The 3 - May 31, 2020

This has been a turbulent week across our land, and this week's edition of The 3 begins to spotlight some response in the Christian community to the death of George Floyd on the streets of Minneapolis.  Also, California churches made good on the promise to meet in-person on Sunday, regardless of the state governor's orders.  And, President Trump took action against social media censorship this week, an issue that has been of great concern to Christians.

California churches reopen despite governor, SCOTUS rebuffs

A consortium of California churches had declared that this past Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, would be the date that they would resume worship services.  An appeals court decision prior to Memorial Day had upheld Governor Gavin Newsom's almost-total ban on churches meeting together and the governor had held out a short olive branch on Memorial Day, saying churches could meet at 25% capacity, but no more than 100 people could gather in any one service.

Then, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to churches desiring to see Newsom's stance overriden.  According to NBC 4 Television:

On Friday a sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold the restrictions on religious gatherings imposed by Newsom during the COVID-19 pandemic and denied an injunction sought by a church in Chula Vista.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts voted with liberal justices Elena Kagan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer to deny an injunction sought by South Bay United Pentecostal Church and its senior pastor, Bishop Arthur Hodges III, that alleged state and local elected officials have “intentionally denigrated California churches and pastors and people of faith by relegating them to third-class citizenship.”

More than 1500 church leaders had signed on to a "Declaration of Essentiality," which involved churches meeting this past weekend.  A large Southern California church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, where Greg Laurie is the pastor, was taking reservations for congregants at two of its locations. Laurie tweeted out: "It’s Pentecost Sunday! Welcome back to Church!"

President issues order designed to reduce social media censorship

For years, Christians and conversatives have been documenting and decrying instances of censorship by social media companies.  National Religious Broadcasters, in fact, had formed Internet Freedom Watch to bring awareness to this ongoing problem.

And, President Trump, after having several of his tweets labeled by Twitter to be non-factual, issued an executive order that is attempting to curb the action of Twitter and other companies, which have been enjoying an exemption under Federal law from possible litigation because they have set themselves up as a neutral carrier of information.

CBN News reported:

"They’ve had unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter virtually any form of communication between private citizens or large public audiences," Trump said of social media companies as he signed the order. "There is no precedent in American history for so small a number of corporations to control so large a sphere of human interaction.”

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany also explained in advance, "The President will take action so that big tech does not stifle free speech and that the rights of all Americans to speak and tweet is protected."

NRB issued a press release, which said that the consortium of Christian communicators, "is encouraged that President Trump’s Executive Order and proposed legislation are opening up an important conversation about the threats posed by powerful social media companies that often censor opinions with which they disagree."

The release says that among other things, "The President also called for clarification of the scope of the immunity from liability created by section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act, which facilitates internet companies’ 'Good Samaritan' blocking of offensive content by defending them from lawsuits based on content their moderation efforts may have missed."

Christian leaders respond to George Floyd death

There has been much response from Christian leaders about the brutal death of George Floyd, who, according to a Religion Unplugged story from which I quoted Friday, was involved in ministry in a Houston community and was influential in helping Christian leaders to do ministry in the area.

In response, Franklin Graham called for a Day of Prayer on Sunday, according to BillyGraham.org, which quoted from a Facebook post from the evangelist:

We need to pray for PEACE, because “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Pray for PERSPECTIVE, because “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

Pray for PATIENCE, because of God’s “kindness and forbearance and patience” toward us all (Romans 2:4). And pray for an OUTPOURING of His wisdom and direction for our leaders and officials who are dealing with this crisis. Ask God to change hearts and heal this divide in our nation.

The article also mentioned that Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains had been deployed to the area. BillyGraham.org website pinpointed a prayer effort in Minneapolis:

Pastor Herman Colón and his wife Yolandita led a prayer and worship service in the parking lot of their church only blocks away from boarded-up and graffitied businesses.

Pastors of various denominations took turns praying—some in person and some by phone over a loud speaker. Dozens worshipped, crying out to God.

Every now and then, a burning smell wafted over the crowd. The fourth day of protests were starting nearby.

“[God] You put us up—a watchman on a wall, and we have failed,” a Canadian pastor prayed by phone, his voice carried over the loud speaker.

“Father, forgive us because now we see a city that is running around without direction.”

A Twitter post that was disseminated from John Mason featured a short video of a prayer meeting in Minneapolis. One of the notable statements about the tragedy came from legendary coach and Faith Radio programmer Tony Dungy, who said:

As I have watched the events in Minneapolis unfold the last few days I have wondered & prayed about how I should respond. Below are my thoughts. I hope you read the whole thing because the final thought is most important. Romans 12:21 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/9uTtk0R9gW

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) May 29, 2020

The 3 - May 24, 2020

In this edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is good news concerning an American pastor who was detained in India for over half a year, who has recently been released.  Also, one of the familiar names in the pro-life movement has been mischaracterized in a television documentary, say some who knew her well.  And, a Mississippi church that had sued its city regarding worship services during COVID-19 was apparently burned by arsonists.

American pastor held in India released

An American pastor who had been detained in India and held in prison for seven months has finally been released, according to a story on the ChristianHeadlines.com, which reported on what had happened to Bryan Nerren of Shelbyville, TN, who leads Asian Children’s Education Fellowship.  The article states:

According to The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), a Christian advocacy non-profit law group which has been representing Nerren, noted that the pastor was detained and arrested upon his arrival at the airport in Bagdogra, India for allegedly “evading a duty on funds.” Nerren was carrying a sum of money that he intended to use to cover the expenses of his trip and the conference, but according to the ACLJ, the sum was not enough to make transporting it a crime.

Nerren had declared the funds when he flew into New Delhi, but when he arrive in Bagdogra, he was arrested and held until his release on May 15.  The article notes:

Nerren garnered the support of U.S. Congress members, the State Department, the U.S. Embassy and the National Security Council.

More than 200,000 ACLJ members also signed a petition urging for Nerren to be released and allowed to return home.

Friends defend pro-life stance of "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade

The late Norma McCorvey is an icon in the pro-life movement - she was the "Jane Roe" in the landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, and professed Christianity, was baptized by Flip Benham, father of Jason and David, and spoke on behalf of the unborn.

Now, the FX documentary, AKA Jane Roe, is claiming that McCorvey said it was all an act.  The
New York Post reported that McCorvey said late in life:

“I took their money and they took me out in front of the cameras and told me what to say,” she says, without specifying.

“I did it well too. I am a good actress. Of course, I’m not acting now.”

According to the documentary, she said that it essentially didn't matter to her whether or not a young lady wanted to have an abortion.

McCorvey was on staff of Operation Rescue after her embrace of pro-life principles. A press release on the Christian Newswire website quotes current president Troy Newman:

"I knew Norma well, and at one time, she lived with my family in the Wichita, Kansas, area for several months. I knew her to be a straightforward, down-to-earth woman who was witty and kind. She loved children and adored my own five children," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "There is no way her Christian faith or her pro-life beliefs were false. The makers of 'AKA Jane Roe' should be ashamed that they took advantage of Norma in the vulnerable last days of her life, then released their spurious movie after she passed away when she could not defend herself."

Another press release on the Christian Newswire website, from The Justice Foundation, quoted from its Founder and President Allen Parker, who said, "In view of my many conversations with Norma and considering the sworn testimony she provided to the Supreme Court, I believe the producers of the newly-released FX documentary 'AKA Jane Roe' paid Norma, befriended her and then betrayed her. This documentary can not be trusted and the perception it attempts to create around my friend and former client, Norma, is patently false."

The release pointed out several facts that contradict the narrative of the FX documentary:

• Norma's sworn testimony provided to the Supreme Court details her efforts to reverse Roe v. Wade.

• Norma changed her mind from being pro-abortion to being pro-life after working in the abortion industry. The actual reality of the callous disregard for women led her to change her mind on abortion.

• Once she became pro-life, Norma fought to the end of her life with all of the power and effort she could muster to reverse Roe v. Wade, including asking the Supreme Court to hear her case again. McCorvey's arguments in her Rule 60 Motion which she filed have still not been ruled on by the Court to this day.

• Norma McCorvey loved the women of Operation Outcry, the women who had been injured by abortion and who helped Norma collect testimonies of women injured by abortion.

• Every year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, she felt the grief, sorrow and burden of another million babies killed in America. Even though she knew she was forgiven, still felt legally responsible for the deaths. She felt used and abused by the legal system, including her lawyers and the Supreme Court.

Mississippi church vandalized

A few weeks ago, a Bible study at the First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs, Mississippi was raided by police based on the city's Coronavirus restrictions and the church filed suit against the city, according to the Daily Citizen website of Focus on the Family, which reported that:

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order allowing the church to hold drive-in services, and the city agreed to revise its ordinance to permit them. The state and local ban on in-church services, however, remained.

This past week, the church burned to the ground; arson is suspected.  The Daily Citizen notes that:

Spray-painted on the parking lot in front of the destroyed house of worship were the words: “Bet you stay home now, you hypokrits.”

The article says that the pastor is perplexed over who would commit such a heinous act.  Bruce Hausknecht of Focus on the Family, who wrote the Daily Citizen article, stated:

It’s hard to believe that anyone could commit such an unspeakable act of domestic terrorism simply as an objection to Christians wanting to meet to together in worship, but that’s what it looks like at this point.

We need to pray that the perpetrator will be found and brought to justice, and for the congregation’s needs to be met as it rebuilds, and that ultimately the name of Jesus be glorified through this situation.

Meanwhile, this past Friday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California Governor Gavin Newsom's order that keeps churches from reopening for in-person worship in the state.  According to the website of Grace Community Church, pastored by John MacArthur:

Late Friday night, the Ninth Circuit, which is generally known as the most left-wing and anti-biblical circuit court in the nation, ruled 2-1 in favor of California Governor Newsom's statewide stay-at-home order, rejecting an emergency motion to allow for religious services to proceed.

To say that we strenuously disagree with this decision would be an understatement. All credible data show that this coronavirus is far less dangerous than initially projected, even while the economic, mental, and spiritual toll of an extended lockdown order is far more dangerous. Meanwhile, although the initial response arguably might have been somewhat even-handed, as the situation has developed, religious organizations have increasingly been unfairly treated, even targeted.

The church was originally planning to resume in-person worship this past Sunday, according to a tweet from Phil Johnson of Grace to You and changed direction after the ruling.

The 3 - May 17, 2020

This week's edition of The 3 includes a positive court ruling involving a San Diego church that had fought a government order to include abortion in its health care plans.  Plus, there is more news about the reopening of churches, including some who have gone to court and others who have decided to reopen, even though state orders do not permit it.  And, we are reminded that Christian persecution is continuing, including violence in India against Christian believers.

San Diego church is victorious in challenge to law forcing it to include abortion in health plan

In 2014, the California Department of Managed Care sent out letters with a requirement that church health care plans cover abortions.  Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, which was pastored by Jim Garlow at the time (and John Maxwell before that), filed a lawsuit to challenge this decision by the Department to erase religious exemptions to the directive to include abortion.

The Alliance Defending Freedom represented Skyline, and at its website, it states:

After ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit Skyline Wesleyan Church v. California Department of Managed Health Care, the district court denied the church’s request for relief. The church then appealed to the 9th Circuit.

In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights issued its determination that the mandate violates federal law.

Recently, the 9th Circuit ruled in favor of the church in its lawsuit; ADF reports that, "The 9th Circuit recognized that Skyline Church suffered an injury when the state issued its August 2014 letters mandating that church healthcare plans cover elective abortions."

North Carolina churches set to reopen after court strikes down governor's order

With churches across the Faith Radio broadcast area and across the nation putting their reopening plans into place, we can see that churches are challenging laws that restrict their First Amendment freedoms - in a number of these cases, they have been successful.

One of the most recent is in the state of North Carolina, where, according to ABC 15 News:

This weekend a federal judge approved a restraining order that will allow houses of worship all across North Carolina to reopen.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday as the Governor pleaded with churchgoers to keep the faith in his leadership amid a growing chorus of challenges to his executive orders. This included an additional lawsuit filed in court and another group threatening litigation.

Governor Roy Cooper has said that he would not appeal the order, which has a 14-day maximum.  This comes on the heels of a rally that occurred in Raleigh last Thursday, according to WRAL Television, which reported: "The group leading the charge, Return America, is led by pastors and Christian educators...During the rally, the group announced that they had filed a lawsuit against Cooper over not allowing indoor assemblies at churches...Those filing the suit say the state's restrictions violate the First Amendment and treat churches differently from retailers."  The governor had fixed a 10-person limit to indoor gatherings.

David Gibbs, Jr. of the Christian Law Association, heard on The Legal Alert, was involved in filing the lawsuit, and said, "We have the ability to open our churches safely, with higher standards than they are asking us to do..."

This was also the weekend that the Peaceably Gather movement was involved in reopening churches, led by Pastor Brian Gibson of HIS Church in Owensboro, KY, according to ChristianHeadlines.com, which reports that the movement "has attracted the support of nearly 50 pastors at churches in a dozen states who have signaled they will gather their congregations for an in-person service."  It's been reported the church has two locations in Kentucky and two in Texas.

And, recently a group of California pastors have declared they will reopen May 31, which is Pentecost Sunday, whether or not Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an order allowing them to do so; The Christian Post reports:

Church United, a network of approximately 3,000 churches representing 2.5 million members in the Golden State, has announced its intentions to reopen before the state sets in motion the third phase of its reopening plan, which permits modified reopening of houses of worship.

Jack Hibbs, Pastor at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills told the Post: "...we have been extremely compliant for over two months, our state, when petitioned, when we asked our governor's office: 'Where are you placing the value of the church? The fact that we provide mental and spiritual health and stability at such a critical time, where do you place us in priority?'"  The article goes on to say:

Thus far, the governor's office has said that the church may be in the third or fourth phases of reopening, which could begin anywhere from a few weeks to months from now. His words have left some wondering if it will ever be politically correct for churches to resume services.

Christians in India face violence for their faith

During our current health crisis, we recognize that not only are Christian believers affected around the world, but there are those who being persecuted for their faith.  Case in point: in the nation of India, where a CBN News article recently reported on how five Christian families in Chhattisgarh state on May 5 were attacked because, as the story states, "The Christians had forbidden a tribal animist leader, Dulla Poyami, to perform tribal worship on their land."

The Christians attempted to meet with the village leaders; an MSN report quotes a local pastor - the article says:

"The village leaders told the Christians, 'You are not partaking in our tribal rituals, and so we cannot allow you to profit from your agricultural lands,'" according to the pastor.

CBN relates that:

The elders then stood up and attacked two of the Christians, Madda Poyami and Badda Poyami. As they began beating on the two men, a mob of about 60 people encircled the families, telling them they must give up their Christian faith.

Poyami was also stoned, according to Morning Star News. He was later admitted to a local hospital. Six others were also injured.

Alliance Defending Freedom International got involved in helping the villagers file a complaint with the local police.  Meanwhile, another group of Christians was mobbed because they tried to bury one of their own in the local graveyard.  ADF International became involved and secured police protection for the funeral service. 

The 3 - May 10, 2020

This week's edition of The 3 features news out of New York City, where Samaritan's Purse is closing out its work there.  Also, a large Texas church is one of the churches in the U.S. that has resumed in-person services, taking necessary precautions to help ensure the health of its attendees.  And, an ordinance granting special classes for sexual orientation and gender identity has received a state appeals court ruling against it.

Samaritan's Purse phasing out field hospital in NYC

The Samaritan's Purse field hospital in Central Park is no longer accepting new COVID-19 patients, according to NBC 4 News in New York. The station reports that a spokesperson for Mt. Sinai Hospital, which had partnered with Samaritan's Purse, said: "In March, with the survey in critically ill COVID patients growing, NY hospitals were tasked with growing their capacity 50%. Now that the surge in hospital admissions is reaching manageable levels, we will stop admitting new patients to the Central Park field hospital as of May 4."

However, the reporter who filed the story, in a Tweet posted in the story, indicated that an unnamed source told her that Samaritan's Purse would be leaving over concerns over their views on LGBTQ individuals. Samaritan's Purse is a Christian organization but does not deny treatment to anyone.  The article says that, "Local officials, including City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, had called on Mount Sinai Hospital to close the field hospital over Samaritan's Purse's practice of requiring staff to sign a pledge against same-sex marriage."

Todd Starnes, writing at ToddStarnes.com, quoted the City Council speaker: 

“It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave NYC,” said New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “This group, led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham, came at a time when our city couldn’t in good conscience turn away any offer of help. That time has passed.”

Johnson, a notorious anti-Christian bigot, said the ministry’s continued presence in New York City “is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman is quoted by Starnes, as well, saying: “It was bad enough that Donald Trump’s failure to prepare the nation for this pandemic forced New York to accept charity from a bigot like Franklin Graham,” adding, “Inviting Graham to stay on longer is an insult to LGBTQ New Yorkers and sends the dangerous message that homophobia and transphobia are acceptable.”

Apparently, those who worked with Samaritan's Purse in New York City, as well as others in the health care field, will be required to pay state income tax, according to FoxNews.com, 
which reported:

The issue first arose when Samaritan’s Purse was setting up its emergency field hospital, according to New York City-based PIX11 News. The charity’s comptroller noticed that a New York state law requires anyone working in the state for more than 14 days to pay income tax.

Governor Andrew Cuomo responded, saying: “We're not in a position to provide any subsidies right now because we have a $13 billion deficit,” adding, “So there's a lot of good things I'd like to do, and if we get federal funding, we can do, but it would be irresponsible for me to sit here looking at a $13 billion deficit and say I'm gonna spend more money, when I can't even pay the essential services.”

Church reopening provides model for future

Across the nation, churches are beginning to plan for their reopening - a number of states have relaxed restrictions on in-person church gatherings, but that does not necessarily mean that churches are moving forward with opening up their worship centers to congregants, taking a prudent approach: just because the government says you can doesn't mean you should - just yet.

But, a Texas church has provided what could be considered a template for church reopening.  Ed Young is the senior pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the son of longtime Second Baptist Church of Houston pastor Ed Young.  The Christian Post reported on what things were like on the first Sunday of May:

The church has the capacity to hold roughly 4,000 people, but it planned to limit the attendance at the sanctuary to 25 percent to voluntarily follow the restaurant guidelines. And for that, the megachurch had asked congregation members to make reservations. Those who attended also were asked to wear face masks, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The church also had planned to disinfect the church and park vehicles in every other space. Young's sermon was on "the new normal," according to the Post, which stated: "Young preached about essential lessons that God is teaching Christians during this time of social distancing, helping them change the way they view change."

Former sportswriter George Schroeder, who now serves in leadership for and writes for Baptist Press, covered the re-opening, stating:

"People desire this," Young said. "It's the physicality of the church. We love online church. We've been online for a long time. The numbers are ridiculously big, and that's great. But there's nothing like the physicality (of gathering)."

And the depth of emotion of those who gathered was surprising, according to John Cross, president of C3 Global and C3 Conferences, a ministry of Fellowship Church designed to equip and encourage pastors to grow the local church.

"There were people weeping with joy because, 'We get to worship in person,'" Cross said. "Albeit with social distancing and (adhering to) CDC guidelines, there's still something so special and exciting about being together as God's people. That totally was amazing to me."

Opponents of Jacksonville human rights ordinance win court victory

A Florida appeals court has ruled in favor of challengers to a Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville, one of these local pieces of legislation granting special status to individuals based on "sexual ordination" or "gender identity (SOGI)."  Liberty Counsel represented, according to its website, "Jacksonville residents and businesses in their challenge to invalidate an amendment to the HRO, because its authors and sponsors illegally hid the effects of the ordinance through intentionally deceptive drafting and messaging."

After defeats twice at the trial court level, the case was appealed, and the unanimous ruling was rendered. Roger Gannam of Liberty Counsel said: “This decision exposes the deception of the HRO authors and sponsors and rejects the city’s attempt to cover it up with its own deception in the form of clever procedural maneuvers in the city council. A city ordinance that cannot be passed openly and honestly is good for no one. The fair and honest people of Jacksonville should not be forced to participate in others’ celebrations of same-sex relationships under threat of fines or loss of their businesses, and Jacksonville’s women and young girls should feel safe from predatory men in their own restrooms and facilities..."

The 3 - May 3, 2020

On this week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is good news out of Kentucky, where a Federal appeals court has allowed a Louisville church to meet this weekend, despite restrictions that have been handed down by the state's governor.  Also, a Tennessee city has reversed its previous ban on drive-in worship services.  Plus, a Federal judge in California has directed individuals involved in exposing Planned Parenthood's abhorrent dealing in the body parts of aborted babies to pay stiff fines in excess of a million dollars.

Federal appeals court issues ruling favoring Kentucky church, state attorney general sides with congregation

A church in Kentucky that was visited by Kentucky state troopers handing out citations and quarantine demands received some court relief over the weekend, according to the website for Liberty Counsel, which is defending Maryville Baptist Church in Louisville.  According to the site:

Liberty Counsel won an emergency injunction from a unanimous three-judge panel on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, prohibiting the enforcement of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s March 19 and 25 COVID-19 orders against church services at Maryville Baptist Church and its pastor Dr. Jack Roberts. The rare Saturday injunction protects this church services this weekend.

This comes after a friend-of-the-court brief from the state's Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, who, according to the Liberty Counsel site, said:

“The freedom to practice one’s faith is a defining feature of American liberty… But in the wake of executive orders shutting down in-person worship services in Kentucky in response to the Covid-19 crisis, this guarantee is on shaky ground. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has allowed certain secular activities to continue in Kentucky if social distancing guidelines are followed, but has refused the same treatment for religious entities. Pandemic or not, the Constitution prohibits the targeting of religious exercise for disfavored treatment.”

The Court made direct statements in its ruling, such as this one: “Orders prohibiting religious gatherings, enforced by police officers telling congregants they violated a criminal law and by officers taking down license plate numbers, amount to a significant burden on worship gatherings…The breadth of the ban on religious services, together with a haven for numerous secular exceptions, should give pause to anyone who prizes religious freedom.” The Court referred to the "soul-sustaining group services of faith organizations...," and wrote:

“Assuming all of the same precautions are taken, why is it safe to wait in a car for a liquor store to open but dangerous to wait in a car to hear morning prayers? Why can someone safely walk down a grocery store aisle but not a pew? And why can someone safely interact with a brave deliverywoman but not with a stoic minister? The Commonwealth has no good answers. While the law may take periodic naps during a pandemic, we will not let it sleep through one.”

Chattanooga reverses course, OK's drive-in services

The city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one governmental entity that has reversed course and avoided further court action by deciding to allow drive-in worship services within the city limits, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom, which had filed a Federal lawsuit against the city on behalf of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church.  The ADF website reported that mayor Andrew Berke, on the Thursday before Easter, April 9...

...posted a message aimed at churches on the city website and on his official Facebook page regarding the order, stating that “drive-in services…even in their cars with the windows rolled up, for any length of time, will be considered a violation of our shelter-in-place directive.” That forced Metro Tab Church and other area churches to cancel drive-in Easter services and brought about the lawsuit. In the face of the suit, the city reversed its position and agreed to allow drive-in services, which Metro Tab Church and other congregations held for the past two Sundays without any threat of being singled out. Because of that, Metro Tab Church agreed to dismiss its lawsuit.

ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker, director of the ADF Center for Christian Ministries, stated, in part: “We commend the city for changing its policies and respecting the constitutionally protected freedoms of area congregations, which can now participate in alternate versions of worship during this pandemic that are specifically designed to comply with all applicable health and safety recommendations.”

Pro-life journalists hit with big fines

The citizen journalism of the Center for Medical Progress, headed by David Daleiden, resulted in the exposure of the practices of Planned Parenthood in selling the body parts of aborted babies.  The organization was cited by Congress, but a Federal judge believes that the journalists, not the abortionists, are the wrongdoers.

The Christian Post reports that:

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick of the Northern District of California released an order Wednesday against individuals connected to the Center for Medical Progress.

The judge's ruling was consistent with a jury's determination last year that the named individuals violated the Unfair Competition Law, "a claim brought by Planned Parenthood and the plaintiffs California Business & Professions Code," according to the website.

The Post reports that:

In addition to issuing an injunction banning those named from attending Planned Parenthood events, Orrick also found them liable for large sums of money.

This includes $1,259,370 in damages related to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, plus other damages and attorneys’ fees.