The 3 - August 1, 2021

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three relevant stories to the Christian community, highlights recent action in Congress, where legislation has progressed that would authorize taxpayer funding of abortion.  Meanwhile, a church in Washington state has received court relief from having to provide abortion in its health care plan.  Plus, a web designer in Colorado has been denied in her quest to be exempted from a law which could force her to display messages that violate her religious beliefs.

U.S. House not allowed to vote on taxpayer funding of abortion, House votes to fund abortion in other countries

For some 45 years, year after year, on a bi-partisan basis, members of Congress would agree not to allow taxpayer funding of abortion.  But no more, apparently.  According to LifeNews.com, for the 52nd time just over the previous month alone, the request to vote on what is known as the Hyde Amendment was turned back by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her allies. 

The bill in question would, according to the story, "would make the Hyde Amendment permanent law and protect taxpayers from being forced to fund the killing of unborn babies in abortions." The article goes on to say:

The Hyde Amendment, which has strong public support, prohibits taxpayer funding for elective abortions in Medicaid and other federal programs. Since 1976, it has saved an estimated 2.4 million babies’ lives, including about 60,000 each year, according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

And, the story relates that the budget submitted by the President for 2022 excludes the Hyde Amendment.  

Furthermore, there are members of Congress who want you to fund abortions overseas.  Again, from LifeNews.com, a State Department funding bill passed the House last week that "removes or weakens four longstanding pro-life protections, including the Helms Amendment, which prevents taxpayer funding from being used to fund abortion overseas."

As LifeNews pointed out, John McCormack of National Review indicated that it would still take 60 votes in the Senate to move forward legislation that would not include the Hyde or Helms Amendment.

Federal appeals court says a church does not have to include abortion in health insurance coverage

A church in Washington state has been released by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from having to fund abortion in its health insurance plans, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom website, which states:

The 9th Circuit recognized that Cedar Park Church, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, suffered an injury after Washington state Senate Bill 6219 was signed into law in March 2018. The law requires Cedar Park to provide coverage for abortion if the church also offers maternity care coverage to its employees or face fines and criminal penalties, including imprisonment.

With this affirmation in hand, the church and its attorneys now return to district court; the ADF site states that the appeals court said that the "lower court was wrong to dismiss the church’s free-exercise claim." ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch said, “Today’s decision is a big step forward in preventing the government from targeting churches and we look forward to continue challenging this law at the district court.”

Web designer cannot refuse to display pro-gay messages, federal appeals court says

Lorie Smith is a web designer in Colorado, who owns 303 Creative. She believed that the so-called Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act could force her to display messages that violate her deeply held beliefs, so she, aided by Alliance Defending Freedom, filed a lawsuit, seeking a religious exemption from the Act.  Christian Today stated that:

303 Creative had wanted to put a notice on its website stating that it would not make websites for same-sex weddings, but the court concluded this would amount to "unlawful discrimination", and was not covered by free speech protections in the First Amendment.

The ruling was handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, according to ADF, 
which quoted the Chief of the 10th Circuit Timothy Tymkovich, who wrote, “The Constitution neither forces Ms. Smith to compromise her beliefs nor condones the government doing so,” adding, “In fact, this case illustrates exactly why we have a First Amendment. Properly applied, the Constitution protects Ms. Smith from the government telling her what to say or do..."

Christian Today quoted from Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, who said, "Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting both the dignity interests of members of marginalized groups and their material interests in accessing the commercial marketplace."