The 3 - June 25, 2023

In this week's edition of The 3, spotlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a promising development on conscience protection for health care professionals, as the Biden Administration has decided not to appeal a court decision that would protect those in the medical field. Plus, even as states continue to advance laws that would protect children from harmful gender change treatments or procedures, two federal districts courts have issued rulings in the other direction.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court has handed down another pro-life ruling, with this one protecting states who wish to prevent taxpayer funds from going to abortion.   

Administration decides not to challenge conscience-protecting court decision

Health professionals will not be forced to perform transgender surgeries that violate their religious beliefs as the result of a decision in the past week by the Administration to not challenge a ruling on that issue.  This marks the second time such a decision has been rendered.

CBN News reports that:

The decision in Sisters of Mercy v. Becerra was the second time a federal appeals court has blocked the administration's transgender mandate and the second time the administration has chosen not to ask the Supreme Court to review.

According to Becket Law, the rulings mark a victory for compassionate, evidence-based healthcare and protect religious doctors and hospitals across the country from suffering multimillion-dollar penalties for following their religious beliefs, conscience, and informed medical judgment.

The federal government decided that the so-called Affordable Care Act provided for the performance of transgender surgeries against the consciences of health professionals, surgeries that, as the article notes, could be harmful to the patients.  The article continues:

A coalition of Catholic hospitals, a Catholic university, and Catholic nuns who run health clinics for the elderly and poor sued the federal government to stop the mandate, and a federal court agreed that the mandate was unlawful and permanently blocked it from taking effect.

When the Biden Administration appealed that decision, the Eighth Circuit upheld the lower court's decision.

That ruling occurred on December 9, and the Administration had until last Tuesday to appeal, which it did not. 

The Sisters of Mercy decision was the second successful challenge to this mandate by Becket. CBN refers to its report that "...in Franciscan Alliance v. Becerra, Becket defended a religious hospital network sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. Becket won a victory for its clients at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Biden administration also declined to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court."

Judges rule against protection for children from gender change treatments and surgeries

But the issue of treatments and surgeries that are offered to help someone alter his or her biological sex is far from over; in fact, two court rulings recently have halted state efforts to ban these practices in their states.  The Axios website reports that a ban that was passed by the Arkansas Legislature, which then overrode a veto by then-governor Asa Hutchinson, was "struck down" by federal district judge Jay Moody, who "said the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of transgender youth, their parents and their medical providers." The judge claimed the state failed to prove its case.  Current Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has already indicated the state will appeal the ruling to the 8th Circuit.

Meanwhile, in Indiana, again, as reported by Axios, a federal district judge has put a portion of that state's new law banning gender-change surgeries and therapies on hold - allowing therapies to continue to be administered, but allowing the part of the law banning sex change surgeries to be put in place. The judge wrote, according to the article, "Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge that ban because gender reassignment surgeries are not provided to minors in Indiana..."

Another pro-life ruling for the U.S. Supreme Court

A major step forward on reducing taxpayer funding of abortion for the residents of South Carolina is the result of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, just days before the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.  In a tweet thread last Tuesday, Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, wrote: 

The U.S. Supreme Court has thrown out a lower court ruling that blocked South Carolina from removing funding from Planned Parenthood & other abortion facilities.

South Carolina enacted an executive order in 2018 terminating Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider - effectively ending taxpayer-funded abortion in the state.

Planned Parenthood challenged and successfully blocked the pro-life law through a Fourth Circuit ruling.

Today, the Supreme Court reinstated the order and asked the Fourth Circuit to reconsider its decision in light of a similar case ruled on June 8 that affirmed states have the right to determine which providers qualify to receive Medicaid funding.

Chris Schandevel, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, is quoted on the Live Action News website; he said:

“Pro-life states like South Carolina should be free to determine that Planned Parenthood and other entities that peddle abortion are not qualified to receive taxpayer funding through Medicaid. And we’re grateful the 4th Circuit will have another opportunity to hold that Congress did not intend to allow federal courts to second guess states’ decisions about which providers are qualified to receive Medicaid funding..."

The 3 - June 18, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, features an announcement by over 25 pro-life groups and individuals calling for equal protection for the unborn in the nation. Also, there is concern over a bill that would have a chilling effect on parental rights in California, threatening to charge parents who do not affirm their child's gender transition with child abuse. And, there is a groundswell of opposition to a Defense Department policy that pays transportation expenses and time off for military members or their families who wish to have an abortion.

Pro-life organizations, U.S. Senator call for equal protection of unborn

A consortium of pro-life organizations has announced its dedication to seeking equal protection for unborn babies under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Live Action News published a piece, which led off by saying:

On Thursday, Live Action and a coalition of 26 pro-life groups and individuals published The New North Star Coalition Letter, posing a clear goal for the pro-life movement, post-Roe: ending abortion by ensuring the equal protection of preborn children.

Signatories range from presidents of pro-life and conservative non-profits to professors, doctors, and journalists. Among the groups are Students for Life of America, 40 Days for Life, Concerned Women for America, Human Coalition, and more.

Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, is quoted in the article; stating that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was "an important pro-life victory," but stated: "...our fight to make abortion illegal and unthinkable while ensuring families have the support they need is far from over. This document is an uncompromising and robust description of guiding principles that lawmakers can look to as they craft policies that will save children from the brutal violence of abortion."

The article contends that, "...the personal protection afforded to every member of the human race under the Fourteenth Amendment should be extended equally to the preborn." and notes that the letter provides guidance for lawmakers to adopt certain policies, including: "enforcing fetal homicide, wrongful death, and child endangerment laws to ensure justice is obtained for families and their preborn babies; extending state and federal child tax credits to include preborn children; clarifying that embryos in cryopreservation are not legal property or quasi-property under state law; and passing robust prenatal child support laws to compel men to take responsibility for the children they father."

The preceding week, according to Live Action News: 

...Representative Doug Lamborn introduced House Resolution 464, the Recognizing Life Resolution, acknowledging that preborn children are legal and constitutional persons who are entitled to equal protection of the law, as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. He called on Congress to enact proportional legislation.

California bill inhibiting parents' right regarding transgenderism advances

Meanwhile, a bill that would trample parental rights is continuing to make its way through the California legislature, clearing a key hurdle this past week. The Daily Signal reported that a state Senate committee voted 8-1 in favor of a bill that was amended the prior week that would "rewrite the California Family Code to list 'gender affirmation' alongside a child’s need for 'health, safety, and welfare.'”

As the article notes, the bill "would put parents who don’t affirm their child’s 'gender transition' in danger of child abuse charges."  Representative Scott Wilk, the only "no" vote on the committee had said in a hearing last Tuesday: 

In recent years, we have put government bureaucrats between parents, children, and doctors when it comes to medical care—and now we have [AB 957] where if a parent does not support the ideology of the government, [children are] going to be taken away from the home…

Wilk went as far as to tell parents to leave the state out of love for their children.

The Daily Signal noted: 

A wide range of residents testified against AB 957, far outnumbering supporting voices. While both sides presented two prepared witnesses, only 17 attending individuals voiced their support for the bill, and over 100 California residents testified against AB 957 (either in person or via phone calls broadcast to the Senate chamber).

Two parents brought forward harrowing testimonies about their experiences with raising children claiming to be transgender and voicing concerns over AB 957’s overreach.

The bill now goes on to the State Senate.  If it passes there, it will go to the State Assembly. Christian advocacy organization, Real Impact related about the bill:

By including a “parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity” in California’s definition of the “health, safety, and welfare” of a child, California law will villainize the parents who hold biblical views on gender. If AB 957 becomes law, in a custody dispute, the CA court will be legally required to deny custody to a parent that does not affirm the new gender identity.

Denying custody rights to a parent is cruel and hurts both the parent and the child by severing the most important relationship in that child’s life – a relationship that is essential to the health and well-being of the child. Dividing a family for the purpose of advancing radical gender-ideology is an incredible overreach of government power and will have devastating effects on families throughout California.

U.S. Senators stand against military promotion of abortion

Last Thursday, for the ninth time, a U.S. Senator has placed a hold on voting on military promotions, calling on the Department of Defense to follow the law. 1819 News reports that Sen. Tommy Tuberville...

...first placed the hold in February on over 200 DoD general and flag officer nominations over the department’s new policy of funding travel and paid time off for service members and their dependents seeking an elective abortion. He said he intends to keep his hold until “the Pentagon follows the law.”

Politico reported last week that Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is seeking to pass legislation that would terminate the Pentagon's policy, and cited a Punchbowl News story. That story reported that Ernst and Tuberville "...talked on the Senate floor about her bill that would effectively reverse the Pentagon’s abortion policy."  The report says:

According to multiple people familiar with their conversation, Tuberville told Ernst that he won’t accept a deal in which her bill gets a vote as part of the annual defense authorization process in exchange for lifting his holds.

The Politico story notes that, "In an interview Wednesday morning, Tuberville said he would drop his holds if Ernst’s bill came up for a vote on its own and outside the process of any other bills. 'That would be good,' he said, reiterating his opposition to a vote on the measure as part of the NDAA." The NDAA refers to the National Defense Authorization Act, a package of military spending bills.

Military.com reports that: 

The Senate Armed Services Committee announced Wednesday that, before it debates its sweeping annual defense policy bill next week, it will also vote on a separate bill that would bar the Pentagon from providing leave and travel expenses to troops seeking abortions and other reproductive health care.

Tuberville says that vote would not be enough to make him back down.  Meanwhile, 1819 News reports that billboards have been placed near Alabama military bases, stating:

The billboards, sponsored by Washington, D.C. conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, were strategically placed in Huntsville, Montgomery and near Fort Rucker — all near military facilities. They sport the message: "Senator Tuberville, thank you for standing for life and against wokeness in the military."

The article also says that:

Heritage Foundation is also running a digital ad campaign encouraging Americans and military veterans to sign a letter supporting Tuberville.

"There is no truth more profound than the fact that all human life is sacred," the letter says. "The mission of the United States Military is to defend and protect all American lives—not subsidize the practice of destroying innocent and vulnerable American children via abortion with taxpayer dollars. By pledging to hold these nominations to the Department of Defense until administration officials reverse course, Senator Tuberville is doing a great service for the American people—including its service members."

The Washington Stand reported in May:

The Heritage Foundation announced the launch of a petition drive for the public to sign in the wake of a letter signed by over 3,000 veterans and active-duty servicemembers expressing support for Tuberville...

The article says:

The Heritage signature drive builds on Family Research Council’s petition drive, which garnered over 25,000 signatures in support of the senator’s pro-life stand. In addition, 23 pro-life leaders signed a letter in March indicating they are standing behind Tuberville.

The 3 - June 11, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, including three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of two more states that have taken the protection of children from harmful gender-change surgeries and treatments seriously by passing legislation to that effect; meanwhile a federal judge has place another state's legislation on hold. Also, a school board in Utah has taken a bold, brash step to ban the Bible from being available to certain children in school libraries.  And, a group of children in a Christian children's choir were stopped mid-song in presentation of the National Anthem in the U.S. Capitol building.

Judge puts FL's ban on dangerous gender treatments and surgeries on hold; TX and MO move forward

State after state, realizing the imminent threat to children represented by the trans agenda and unscientific elements of the medical community, have been passing laws to curb dangerous surgeries and treatments that have the false premise of helping a person change his or her biological sex. 

One such state is Florida, which had its recently passed law put on hold by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who, according to Liberty University's Standing for Freedom Center, "said that Florida’s law is rooted in transphobia, discrimination, and ignorance, calling it an 'exercise in politics, not good medicine.'"

The article notes that the bill prohibits "surgical interventions or the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in children in order to attempt to change their sex...," and that "The law codified the decision previously made by the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine."

Bill co-sponsor, Representative Randy Fine, tweeted out that the judge's "radical order will soon be overturned by jurists who actually believe in science. We will not stop fighting to defend children from those like Hinkle who support child castration and mutilation.”

Meanwhile, Liberty Counsel reports that, "Governors in Texas and Missouri both recently signed bills into law outlawing harmful puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and mutilating genital surgeries for minors."  The Christian legal organization notes:

At least 21 states have now enacted laws protecting women’s sports as well as children from medical mutilations and harmful drugs. According to legislation tracking data, more than 100 bills focused on protecting minors in health care, sports, bathrooms, education and the public square have been enacted since 2022, while 373 bills progress through the legislative process across 49 states. An additional 246 bills have failed in committee hearings or were voted down.

Missouri's governor also signed a bill preventing biological males from participating in female sports; Texas has had such a ban in place since 2021.  

UT parents cry foul on Bible ban

A Utah school district has voted to remove a popular book from elementary and middle school libraries, and parents have quickly responded in opposition to that move by the local school board, according to an article on the WORLD Magazine website. 

The piece says that the action was taken after "a parent complained that it was inappropriate for children. The complaint claimed that parts of the Bible fall under the state’s definition of pornography." The WORLD article reports that:

School board members said the definition does not apply to Scripture, but they voted to allow Bibles only in high school libraries. Their review stated that some parts of Scripture are too “violent or vulgar” for young children.

A complaint was also issued about the Book of Mormon on the same grounds.  

A group of over 100 parents and children, as well as state lawmakers, gathered at the Capitol in Salt Lake City last week.  WORLD speculates:

The request appears to have been aimed at undermining a state law that allows residents to challenge “sensitive material” in schools. Legislators passed the bill last year, and parents have used the statute to remove books about sexual orientation and gender ideology from school shelves.

In a related story, according to FoxNews.com, in a group of initiatives issued by the Biden administration to celebrate "Pride Month" in June was a move to keep libraries from banning books that citizens find objectionable due to LGBTQ+ content.  The article states:

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights will appoint a new coordinator to "address the growing threat that book bans pose for the civil rights of students," the White House said Thursday.

The coordinator will train school districts on how attempts to remove certain books or materials from school libraries "may violate federal civil rights laws if they create a hostile work environment, hostile environment for students," said White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden.

Children's choir stopped from performing National Anthem

According to the website of the Director of the Rushingbrook Children's Choir out of South Carolina, the mission of the choir is "To awaken and develop in Christian young people their God-given musical ability, to nurture a sense of artistry in singing, and to do all for the glory of God."

Unfortunately, the choir was stopped in its tracks when it visited the U.S. Capitol Building. The Daily Signal reported that:

Footage shows a Capitol Police officer directing someone to interrupt a children’s choir singing the national anthem in the U.S. Capitol, yet the police claimed that they did not stop the singing.

That director told The Daily Signal that is not how it happened; the website notes: 

“I was shocked, I was dismayed, I was stunned,” David Rasbach, the founder and director of the Rushingbrook Children’s Choir, told The Daily Signal of the incident, which took place on Friday, May 26. “I couldn’t believe that was happening, that they would stop the national anthem of all songs.”

The choir performance had been approved by members of Congress, including the office of the Speaker of the House; it had planned to sing five songs, including three patriotic songs and the hymn, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, according to Rasbach.  Capitol Police said that the performance constituted a "demonstration."  

Rasbach and tour organizer Micah Rea, according to The Daily Signal, "...countered the claim that musical performances in the Capitol are banned.  The story goes on to say:

Rasbach highlighted videos of Sean Feucht singing in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 1 and March 10.

Rea noted that a group of 80 pastors sang in the Capitol Rotunda on March 29.

The Capitol Police did not respond when asked for comment about these and other performances.

South Carolina Representatives, as well as the House Speaker, issued a statement of support for the children's choir. 

The 3 - June 4, 2023

This week's edition of The 3 includes an attempt by religious communicators to reverse a social media reporting law that could adversely impact Christian media.  Also, a Major League Baseball team has not only announced a Pride Night to recognize the LGBTQ+ community and has chosen an offensive, anti-religious group to honor at that event.  Plus, a new Alabama law would prevent biological males from competing in women's sports on the collegiate level. 

Religious communicators file suit against CA social media speech law

At the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando recently, NRB President and CEO Troy Miller shared with me about the organization's commitment to preserve religious freedom.  One instance was highlighted on NRB's website prior to the Convention. 

It noted that NRB...

...has joined a lawsuit alongside plaintiffs The Babylon Bee, Tim Pool, and Minds, Inc., to block AB 587, a California law that would require social media companies to report content deemed “hate speech” and “disinformation” to the government.

Miller is quoted in the piece as saying, “We are proud to act on behalf of NRB members who would be impacted by or required to comply with this censorship law,” adding, “In an environment where much religious viewpoint expression is considered ‘controversial’ speech, NRB is acting to stop the weaponization of new laws against Christian communicators.”

Regarding the addition of NRB as a plaintiff, the article says: "Like the original plaintiffs, some NRB members will be affected by this law by having their speech repressed. Other NRB members, having to directly comply with the statute, would become agents of the state for First Amendment suppression. This is something that NRB is unwilling to allow."

Dodgers spark controversy by honoring radical anti-Catholic LGBTQ+ group

The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly made a mess of their attempts to placate a radical LGBTQ+ group that mocks religious faith.  FoxNews.com reports that:

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen is the latest player on the team who does not agree with them set to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during their Pride Night on June 16.

Treinen, who is currently on the 60-day IL as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, joined All-Star starter Clayton Kershaw as members of the organization who disapproved of the decision to add the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence back to their Pride Night event after previously removing the group.

Treinen, in a statement, said:

"I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believe the word of God is true, and in Galatians 6:7 it says, ‘do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows.' This group openly mocks Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of my faith, and I want to make it clear that I do not agree with nor support the decision of the Dodger’s [sic] to "honor" the Sister’s [sic] of Perpetual Indulgence.

The article also noted that pitcher Clayton Kershaw "told the LA Times that he believes the Dodgers’ bringing back Christian Faith and Family Day, which the lefty announced last Friday will be relaunched, was a direct response to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence being reinvited."

Alabama approves bill preventing males from participating in female sports, ESPN whiffs on coverage

The Alabama Legislature has passed and Governor Ivey has signed a bill that would prevent biological males from competing in female sports on the college level.  This extends previous legislation that bans males from participation in female sports in grades K through 12.

Christiana Kiefer, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom is quoted on ADF's website as saying: "...Since the NCAA refuses to protect fairness for female athletes, it is imperative that states ensure women in college have the same equal athletic opportunities that they were afforded in high school and notes that due to the leadership of women in governmental positions in the state, now, "...women in Alabama colleges will not be subject to the devastating losses to men that female athletes in other parts of the country are experiencing.”

1819News.com notes that ESPN's coverage of the bill used flawed language, reporting:

“Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college,” ESPN tweeted. “This expands the state’s existing ban on transgender athletes on K-12 sports teams.”

Ivey, using her campaign Twitter account, quoted the tweet with her correction.

“Let me fix that,” Ivey tweeted, tagging ESPN’s Twitter account. “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban biological MEN from playing on FEMALE sports teams in college.”

This is a reminder that when you hear or see the media use the phrase "transgender woman," that really means biological male - and vice versa.

The 3 - May 21, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three recent stories of interest to the Christian community, includes an end to a conflict between an Arizona school district and a Christian university in the state. Also, Christian in India have been victimized in a particular region, including the burning of churches. And, the state of Florida has implements significant protection of medical professionals and is guarding against incursions on people of faith regarding medical decisions. 

AZ school district, university reach agreement

A Phoenix-area school district that had cut ties with a university that espouses Christian principles has made a decision to not only pay $25,000 in attorneys' fees, but also to reinstate the program allowing students from the university to teach in the district's schools.

CBN.com related:

As CBN News reported, Arizona Christian University and the Washington Elementary School District in the Phoenix and Glendale areas of Arizona had an 11-year partnership where ACU students could student-teach in the district's public schools.

The article went on to say:

In February, the five-member school board voted unanimously to end its relationship with the school because it deemed the university's student-teachers Christian faith as a threat to LGBTQ students.

But ACU and the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit in March, and according to CBN, "Washington Elementary School District has now agreed to pay attorneys' fees and reinstate its student-teacher partnership program with ACU after the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a lawsuit in March."

President of ACU, Len Munsil, is quoted as saying: "This is a complete vindication of the rights of our students to be able to participate as student-teachers in a public school district without fear of religious discrimination," adding, "We obtained everything we wanted in this new agreement, without any sacrifice or compromise to our beliefs and our university's religious purpose."

ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman said: "By discriminating against Arizona Christian University and denying it an opportunity to participate in the student-teacher program because of its religious status and beliefs, the school district was in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACU's religious freedom..." Cortman commended the school board for doing "the right thing."  

Christian persecution in India reported in the form of burning churches

Christians faced violence in Manipur, India recently at the hands of Hindus in the region. Baptist Press reported:

Reports of the attacks against Christians included the burning of more than 50 churches, the destruction and looting at more than 1,000 other buildings, with thousands left homeless and fleeing to find safety, injuries to more than 300 and the death of more than 60.

Kamlen Haokip, who is from Myanmar, or Burma and serves as Burmese pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY, is quoted in the article. Members of his extended family live near the Burmese border with India and he is connected to people inside India. The article says that:

Haokip explained there has been long-standing tension between the religious groups in Manipur, specifically the majority Hindu people group (60 percent of Manipur’s population) known as “Meiteis,” and several minority or “tribal” Christian groups such as the “Chin,” “Mizo,” “Zomi,” “Zo” and “Kuki,” which is Haokip’s tribe of origin.

These minority tribal Christians in Myanmar objected to suggested legislation by the Manipur High Court, which they believe will take away several of their rights and affect their religious freedom.

The Baptist Press article related that according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, "a group of more than 60,000 tribal Christians began peacefully protesting in the city..." and violence spread to other cities.  

Florida implements protections doctors

The state of Florida has committed itself to protecting the conscience rights of doctors in the state, a component included in a total of four bills which The Daily Citizen says "protect Floridians from medical tyranny, empower doctors and prohibit gain of function research."

In addition to protecting "the free speech of doctors," according to the article, these bills:

• Prohibit globalized public health institutions, such as the World Health Organization, from dictating policy in Florida
• Provide permanent protections against forced COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccinations. Also protect against any mandate regarding mRNA vaccines and vaccines authorized for emergency use.

Also, doctors would be permitted to "...collaborate with patients to prescribe alternative treatments and protect medical professionals who choose not to use a certain treatment based on their moral, ethical or religious convictions."  

The Daily Citizen article says:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans saw government authorities use the crisis to weaponize government against people of faith.

Consider the 1,000 U.S. Marines who were fired for refusing to take a COVID-19 vaccination because of their religious beliefs.

Or how about former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s arbitrary and discriminatory in-person worship restrictions that singled out churches for particularly stringent capacity restrictions.

And that’s to say nothing about the harm done to children, who’s educational and psychological development were irreparably harmed due to government mandates.