Saturday, July 29, 2017

The 3 - July 30, 2017

In this edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is news from the U.K. that infant Charlie Gard has passed away, the result of a rare medical condition.  Also, health care reform in the U.S. Senate was turned back again.  Plus, the President made an announcement about transgender individuals no longer being allowed to serve in the military.

3 - Charlie Gard removed from life support, passes away

Charlie Gard, the 11-month-old British child with a debilitating condition, who was prevented from being released from a London hospital, passed away early Friday morning. The parents' attorney had announced earlier in the week that nothing more could be done to improve Charlie's condition. A Baptist Press article stated: "Charlie died in hospice care a week short of his first birthday, Aug. 4, after being removed from a ventilator." Charlie's parents wanted to remove him from the hospital in order to receive treatment elsewhere, but, as the story related:
The Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie was a patient, refused to permit the therapy and received the backing of British courts and the European Court of Human Rights for removal of his life support.
The story said, "Pro-life advocates grieved the infant's death after the legal battle that came at the intersection of the sanctity of human life, medical ethics and parental rights."

Catherine Glenn Foster, president of Americans United for Life, is quoted in the article: "We are so thankful for his life, which though too brief, has made a lasting impact on the world and drawn together people from all walks of life and political persuasions, uniting them around the dignity and value of every human being."

2 - Health care reform fails, Planned Parenthood funding continues

In a dramatic early-morning vote, the U.S. Senate early Friday turned back another effort to revise the Affordable Care Act, in what was called the "skinny repeal."  It would have, among other things, removed the individual mandate to buy health insurance and would have defunded Planned Parenthood for a year.  Susan B. Anthony List was disappointed that this legislation, containing pro-life provisions, was defeated.  On its website, you can read, regarding the priorities of preventing taxpayer funding of abortion:
We had to fight for the inclusion of these priorities, and then fight for their retention. But we were successful. And last night would have brought us one step closer to the finish line. One step closer to protecting unborn children from a taxpayer-funded death and defunding abortion giant Planned Parenthood of $400 million. Instead, we’ve been dramatically set back.
This piece, written by SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, stated:
Obamacare is likely to continue its downward spiral, likely forcing Congress to act. Already last night, there are hints this will be attempted in a bi-partisan fashion. We will fight for and demand that Hyde Amendment protections are included in any reforms.
1 - President reinstates ban on transgenders serving in military

This week, President Trump made the announcement that transgender individuals would no longer be allowed to serve in the military.  The Defense Department is expected to work out the details, but there are evangelical leaders who believe this is a step in the right direction, reversing a policy that just went into effect just over a year ago.

According to a Religion News Service article, during an impromptu gathering of religious leaders with the President, the subject was discussed. The article states that a spokesman for the group, Johnnie Moore, "said the policy on transgender people serving in the military had not been on the agenda for the meeting. It was one of many topics that came up throughout the day, including health care, taxes, religious liberty and judicial appointments." He is quoted as saying, "We briefly discussed this issue..."

RNS also reports that "the evangelicals followed up with a signed letter asking the president to reverse the Obama era policy allowing transgender people to serve in the military, Moore added." The article linked to a tweet by David Brody of CBN News.  The letter was written by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who was at the meeting, which grew out of a meeting at another building close to the White House.

USA Today reported on President Trump's announcement on Twitter:
In a series of morning tweets, Trump said that, after consulting "with my generals and military experts," the U.S. government "will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military."
The U.S. military, he said, "must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."
Trump's decision was made Tuesday, and he informed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis later in the day, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Wednesday. The policy allowing transgender troops to serve was "expensive and disruptive" and affected military readiness, she said.
Fox News reports that:
In a memo to service chiefs and commanders, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, Jr. declared no changes to the policy until "the President’s direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance" -- which has not yet happened.

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