The 3 - March 20, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes several stories relative to the LGBTQ+ agenda, including the continued opposition to allowing male swimmer Will (Lia) Thomas to compete in women's events.  Also, a teacher in Kansas has faced action against her for refusing to call a student by the requested "gender identity" pronouns.  And, backlash among gay employees at Disney continues in light of Florida's passage of a bill protecting parental rights and impressionable children regarding "gender identity" continues.

Male swimmer wins again in women's competition, Christian women's group files complaint

Ordinarily, one could be dazzled and amazed by the women's swimming records that have fallen as the result of the University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.  However, Thomas' records have been tarnished because they have been challenged by a biological man, named Will Thomas.

And, the Christian-based advocacy organization Concerned Women for America has said, "enough."  According to the Christian Newswire website:

Concerned Women for America (CWA) filed a formal Civil Rights Complaint under Title IX with the U.S. Department of Education against the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for refusing to protect the rights of college female athletes under federal law.

UPenn continues to allow male athletes who identify as women to compete in women's sports. Lia Thomas (formerly Will Thomas), a Division I swimmer who is biologically male but rostered as a senior on UPenn's women's team, has competed throughout the season displacing female teammates in events and shattering pool, league, and national records.

Penny Nance, CEO and President of CWA, says: "The future of women's sports is at risk and the equal rights of female athletes are being infringed," adding, "We filed a formal civil rights complaint against UPenn in response to this injustice." Nance went on to say, "Any school that defies federal civil rights law by denying women equal opportunities in athletic programs, forcing women to compete against athletes who are biologically male must be held accountable."

Kansas teacher fights back after being forced to use gender identity pronouns

Perhaps you heard my conversation that aired last week on The Meeting House on Faith Radio with Monica Gill, a teacher in Loudoun County, VA, who is challenging her school district's policy requiring teachers to use a student's "gender identity" pronouns rather than the ones corresponding to the biological gender.  The conversation can be found online at FaithRadio.org and through the Faith Radio app. 

The Christian Post reports on Kansas teacher Pamela Ricard, who, according to article on the website, "...has filed a lawsuit against her school district after being suspended for refusing to use a trans-identified student’s preferred name and pronouns because doing so would violate her religious beliefs."  Ricard is a middle-school math teacher in Geary County, Kansas.  The story states:

According to the lawsuit, Ricard was suspended in April 2021 for three days and given a written reprimand because she called a biologically female student by her legal name and used female pronouns.

The article also notes:

The lawsuit further states that Ricard is a Christian who “holds sincere religious beliefs consistent with the traditional Christian and biblical understanding of the human person and biological sex.”

“Any policy that requires Ms. Ricard to refer to a student by a gendered, non-binary, or plural pronoun (e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them, zhe/zher, etc.) or salutation (Mr., Miss, Ms.) or other gendered language that is different from the student’s biological sex actively violates Ms. Ricard’s religious beliefs,” continued the lawsuit.

Ricard had requested an accommodation, but was denied by the school board.

Disney LGBTQ employees chide company for perceived lack of support over FL parental rights bill, company decides to put gay kiss in animated film

Last week, I reported to you about the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which was passed by the Florida Legislature and affirms the rights of parents in directing their children's education and prevents the teaching of so-called "gender identity" for young students in schools.  

The CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek, spoke out against the legislation toward the final days of the legislative process, but was derided because he did not speak out soon enough, according to LGBTQ+ employees of the company. CBN News reported that gay employees of Pixar, which is a division of Disney, in addition to criticizing the degree of Chapek's opposition to the Florida legislation, also demanded that a same-sex kiss that had been cut from the upcoming Buzz Lightyear movie be restored.  The company announced that the action will be included in the animated feature.

The CBN story linked to a piece on the Variety website, which said:

According to a source close to the production, Pixar’s next feature film, “Lightyear” — starring Chris Evans as the putative real-life inspiration for the “Toy Story” character Buzz Lightyear — does feature a significant female character, Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba), who is in a meaningful relationship with another woman. While the fact of that relationship was never in question at the studio, a kiss between the characters had been cut from the film. Following the uproar surrounding the Pixar employees’ statement and Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, however, the kiss was reinstated into the movie last week.

The Variety piece notes several examples of Pixar's previous attempts to interject gay-friendly content in the past; it states:

In Pixar’s 27-year history, there have been just a small handful of unambiguous LGBTQ characters of any kind. In 2020’s “Onward,” a one-eyed cop (Lena Waithe), who appears in a few scenes, mentions her girlfriend. In 2019’s “Toy Story 4,” two moms hug their child goodbye at kindergarten. And 2016’s “Finding Dory” features a brief shot of what appears to be a lesbian couple, though the movie’s filmmakers were coy about defining them that way at the time. The most overtly LGBTQ project in Pixar’s canon is a 2020 short film, “Out,” about a gay man struggling with coming out to his parents — which the studio released on Disney Plus as part of its SparkShorts program.

The story also points out that a LGBTQ relationship in Luca was toned down and gay symbols in backgrounds of Soul and Inside Out have been nixed in the past. Also a walkout has been announced for Tuesday as a step to "regain trust of the LGBTQIA+ community and employees."

The 3 - March 13, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a new law in Florida that protects parents and young students from harmful ideology regarding sexuality. Also, the pro-life Texas Heartbeat Act has withstood another challenge in court. And, the leadership of a large organization of Christian communicators has reaffirmed it commitment to upholding Biblical truth.

Bill to restrain teaching of LGBTQ agenda to younger school children passes FL Legislature

It's being derided as the "Don't Say Gay" bill in Florida, and Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing back on the legislation that has now been passed by both chambers of the state Legislature. The Christian Post states:

At the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Monday, the Republican governor responded to a question from WFLA reporter Evan Donovan about HR 1557, “an act relating to parental rights in education.”

The bill would ban “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation and gender identity” for kindergarten through third-grade students. Donovan prefaced the question by noting that critics refer to the legislation as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” a characterization that DeSantis took issue with.

The article goes on to say:

The Christian Family Coalition Florida, an organization that has advocated for HR 1557, issued a statement to The Christian Post describing the Senate’s passage of the legislation as “a huge victory for parental rights.”

In a tweet last week, DeSantis’ Press Secretary Christina Pushaw characterized HR 1557 as an “Anti-Grooming Bill.”

In a statement to local news outlet 10 Tampa Bay, Pushaw indicated that she came up with the term “Anti-Grooming Bill” herself, asserting that DeSantis has never used the phrase. At the same time, she maintained that “For ages 3-9, classroom instruction on sexual topics is not developmentally appropriate, and it’s difficult to understand why anyone would disagree.”

The Christian Post notes that the U.S. Department of Education has voiced its opposition for the bill.

Texas "Heartbeat Act" loses in court...again

The law has been challenged by abortion supporters and it has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court two times, yet the law banning abortion in the state of Texas at and after the point when a heartbeat can be detected by ultrasound continues to withstand challenges and save lives.

CBN News reports that:

In a ruling Friday, the Texas Supreme Court delivered another legal blow to abortion providers' federal lawsuit challenging the state's abortion restrictions.

The court ruled state agencies are not authorized to enforce the law, and thus, recommended the abortion industry's lawsuit be dismissed.

It's the enforcement mechanism that has protected the law from being struck down in court, relying on private citizens to bring civil lawsuits rather than authorize state agencies to punish abortion providers. The CBN article states:

In a statement, the pro-life group Texas Right to Life called the ruling, "a big victory."

"Today's ruling is a big victory for the life-saving Texas Heartbeat Act," the group said. "We have said from the beginning that abortionists' lawsuit should be dismissed. The Legislature clearly never intended state agencies to participate in enforcing the Texas Heartbeat Act, and the Supreme Court of Texas agreed. This is not the final step in the journey, as the case will now return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but it affirms a positive path forward for the historic law. We're grateful that the Texas Heartbeat Act will continue saving thousands of lives, and we're hopeful that the judiciary will soon pave the way to protect all preborn children by overturning Roe v. Wade."

National Religious Broadcasters Board includes denunciation of CRT in list of resolutions

Last week, members of the Faith Radio team attended the 2022 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.  The annual event is an opportunity for like-minded Christian communicators to worship, learn, and fellowship together.  

A number of sessions at this year's convention dealt with how Christians can respond to cultural trends. The NRB Board of Directors, in fact, according to an article on the ChristianHeadlines.com website, gave its approval to a resolution entitled, “Opposing Critical Theory and Anti-Christian Ideology.” It said in part that, "Critical theory places culpability for human suffering at the feet of anyone who thrives within, benefits from, or upholds an authority structure subjectively deemed corrupt by the secular culture, including God-given institutions such as the church, traditional family, and much more..."

The article goes on to say:

As reported by The Christian Post, the resolution also states that Christians are to “embrace our citizenship in God’s kingdom and reject false promises of secular utopia.”

“As Americans, we inherit founding principles (equality of mankind, God-given rights, and self-government) that point to worthy and Biblical ideals for an orderly society, and we endeavor to advance these cherished promises for all,” the resolution said.

According to a press release, the organization passed a number of other resolutions, with the titles:

• Opposing Deplatforming Based on Religious Viewpoint Discrimination
• On Maintaining Full Protections for Religious Nonprofits
• Opposing Federal Regulatory Overreach of Internet Regulations
• Urging that Congress Pass the Local Radio Freedom Act
• Urging that Congress Oppose Passage of the Equality Act
• Combatting Antisemitism
• Urging Strong Protections for Donor Privacy in Charitable Giving, and 
• Affirming the Right to Life.

I am grateful that Faith Radio belongs to NRB, an organization that has reaffirmed its commitment to Biblical truth. One of my Meeting House guests throughout the years has been pastor, author, and podcast host Lucas Miles, who observed how some of the more progressive Christian leaders took NRB to task in a personnel matter last year, involving a staff member who had violated a directive.  Lucas penned these words, appearing at The Stream: "The real play...is to try to take down the National Religious Broadcasters, which is one of the few evangelical Christian organizations that hasn’t been completely infiltrated by duplicitous Marxist foot soldiers peddling socialism, vaccine passports and Critical Race Theory as they attempt to dismantle every remnant of a Biblical worldview."

Miles added:

So wake up church, stop believing the tired lies of the Left. It’s time to double-down on support for the National Religious Broadcasters and any other organization that still stands for Biblical truth.

The 3 - March 6, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, shines the light on a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court involving a football coach who went to midfield after every game to pray and lost his job as the result.  Also, a group of pro-life individuals who had been arrested for participating in peaceful activity on behalf of unborn children in North Carolina have reached a settlement in the county where the incidents occurred.  And, the U.S. Senate turned back an effort to pass a Federal law in support of abortion, which would have overturned state pro-life laws.

Former and current NFL pros joined fired Washington coach's team

High-profile individuals from the government and sporting realms are lining up behind the former Bremerton, Washington, football coach, Joe Kennedy, who was suspended by his school district and eventually terminated because of his postgame practice of going to the 50-yard line to pray and was joined by others - he had been doing that for seven years when a complaint was filed, setting in motion the chain of events resulting in his firing.  The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case - again - after sending it back to lower courts several years ago.

In a recent press release issued by First Liberty, the firm that represents the coach, it notes that "Six former U.S. Attorneys General, Coach Tommy Bowden—son of legendary football coach Bobby Bowden, former college and NFL coach Lou Holtz and America First Policy Institute, and NFL Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Darrell Green joined dozens of individuals and organizations by filing 'friend-of-the-court' briefs..."

Alliance Defending Freedom added to that list on its website, saying that current NFL players and other former players have signed on to a "friend-of-the-court" brief in which ADF participated, listing "Kirk Cousins, Joe DeLamielleure, Nick Foles, Phil Olsen, Christian Ponder, Drew Stanton, Harry Swayne, and Jack Youngblood."

ADF's John Bursch is quoted as saying, referring to Coach Kennedy: "The fact that he prayed after a game doesn’t change the fact that his speech is just as protected by the First Amendment, and we hope the Supreme Court will reverse the 9th Circuit and affirm just that.”

North Carolina county settles with pro-life organization regarding on-site protests

In March of 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina, members of a pro-life organization called, Love Life, were engaged in speaking up for the unborn publicly - ChristianHeadlines.com reported that "police arrested Love Life members for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions outside A Woman’s Choice abortion clinic in Greensboro. The members were praying and conducting sidewalk counseling, although they insisted they were following CDC recommendations for social distancing."

The story goes on to say:

Alliance Defending Freedom sued the county and the city of Greensboro on behalf of the ministry and the members, asserting that the police’s actions violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and religious liberty.

As part of the settlement, Guilford County agreed that the ministry’s actions are protected by the First Amendment. The county also will pay $15,000 in attorneys’ fees. ADF agreed to file a dismissal of the case, while the ministry’s members agreed not to seek damages.

The article does note that "ADF’s lawsuit against Greensboro is still active." Denise Harle of ADF noted, " If abortion businesses could stay open to perform elective abortions during the pandemic, Christians abiding by health and safety guidelines should certainly be allowed to pray outside."

This echoes a suit filed in a Charlotte instance in 2020 on behalf of a group of pro-life people, including well-known Christian communicator David Benham. CBN.com related that in April of the same year 
that David, the head of the pro-life group, Cities4Life, "and other representatives of pro-life groups were across the street from an abortion clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina to offer counseling and prayer to expectant mothers considering abortion."  Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Benham and those who stood with him.

The article continues: "As CBN News reported, police arrested the activists and cited them for violating COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, even though they were following all the health and safety requirements including social distancing.

This is another instance of civil authorities using the COVID pandemic in order to override constitutional rights.  The CBN article states:

During a previous interview with CBN News, Benham said we need to love our neighbors and not let our pro-life views be silenced because of COVID.

"It's viewpoint discrimination. They're using this COVID emergency as an opportunity to grasp and silence our voices so we have a constitutional issue on our hands and we really have to stand against it," Benham said.

Senate votes to halt bill that would establish so-called "right to abortion" and override state laws.

Abortion was front and center in the U.S. Senate recently, as lawmakers attempted to push through the Women’s Health Protection Act, described in an article at The Christian Post as a “bill to protect a person’s ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide abortion services.”

Carol Tobias, the president of National Right to Life, said: “This legislation would have made sweeping changes, including expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and eliminating requirements that a woman be given information about the development of her unborn child so she can make an informed decision.” The Director of Federal Legislation for NRLC, Jennifer Popik, said, "This legislation would quash nearly all existing protective state laws,” adding, “With this bill, elective abortion would have become the procedure that must always be facilitated — never delayed, never impeded to the slightest degree.”

The bill has already passed the House and needed 60 votes to move forward in the Senate. It only garnered 48 votes, with 46 opposed.   

The 3 - February 27, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 includes three more stories of relevance to the Christian community, including Christian sites being banned by Facebook due to subject matter surrounding gender identity.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing the case of a website designer who received a court ruling against her in her attempt to prevent action taken against her for standing on her convictions.  Plus, a former nurse who would not refer women for abortion has won a large court settlement.

Christian sites suspended from Facebook due to themes of gender identity

Recently, warped gender ideology has resulted in several Christian feeds being removed from Facebook. The Christian Post reported that two pages devoted to helping people overcome unwanted same-sex attraction were banned, then reinstated.  The article says that Help 4 Families and Living Stone Ministries were the ministries on the receiving end of this action.

Denise Shick, who directs Help 4 Families, that, according to the words of the article, "Facebook removed the organizations' pages from its platform at the behest of LGBT activists."

The Christian Post also reported recently on The Babylon Bee's latest skirmish with Facebook, when it had a post suspended referring to a satirical piece on Amy Schneider, described as "a trans-identified female, passing the total amount of winnings that a biological female had earned on 'Jeopardy!' during Schneider’s reign."  The article says:

Facebook reportedly told the Bee that the post “goes against our Community Standards on hate speech” and that the post will not be visible to others.

The article reports that:

Bee CEO Seth Dillon said in a statement posted on the affiliated website Not the Bee that he would appeal the decision labeling the post “hate speech.”

“Remember how Facebook recently rolled out new rules stipulating that ‘real satire’ cannot ‘punch down’? Are they really willing to say that defending women against a male takeover of their records is ‘punching down’ and – even worse – ‘hate speech’? We’re going to find out,” stated Dillon.

High court to hear case of web designer in pre-emptive challenge against using site to promote content that violates her faith

Another religious freedom case out of Colorado has been accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the website for Alliance Defending Freedom, whose client, Lorie Smith of 303 Creative, which designs website, lost in a Federal appeals court in a case in which she was seeking protection from being forced to endorse ideas about sexuality that violated her religious beliefs.

The ADF site relates:

The 10th Circuit issued an unprecedented decision in the case, 303 Creative v. Elenis, holding that Smith serves “all people regardless of sexual orientation,” yet Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act requires her to engage in speech that violates her conscience and in turn creates a “substantial risk” of removing “certain ideas or viewpoints from the public dialogue.”

ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, stated: “Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent. Colorado’s law—and others like it—are a clear and present danger to every American’s constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation.”

Pro-life nurse who would not refer women for abortion wins legal settlement

Sandra Mendoza Rojas, of Rockford, Illinois, had served as a pediatric nurse for 18 years, but lost her job at the Winnebago County Health Clinic in 2015. The reason?  According to LifeNews.com, "She said she refused to comply with a new requirement that nurses be trained to help women obtain abortion drugs and refer women to abortion facilities."

The Life News article quotes from a CBN.com report, which stated: "An Illinois trial court ruled Wednesday that Winnebago County must pay more than $374,000 in attorney’s fees for requiring a Christian nurse to provide abortion referrals and contraception."  

The article goes on to quote from the court ruling: “The Health Department improperly discriminated against (Rojas) by refusing to accommodate her objections of conscience in her existing job at the clinic,” adding, “The Court has concluded that the Health Department could have reasonably accommodated (Rojas’) objections without removing her from her job.”

The 3 - February 20, 2022

This week on The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the trial of a government leader in Finland is finished as she defended herself against criminal charges for upholding Biblical truth; thousands indicated in a petition that they stood with her in prayer.   Also, multiple thousands have come to know Christ through an evangelistic outreach that was launched on New Years Eve. And, a Christian student group at a university in Texas will not face retaliation for choosing leaders who hold to Christian beliefs. 

Thousands declare their prayer support for Member of Parliament in Finland, pastor formerly imprisoned in Turkey delivers petition

Perhaps you have been following the plight of a member of Finland's Parliament who was outspoken on sexuality, consistent with the Biblical view. According to a story from last Friday on the Faithwire website:

Päivi Räsänen, whose criminal trial began Jan. 24 and ended Feb. 14, was charged with violating the dignity and equality of the LGBTQ population by engaging in purported hate speech. She told Faithwire Thursday her plight began June 17, 2019, when she tweeted the text of Romans 1:24-27, which condemns homosexuality as sinful.

15 years before, she had written a pamphlet that presented a Biblical view of sexuality, which could be banned in Finland if she is found guilty.  She also could be fined and put in prison for up to two years. She told Faithwire that: "[The case] has been a shock to many, many thousands of Christians that this happens in Finland,” she said. “This is a very historical case in Finland. Never before has happened something like this, because I have not spoken anything about hate threat against any minority. I have spoken those things that represent a very classical interpretation of the Bible and churches.” 

The Faithwire website last week also reported on the over 14,000 people who indicated in a petition sponsored by the Family Research Council that they would pray for Räsänen.  The article stated:

Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was held hostage in Turkey and has since gone on to become an outspoken advocate for religious freedom, delivered a letter in support of Räsänen. The petition, crafted by the Family Research Council, has been signed by 14,341 people.

The letter stated, in part:

“I, the undersigned, want you to be encouraged that I am praying for you and Bishop Juhana Pohjala as you are being persecuted and attacked for sharing the truth of Scripture regarding God’s design for marriage and sexuality,” he wrote. “Your bold stand to live out Acts 5:29 by obeying God rather than man is inspiring to Christians in Finland, the United States, and around the world.”

Pohjala has also been indicted; he is with the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland.

Evangelistic organization reports great harvest from film released on New Year's Eve

As we consider news of interest to the Christian community, we can remember faithful ministries whom God is using to bring people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  One such ministry is heard on Faith Radio. Christian Newswire published a release by the Luis Palau Association that stated, regarding a virtual presentation that was launched on New Years Eve:

The online event, Light Your World, featured music from top Christian artists, multiple Gospel presentations, and changed-life stories from individuals around the world. In total, more than 245,000 people indicated a decision for Jesus Christ as a result of watching the program.

The release said that:

The event included music from TobyMac as well as Maverick City Music. It also included testimonies from Danny Gokey, Darren Mulligan from We Are Messengers, television star Myrka Dellanos, and more. Andrew and Wendy Palau hosted the event and shared encouraging and inspiring messages of hope throughout the program.

Following the premiere, and all throughout the month of January 2022, geo-targeted ads delivered short rescue stories from contributors around the globe, inviting people to pray and respond to the Gospel. The Palau team used these Gospel ads to reach every continent on earth—ultimately reaching more than 43 million people in 237 different nations.

As a result, more than 1.9 million people visited a website with a clear, written Gospel presentation and 245,609 of those individuals indicated a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Over 21,000 of those new believers signed up for a discipleship program that included a 50-day devotional called, "Made New."  

Prior to the launch, there were over 10,000 people that signed up for the "Light Your World Challenge," committing to pray for five people who did not know Christ.

Christian student group at university in Texas can require leaders to be Christians, according to legal settlement

Finally, Ratio Christi is a student organization that meets on college campuses, devoted to Christian apologetics.  Ideally, such organizations should have leaders who are believers in Christ.  But, as an article at The Christian Post relates, that was not the case at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. 

Because the university had required Ratio Christi to allow anyone, regardless of faith background to serve in leadership, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit last fall, claiming, according to the article, "the school had wrongfully refused to grant the group official student organization status." It goes on to say:

The university gave the group official recognition soon after the lawsuit was filed, claiming in a statement that the litigation had nothing to do with their decision on Ratio Christi’s status.

The article says, "According to ADF, the university agreed as part of a settlement to enact a policy confirming that registered student organizations could limit their leaders to those who shared their beliefs."  However, the university has been gaslighting since that lawsuit was filed, and issued a statement to the Post last week saying that Ratio Christi was in compliance with university policies even before that filing.  However, the school did agree to this recent settlement, which tells a different story.

Nevertheless, the lawsuit has been dismissed by ADF.

The 3 - February 6, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes secretive efforts by schools to promote so-called "gender identity" and hide from parents the gender issues their children are experiencing.  Also, a new bill in a Midwestern state would prevent boys from participating in girls' sports. And, a delivery driver in Florida who declined to work a scheduled shift on religious grounds has been rewarded a financial settlement. 

Schools' secret gender conditioning produce lawsuits

When young people are in positions where education officials promote their exploration of a "gender identity" other than their biological one, that is certainly a problem.  And, when they keep it a secret from their parents, that is even worse.

Consider the instance from Florida, where the parents of a 12-year-old girl are suing the Clay County school district, alleging that, according to The Hill, "their daughter’s mental health and gender identity struggles were concealed from them for months by school officials." The article states:

The parents say a school counselor conducted “secret” therapy sessions with their daughter regarding her alleged gender dysphoria, which the Perez’s were only made aware of following their daughter’s first suicide attempt.

On two separate occasions, the young girl, who has not been named because she is a minor, tried to take her own life by hanging herself in a school restroom.

The father said on Fox News that the secretiveness was because of their religious stance. He told Laura Ingraham: "The counselor had secret meetings with our daughter about gender. She was groomed to something that she’s not, and she was encouraged..."

The Hill says the school denies the allegation.

Then, you have an instance in California, reported on by Christian Headlines, in which a parent has filed a lawsuit, alleging that her 11-year-old daughter was inappropriately influenced by a school about her sexuality. The girl, referred to in the suit as "A.G.," met with teachers and, as it's alleged: 

“At these meetings and in other discussions,” the teachers “planted the seed in A.G.’s mind that she was bisexual,” the suit says. “That idea did not originate with A.G. In fact, she did not fully understand what that term meant.

“Shortly thereafter,” the teachers “planted the seed in A.G.’s mind that she was transgender. As with bisexuality, that idea did not originate with A.G., nor did A.G. fully understand what it meant.”

A counselor also supported what the girl was being told by the teachers. The girl was allegedly, according to the story, "recruited" to "join an LGBT Equality Club." The Center for American Liberty, which is representing the parent, stated in a news release: “Parents absolutely have a right to know what is being taught in their kids’ school, especially with respect to sensitive issues like gender and sexuality,” adding, “... But parents are denied that right when activist teachers think they know better and intentionally hide information from moms and dads.”

South Dakota bill would limit male participation in girls' sports

The state of South Dakota has joined other states in implementing a law that would prevent biological male athletes from participating in girls' sports.  CBN News reported that South Dakota joins 9 other states, including Alabama, in passing similar legislation.  Governor Kristi Noem stated in a bill-signing ceremony: "This bill has been an important priority for a lot of the people behind me," adding, "And I appreciate all of their hard work in making sure that girls will always have the opportunity to play in girls sports in South Dakota and have an opportunity for a level playing field, for fairness, that gives them the chance to experience success."

It hasn't been an easy road to passage.  As the article notes:

Noem lobbied heavily for the bill this year after vetoing a similar ban in March of last year. She had issued a "style and form veto" that led to its demise, arguing that the previous bill contained flawed language that put the state at risk of litigation and retribution from the NCAA.

Later that month, she signed two executive orders that represented what she'd hoped the legislature would pass.

Last week, there was plenty of activity on that front, as CBN points out: 

USA Swimming released a new operating policy manual on Tuesday amid the controversy surrounding transgender athlete Lia Thomas' participation in the sport.

Before transitioning genders, Thomas competed for three seasons at the University of Pennsylvania as a man named Will Thomas, according to The New York Post.  

The article goes on to say:

The Washington Post reports 16 members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team sent a letter to school and Ivy League officials Thursday asking that they not take legal action challenging the NCAA's recently updated transgender policy.

That new NCAA policy could possibly prevent Thomas from competing in the NCAA championships scheduled for next month.

Delivery driver who was fired for not working on Sundays receives settlement

A driver who works for a delivery service in the Tampa Bay area that delivers for Amazon had been fired because he would not work on Sundays, in order to participate in church services.  According to The Christian Post, he took his complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The article relates:

According to an EEOC statement, the delivery service had scheduled the employee for a shift on a Sunday even though he had made it clear earlier that he could not work Sundays.

The EEOC argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on religion and "requires employers to reasonably accommodate an applicant’s or employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would pose an undue hardship."

The delivery service has agreed to pay the driver $50,000 in a settlement, which was agreed to by a federal judge. The article also notes:

In addition to the $50,000 the delivery service will pay in relief, the company must also train staff to avoid religious discrimination and appoint a “religious accommodation coordinator.”

The 3 - January 30, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, focusing on three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the announcement by a U.S. Supreme Court justice that he will be stepping down at the end of the current term.  Also, two sets of families who have been involved in operating bakeries received positive court rulings recently.  Plus, a Texas city has successfully resisted an attempt by the nation's largest provider of abortion to overrule the decisions of the voters to make their city abortion-free.

Justice resigns from high court, leaving dismal track record on life, marriage, better on religious freedom

The U.S. Supreme Court will have a vacancy later this year, as Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intent to resign last week. Breyer had been described as a "pragmatist," but his rulings and opinions show a justice who was not favorable toward the sanctity of life and marriage.  He was solidly regarded as one of the "liberals" on the high court. CBN News puts it like this:

Breyer, who was appointed to the high court by President Clinton, has been one of the more liberal justices on the bench, a staunch supporter of abortion.

The SCOTUS Blog highlighted Breyer's record, and while it did not include the Obergefell ruling on gay marriage, which Breyer supported, it did include a number of cases, stating that Breyer "...wrote for a five-justice majority in Stenberg v. Carhart, striking down Nebraska’s ban on a procedure the state referred to as 'partial birth' abortion."  When partial birth abortion came to the high court again seven years later, he was in the minority as the court banned the procedure.

The blog also noted, "in 2016, he wrote for the majority in another major ruling on abortion, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, that struck down two provisions in a Texas law that sought to regulate abortion providers in the state."  He was also in the majority for a ruling in a similar case out of Louisiana in 2020.

Regarding religious freedom, his record was mixed.  As the SCOTUS Blog points out: "On a single day in 2005, Breyer provided the pivotal vote in a pair of cases challenging public displays of the Ten Commandments. In one case, Breyer agreed with the court’s conservative wing to uphold the display; in the other, he sided with the court’s liberals to strike down the display." The blog also reported that:

Fourteen years later, Breyer joined Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion for the majority in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, allowing a 40-foot-tall cross, erected in a Washington, D.C., suburb shortly after World War I to honor soldiers killed in battle, to remain in a traffic circle. Breyer wrote a brief concurring opinion, this time joined by Kagan, in which he reiterated his view that “there is no single formula for resolving Establishment Clause challenges.”

Breyer was also an opponent of what is called, "court packing," designed to add justices to produce a certain ideological makeup.  

Bakers in U.K., U.S. receive court victories

Within the past month, two families in the same profession involved in similar court cases have received positive results.  One of those cases involves Ashers Bakery; the Christian Institute reported on the origins of the case, which began in 2014, when "Ashers Baking Co, a small bakery in Northern Ireland run by the McArthur family, declines an order by LGBT activist Gareth Lee for a cake iced with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ due to the owners’ sincere Christian beliefs."

The Institute's website reported: "The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has thrown out Gareth Lee’s challenge to the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous 2018 ruling in favour of Ashers Baking Company."  The site goes on to say:

Let no one be in any doubt, this case was never about Christians versus gays. It was about freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.

Can equality law be used to compel people to say something with which they profoundly disagree? The answer from the highest court in the land remains clear – unanimously so – ‘No, it can’t’.

To a lesser extent, some court relief was rewarded to the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Oregon - according to First Liberty: 

The Oregon Court of Appeals issued a ruling involving our clients, Christian bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein. It reversed a decision that forced the Kleins’ family bakery, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, out of business by penalizing them $135,000 for declining to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding. The court also admitted that an Oregon bureaucratic agency acted with hostility against the Kleins’ religious beliefs.

But, the court apparently did not back down regarding its belief that the Kleins acted illegally. The legal organization's website quotes Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub, who said, “Oregon is trying to have its cake and eat it, too,” adding, “The Court admits the state agency that acted as both prosecutor and judge in this case was biased against the Kleins’ faith. Yet, despite this anti-Christian bias that infected the whole case, the court is sending the case back to the very same agency for a do-over. Today’s opinion should have been the end of this ten year long saga. It’s time for the state of Oregon’s hostility toward Aaron and Melissa to end.”  

The Kleins are planning to appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court and perhaps even to the U.S. Supreme Court, which had sent the case back to the Oregon court system for reconsideration in light of the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision.

Nation's largest abortion provider drops lawsuit against nation's largest sanctuary city for the unborn

Since 2019, over 40 cities across America have decided to designate themselves as a "sanctuary city for the unborn," where abortion is illegal, according to The Daily Citizen, a website of Focus on the Family. The largest such city is Lubbock, Texas, with "with a population of just over a quarter million," according to the website.

After being enacted, as the result of the approval of over 6-in-10 voters, the site reports, "Planned Parenthood immediately challenged the law in court, asking a federal court to issue an injunction blocking the law from enforcement. The federal court declined to issue an injunction because Planned Parenthood didn’t have the right to bring the case." Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, has decided not to appeal the decision.

The Daily Citizen notes:

Regarding the proposal’s legality, Right to Life East Texas explained, “The ordinance is structured in a manner similar to the Texas Heartbeat Act, which outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detectable but prohibits state officials from enforcing the law, instead authorizing private citizens to sue those who perform or aid or abet illegal abortions. By adopting this unique private-enforcement scheme, the city of Lubbock made its ordinance immune from pre-enforcement lawsuits because neither the city nor its officials have any role in enforcing the law, so they cannot be subjected to lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of the ordinance.”

The 3 - January 23, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, features coverage of the 49th annual March for Life in Washington, DC, in which thousands rallied and marched through the nation's capital to support life.  Also, the issue of transgender athletes is a concern among Christian groups, and the NCAA has addressed the topic recently. And, another court has ruled against mandating COVID vaccines, this time for federal employees.

Thousands brave cold and COVID to March for Life

After a year off from the traditional March for Life event, which was more of a virtual occasion last year, thousands came to the nation's capital to show their support for the sanctity of human life and the protection of unborn children, with marchers no doubt keenly aware that changes in abortion law could be implemented soon. Faithwire announced on its website:

Organizers say at least 50,000 people packed the streets of our nation’s capital for the 49th annual March for Life, and as seen on the CBN News livestream, the demographics of attendees varied greatly and included a significant number of young people.

Faithwire is a CBN website and offered the livestream on its home page. 

Its summary article about the march, which had the theme, "Equality Begins in the Womb," noted that a scheduled concert by Matthew West did not proceed due to his COVID issues, but Jordan St. Cyr provided the opening music.  

Several speakers were notable, according to coverage of the event, including Katie Shaw, a 36-year-old with Down Syndrome, Toni McFadden, founder of Relationship Matters, Lisa Robertson, wife of Duck Dynasty's Al Robertson, and Kirk Cameron.  The Faithwire story stated that Kirk said...

...that it was important that after this march, it was important to continue our marching orders for God, who is our “commander-in-chief” in the heavenly places. “His executive orders trump all executive orders,” Cameron said, before quoting Micah 6:8.

NCAA changes policy on transgender athletes

There continue to be attempts by biological males to participate in and win convincingly in female athletic events.  Some states, like Alabama, have passed legislation to prevent this practice.  And, now, the governing board of college athletics, the NCAA, has something new to say on the matter.

WORLD Magazine reports that:

Beginning with the 2022 winter championships, transgender athletes will need to document testosterone levels in compliance with their specific sport four weeks before the selection of championship participants. Eighty percent of Olympic athletes compete in collegiate sports first, and this brings the NCAA in line with the International Olympic Committee policy.

The WORLD article notes "College athletes previously only had to be taking hormone therapy to compete with students of the opposite sex."  Perhaps the NCAA was forced to act because the visibility of biological male swimmer Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania, who "was on the men’s team for three years but competed on the women’s team this season. Thomas, a man, broke several records, igniting controversy and calling attention to the NCAA’s policies."

Another WORLD article, from Mary Jackson, quoted from Linda Blade, president of Athletics Alberta and a coach and Team Canada heptathlon competitor, and the co-author of the book, Unsporting: How Trans Activism and Science Denial Are Destroying Sport. Jackson said that Blade "said she was working with multiple international women’s sports groups to form a united consortium to lobby for young female athletes: 'We are trying to organize and say, Who is going to be the female voice at the table?'"

Swimmer Erika Brown was referenced in the WORLD article. A recent ChristianHeadlines.com article stated:

Brown, a Christian, said the issue could be confronted while respecting individuals.

“I want to share something that’s been on my heart regarding what is going on in USA Swimming at the moment,” Brown wrote in an Instagram story, according to SwimSwam.com. “I believe that we are all God’s children, and we are called to love one another. I don’t want to create any hate, only speak up for what is right.

“We cannot allow transgender females to compete against biological women. A biological male goes through male puberty. Even when she has transitioned, she still has the physiology of a male. A few years of testosterone blockers and estrogen doesn’t change the fact that she will have more powerful muscles, a larger heart and greater lung capacity than a biological woman.

Another court ruling against vax mandates

COVID vaccine mandates have become problematic for a number of people of faith, including employees of a variety of religious organizations, some of whom were involved in the case regarding the business mandate from the 6th Circuit that wound up at the U.S. Supreme Court, that struck down the mandate over a week ago.

There have been other challenges to various types of mandates, including the attempt to force federal employees to get the vaccine. Liberty Counsel reported late last week about a ruling out of a federal district court in Texas, stating on its website:

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has blocked Biden’s shot mandate that required all federal employees to receive the COVID shot or face termination.

In Feds for Medical Freedom v. Biden, Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown granted a preliminary nationwide injunction that covers all federal employees. Judge Brown wrote that the mandate would pose a substantial threat of irreparable harm over the “liberty interests of employees who must choose between violating a mandate of doubtful validity or consenting to an unwanted medical procedure that cannot be undone.”

In describing this mandate, Liberty Counsel noted "3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions."

And, FoxNews.com reports that federal employees requesting religious exemptions could be entered into an online database.  The story states:

Religious rights groups are calling foul about the databases.

"This is concerning because of the type of data that's being gathered," Ryan Bangert with Alliance Defending Freedom told Fox News.

Bangert is quoted as saying, "This data is being collected on a massive scale, and this is information about citizens' privately held religious beliefs..." The story also notes that, "Some of the databases also collect the vaccination status of all federal employees, not only those who said no for a religious reason." Fox reports that there will be a period during which comments from the public will be solicited prior to the databases becoming active. 

The 3 - January 16, 2022

Positive developments all around have emerged recently from courts at home and abroad, including the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to place on hold the implementation of the COVID vaccine mandate on businesses employing 100 or more people.  And, a former football coach from Washington state will have another day in court - the highest court in the land - regarding his termination because of his practice of post-game prayer.  Plus, a nurse in the United Kingdom has received a positive court ruling in her lawsuit against her former employer, who reassigned her because of her wearing a cross to work.

Businesses and other organizations, including Christian ministries receive vax mandate victory from SCOTUS

I have been tracking the progress, or lack thereof, regarding to so-called OSHA vaccine mandate, which was announced by the President last summer, implemented by the federal government months later, challenged in court, and dealt a decisive defeat in the U.S. Supreme Court.  The mandate would force businesses who have 100 or more employees, to require COVID vaccinations for those employees, who would then have to choose whether or not to receive the vaccine, to which many object, or submit themselves to testing and mask-wearing.  Some have chosen to depart from their jobs, either forceably or through resignation, because they do not want to submit to a government mandate.

Alliance Defending Freedom represented several ministry organizations in their fight against the mandate, which was set aside temporarily by one appeals court, reinstated by another, and challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court. ADF's website quotes Senior Counsel Ryan Bangert, who said, in part, regarding the high court's decision to halt enforcement of the mandate: “The Supreme Court correctly concluded that the federal administrative state has no authority to treat unvaccinated employees like workplace hazards and to compel employers to carry out the government’s unlawful national vaccine mandate...," adding, "Now that the Supreme Court has stayed the mandate, we look forward to pressing forward with our substantive litigation on behalf of the clients we represent in the consolidated cases challenging the mandate at the 6th Circuit.”

The SCOTUS Blog, in its analysis of the court's decision, said:

Describing the mandate as a “significant encroachment into the lives — and health — of a vast number of employees,” the court emphasized that Congress must speak clearly if it intends to give a federal agency the authority to “exercise powers of vast economic and political significance.”

In this case, the court continued, Congress did not. It gave the Department of Labor the power to establish safety standards for the workplace, rather than “broad public health measures.” Although COVID-19 “is a risk that occurs in many workplaces,” the court acknowledged, it isn’t a risk that workers encounter simply by virtue of being at work – COVID-19 spreads virtually anywhere that people gather. “Permitting OSHA to regulate the hazards of daily life — simply because most Americans have jobs and face those same risks while on the clock — would significantly expand OSHA’s regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization,” the court concluded. And indeed, the court noted, the fact that OSHA has never adopted a similar regulation is a “telling indication” that the vaccine-or-test mandate exceeds the agency’s power.

The decision to stay the OSHA mandate was a 6-3 ruling.  In another ruling handed down the same day, the high court ruled, in a 5-4 decision, to allow a mandate for COVID vaccines for health care workers at facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. 

Football coach fired for praying after games receives overtime at high court

In a case that has already reached the U.S. Supreme Court and was sent back down to a lower court, the former Bremerton, Washington football coach, Joe Kennedy, who had walked to midfield following the high school's games, will be appearing before the high court yet again.

First Liberty, which represents the coach, released the information late last week and stated:

Kennedy, a former high school football coach, is asking the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision that allowed a school district to fire him because fans and students could see him take a knee in silent prayer after football games.

“No teacher or coach should lose their job for simply expressing their faith while in public,” said Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty. “By taking this important case, the Supreme Court can protect the right of every American to engage in private religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of punishment.”

The stakes are obviously very high, as First Liberty notes: "The outcome could restore the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and strike a serious blow against a bad legal precedent that’s harmed religious liberty for more than 30 years."

Nurse who lost job due to wearing a cross necklace wins court case

A health care employee in the United Kingdom had a different sort of challenge from which she has emerged. ChristianHeadlines.com reported:

Mary Onuoha was a nurse employed by Croydon Health Services in 2018 when she was asked to remove a necklace that bears a small gold cross. Onuoha, who is Christian, refused, saying the cross is an important public display of her faith and that she had been wearing a cross since she was young. Her legal representative, Christian Legal Centre, noted that other medical staff were permitted to continue wearing jewelry even as she was told to remove her necklace.

Mary was then reassigned to perform "non-clincial duties." She later resigned and sued Croydon. The article states that...

...an employment tribunal sided with Onuoha, saying the hospital had “directly discriminated against and harassed” her.

“Wearing jewellery including necklaces was rife among the Respondent’s workforce,” a summary of the decision said. “Many doctors and nurses continued to do it even during the period in which the Claimant was being disciplined. This was widely tolerated by management.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, is quoted on the Christian Concern website as saying, “It is very uplifting to see the Tribunal acknowledge this truth. It was astonishing that an experienced nurse, during a pandemic, was forced to choose between her faith and the profession she loves.”

The 3 - January 9, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes court action on COVID vaccine mandates, which are seen by a number of Christians and Christian organizations as government intrusion in trying to override personal conscience decisions. Also, a controversial statue at the U.N. that was considered to be a representation of an end-times villain, has been removed.  Plus, pastor across the U.S. are being called upon to speak on Biblical principles regarding sexual morality next week, as the result of a new Canadian law banning counseling about unwanted same-sex desires. 

High court hears vaccine mandate cases, lower courts put mandates on hold

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments related to the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate for businesses, as well as mandatory vaccines for health care workers in facilities receiving federal funds.  A FoxNews.com report shared these statements:

In early arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested that government officials had overstepped, with Roberts declaring that it is "hard to argue" that officials had been given the power to act by Congress. Justice Brett Kavanaugh also noted that Congress had yet to pass any type of vaccine statute.

"This is something the federal government has never done before," Chief Justice John Roberts said.

The Fox website also reported that:

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor came under withering criticism Friday after she falsely suggested that upwards of 100,000 children in the United States are hospitalized from COVID-19, many of them on ventilators.

During oral arguments on the Biden administration's mandate on private businesses for employees to be either vaccinated or frequently tested, Sotomayor drastically overstated the number of young people who have fallen severely ill from coronavirus.

"We have hospitals that are almost at full capacity with people severely ill on ventilators. We have over 100,000 children, which we've never had before, in serious condition, many on ventilators," she said.

After the Sixth Circuit lifted the stay on the vaccine mandate several weeks ago that had been put in place by the Fifth Circuit, a variety of plaintiffs, including Christian ministries, had appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, a federal district judge issued a ruling on behalf of Navy SEALS who had challenged the Administration's mandatory COVID vaccines for the military. On Monday, First Liberty announced that:

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas today issued a preliminary injunction, stopping the Department of Defense from punishing military service members who have religious objections to the vaccine mandate. First Liberty Institute filed a federal lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of dozens of U.S. Navy SEALs and other Naval Special Warfare personnel against the Biden Administration and the Department of Defense for their refusal to grant religious accommodations to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The press release quote Judge Reed O'Connor, who said: “The Navy servicemembers in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms. There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment. There is no military exclusion from our Constitution.”

Also, this week, The Hill reported that the Sixth Circuit "upheld a decision to temporarily block a vaccine mandate for federal contractors in three states...," stating that: "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit said in their ruling that they were denying a request by the government to stay an injunction on a vaccine mandate for federal contractors in three states — Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky — “because the government has established none of the showings required to obtain a stay.”

Statue dubbed "End Times Beast" at U.N. removed

It has been receiving some attention on Christian media, and a large statue on display at the United Nations has been removed. The Christian Post reported:

Weeks after it was first displayed on the Visitors Plaza outside the United Nations headquarters in November, the controversial “Guardian for International Peace and Security” sculpture many Christians likened to a biblical “End Times beast” is now gone.

Initial reports to The Christian Post suggested that the sculpture was removed from the Visitor’s Plaza in late December due to complaints from the public. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, explained, however, that the display was temporary and was removed as scheduled.

So why was this statue so controversial?  The Post goes on to provide a description, saying that Christians objected "...after the U.N. tweeted an image of the exhibit on Nov. 9, prompting references to certain scriptures in the Bible, including Daniel 7:2–4 which highlights a vision of beasts, representing governments; one of which is depicted with a body like a lion and wings like an eagle."  It also mentions that:

Christians also cited Revelation 13:2 which symbolically refers to a beast given power and authority by Satan. Further reference was also made to I Thessalonians 5:3 which speaks of the End Times when people will say, “There is peace and security,” only to experience unexpected ruin.

Canada set to impose ban on counseling those with unwanted same-sex attraction, American pastor urges pastors to preach on morality

This week, a new Canadian law is going into effect, essentially banning what is known as "conversion therapy," which is a pejorative name for counseling to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction.  When notified about this new law by a Canadian pastor, John MacArthur, Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church in California and speaker on Grace to You, heard on Faith Radio, issued a statement and a challenge.

ChristianHeadlines.com reported that:

MacArthur posted an open letter to “ministers of the gospel,” urging them to join in solidarity with Canadian pastors in preaching a sermon on sexual morality on January 16. MacArthur’s letter included a message from a fellow Canadian pastor asserting it is now “against the law to preach, teach, or counsel regarding God’s design for marriage and sexuality” in Canada.

MacArthur wrote: “Our united stand will put the Canadian and the U.S. governments on notice that they have attacked the Word of God,” adding, “We are all well-aware of the evil power and destructive influence of the homosexual and transgender ideology. Our government is bent on not only normalizing this perversion, but also legalizing it, and furthermore criminalizing opposition to it.” 

The 3 - December 26, 2021

Even though it was the week of Christmas, when we celebrate the best news of all, there were three major news stories that developed, that are included in this week's edition of The 3.  The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date for arguments regarding COVID vaccine mandates. Also, a major piece of legislation, that would force taxpayers to pay for abortion, still does not have the number of votes needed for passage.  And, all 17 missionaries in Haiti who were kidnapped by a gang are now free.

SCOTUS to hear vaccine mandate challenges in early January

After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit handed down its ruling lifting a stay on the enforcement of the mandate on businesses of 100 or more employees to get the COVID vaccine, a number of companies, organizations, including religious organizations, and governmental entities made their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The high court has set a date to hear oral arguments on the business mandate, as well as mandatory vaccines for health care workers, on Friday, January 7.  The SCOTUS blog says:

Shortly after receiving the emergency requests last week, the court set a deadline of Dec. 30 for responses in both disputes. The decision on Wednesday to hear oral argument on the emergency requests came as somewhat of a surprise: It seemed more likely that the court would dispose of the requests with a brief order, as it normally does on the so-called “shadow docket.” Instead, and perhaps in response to criticism of the increased use of the shadow docket to litigate major policy disputes, the justices fast-tracked the cases for oral argument, as they have already done twice this year when fielding requests for emergency relief in the battle over Texas’ controversial abortion law and a request by a Texas inmate to have his pastor touch him and pray out loud during his execution.

Rejection of BBB prevents taxpayer funding of abortion

There are still not enough votes in the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Bill, thanks to an announcement by a key senator, but there are reports that negotiations will continue in order to pass the expansive bill, that includes federal spending on a number of programs - including abortion.

According to The Daily Citizen, a website of Focus on the Family, the bill, with a pricetag of almost $2 trillion, would "have exacerbated the federal government’s debt binge, and harmed families in the process." The article goes on to say:

The bill would have:

• Allowed taxpayer dollars to directly fund abortions.
• Mandated healthcare plans cover abortions.
• Provided “nearly $1.3 billion to help further indoctrinate and brainwash public school students with leftist propaganda, including critical race theory and dangerous gender equity policies.”

And, that's just a sampling. The article also states that "Focus on the Family President Jim Daly warned that the Build Back Better bill would have been an 'unprecedented grasp of government overreach' that would threaten to 'undermine the institution of the family on a number of levels.'" He noted that, “At the core of the debate over H.R. 5376 is government’s role in our lives...The authors of this legislation believe government is in the best position to solve our problems and improve our quality of life. In reality, government almost always makes things worse – borrowing and spending money it doesn’t have to try and fix issues it helped create in the first place.”

Remainder of Haiti missionaries held captive since October are now free

Early last week, the word came that the remaining 12 missionaries who had been captured in Haiti were free.  There was speculation that their captors had released them, but the sponsoring organization, Christian Aid Ministries, detailed a daring escape plan that catapulted the missionaries, including several children, to safety.

CBN News reported on a Monday press conference, in which ministry spokesman Weston Showalter related that, "The hostages were sensing God nudging them to attempt an escape," adding, "Over the time of their captivity, God gave various hostages a desire to attempt an escape."  He said that there was "much discussion and prayer," and that they came to the conclusion that it was time to go - on Wednesday, December 15.

The article continues by quoting Showalter:

"When they sensed the timing was right, they found a way to open the door that was closed and blocked, filed silently to the path that they had chosen to follow, and quickly left the place that they were held despite the fact that numerous guards were close by," Showalter said. "In the distance, they could see a mountain feature that they had recognized and identified in the previous days. They identified this landmark before and they knew that this was the direction they needed to go. They also followed the sure guidance of the stars as they journeyed through the night, traveling toward safety."

“After a number of hours of walking, day began to dawn and they eventually found someone who helped to make a phone call for help,” he said, his voice beginning to choke. “They were finally free.”

The general director of Christian Aid Ministries, David Troyer, addressed the kidnappers in a statement: "You caused our hostages and their families a lot of suffering. However, Jesus taught us by word and by His own example that the power of forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you..." He added, "The hostages told you plainly how you can also be forgiven by God, if you repent. Our desire is that you and all who hear or read this statement may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior, the Son of God, and the Prince of Peace..."

The 3 - December 19, 2021

This week's edition includes some really good news out of Haiti: a group of 17 people, consisting of missionaries and family members, has been released by the gang that had kidnapped the group over two months ago.  Also, a federal agency has loosened restrictions on "abortion pill," that had previously required it to be administered in-person - now it can be mailed and supervised by telemedicine. Plus, more court action on the federal COVID vaccine mandate, as an appeals court has removed a halt on enforcement that another appeals court had instituted.

Remaining kidnapped missionaries now free from Haitian captors

Just over two months ago, a group of 17 people affiliated with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries was kidnapped by a radical gang in Haiti - this included missionaries as well as several children, one as young as eight months when the captivity began. A ransom demand of $1 million per person had reportedly been made.  The gang then began to release hostages, and up until last week, five had received their freedom. 

This nightmare scenario is now over. The Christian Post reported that all 17 have now been released. It quoted David Troyer, who heads Christian Aid Ministries, who said on Friday, "A U.S.-flagged plane left Haiti with the remaining freed hostages yesterday afternoon. Everyone, including the 10-month-old baby, the 3-year-old and the 6-year-old boys, seem to be doing reasonably well..."

The story said that Troyer did not indicate if a ransom had been paid, but he did extend forgiveness to the captors, stating, "We do not know all of the challenges you face. We do believe that violence and oppression of others can never be justified. You caused our hostages and their families a lot of suffering. However, Jesus taught us by word and by His own example that the power of forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you. The hostages told you plainly how you can also be forgiven by God, if you repent...”

At a press conference earlier today, a spokesman for the ministry said the remaining 12 hostages actually escaped, aided by looking to the stars:  The New York Times states:

Twice when they planned to flee, God told them to wait. But during the night last Wednesday, the group of 12 missionaries who had been held hostage for two months in Haiti put on their shoes and packed water in their clothes.

“They found a way to open the door that was closed and blocked, filed silently to the path that they had chosen to follow and quickly left the place that they were held, despite the fact that numerous guards were close by,” Weston Showalter, the spokesman for Christian Aid Ministries, said on Monday, recounting the story for the first time at a press briefing.

They used a mountain as a landmark, and followed the light of the moon and “the sure guidance of the stars,” he said.

They zigzagged north and west for about 10 miles, carrying two small children, “traveling through woods and thickets, working through thorns and briers,” he said. 

Ultimately, they ended up finding someone who provided a way for them to phone for help.

FDA approves distribution of abortion pills by mail

The Food and Drug Administration has changed its policy to allow the abortion pill to be mailed to patients, a move that the pro-life research organization, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an arm of the Susan B. Anthony List, says would "irresponsibly erode longstanding patient safeguards on the abortion pill, despite major U.S. and international research confirming that chemical abortion has led to a surge in emergency room visits and higher rates of complications."

Tessa Longbons of the CLI states:

“The FDA claims the abortion pill is safe, yet peer-reviewed research confirms a 500% increase in the rate of chemical abortion-related emergency room visits. The FDA claims that complications are rare, yet peer-reviewed research from the United States, Finland, and Sweden confirms the abortion pill has a much higher complication rate than surgical abortion..."

Franklin Graham, posting on Facebook, called the move, "Murder by mail," and posted a USA Today article; he wrote:

Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life education and defense fund said the decision “will lead to more lives lost to abortion, and will increase the number of mothers who suffer physical and psychological harm from chemical abortions." This USA TODAY article says this is a “key move by the Biden administration” as the Supreme Court is currently considering possible new abortion protections for the unborn. Abortion supporters try to make it sound more acceptable and less barbaric by saying that it “terminates a pregnancy.” But medication abortions, as they are called, are just another way to deliberately end the life of an unborn child—and that should be called what it is—murder. Pray that the minds and hearts of people across our nation would be awakened to the great sin and heartbreak of abortion. And pray for our Supreme Court to make changes that will protect and value the most vulnerable among us.

Federal appeals court allows vaccine mandate to move forward

Just weeks ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor had ceased its enforcement of an order that forces businesses who employ 100 or more employees to mandate COVID-19 vaccines. This came on the heels of a stay by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After that, future cases were consolidated by a lottery at the Sixth Circuit, which lifted the stay and allowed the mandate to be enforced.

In a press release, Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel for First Liberty Institute, stated, “The Sixth Circuit panel’s decision to end the stay is outrageous and endangers the freedom of all Americans...Few are aware that, in addition to the President’s OSHA mandate being clearly lawless, its takeover of American companies also includes all religious organizations of over 100 employees. Our clients simply cannot comply with a government mandate that forces them to violate the conscience rights of their employees. The Supreme Court must act, or there will be a Constitutional crisis.”  The organization has request an Emergency Application, which was directed to Justice Kavanaugh, who is the justice responsible for the Sixth Circuit.

 

First Liberty and Alliance Defending Freedom were among organizations who filed appeals at the U.S. Supreme Court. Both legal groups represent ministries whose number of employees exceed the threshold. ADF's website says, "Friday’s decision by the 6th Circuit panel prompted ADF attorneys to seek a emergency relief from enforcement of the mandate—and seek the Supreme Court’s direct review—on behalf of their clients who would be required to force unvaccinated employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, be subject to weekly testing and masking requirements, or lose their job."

ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Bangert states, "The government has no authority to unilaterally treat unvaccinated employees like workplace hazards akin to asbestos or toxic chemicals, or to compel employers to carry out the government’s unlawful national vaccine mandate. The profoundly negative effect of this upon those employers and the 80 million American workers who are impacted is just one reason the Supreme Court immediately should halt enforcement of the mandate,” adding, “The Biden administration’s decision to mandate vaccines through an OSHA emergency rule is the height of government overreach.”

Also, as the SCOTUS Blog notes:

On Thursday, the federal government asked the justices to allow it to temporarily enforce a vaccine mandate, with religious and medical exemptions, for health-care workers at facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Lower-court rulings have blocked the administration from enforcing that mandate in about half the states. The justices ordered the challengers in those cases to respond by the afternoon of Dec. 30.

The 3 - December 12, 2021

This week's edition of The 3 features some activity from the U.S. Supreme Court, which not only allowed a ban on many abortions in Texas to continue, but also heard arguments in a case involving a tuition credit program from Maine which apparently is not open to students at schools regarded as too religious.  And, church leaders in the U.K. are challenging a ban on what is termed "conversion therapy," which is the term that includes counseling, including Biblically-based counseling, that can help people resist and/or overcome same-sex attraction.

Texas heartbeat law will continue to be in effect, thanks to U.S. Supreme Court

The Texas law that would ban abortion in most cases following the time that an unborn baby's heartbeat is detected has been in effect since September 1, has drawn several court challenges, and thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, will continue to help save babies' lives in the state - perhaps as many as 100 per day.

The law had been challenged all the way to the high court shortly before its implementation and was allowed to go into effect.  It has been challenged in court by abortion providers and the current administration - the 5th Circuit had rejected the federal government's attempt to block the law, and it was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Just a few days ago, according to LifeNews.com:

The high court ruled that the Texas abortion businesses challenging the law can continue with their lawsuit, but the good news is the Texas abortion ban remains on the books and will continue protecting babies from abortion whose hearts have begun beating.

The Supreme Court voted 8-1, with Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting, to allow the Texas abortion companies’ lawsuit to continue and the court voted 8-1, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting, to dismiss the Biden lawsuit against the ban. The Biden administration claimed it had the right to enforce the so-called “right” to abortion, but the Supreme Court disagreed.

So, there is still continuing legal action, but the high court has maintained its position not to interfere with the ban. In another development, according to LifeNews.com:

The high court also watered down the lawsuit the Texas abortion companies filed, saying they may sue state licensing officials, but not the state judges and clerks who are charged with handling lawsuits spurred by the law. That could severely limit their ability to stop the private enforcement mechanism behind the ban, which has saved thousands of babies from abortions.

The article quotes Texas Right to Life Director of Media and Communication Kimberlyn Schwartz, who said: “We are grateful that the Supreme Court practiced judicial restraint today and stopped the Biden administration’s pro-abortion campaign against the strongest Pro-Life law being enforced today. While we continue to fight for this policy in the lower courts, Texas Right to Life celebrates that the Texas Heartbeat Act will continue saving between 75-100 preborn children from abortion per day. The success of our efforts is embodied by each individual life that is rescued.”

High court hears arguments in case of Maine parents denied tuition credits for religious schools

The state of Maine has a program in which qualifying students can receive money for tuition for public and private schools - as long as those private schools are not deemed to be excessively religious, it seems.  That provision drew a lawsuit that ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The Christian Post reports that:

The high court heard oral arguments for nearly two hours on Wednesday morning in the case of Carson v. Makin. The legal battle centers on a group of parents suing Maine over the limitations of a program that provides taxpayer-funded tuition dollars to parents residing in remote areas where there is no public school available for their children to attend.

The article goes on to say that attorney, "Michael Bindas of the Institute for Justice argued the case on behalf of parents, who described Maine's program restriction as unconstitutional 'religious discrimination.'"

The Christian Post quoted from Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub, who said: "The goal of the program is religious neutrality," adding, "We've never heard of a school that's anti-religious, a school that teaches that all religion is bad. But ... it's clear that such a school would not be religiously neutral." The article says:

Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked Taub, "how would you even know if ... a school taught all religions are bigoted and biased," noting that there was "no formal examination" into the curriculum.

Chief Justice John Roberts also expressed concern. The article states that Roberts "...noted that the Supreme Court has previously opposed allowing 'the government to draw distinctions between religions based on their doctrine.'"

Bindas said in his opening arguments on behalf of the parents: "Religious schools, after all, teach religion. Just as a soccer team plays soccer or a book club reads books...Yes, it is part of what they do; it is also part of who they are."

U.K. pastors fight ban on therapy to help people reject same-sex attraction

A ban on so-called "conversion therapy," which more accurately can be described as a form of counseling to help people resist same-sex attraction, could be mandated in a law set to go into effect in the United Kingdom, and over a thousand concerned church leaders have signed on to a petition in opposition to the proposed law.

As CBN.com reports:

According to Christian Concern, 1,400 pastors have signed a petition asking the government to strike down a proposal that would ban so-called conversion therapy.

If passed, the measure could prevent ministers from helping those with unwanted same-sex attraction and could even prevent them from sharing the Gospel.

"It should not be a criminal offense for us to instruct our children that God made them male and female, in his image, and has reserved sex for the marriage of one man and one woman. Yet this seems to be the likely outcome of the proposed legislation," the petition reads.

The article relates that "The UK government is currently accepting proposals on how to legislate the ban."

The article quotes Dr. Ian Paul, who is described as "a member of the General Synod of the Church of England," who said: "There is a real risk that pastoral ministry will be criminalized and that human rights, including the right to religious belief, will be trampled on."  He said that the definition of what is termed "conversion therapy" is "ill-defined."

Rev. Graham Nicholls, who is the Director of a consortium of churches in the UK called Affinity, said: "Those who are campaigning for the law, their stated aim is that prayers or any kind of encouragement to do what we would say the Bible is teaching in terms of sexual ethics, should be prohibited."