The 3 - July 8, 2018

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the clock continues to tick on the bill in California that could chill free speech for those who want to speak truth regarding God's will for sexuality; lawmakers are now in their month-long summer vacation.  Also, there has been a court ruling from Canada in favor of a three people in a polyamorous relationship who have been allowed to legally adopt a child.  And, laws emphasizing our national motto have taken root in a half dozen states.

3 - More time to oppose California speech bill

The California State Senate is now in its summer vacation; that means it will be just about another month before that bill, AB2943, which has already passed the lower chamber, could come up for a vote.  According to the advocacy group, SaveCalifornia.com, on its website: "...On July 2, this unconstitutional bill was sent to the Senate floor without a hearing and without any amendments...On June 12, this anti-freedom, anti-choice bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee ..."

The website states that: "...AB 2943 would, for all practical purposes, prohibit California adults from choosing to obtain professional, expert counseling to help them overcome their unwanted homosexual desires or gender confusion."

The site also says:

As Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) explains:

At its core, AB 2943 outlaws speech, whether offered by a licensed counselor, a best-selling author, or even a minister or religious leader. It targets a specific message—that an adult who is experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion can find help to address those issues—for censorship.

SaveCalifornia.com, the Campaign for Children and Families, has published action steps regarding communication with legislators in the state.  The recess ends on August 6.

2 - Canada recognizes three parents in polyamorous relationship

The potential effect of the redefinition of marriage on child adoption can be clearly seen in a court ruling from Canada.  According to Christian Headlines.com:

Three adults living in a polyamorous relationship can be the legal parents of a child, according to a ruling by a Canadian judge in what is believed to be the first ruling of its kind in the nation.

The case involves two men living with a woman, who is the mother of the child born in 2017, according to the CBC. It was a Newfoundland and Labrador court.

The judge is quoted as saying, "Society is continuously changing and family structures are changing along with it,” adding, “This must be recognized as a reality and not as a detriment to the best interests of the child.”

The piece quotes from ChristianNews.net, which includes comments from Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham, who said: “Yes, it’s a detriment to the child because there’s only one definition of a true family when God created this institution with one man one woman (Genesis 1&2)..."  He went on to say, “The ‘best interests of the child’ are when they’re taught the truth God created them, they’re made in God’s image and very special, and they have a sin nature so God provided a free gift of salvation for them in God’s Son Jesus who died and rose from the dead.”

1 - Multiple states pass laws to display "In God We Trust"

In 1956, Congress approved a resolution designating, "In God We Trust," as our national motto.  And, there is a move throughout the country for state legislatures to affirm that motto by having it prominently displayed in public schools.  According to the ReligionNews.com website, that move is being led by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, an "offshoot" of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.  The site says:

This year, five state legislatures passed laws mandating that every public school prominently display the U.S. motto, “In God We Trust.” The addition of Arkansas, which passed such a law in 2017, brings to six the number of states with public school mandates, including Alabama, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana and Tennessee.

Those laws, mostly sponsored by legislative prayer caucuses in about 30 states, were inspired by the foundation’s 2017 manual known as Project Blitz, a 116-page guide for state legislators listing 20 model bills of which “In God We Trust” is the first.

The story quoted Tennessee state Rep. Susan Lynn, who, according to the article, "sponsored the bill that passed in that state in March..." She said, in a quote from the newspaper, the Tennesseean, included in the Religion News article: "Our national motto and founding documents are the cornerstone of freedom and we should teach our children about these things..."  The Religion News story also says:

Project Blitz writers acknowledge that “In God We Trust” bills may seem symbolic, but they serve a larger purpose, which is to lay the foundation for future efforts.