This week's edition of The 3 includes the recent announcement of a new faith advisory board for a former U.S. President, and the story of one of several former officials who were asked to resign their posts on behalf of U.S. service academies. Plus, a Satanic organization that uses abortion in its rituals has come out in opposition to the Texas Heartbeat Bill.
Former President assembles faith advisors
The former President of the United States, Donald Trump, had assembled a team of faith leaders during his campaign for the 2016 election, and kept a faith advisory committee active during his Presidency; a number of those members were evangelical Christian leaders.
Now, as WORLD Magazine reports, the President has assembled another group of faith leaders, called the National Faith Advisory Board. It is comprised of over 70 "executives," according to the article, which concludes by saying that at the end, "...meeting organizer David Kubal of Intercessors for America unmuted all the attendees’ microphones and everyone prayed out loud...Kubal urged attendees to return weekly for more prayer."
On Saturday, a video with comments from Mr. Trump was shown at the "Let Us Worship" event on the National Mall in Washington. His representative, Liz Harrington, related some of the comments on Twitter, including:
"I want to thank Let Us Worship for calling Americans to 21 days of prayer in the coming weeks. America is a Nation strengthened and sustained by God and the prayers of all His children."
Harrington retweeted Natalie Harp of One America News, who tweeted out this excerpt:
“Your faith is a force that our enemies can never extinguish. Your love of God, Family, and Country is more powerful than any adversary’s hatred, or malice, or scorn.”
Former OMB director subjected to religious questioning in Senate hearing asked to resign from military board
Does the name Russell Vought ring a bell? He was the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Trump Administration. During his confirmation hearing for the role of Deputy OMB Director, according to a Family Research Council press release, Vought's religious beliefs were questioned by Senator Bernie Sanders. The release quotes FRC President Tony Perkins:
"It was a shocking moment to watch a United States Senator declare that holding to a central tenet of Christianity that Jesus is the only way of salvation is enough to render a well-qualified nominee unfit for public service. Vought's biblical view of salvation is no different than what Billy Graham preached for more than six decades.
"Thankfully, 49 senators and Vice President Pence in his tie breaking vote sent a message that public servants can express their biblical views on salvation without fear of being held to an unconstitutional religious test.
Vought is back in the news now, as one of over a dozen former Trump officials who were asked to resign from positions on the boards of military academies, according to Politico, which reported:
On Wednesday, Cathy Russell, the director of the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office, sent letters to 18 individuals on three different boards, asking for them to resign. The list includes the Board of Visitors to the Air Force Academy, Military Academy and the Naval Academy, the White House said.
In one letter to Russell Vought, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump administration, Russell advised him that he’d be fired from his post on the Naval Academy’s board of visitors unless he chose to resign.
The article goes on to say: "Vought, who earlier this year founded the Center for Renewing America, tweeted out his refusal to comply. 'No,' he responded. 'It’s a three year term.' Other former officials who received similar letters include H.R. McMaster, Jack Keane, Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer.
Independent Women's Forum quoted Meaghan Mobbs, who was likewise asked to resign; she said, "When I was first appointed to the board, there were four Obama appointee holdovers that were there serving out their three-year terms. I was graciously welcomed. I was treated with dignity and respect. That type of non-partisan engagement is exactly what we need in America right now."Satanic church protests new TX abortion law
The Texas bill protecting life in the womb once a heartbeat is detected is intended to save lives, but it has already generated its share of controversy. It has even brought a negative response from The Satanic Temple, according to CBN News, which reported:
The TST argues the law imposes an "undue burden" on any of its members to undergo its "satanic abortion ritual."The article notes that, "TST claims their abortion ritual as practiced by its members is exempt from the existing abortion regulations on the basis of religious liberty." They cite the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. CBN states, "TST says all abortions by its members are religious acts of Satanism and protected under the ruling."
"The Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (TRFRA) provides a mechanism to seek an exemption from any law that restricts the free exercise of religion," the organization posted in a statement to its website. "Because S.B. 8 imposes an undue burden on the ability of TST members to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual, the first step in defending the rights of its members is to seek an exemption under TRFRA. If the state declines to provide such an exemption, TST can then seek judicial relief from the law."
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