether an exhibit can occur and what it can say—powers that officials used in Hamilton to impose a 'trigger warning' on the local Students for Life chapter."

The national Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins, is quoted as saying, “The unnecessary obstacles students experienced at Miami University of Ohio in Hamilton sadly is all too common on campuses across the country,” adding, “Students peacefully trying to hold an exhibit that inspires conversation with fellow students about their love and concern for preborn infants and their mothers should be protected.”

2 - Christmas ads deemed too "religious" for DC busses

A Christmas ad proposed for public transportation in Washington, DC, was described at ToddStarnes.com in this way:

The advertisement depicted silhouettes of three shepherds walking at night with tall canes and sheep beneath a shining North Star. Emblazoned across the ad is the phrase: “FIND THE PERFECT GIFT.”

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rejected the ad, and the group that wished to place it, the Archdiocese of Washington has filed suit, saying that the authority "violated the U.S. Constitution by rejecting the ad."

In a statement, spokesman Ed McFadden said: “To borrow a phrase from a favorite Christmas story, under WMATA’s guidelines, if the ads are about packages, boxes or bags…if Christmas comes from a store…then it seems WMATA approves,” adding, “But if Christmas means a little bit more, WMATA plays Grinch.”

The Transit Authority banned the ads based on a 2015 policy which prohibits, "issue-oriented advertising, including political, religious and advocacy advertising."

The story says that, "The transit authority might have reconsidered its ban on the Catholic Church’s advertisement had they been selling goods and services, the lawsuit alleges."

In a statement, general counsel Kim Fiorentino said: “We believe rejection of this ad to be a clear violation of fundamental free speech and a limitation on the exercise of our faith..."

1 - School district changes policy after blocking graduation prayer

In June, I reported to you about a high school senior in Pennsylvania who was told she could not include a prayer in her scheduled speech for graduation.

The First Liberty website tells the story about Moriah Bridges of Beaver, PA, who "prepared her remarks, but was then forced to 'edit' her comments, removing any faith-based content after receiving an email from the school superintendent explaining that her remarks could not be religious and, 'most certainly may not recite a prayer that excludes other religions.'”

First Liberty sent a letter to the school district in June.  The website quotes from the letter:

First Liberty’s letter stated, “In short, school officials—in violation of the First Amendment—forced Moriah to censor her personal remarks during the closing exercise of her commencement ceremony merely because of the religious viewpoint of her remarks.”First Liberty attorney Jeremy Dys pointed out that Moriah’s words were her own “private speech, not government speech,” and as such, could not violate the Establishment Clause. Instead, private, religious student speech like Moriah’s “is entitled to full First Amendment protection.”

The website announced a victory in the case: the school district "has enacted a new policy explicitly stating the expressions of students and/or other private speakers at future graduation ceremonies 'shall not be restricted because of religious, anti-religious, or non-religious content.'" The website also states that:

In addition to the new policy, the superintendent of BASD apologized to Moriah for the lack of clarity under the previous policy. The action by the BASD comes soon after a meeting between Moriah, members of the BASD, and First Liberty Institute attorneys.

The 3 - November 26, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a positive outcome from Maine, in which a teacher's free speech rights regarding religion were upheld.  Also, Christians in China are reportedly facing pressure to remove religious symbols and to replace them with a picture of the country's president.  Plus, a ban on what are called "dismemberment abortions" in Texas has been negated by a Federal judge.

3 - ME school district says it's OK for employees to offer to pray for co-workers

Toni Richardson, a special education teacher in the Augusta, Maine school district, in 2016, asked a co-worker if she could pray for her - this occurred during a private conversation.  The ChristianHeadlines.com website reported on the events that transpired.

The co-worker appreciated the gesture, but, according to the report, just days later...

...an administrator asked Richardson if she had made any “faith-based statements” while at school, including telling co-workers she was a Christian, offering to pray for them, or even saying something vague like, “That’s a blessing.”

The story continues by saying, "...the school administrator told Richardson her statements violated the First Amendment and could get her fired if repeated."

So, as the article states: "Fearing for her job, Richardson filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The school district’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination on the basis of religion, the suit argued."

The outcome for Richardson was favorable.  The story says:

In a new “coaching memorandum” sent to Toni Richardson last week, officials with the Augusta School Department acknowledged employees’ First Amendment right to privately discuss their religious beliefs with co-workers.

Employees can say things like “God bless you,” or “I am praying for you,” as long as students aren’t around.

Richardson was represented by First Liberty Institute.

2 - Chinese Christians told to replace images of Jesus with pictures of President

The purge of religious symbols in areas of China continues, with residents of Yugan county, where a cross had been removed from a local church, are now being asked to remove Christian symbols from their homes, according to a story on the Christianity Today website, which stated that:

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that Communist Party of China (CPC) officials visited believers’ homes in Yugan county of Jiangxi province—where about 10 percent of the population is Christian. They urged residents to replace personal religious displays with posters of President Xi Jinping; more than 600 removed Christian symbols from their living rooms, and 453 hung portraits of the Communist leader, according to SCMP.

The Post contends that there are Communist Party members who believe that faith is related to the poverty in the region.  Some Christians in the Yugan region say they had been told they would be ineligible for government financial assistance if religious posters were not removed, according to an Asia News/SCMP story that was linked to the CT story.  Christianity Today also says that:

In September, China passed tighter restrictions regarding religious gatherings, teachings, and buildings. Though they are not slated to officially go into effect until February 2018, Christians in some provinces have already noticed a crackdown on their activity. Police detained leaders of a house church, as well as a three-year-old, who were caught singing in a public park.

1 - Federal judge blocks bill banning dismemberment abortion procedure

We know that the abortion procedure is intended to take a human life.  And, the act of partial-birth abortion was considered so gruesome that it is now banned by Federal law.  According to LifeNews.com, there is another type of abortion that was banned by a law from the Texas Legislature - so-called "dismemberment" abortion.

The website states: "Signed into law earlier this summer, Texas Senate Bill 8 prohibits dismemberment abortions, a method typically used in the second trimester to kill nearly fully-formed, living unborn babies. It is a barbaric and dangerous procedure in which the unborn baby is ripped apart in the womb and pulled out in pieces while his or her heart is still beating."

But last week, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel struck down the ban on dismemberment abortions, blocking it from taking effect just one day before a temporary restraining order that he had put in place was due to expire.

Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life, is quoted in the article: “The Texas legislature overwhelmingly voted to protect pregnant mothers and their unborn children from being subject to such a dehumanizing experience,” adding, “Releasing the decision on the eve of a national holiday in the hopes that no one will notice is an act of cowardice. Rest assured, the right-to-life movement takes notice. We are confident that the Texas attorney general will appeal Judge Yeakel’s cruel decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and it will be overturned.”

There are eight states that have passed such action: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.

The 3 - November 19, 2017

In this edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is new from Capitol Hill on tax reform, which includes some features for which Christian leaders have been advocating.  Also, an Air Force colonel has been disciplined for his refusal to recognize same-sex marriage.  And, a large museum devoted to the Bible has opened in the nation's capital.

3 - Tax reform passes House, includes free speech for pastors, adoption tax credits, fewer deductions

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version of tax reform legislation.  The Family Research Council reported:

By a vote of 227-205, Republicans tried to give Americans something else to be grateful for next week: fuller wallets and freer speech. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (which included everything from a rollback of the Johnson Amendment to a boost in the child tax credit) survived, despite the unanimous opposition from Democrats and more than a dozen Republican "nays."

The Alliance Defending Freedom, on its website, commended lawmakers on providing for free speech rights for pastors.

Its site says that the bill "includes language from the Free Speech Fairness Act, which, if signed into law, would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from investigating and penalizing churches simply for what a pastor says from the pulpit..."  Legal Counsel Christina Holcomb is quoted as saying: “America’s pastors don’t need a federal tax agency to police their sermons, and so we commend those in the House who supported free speech fairness language in the amended tax bill."

But, there are concerns, most notably the reduction in opportunities for itemizing deductions.  The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability states on its website, as of November 13:

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill currently call for a near-doubling of the standard deduction, a change that studies show could reduce charitable giving to nonprofit organizations by billions each year.

That is according to an Indiana University study.  The ECFA website also says:

An important amendment has been proposed by Senators Wyden and Stabenow that would offset some of this impact by creating a “universal” charitable deduction (available to all taxpayers, regardless of whether they itemize) subject to some limitations. 

FRC is also concerned, stating: "Experts think charitable giving could take a substantial dip under the new structure of the standard deduction, which could reduce the services and benefits nonprofit organizations provide to communities."  The piece says that the percent of filers who itemize could drop from 30 to 5 percent.  FRC cites Rep. Mark Walker and Sen. James Lankford who are also supporting the universal deduction.  This indicates bi-partisan support for such a provision.

2 - Air Force colonel receives discipline for not supporting gay marriage

A highly regarded colonel in the U.S. Air Force has been suspended and has a recommendation has been issued that he not be promoted; this comes as the result of his opposition to same-sex marriage, according ToddStarnes.com.  The site's report said:

Col. Leland Bohannon, an experienced combat pilot, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.

Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was punished after the subordinate filed a formal Equal Opportunity complaint which was later substantiated by investigators.

Starnes wrote:

Last May the colonel declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for a retiring master sergeant’s same-sex spouse. Instead, he asked a higher ranking military leader to sign the customary document.

Mike Berry of First Liberty Institute said that Bohannon would likely retire as a colonel, not a general, and stated: "The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief in marriage..."

Starnes reports that "at least eight U.S. senators" signed a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force urging her to intervene.  They wrote, "Col. Bohannon recognized the moral and legal dilemma this situation presented, and to his credit, sought to carve out a solution that would affirm the contribution made by the retiring officer’s same-sex partner while at the same time allowing the colonel to abide by his religious convictions..." 

1 - Museum of the Bible opens in Washington, DC

The eight-story, 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC opened to the public on Saturday after dedication ceremonies on Friday, according to the Religion News Service website, which reported that:

With Scripture readings, a tribute to God and a sigh of relief, an international array of officials opened the Museum of the Bible in the nation’s capital.

“We want to just take a moment and stop and celebrate and rejoice that this dream is coming true,” said museum co-founder Steve Green, who exhaled audibly before speaking Friday (Nov. 17) to more than 400 people in the new museum’s World Stage Theater.

Green, whose family owns the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores, stated: "This is a dream of millions all over the world that love this book, that use it as a guide for their life, and we just want to take some time and celebrate and dedicate this space to our God.”

Dignitaries from a variety of faith backgrounds attended the dedication.  The report said that HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Sen. James Lankford were in attendance, "where they were greeted by Navy Chief of Chaplains Margaret Kibben and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of the Jewish Federations of North America and serenaded by Grammy-winning artist CeCe Winans singing 'Amazing Grace.'"

According to the report, the museum is located just two blocks from the National Mall, and the "museum joins august edifices celebrating the nation’s civic history as it displays floors on the impact, history and narrative of the Bible. Speakers from near and far applauded such a placement for such a museum."

In a Breakpoint commentary, Eric Metaxas said...

...here’s what physician, social reformer, and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush said: “The Bible contains more truths than any other book in the world.”

Of course, many in our postmodern world don’t believe that and dismiss the Bible out of hand—but maybe that’s partly because they’ve never had the opportunity to engage with it. Museum of the Bible gives them that opportunity, not by cramming “religion” down someone’s throat, but by presenting the Bible as the best-selling, most debated, most influential book of all time. Back in the day, you weren’t considered educated if you didn’t know the Bible. It’s still true today, and Museum of the Bible will step in to fill that knowledge gap for Christians and non-Christians alike.

He went on to say, "The Bible is the most influential, beloved, and profound book in the world, and I’m grateful for a gleaming new museum fit to tell its world-changing story today."

On the National Religious Broadcasters website, you can see this quote from NRB President & CEO Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, who visited the facility a number of times during its construction: “Museum of the Bible is an awe-inspiring museum showcasing an even more awe-inspiring book – the world’s most widely-read and impactful book, in fact..." He added, "Like countless others, I am excited about its opening and strongly encourage all believers to plan their visit. The Bible will come to life in an exciting, new way.”

At the Meeting House, you can hear my conversations with Cary Summers, President of Museum of the Bible and Tony Zeiss, its Executive Director.  You can also connect to a 2015 conversation with Museum Chairman Steve Green.

The 3 - November 12, 2017

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, including a story out of a California university, where a victory for free speech has occurred.  Also, there is good news out of Congress, as lawmakers in both chambers have restored the tax credit for adoptive families.  And, one week after the tragic shooting in a Texas church, worshippers gathered at the site this weekend, and earlier in the week, Vice-President Pence attended a memorial service.

3 - Free speech upheld at Fresno State

There has been a recent victory in the battle over free speech at Fresno State University in California.  According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, the conflict stemmed from an incident last April. Fresno State Students for Life had, according to the ADF website, "received permission to chalk positive, life-affirming messages on the sidewalks leading to the university’s library." On the morning of May 2, as the pro-lifers finished up in "chalking these messages," a professor named Gregory Thatcher "confronted them—falsely alleging they could not chalk messages near the library and could only express themselves in the so-called 'free speech area,' which the university had actually eliminated almost two years earlier.

After threatening to remove the messages, the professor gathered some students together to "erase and deface" the messages. The club president reminded Thatcher that Students for Life had the university's permission, and he "walked over to one of the pro-life messages and began erasing it himself, erroneously claiming that he was exercising his free speech rights and that 'college campuses are not free speech areas.'"

With ADF's assistance, SFL filed a lawsuit, and a Federal court has issued an order, agreed upon by those involved, that the professor will "pay $17,000 and undergo First Amendment training by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys" as part of the settlement. ADF Senior Counsel Casey Mattox stated, "Today’s college students will be tomorrow’s legislators, judges, educators, and voters. That’s why it’s so important that university professors model the First Amendment values they are supposed to be teaching to students, and why it should disturb everyone that Dr. Thatcher and many other university officials across the country are communicating to a generation that the Constitution doesn’t matter...”

2 - Adoption tax credit back in tax reform package

Congress is considering action to reform the tax system in America.  This includes streamlining the number of tax brackets and eliminating some of the deductions that taxpayers can receive, in favor of increasing the standard deduction, a topic covered on the website of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. One such deduction that had originally been eliminated is what is known as the adoption tax credit, which provides relief for families who have adopted children and incurred the costs thereof.

This week, it was announced, according to the Family Policy Alliance website, that the credit had been placed back in the House and Senate versions. The site states, according to Autumn Leva, Director of Policy & Communication for the Alliance:

Earlier this week, we told you that the Adoption Tax Credit – which has helped vast numbers of children find “forever homes” – had been eliminated in the GOP tax-cut bill. We asked you to speak up to Congress, and you did! Your response through the Family Policy Alliance Action Center was part of a national outpouring that encouraged Rep. Kevin Brady, Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, to restore the Adoption Tax Credit. What’s more, the Senate legislation that was just introduced also includes the credit.

You can hear a conversation with Stuart Shepard, Executive Producer for Creative Communications for Family Policy Alliance, including information on this development, here.

One further tax reform note: the ECFA has expressed concern that the rise in the standard deduction, based on the House version, could reduce charitable giving.  Its site says:

In an effort to drastically simplify the tax code, one of the most significant proposed changes in the bill would be to double the standard deduction (plus eliminate or reduce several other current deductions) so that only an estimated 5% of Americans would continue to itemize their tax deductions. Studies have shown that, with so few Americans itemizing deductions, this could lead to a decrease in giving to nonprofits of over $13 billion each year.

For those reasons, ECFA and other nonprofits in the Charitable Giving Coalition have supported a “universal” deduction (above-the-line) so that all taxpayers would have an incentive to give and support the good work of nonprofits regardless of whether they itemize.

1 - Aftermath of Texas church shooting

On Sunday, the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs held a service, as it did last Sunday when a gunman walked into the church's building and opened fire - 26 lives were lost that day.  This Sunday, the numbers in attendance were significantly higher than what had been the norm, as, according to USA Today:

..this time the congregation gathered in a tent large enough to accommodate nearly everyone in the community and many others from nearby.

The report said that more than 1,000 people showed up.  Pastor Frank Pomeroy, whose 14-year-old daughter died in the shooting rampage, stated: "Do not allow the lives that were lost or changed, to be in vain..." The article said:

Then his voice cracked, and he had to pause. The congregation stood to applaud. He regained his voice: “I know everyone who gave their life that day. Some of them were my best friends – and my daughter.”

Pomeroy also said in the service, "I submit to you today that just because we are wounded, doesn’t mean we turn back. Just because we lose a round to Satan, does not mean (we) quit. We should never give up the fight. I believe this wound hurts. We can’t allow this act that happened last weekend to keep us from church."

A memorial service was held in the small community last Wednesday, as well.  Vice-President Mike Pence attended, according to a Religion News Service article on the website, ChristianHeadlines.com.  The story said:

The memorial service was held Wednesday (Nov. 8) on a high school football field in the neighboring town of Floresville, about 13 miles from the site of the massacre at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. The service followed Christian tradition and was replete with Bible readings and prayers to Jesus.

The article stated, "Pence said he was inspired by the strong convictions of the people of Sutherland Springs and especially the victims of its historic church, and he expressed his solidarity with their faith."  The Vice-President is quoted as saying, "Faith is stronger than evil,” adding, "Faith is the antidote to fear and despair."

The 3 - November 5, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a development in the implementation of President Trump's reverting to previous military policy on transgender members: a judge has put part of it on hold.  Also, a California law that forced pro-life pregnancy center to make references for abortions has been struck down by a judge there. And, a prospective judge whose religious beliefs were questioned in a U.S. Senate committee meeting has received confirmation.

3 - Parts of President's policy on transgender individuals in military put on hold

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration reinstituted a ban, that had been removed by the Obama White House, on transgender individuals serving in the military.  Recently, one Federal judge put parts of that policy by the current Administration on hold.

According to Family Research Council, the decision rendered by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly "was amazingly presumptuous for an unelected district judge, who -- without the benefit of internal intelligence, the service chiefs' counsel, and Defense Department data -- is quite content telling the White House how to defend America."

Recent guest on The Meeting House, Travis Weber, an attorney for FRC, was quoted on the organization's website, stating: "This type of judicial activism gives the court a self-conferred 'veto' of any presidential decision concerning the military the court simply thinks is unlawful. That's not the way our constitutional order works." He added, "This kind of judicial presumption is doubly harmful when done in the military context..."

The FRC piece continues:

Kollar-Kotelly seems to think the military is just your run-of-the-mill office environment -- when in fact, it's a physically-demanding, life-threatening battleground. The goal isn't to advance "tolerance" or help people on the path to self-actualization. It's to fight and win wars. And that mission is severely compromised when activist courts try to force the military into accepting unstable recruits in the name of "fairness."

2 - Judge proclaims CA law forcing pro-life centers to provide abortion clinic information unconstitutional

A chilling law in California that attempted to force pregnancy resource centers, whose mission it is to save the lives of pre-born children, to let clients know they are eligible for free or low-cost abortions has been declared unconstitutional by a state court judge.

The American Center for Law and Justice said that the law, the Reproductive FACT Act...

...requires that licensed pregnancy centers inform their clients that might be eligible for a free or low-cost abortion—no matter the reason for their visit. The mandated notice not only forces pro-life centers to tell their clients about these state-funded services, the centers must also share with their clients a telephone number where they can obtain more information about the possibility of obtaining a free (taxpayer expense paid) abortion.

The ACLJ website stated that: "Judge Gloria Trask of Riverside County Superior Court ruled that the FACT Act violates the California Constitution’s guarantee of free speech."  The judge, in her ruling, wrote:

[The State] may enact law that support abortion access and tax its citizens to make abortion available. It can require informed consent for all medical procedures. But its ability to impress free citizens into State service in this political dispute cannot be absolute; it must be limited. . . .

The statute compels the clinic to speak words with which it profoundly disagrees when the State has numerous alternative methods of publishing its message.

1 - Senate approves judicial nominee who was asked religious questions

Remember the Federal court judicial nominee who was told by Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a hearing that "the dogma lives loudly within you?"  That was a critique of Amy Coney Barrett's religious beliefs, and CBN News reported about that hearing:

Barrett is a law professor at the University of Notre Dame and a mother of seven. She has written about religion's place in public life and given lectures before Christian legal groups.

In September, Feinstein, D-Calif., told Barrett, "When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country."

According to CBN News, the U.S. Senate, after a number of senators had said their colleague had crossed a line, has approved Barrett's appointment to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.  The CBN article quoted Eric Metaxas, who is heard on the Colson Center's Breakpoint commentary:

"To me the idea that US senators are this ignorant about this incredibly, utterly central element in American freedom, I find frightening and it should be a wakeup call to everybody," Metaxas told CBN News. "When Sen. Feinstein did this recently, I thought, 'She actually thinks that what she's saying is okay. She thinks it's just politics.' It's not just politics. It's fundamentally unconstitutional."

Maureen Ferguson, senior policy advisor with The Catholic Association, agrees with Metaxas, saying the senators should know better than to give a nominee a religious litmus test.

The 3 - October 29, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, providing information about three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a story where students at a Texas high school are standing in solidarity regarding the display of a Christian flag on the school's flagpole.  Also, the governor of North Carolina is attempting to re-write legislation in yet another chapter in the state's battle over transgender bathrooms.  Plus, the Vice-President has declared that the U.S. will attempt to use its funds to directly help Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, rather than using the United Nations as a middleman.

3 - Texas students, parents defend display of Christian flag at school

At LaPoyner High School in LaRue, Texas, the Christian flag had been flown, along with the American flag and the flag of the state of Texas.  And, despite a challenge to that Christian flag, according to ToddStarnes.com, it continues to be flown.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation had stepped in and filed a challenge, and a letter to Superintendent James Young stated: "The display of this patently religious symbol by the District confers government endorsement of Christianity, in violation of the Establishment Clause."

According to Starnes, Young had told local reporters that they were "reviewing" the letter, but no announcement has been made. And, as Todd reports:

Several youngsters purchased Christian flags and mounted the banners on their pickup trucks. It was quite a scene in the high school parking lot -- a convoy of trucks adorned with the Christian flag -- waving in the Texas breeze.

"They can try to take it, but we're going to fight for it," junior Jared Sanchez told Nexstar Broadcasting.

KLTV reported on a recent school board meeting, in which "community members shared their thoughts on the issue." A parent had sent a video along to the television station. One community member said: “The Freedom From Religion organization really has a distorted and inaccurate view of the separation of church and state in the First Amendment,” adding, “Matter fact I'd like to say that their viewpoint is probably void and alien to that of our founding fathers."

The KLTV website stated:

The superintendent also asked anyone who opposed the Christian flag to stand. No one did.

The board will give their proposed thoughts at next month’s meeting.

In the meantime, the flag will remain on school grounds.

2 - North Carolina governor orders bathroom restrictions loosened

For several years, a bill called HB2 was the law in North Carolina, providing for people, including transgender individuals, to use restroom facilities in government buildings corresponding to their biological gender.  Earlier this year, after economic pressure had been placed on the state, and former governor Pat McCrory had been defeated in his bid for re-election, lawmakers passed a so-called "compromise" that essentially waived the provisions of HB2 and placed a moratorium on any more local SOGI ("sexual orientation, gender identity") ordinances.  According to the NewsObserver.com website, that was to remain in effect until December of 2020.

Well, that bill has seemingly been blown out of the water by an executive order by new governor Roy Cooper, who, according to the Family Research Council website, has "unilaterally decided to change that policy with a decree that not only lets grown men back into girls’ restrooms, but forces local businesses to embrace his transgender agenda or lose their government partnerships. Ignore your conscience and public safety concerns, the governor has decided, or kiss your North Carolina contracts goodbye."

The FRC site states:

Cooper is going around the state’s policymakers and trying to unravel the state’s duly-enacted law. And if the governor thought he’d have the support of LGBT activists, he was mistaken. “It’s not nearly enough,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

As if his executive order weren’t outrageous, Cooper is also pursuing a deal on the side with North Carolina judges -- a “consent decree” that would officially zero out the compromise law he signed last spring.

The story says: "Tami Fitzgerald, who heads up the North Carolina Values Coalition, called the move 'a massive power grab, with sweeping changes that only the Legislative Branch has the authority to enact.'"

1 - U.S. to help persecuted Christians in Middle East

The United States has attempted to help persecuted religious minorities by sending its money to the United Nations, but since that has not worked well, it appears the U.S. will be helping persecuted Christians and other minorities in the Middle East directly, according to Vice-President Mike Pence, who spoke at the In Defense of Christians dinner recently.

The National Religious Broadcasters website says that:

While the U.S. has invested huge sums in UN relief programs, Pence described their poor record in aiding Christians and other vulnerable religious minorities in that region. He also noted the UN’s refusal in many instances to partner with “faith-based groups with proven track records and deep roots in these communities.” “My friends,” the Vice President said, “those days are over.”

Former Congressman Frank Wolf, described as "long a champion for international religious freedom and now a leader of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative," said in a release, published at ReligionNews.com, “This should impact humanitarian aid for those living as Internally Displaced Persons and refugees and stabilization assistance for the Christians and Yezidis returning to areas seized from them by ISIS.”

The 3 - October 22, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a positive development involving legislation posing a threat to religious liberty; a bill vetoed by the governor.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving a Ten Commandments monument in New Mexico.  Plus, an appeals court has put on hold a lower court decision providing for an undocumented immigrant teenager to have an abortion, but the appeals court has directed the government to find a sponsor in order for the abortion to take place.

3 - CA Governor vetoes bill posing threat to religious liberty

There was good news about legislation affecting the family out of California, of all places.  According to the Family Policy Alliance website, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that, according to the site, "aimed to criminalize any contracts or employee codes of conduct related to abortion and sex outside of marriage."

That's based on a conversation with Jonathan Keller, president of California Family Council, who stated, "Every organization that promotes a pro-life message must be able to require its employees to practice what they preach,” adding, “The right to freely exercise one’s religion is enshrined in our Constitution, and has always protected every American’s ability to freely associate around shared beliefs and practices.”

Elissa Graves, litigation counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, is quoted on that organization's website as saying: "The First Amendment doesn’t allow the state to order churches and other faith-based groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. They have the freedom to live according to their faith and to require those who work for them to do the same.” The site provides a brief description of the vetoed bill, saying it "would have prohibited churches, religious colleges, religious non-profit organizations, and pro-life pregnancy care centers from having faith-based codes of conduct with regard to abortion and sexual behavior..."

2 - U.S. Supreme Court decides not to hear Ten Commandments monument case

One of the areas of religious liberty that has caused contention in the courts is the display of the Ten Commandments on public property.  And, Baptist Press reports that the U.S. Supreme Court declined an opportunity to provide clarity in the matter.  It says that:

The court declined without explanation Monday (Oct. 16) to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling against a Ten Commandments monument outside the Bloomfield, N.M., City Hall. In lower courts, two Wiccans represented by the American Civil Liberties Union successfully challenged the five-foot monument, complaining that it constitutes the government's establishment of religion.

The article points out that in 2005, there were two cases involving the Ten Commandments: a "granite monument on the lawn of the Texas state capitol in Austin" was ruled to be constitutional by a 5-4 decision. Conversely, the court ruled that "the posting of the Ten Commandments inside Kentucky courthouses in McCreary and Pulaski counties was unconstitutional."

Bloomfield City Manager Eric Strahl spoke with Baptist Press and stated: "The monuments went there originally because they were of a historical significance," adding, "And since Christianity did play such a big part in the formation and the development of the country, one of the monuments was the Ten Commandments."  Strahl also said, "...as far as the city is concerned, it wasn't a religious issue."

1 - Judge rules that undocumented teen can have abortion; appeals court puts ruling on hold

Last week, Liberty Counsel reported that:

An Obama-nominated federal judge ordered the U.S. government to pay for an undocumented illegal immigrant teenager’s abortion at taxpayer expense in Texas. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the government to transport the teenager to have the abortion — or allow her guardian to transport her — “promptly and without delay.”

The Justice Department appealed the decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The
Texas Tribune said that the appeals court "gave the federal government until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor to take custody of the teen and take her to an abortion clinic to have the procedure."

The article also states that the court "noted that the federal government assumed that" the teenager has the "constitutional right to obtain an abortion in the United States."

But, the Justice Department attorney, Catherine Dorsey, according to the Tribune, "went on to argue that what is actually blocking Doe's abortion is her status as a minor under federal custody and that the government is not required to facilitate her abortion."  She added, "What's happening here is the government refusing to facilitate the abortion and that is not an undue burden."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, expressing his "disappointment" for the decision, stated, "Unlawfully-present aliens with no substantial ties to the U.S. do not have a right to abortion on demand. Texas must not become a sanctuary state for abortions."

This is a decision that seems to have made no one happy - the ACLU, representing the teen, is opposed to the delay, and the Justice Department is arguing that the government should not be involved in this teen's abortion.

Liberty Counsel points out that:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has now implemented a new policy under President Trump which discourages abortions among undocumented minors residing in federally-funded shelters. The policy prevents pregnant, unaccompanied minors in shelters from seeking abortions and instead directs them to crisis pregnancy centers where they are encouraged to forgo the abortion.

The 3 - October 15, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, exploring recent events involving the Christian community, there is a story of court action involving a high-profile atheist group, which asked for one of its leaders to make an opening statement during the customary prayer time at the beginning of the day in the U.S. House - that was turned back by a Federal judge.  Also, the U.S. Attorney General has issued a memo that says that "gender," as defined in a section of Federal law, does not apply to transgenderism.  And, a U.S. Representative was banned from running a pro-life ad on Twitter, then the ad was allowed - 2 pro-life organizations are crying foul.

3 - Attempt to modify Congressional opening prayer to allow atheist turned back by judge

At the start of the legislative day, the U.S. House of Representatives has an opening prayer, and according to The Hill website, "Guest chaplains are allowed to give the opening prayer in the House if a member sponsors them, if they are ordained and if their prayer addresses a 'higher power.'"

That framework was challenged recently by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, whose co-president, Daniel Barker, had requested the opportunity to deliver an opening statement, a "non-prayer," if you will, prior to a session of the House.

Barker...

...claimed he had met all the requirements, but the chaplain denied his request because he was “ordained in a denomination in which he no longer practices” and “is not a religious clergyman.”

So, FFRF did what FFRF does - it filed a lawsuit against "House Chaplain Father Patrick Conroy, his staff and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in May 2016, challenging their refusal to let him give a nonreligious invocation on the floor."

D.C. Federal Circuit Judge, Rosemary Collyer, according to the story, "dismissed Barker’s claims that he had been discriminated against." The article goes on to say:

Collyer said “Congress has exclusive authority over its rules and the manner in which it conducts its affairs" and that the House Chaplain's "refusal to invite an avowed atheist to deliver the morning ‘prayer,’ in the guise of a non-religious public exhortation as a ‘guest chaplain'" was not a violation of the establishment clause of the Constitution, as Barker had claimed.

2 - Attorney General: gender reference in Civil Rights Act not applicable to transgender people

There is a movement among some to try to redefine references to "gender" in Federal law as also including "sexual orientation and gender identity."  According to Liberty Counsel, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has modified the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which governs employment law, which had reflected that philosophy.  The Liberty Counsel website states:

The Attorney General officially withdrew a 2014 Obama-era policy protecting so-called “transgender” employees from discrimination under Title VII. The Attorney General stated that the Department of Justice will no longer interpret Title VII to mean that the law's protections extend to discrimination based on gender identity. Sessions said the change will apply to “all pending and future matters” relating to “transgender” workers, which means that it could have an immediate impact on open discrimination cases.

In a memo, Attorney General Sessions stated: "Title VII expressly prohibits discrimination ‘because of…sex’…and several other protected traits, but it does not refer to gender identity. “Sex is ordinarily defined to mean biologically male or female."

1 - Pro-life ad banned, restored by Twitter; others cry foul about ad policies

Recently, a leading contender for the U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee, to be vacated by Sen. Bob Corker, wanted to place a political ad on Twitter.  In it, according to the website for the Susan B. Anthony List, Rep. Marsha Blackburn wished to call attention to her action against Planned Parenthood and the "sale of baby body parts." Twitter refused the ad, but later reversed course.

The SBA List website points out that "Despite its reversal on Rep. Blackburn’s ad, Twitter continues to block all advertising from Live Action, as well as some advertising by SBA List."  Live Action and Susan B. Anthony List are both pro-life advocacy organizations.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser is quoted on the site as saying, "We are encouraged that Twitter reconsidered its censorship of Rep. Blackburn’s pro-life ad. However, the root issue is far from resolved. It took pressure and a great deal of negative publicity for Twitter to reverse this one decision. Meanwhile pro-life groups like Live Action and SBA List are still subject to an apparent double standard when they simply tell the truth, horrific as it is, about Planned Parenthood’s baby parts trafficking."  Lila Rose, President of Live Action, was also quoted, expressing similar sentiment.

The 3 - October 8, 2017

This week on The 3, there is encouragement from the next generation of students; many brought their Bibles to school, very appropriate to radiate hope in light of the tragic Las Vegas shooting.  Also, lawmakers in the U.S. House took a step to prevent the taking of the lives of pre-born children at around 20 weeks of development.  And, two agencies of the Trump Administration announced new guidelines to protect religious freedom, including the releasing of religious organizations from the odious contraceptive mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services.

3 - Students bring Bibles to school

During this week when people were grieving the loss of around 60 people in the tragedy in Las Vegas, and churches and pastors were bringing hope and comfort, thousands of students were attempting to shine light - the light of God's truth - in the darkness.

Focus on the Family was anticipating that perhaps a half million students would be bringing their Bibles to school this past Thursday to celebrate "Bring Your Bible to School Day," which was initiated by Focus.  Its website states:

Many Christian students feel there’s an unspoken pressure to stay silent about their faith. Others report overt efforts to silence them from presenting their Bible-based viewpoints in class discussions or in assignments. Yet, the First Amendment recognizes the rights of students to talk about their faith and read their Bibles outside of classroom time.

Focus President Jim Daly stated, "Over the years we’ve heard from many kids and teens who want to meaningfully engage in conversations with peers to share their perspective on important issues,” adding, “The good news is – they can. The Constitution recognizes students’ rights to share their biblical viewpoints in a way that doesn’t disturb instruction time, and to exercise their faith at school. ‘Bring Your Bible to School Day’ celebrates these rights and gives Christian students a chance to share a bit about their faith, which is an important part of who they are.”

The CBN News website displayed "...just a few photos trending on social media of children bringing their Bibles to school."  The story stated that:

Spokesman Candi Cushman says bringing a Bible to school is an opportunity for students ranging from kindergarten to college to share their faith in Christ.

"We have some great stories from kids even as young as kindergarten taking their Bibles to school and just reading it out loud with their friends at recess," Cushman told CBN News.

"There are thousands of students joining them across the nation and groups like Focus on the Family are standing behind them and praying for them."

2 - House approves bill to protect unborn children; goes to Senate

The bill known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has crossed a threshold to final passage and the promised signature of President Trump.  According to the Susan B. Anthony List website, the legislation "would protect unborn children from late-term abortion after five months, more than halfway through pregnancy, a point by which science shows they can feel pain. The bill passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a vote of 237 to 189."

Interestingly enough, the SBA List reports that:

Post-election polling data commissioned by the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and made widely available today shows that large majorities of voters in 2018 Senate battleground states support legislation limiting abortion after five months, and a majority or plurality of those voters would be less likely to support a Senator who voted to allow late-term abortion.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser called for Senate passage of the bill, saying: “Voters agree: it’s inexplicable that the United States is one of only seven nations in the world to allow abortion after 20 weeks – five months, more than halfway through pregnancy – putting us in the company of China and North Korea,” adding, “Our nation does not belong in that disgraceful club. Twenty states have passed their own Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Acts and momentum has long been building for a national limit.”

1 - Two administration departments take action on religious freedom

It has become apparent that religious freedom is a priority of the Trump Administration. The President signed an order addressing protecting religious freedom back in May on the National Day of Prayer, directing Federal agencies to offer such protection.

On Friday, according to the Family Research Council, "The Department of Justice (DOJ) is directing federal agencies to respect religious freedom while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is exempting religious entities from the oppressive Obama contraceptive mandate."

In a statement, FRC President Tony Perkins said, in part:

“President Trump and the Department of Justice are putting federal government agencies on notice: you will not only respect the freedom of every American to believe but live according to those beliefs. This is a freedom that has been a fundamental part of our society since the beginning of our nation."

On its website, Alliance Defending Freedom President, CEO, and General Counsel Michael Farris is quoted as saying:

The guidance that the Trump administration issued today helps protect that First Amendment freedom. As the memo states, ‘Americans do not give up their freedom of religion by participating in the marketplace, partaking of the public square, or interacting with government,’ and ‘free exercise of religion includes the right to act or abstain from action in accordance with one’s religious beliefs.’

Farris added, "...I commend the president for taking another step to honor his campaign promise to make religious liberty his ‘first priority’ by directing the Department of Justice to issue this guidance, which simply directs the federal government to adhere to its legal and constitutional obligation to respect existing religious freedom protections.”