The 3 - June 23, 2019

This week on The 3, identifying three news stories of relevance to the Christian community, two cases involving religious freedom received positive rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court: a large veterans' memorial in the shape of a cross was ruled to be constitutional, and a state court ruling against two Oregon bakers was overturned and sent back to the state court system.  Plus, a classic Christian worship song has been sung frequently in recent protests in Hong Kong.

Peace Cross can stand, U.S. Supreme Court rules

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in a case involving a large veterans' memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland that is in the shape of a cross.  A lower court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, had ruled the display unconstitutional, according to First Liberty, representing the American Legion in the case.

The appeal went before the court, and First Liberty's website states:

...in a 7-2 decision, the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States preserved the nearly 100-year old Bladensburg WWI Veterans Memorial, along with memorials like it bearing religious symbols across the country. Most importantly, in The American Legion v. American Humanist Association, the Justices reaffirmed that the First Amendment allows people to use religious symbols and images in public.

Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel to First Liberty, is quoted as saying, "This is a landmark victory for religious freedom. The days of illegitimately weaponizing the Establishment Clause and attacking religious symbols in public are over..." The website says, "...the Court returned to a commonsense reading of the Establishment Clause that guards against the establishment of an official religion, while permitting the public acknowledgment of religion in public."

Worship song makes impact in Hong Kong protests

If you are familiar with some of the Maranatha! Music worship songs, then Sing Hallelujah to the Lord may be a song that you have heard or perhaps even sung.  Now, it has become an anthem for protesters in Hong Kong, who have taken to the streets in opposition that would make it easier to extradite charged criminals to mainland China.

FoxNews.com reported on the presence of the song, stating in an article in the past week:

For the past week, "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" has been heard almost non-stop at the main protest site in front of the city's Legislative Council, and at marches and tense stand-offs with police, Reuters reported.

Although only 10 percent of the population is Christian, church groups quickly rallied after being alarmed by reports of police brutality to make a safe haven for protesters as the government said it had to crack down on "organized riots."

The article stated, "Hong Kong's Beijing-backed government leader, Carrie Lam, who is Catholic herself, apologized in face of the opposition, postponing the introduction of the extradition bill. Some protesters hoped the Christian anthem would help sway her."  As Fox points out, "Critics say the extradition bill would undermine Hong Kong's independent judiciary and rule of law, guaranteed by a "one country, two systems," formula under the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997."

Oregon bakers get reprieve from U.S. Supreme Court

It was a week of doubly positive news for First Liberty, which was involved in the Bladensburg cross case and has been representing Oregon bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, who had declined to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony and eventually were find $135,000.  The Oregon Court of Appeals had ruled against the couple, and the decision was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

According to the First Liberty website...

...the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it reversed a decision the state of Oregon that forced bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein out of business by penalizing them $135,000 for refusing to create a government-approved message. The case was sent back to the Oregon courts for further review in light of its Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

The site said that in the Masterpiece case, "the Justices reminded government officials that they cannot be hostile to the free exercise of the religious beliefs of its citizens."

The 3 - June 16, 2019

On this week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance impacting the Christian community, a major pro-life organization has been removed from a large social media site.  Also, several states have passed new abortion laws that liberalize the practice.  And, an important Texas religious freedom bill is now law.

Pro-life organization removed from Pinterest

The organization Live Action, founded by Lila Rose, has a following of over 3.3 million in social media, and according to the Live Action website, its content has now been removed from the photo-sharing website Pinterest.

The site says that a video from "an undercover investigation conducted by Project Veritas, a watchdog group founded and run by James O’Keefe...features an anonymous whistleblower who is an employee of Pinterest, claiming to have discovered inside communications confirming that a top official at Pinterest intentionally added LiveAction.org to the blocked list of pornography websites in February of 2019."

The site relates that the "whistleblower," identified as Eric Cochran, has been fired.

This past Tuesday, according to Live Action, "Pinterest suddenly and inexplicably permanently suspended Live Action’s account, saying the account 'may have immediate and detrimental effects on a Pinner’s health or on public safety.'"

Rose stated:

What exactly is Pinterest attempting to block? Inspirational messages to pregnant mothers, ultrasound images showing the science of prenatal development, medically accurate information on the abortion procedure, and images saying women deserve better than abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood. Pinterest has targeted Live Action, I believe because our message is so effective at educating millions about the humanity of the preborn child and the injustice of abortion. Pinterest says that their mission is to “help empower people to discover things that they love,” but despite the fact that millions of people love babies and the pro-life cause, they are secretly censoring our life-affirming messages.

There is an online petition available at LiveAction.org.

More states approve extreme abortion bills

For several months after the outrageous actions of the New York state legislature and governor to legalize abortion during all nine months of pregnancy, state after state began to pass stronger pro-life legislation, including a number of "heartbeat" bills, as well as the criminalization of abortion in Alabama.

Now, unfortunately, the pendulum has been swinging in the opposite direction.  The Susan B. Anthony List website reports that the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, has signed a bill that not only allows abortion at any time of pregnancy, but repeals previously passed legislation, such as a ban on partial birth abortion.  The website indicates that the law will: eliminate any licensing requirements for abortion clinics and conscience protections for people in the health care field, and establish a "legal framework to abolish Illinois’ parental notification law."

SBA List also reports that Maine's Governor, Janet Mills, has "signed legislation into law that expands taxpayer funding of abortion in MaineCare and forces private insurers to pay for abortions, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of more than $1.3 million through FY 2023. Earlier this week Mills signed legislation to allow physician assistants and other non-doctors to perform abortions."

Also, LifeNews.com reports that Vermont's Republican Governor, Phil Scott, has signed a bill legalizing abortion during the entirety of pregnancy there. Mary Hahn Beerworth, executive director of Vermont Right to Life, stated, "By putting his signature on H. 57, Governor Phil Scott endorses unlimited, unregulated abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy,” adding, “His signature signals his preference for protecting the business of abortion over other life-affirming options in Vermont statute.”  The article says:

State House Bill 57 recognizes abortion as a “fundamental human right” and ensure that the government does not deny, restrict or infringe upon a woman’s “right” to abort her unborn baby. It also removes protections for pregnant victims of violence and medical malpractice.

Important Texas religious freedom bill now law

An important religious freedom bill out of Texas has been signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.
ChristianHeadlines.com reported that the bill, "will protect businesses from being discriminated against by government entities because of their 'membership in, affiliation with, or contribution, donation, or other support provided to a religious organization.'"

The bill was introduced and passed after San Antonio's City Council twice voted against allowing Chick-fil-A to open in the city's international airport, due to its association with religious organizations and the religious beliefs of its CEO, described erroneously as "anti-LGBTQ." The state Attorney General and the federal Department of Transportation are reportedly looking into the legality of these actions.

In the article, Hiram Sasser, General Counsel for First Liberty, is quoted as saying: "The city's decision to ban Chick-fil-A was blatant, illegal religious discrimination. We want to know just how deep the religious animosity runs within San Antonio's city government..."

The article also stated:

State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-TX) voiced that the bill was necessary to protect people of faith. "Should any city council be able to refuse me as a vendor in their city simply because I make donations to my church, which holds a biblical view of marriage?" he questioned.

The 3 - June 9, 2019

In this week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a promising development regarding research on tissue from embryos who have been aborted.  And, the Washington Supreme Court, has ruled against a florist there for a second time as a result of her declining to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding ceremony.  And, one Virginia pastor prayed for the President when he visited the church recently, which did not go over well with some in the congregation.

Administration reduces fetal tissue research

The issue of research using embryos actually became a defining moment in the Presidency of George W. Bush, as he announced a limited ban on the practice of using embryos for the purpose of research, which takes a human life.  Now, in the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services has made an important announcement on the subject.

According to the Liberty Counsel website on Wednesday, June 5:

President Donald Trump’s administration announced today that it will no longer allow federal funding for medical research conducted within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which involves the use of human fetal tissue of aborted babies. The NIH is an organization within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NIH estimates it spent $103 million taxpayer dollars purchasing and experimenting on human fetal tissue in fiscal year 2018.

Furthermore, $100 million devoted to fetal tissue research has been taken away from the University of California-San Francisco that, as Liberty Counsel puts it, "uses fetal tissue to test new HIV treatments." The site also says that, "Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is conducting a comprehensive review of all research involving fetal tissue."

Washington florist dealt another blow in state Supreme Court

Barronelle Stutzman is a florist in Washington state who, a number of years ago, declined to provide flowers for gay couple to celebrate a same-sex wedding.  The state's Attorney General got involved, saying that Barronelle had discriminated against this couple, and ultimately, the state's Supreme Court ruled against her.

The case ended up back at the Washington Supreme Court because the U.S. Supreme Court instructed the state's high court to reevaluate its decision in light of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. Alliance Defending Freedom included a piece on its website on these recent developments.  It stated:

Without even holding an oral argument, the state court came back with the same result, repeating verbatim much of what it said in its original decision rather than reconsidering the case as the U.S. Supreme Court directed.

The website's analysis continued:

Washington’s highest court read the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision as narrowly as possible, saying that the U.S. Supreme Court’s condemnation of government hostility toward religion applies only to adjudicatory bodies and no other branch of government. As ADF attorneys explain, other U.S. Supreme Court decisions say the exact opposite. In fact, Stutzman’s argument that the state attorney general showed hostility toward religion is what caused the U.S. Supreme Court to send the case back in the first place.

Stutzman could still face stiff financial penalties, according to ADF.  The organization's John Bursch said, "We look forward to taking Barronelle’s case back to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Prayer for President causes concern

Last Sunday, June 2, had been designated by over 250 Christian leaders as a special Day of Prayer for President Trump.  The effort was led by Franklin Graham, and one particular Virginia church had the opportunity to pray for the President in person.

That church was McLean Bible Church, and the President came to the church near the conclusion of an early afternoon service.  Pastor David Platt, formerly of Birmingham's Church at Brook Hills and the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, led the congregation in prayer, a prayer that was widely lauded.

According to ToddStarnes.com, not all were pleased with the pastoral prayer.  Starnes reports:

However, some in the congregation were reportedly offended by the notion that a preacher would dare to soil the “sanctity” of the church house by praying for a fellow sinner.

Platt wrote on the church's website, “My aim was in no way to endorse the president, his policies, or his party, but to obey God’s command to pray for our president and other leaders to govern in the way this passage portrays..."  He outlined how the Presidential visit unfolded and the reasoning for his prayer.  Starnes pointed out, "Politico incorrectly reported Pastor Platt apologized for the prayer. They later corrected the story."

Starnes lamented:

It’s unthinkable that any Bible-believing Christian would take offense at someone being prayed for simply because of their politics or their spiritual condition.

He wrote, "You may think that President Trump is the worst sinner in America...Well, that’s all the more reason to pray for the president."

The 3 - June 2, 2019

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, highlights three stories relative to the issue of the sanctity of life.  In Missouri, just after the governor bill signed pro-life legislation, a state judge allowed the state's last abortion clinic to stay in business, even though its license was due to expire on Friday.  Also, an Indiana pro-life bill reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld part of it, but did not rule on another, prompting strong words from one particular justice.  And, Louisiana has become the latest state to pass pro-life legislation: a heartbeat bill signed into law by a Democrat governor.

Judge allows last abortion clinic in MO to operate

The state of Missouri has been at the center of the abortion issue recently.  For one thing, the governor of the state signed into a law a bill that bans abortion in the state at the eight-week stage of development.  CBN News reported last week that Republican Governor Mike Parson...

...signed a bill Friday banning abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Under the Missouri law that comes into force Aug. 28, doctors who violate the eight-week cutoff could face five to 15 years in prison. Women who terminate their pregnancies cannot be prosecuted.

Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit, asking a circuit court judge to grant a restraining order against the state. The court will hear arguments on Wednesday. The organization wants the state to renew its license.

The license for the lone clinic remaining in Missouri was set to expire this past Friday, May 31. USA Today reported that:

St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer ruled Friday, just hours before the Planned Parenthood clinic's license to perform abortions was set to expire. He issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Missouri from allowing the license to lapse.

State officials refused to renew the facility's license, which was set to expire Friday, demanding interviews with staff doctors for an investigation into “a large number of possible deficiencies."

Missouri was on the verge of being the first state in the union since Roe vs. Wade to have zero abortion clinics, according to the article.  Now, a local judge has stepped in and has allowed abortions to continue there.

Supreme Court strikes down part of IN pro-life law, justice takes occasion to decry abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court took mixed action regarding a 2016 law in the state of Indiana, upholding one portion of the legislation, but declining to hear another.  ChristianHeadlines.com reported that:

The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday ruled that states can require the remains of aborted unborn babies to be buried or cremated, upholding part of a 2016 Indiana law that was signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined to take up a case involving another part of the law banning abortions based on race, sex or disability.

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled both parts of the law were unconstitutional.

Family Research Council explored some of the comments by Justice Clarence Thomas regarding the high court's refusal to take up the second portion of the law.  It stated:

To Justice Thomas's horror, the court essentially gave its consent to Hoosiers targeting their babies for certain traits or characteristics. "In other contexts," he wrote, "the Court has been zealous in vindicating the rights of people even potentially subjected to race, sex, and disability discrimination." But by refusing to uphold this law, he went on, the court may as well be "constitutionaliz[ing] the views of the 20th-century eugenics movement," which -- Thomas explains -- were the vision of Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger.

In the footnotes to the ruling, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg took issue with Thomas and made the ghastly declaration, "A woman who exercises her constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy is not a 'mother,'" according to the article. FRC went on to say:

Thomas fired back in his own footnote that Justice Ginsburg "makes little sense."

"It is not a 'waste' of our resources to summarily reverse an incorrect decision that created a Circuit split." It's time, he said to "confront the constitutionality of these laws... [W]e cannot avoid them forever." The court invented a right to abortion, he argued. Now it's "dutybound to address its scope."

Thomas says, "it's time." Alabama lawmakers basically said that recently as well; other states have crafted new pro-life laws, and there is hope that at least one of them will get before the high court. FRC points out that: "There are at least 20 abortion cases in the Supreme Court pipeline..."

Pro-life bill in LA sponsored by Democrat legislator signed by Democrat governor

Meanwhile, another state has passed stronger restrictions on abortion, and a unique feature of this bill is that it was sponsored by a Democrat lawmaker in one chamber of the state's legislature and a Democrat governor promised to sign it.

According to LifeSiteNews.com:

On Wednesday, the Louisiana House voted 79-23 to give final approval to legislation that forbids aborting any baby with a detectable heartbeat, except to “prevent the death of a pregnant woman or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman,” or if the baby “has a profound and irremediable congenital or chromosomal anomaly that is incompatible with sustaining life after birth.”

There are no exceptions for rape and incest in this bill.  It has been signed by Governor John Bel Edwards.  The article continues:

...Edwards confirmed he would sign the bill in a statement, declaring he “ran for governor as a pro-life candidate after serving as a pro-life legislator for eight years” and has “been true to my word and my beliefs on this issue.”

He added, "As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”

According to Fox8:

Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs carried Senate Bill 184 in the House, which was written by Sen. John Milkovich, a Democrat from Shreveport.

“I just want to say I’m proud to stand with this legislation and the state of Louisiana. We’re very pro-life,” Hodges said.

Another provision of the bill, according to LifeSiteNews, is that it would not go into effect until Mississippi's heartbeat bill is upheld in Federal court.  That bill faces a hurdle, in that it is being considered by the same Federal judge who has placed the state's 15-week ban on hold.  The Clarion-Ledger reported on May 24:

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Friday issued a strongly worded preliminary injunction blocking Mississippi's "heartbeat" abortion law, that would have banned abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, when a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Reeves' order will combine the lawsuit against Mississippi's fetal heartbeat ban with an ongoing one against the state's previous 15-week abortion ban.

"Here we go again," Reeves wrote. "Mississippi has passed another law banning abortions prior to viability. The latest interpretation (Mississippi's new law) bans abortions in Mississippi after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is as early as 6 weeks."