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.”