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.