The 3 - March 1, 2020

This week's edition of The 3, includes how Christians and Christian organizations are responding to the Coronavirus.  Plus, U.S. Senators failed to move two pro-life bills forward this week.  Meanwhile, a Federal appeals court has allowed an Administration regulation to go into effect that would prevent abortion provides from receiving family-planning funds from the government.

Christian organizations respond to Coronavirus

As the Coronavirus continues to generate worldwide concerns, there is an effect on churches and church organizations.

South Korea has been the nation with the most Coronavirus cases outside of China.  According to Christian Headlines, South Korean’s Culture Minister Park Yang-woo addressed church gatherings, stating: “I earnestly ask [such groups] to refrain from any religious services and gatherings for a while in order to prevent further coronavirus infections and the extension of the situation..."  The article went on to say:

Seoul’s Yoido Full Gospel Church, considered the largest church in the world by membership (approximately 800,000), suspended public services and said it would launch online services for members, Yonhap News reported.

Seoul’s Myungsung Church — a Presbyterian congregation with 80,000 members — suspended services after two members, including a pastor, came down with coronavirus.

The Christian Post reported:

A Bible school and Christian holiday center in the United Kingdom has quarantined six students and a teacher who returned from a trip to Italy, which is suffering an outbreak of coronavirus. Several schools in the country are closing or sending pupils home over fears of infection.

Capernwray Hall in Lancashire said it was nothing more than a precautionary measure as the students and the teacher came back after working with a partner church in Milan, which is 40 miles from the lockdown areas in northern Italy.

And, Southern Baptists are crafting a response to the Coronavirus.  Baptist Press reports "...the International Mission Board announced Friday (Feb. 28) a coronavirus task force to address implications for IMB personnel and partners, including church volunteer mission teams." The article goes on to quote a press release from IMB President Paul Chitwood, who said: "We recognize the concern that coronavirus is causing, and we are grateful for individuals and churches who are praying for IMB personnel and for people around the world directly affected by the virus," adding, "We are continually monitoring the global situation and remain in frequent contact with our missionaries to take the best precautions possible related to their health and safety."

The article also states:

Southern Baptists ministering in certain high risk areas have reported a rising receptivity to the Gospel, Chitwood said Thursday during a luncheon address at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

"The reality of death sets in on us in a way that is so undeniable," SWBTS quoted Chitwood. "So we're praying for a great movement of the Holy Spirit; for more and more people to be saved."

Senators reject two pro-life bills

U.S. Senators had an opportunity to pass two pro-life bills this past week, but the Senate was unable to reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to move either bill forward.  Disrn.com reported:

Forty-one Democratic senators successfully blocked the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act on Tuesday, filibustering the legislation to prevent it from receiving a final vote. The bill would have required doctors to provide medical care to newborn infants who survive abortion procedures.

Three Democrats supported the legislation and three did not vote because they were campaigning for President, but they had voted against a similar bill last year.

Disrn.com also reported:

The Senate voted on whether to stop the Democrats' filibuster on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on Tuesday, falling just seven votes short of taking the bill up for debate. The bill would have banned abortions after 20 weeks and highlights how unborn babies feel pain during abortions.

Court upholds Administration's "Protect Life" rule

The Trump Administration had implemented a regulation that would prevent Federal Title X family-planning funds from being distributed to abortion providers under what is called the "Protect Life" rule. Life Site News reported:

The Trump administration may continue to enforce a rule mandating that recipients of federal planning funds, such as Planned Parenthood, separate themselves from abortion activities, the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

The article gives some background:

The administration’s Protect Life Rule requires “clear financial and physical separation between Title X-funded projects and programs or facilities where abortion is a method of family planning” and bans “referral for abortion as a method of family planning.” The abortion lobby has responded with multiple lawsuits, and Planned Parenthood chose to withdraw from Title X rather than comply with the new conditions. Abortion proponents have dubbed the rule a “gag rule.”