The 3 - August 20, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, focusing on three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, features a new ruling by a federal appeals court that would limit distribution of the abortion pill, pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Also, North Carolina lawmakers rejected the governor's vetoes that would ban gender-change surgeries and treatments, prevent biological males from competing against females in sports, and uphold parental rights.  Meanwhile, in California, another school board has pass a policy that would require school officials to inform parents if their children expresses an intent to identify as a gender conflicting with their biological sex. 

Federal appeals court turns back the clock on FDA abortion pill restrictions

Even though the Court stopped short of totally banning the abortion pill, nevertheless a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled last week that guardrails that had been removed by the current and a previous Administration should not have been removed and that the pill should not be available via mail.  The Washington Stand reports that the appeals court...

...ruled against laxer safety standards placed on the abortion pill by the Obama and Biden administrations. In the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a collection of doctors and OB-GYNs represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom argued the FDA had negligently abused its expedited approval of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone in 2000 for political purposes.

The article says that the court's decision...

• reduces the number of weeks mifepristone may be dispensed from 10 weeks to seven;
• stipulates that only a physician may prescribe the pill, also known as RU-486;
• ends telemed abortions by requiring an abortion-minded woman to have three in-person visits with a doctor: the first to confirm pregnancy and to take mifepristone, the second to take misoprostol, and a follow-up to check for adverse effects caused by the chemical abortion;
• bars abortion pills from being sent through the mail; and
• mandates that abortionists report all adverse events caused by mifepristone, not merely when the pill causes a woman’s death.

But, these measures will not be implemented, at least not just yet.  As The Washington Stand notes:

The Supreme Court issued a stay requiring the case to be fully adjudicated, possibly all the way to the High Court, before the appeals court ruling can take effect. Justices have not yet indicated if they plan to hear the case without a conflicting ruling from another court.

NC Legislature overrides governor's vetoes in areas of gender policy, parental rights

It was a night for overturning the vetoes of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in the state Legislature last week, and the bills that it had passed rejecting LGBT-friendly principles and affirming parents' rights were allowed to go through.  

As The Daily Citizen reports:

The North Carolina legislature overrode vetoes from Governor Roy Cooper to pass three family-friendly laws: House Bill 808 – Prohibiting “Gender Transition” of Minors; Senate Bill – 49, Parents’ Bill of Rights; and House Bill 574 – Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.

The North Carolina Family Policy Council (NC Family) celebrated the victories, saying the legislation “will significantly help children grow up in a healthy and safe environment.”

The article states:

NC Family noted that these drugs, hormones and surgeries “cause a host of medical problems.” The group pointed to Prisha Mosley, a North Carolina resident who began testosterone injections when she was only 17. She filed a lawsuit alleging that counselors and doctors committed fraud and medical malpractice when they encouraged her to transition, prescribed testosterone and removed her breasts.

North Carolina is the 20th state to pass “Help Not Harm” legislation, protecting vulnerable adolescent and teen girls like Mosley from damaging experimental procedures which stop normal development and cause physical and emotional injuries.

The Parents' Bill of Rights, according to the article, "...helps to 'clarify and codify parental rights as they relate to their child’s healthcare and education,' NC Family explained." Plus, it "encourages parental involvement in schools, keeps K-4 curriculum free of sex ed and gender ideology, and informs parents if their child requests to be referred to by a different name or pronouns at school.”  Passage of the third bill makes the Tarheel State the 23rd state to pass legislation preventing biological males from participating in female sports - the North Carolina bill addresses middle and high school, as well as college sports.

Advancement of parental rights continues in CA

Another school board in California has passed a policy that would require that parents be informed if school officials have knowledge about developments regarding their child's sexuality.  The California Policy Council reports on its website:

...the Murrieta Valley Unified School District approved a policy mandating staff members notify parents if a student wishes to “identify” as gender different from their biological sex. This makes it the second school district in the Inland Empire region to adopt such a policy.

The article goes on to say:

The proposal was put forth by board President Paul F. Diffley III and clerk Nicolas Pardue. It mirrored the most recent policy from Chino Valley Unified School District, which similarly mandates that staff inform parents if their child wants to change their name or pronoun in order to identify as a gender different from what is listed on their birth certificate..

FoxNews.com reported that "MVUSD's move came after California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation..." into the actions of the Chino Valley district.  

This comes against the backdrop of legislation in the Golden State that places limitations on parental rights.  CBN.com reported:

Parents in California could face jail time for speaking out on behalf of their children at school board meetings if the state legislature passes a bill that would criminalize any adult for disrupting or creating "substantial disorder."

Critics warn it is a way to stop parents from speaking out.

SB 596 was already passed in the California State Senate in May and is making its way through the floor of the lower chamber as lawmakers have broadened some terms in the law.

That article was linked to the My Faith Votes website, which announced a rally scheduled to have taken place earlier today at the State Capitol in Sacramento, led by Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.  The article states:

Sacramento Rally for Parental Rights & Lobby Day is taking place to lobby against anti-parent bills:

• AB 665 - State-Sanctioned Kidnapping

• AB 957 - Judges Must Side with Gender Affirming Parents Over Custody

• AB 1078 - The State Taking Control Over Local School Boards

• AB 5 - Training Teachers to Profile Non-LGBTQ Affirming Parents

• SB 596 - Silencing Parental Free Speech.

The 3 - August 13, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, shining the spotlight on issues impacting the Christian community, there is new evidence that indicates that more than one FBI field office were looking at certain Catholics as possible domestic terrorists.  Also, Ohioans went the polls to try to raise the bar through which the state constitution can be amendment, a key move that would decrease the chances of a new amendment that establishes a so-called "right" to abortion and allows minors to receive gender transition surgeries.  Plus, a bill designed to reduce the impact of pregnancy resource centers in Illinois has been put on hold by a federal judge.

Catholics still under watchful eye of federal law enforcement

Earlier this year, it was reported that the FBI was looking into what have been termed "Traditional Catholics" as possible domestic terrorists.  That term was used by Life Site News in a recent article, which stated that: "New documents obtained by Rep. Jim Jordan...show that FBI offices in Los Angeles and Portland were involved in the creation of the FBI’s memo that described Traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists."

In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Jordan wrote, “On July 25, 2023, the FBI produced a version of the Richmond document with fewer redactions than the two previous versions it had produced,” adding,. “This new version shows that the FBI’s actions were not just limited to ‘a single field office,’ as you testified to the Committee."  Jordan went on to say:

“This new information suggests that the FBI’s use of its law enforcement capabilities to intrude on American’s First Amendment rights is more widespread than initially suspected and reveals inconsistencies with your previous testimony before the Committee. Given this startling new information, we write to request additional information to advance our oversight.”

The article states that "Jordan also called on Wray to 'amend' his testimony and to more fully 'explain the nature and scope of the FBI’s assessment of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists.'"  He set a deadline of 5:00 Eastern on the afternoon of August 22.

Ohio voters reject opportunity to increase threshold for approving constitutional amendments

Residents of Ohio went to the polls last Tuesday to vote on an amendment that would require 60% of voters to approve proposed amendments to the state constitution. The Washington Stand reported:

57% of Ohioans voted against Issue 1 in the August special election, according to unofficial results reported by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. The issue would have required 60% of state voters to approve a proposed constitutional amendment in the initiative and referendum process, up from a simple majority adopted during the Progressive Era in 1912.

This was a key vote tied into a November vote on a proposed amendment that would place a so-called "right to abortion" in the state's constitution, an effort by the abortion industry to promote the taking of unborn human life that has received massive amounts of funding.  And there's more - the Washington Stand article points out:

A coalition of abortionists and their lobbyists has placed a measure on the November ballot that would add a “right” to abortion and minors’ gender transitions to the state constitution. Its supporters say it would restore the status that long held under Roe v. Wade, but opponents say it would effectively allow minors to obtain an abortion up to the moment of birth and confer a right for children to have transgender surgeries without parental consent or notification.

Approval of Issue 1 would have raised the threshold for November, but the money flowing into the state to defeat the referendum was just too much, which is a foreshadowing of what's to come. The article notes:

The official group opposing Issue 1 had a fundraising advantage of three-to-one and outspent pro-life forces 10-to-1. The pro-life Protect Our Constitution raised $4.9 million through July 19, compared to $14.8 million for the “No” campaign’s One Person One Vote. Protect the Constitution spent $1.6 million, compared to $10.4 million, according to an analysis from the Dayton Daily News.

That publication said, “A sizable chunk of the campaign’s money came from progressive dark money groups."

Legal relief comes for opponents of new Illinois law attempting to curb pregnancy centers

Recently on The Meeting House, the President of the National Institute for Family and Life Advocates, or NIFLA, Thomas Glessner, reported on two new state laws - one in Vermont and the other in Illinois - that negatively impact the work of pro-life pregnancy resource centers.

There has been court action concerning the Illinois law, and represents good news for the centers.  A press release from NIFLA stated:

In a big win for pregnancy centers in IL, the National Institute for Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) and their attorneys at the Thomas More Society, a federal court judge has issued a preliminary injunction in court today in National Institute of Family Life Advocates et al. v. Raoul to block Illinois’ new law targeting pro-life pregnancy ministries.

Glessner is quoted as saying:

"This is a huge win for women and their families seeking assistance for an unplanned pregnancy, many of whom have nowhere else to go for help. It's also a big win for pro-life pregnancy centers whose First Amendment rights have been blatantly attacked by the state of Illinois who want to force them to go against their deeply held beliefs that women deserve better than abortion. This is also a victory for a woman's fundamental constitutional right to choose life and we are incredibly grateful to our attorneys at the Thomas More Society for their relentless work fighting for pregnancy centers to continue to help women in need..."

The 3 - July 30, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three relevant, recent news stories of interest to the Christian community, includes a victory initiated by a Veterans Administration employee, whose lawsuit forced the VA to institute a process through which a religious accommodation could be obtained by employees not wishing to participate in abortion.  Also, Christians are using the 303 Creative case in order not to be forced by government to communicate messages that violate their deeply-held beliefs.  And, Ohio voters are going to the polls next week in order to increase the percentage of voters who can vote to change the state constitution - potentially impacting a November vote that would allow abortion in all nine months of pregnancy and promote treatments that falsely promise to help a minor to change his or her biological sex.

VA nurse practitioner opens door for religious accommodations for VA employees nationwide

Stephanie Carter is a nurse practitioner for the Veterans Administration, and has worked for the VA for 23 years.  Last year, she filed a request for a religious accommodation so that she would not be forced to participate in the termination of a pre-born child's life through abortion.  That accommodation was denied, with the VA saying it did not have a process through which such a request could be granted.

That is according to the website for First Liberty, which provided assistance for Carter by filing a lawsuit against the VA. Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel for the Christian legal advocacy organization, stated: “We’re pleased that the VA implemented a nationwide policy to protect the religious liberty rights of all VA employees,” adding, “Stephanie Carter is living proudly by her faith and should not be forced to choose between her faith and her career. Because of her courage, every VA employee in the nation can now seek a religious accommodation from participating in a procedure they find unconscionable.”

The Daily Signal noted that:

The VA first published an interim final rule in September allowing for the VA to provide abortion counseling and abortions up until birth. The interim final rule took effect 30 days after being published. It came just a few months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in late June 2022.

Members of the Senate had balked at the rule, claiming that the VA policy violated federal law prohibiting taxpayer-funded abortion. The VA had stated, “Abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency for those we serve.” The Daily Signal said, "The VA claimed that restricting veterans’ and their beneficiaries’ access to abortions would subject them to 'increased risk of loss of future fertility, significant morbidity, or death.'”

SCOTUS free speech decision influencing other cases

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has protected business owners from being compelled to communicate messages that violate their beliefs, that decision is continuing to produce waves of legal action across the nation.

Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the plaintiff in the 303 Creative case, is continuing to pursue justice for another of its clients who has been harassed by the same governmental body in Colorado that was sued in that case. A report on the ADF website stated that the attorneys with the organization "...filed a supplemental notice...with the Colorado Supreme Court asking it to apply that ruling and similarly affirm the First Amend­ment rights of cake artist Jack Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop. An activist attorney and Colorado officials have misused the same state law that was at issue in 303 Creative to punish Phillips for more than a decade."

Alliance Defending Freedom also represents a Louisville, KY photographer named Chelsey Nelson. Oral arguments were held this past Friday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  The ADF website states:

ADF attorneys are asking the court to uphold the First Amendment rights of Chelsey Nelson and her photography studio and affirm a district court’s ruling in Chelsey Nelson Photography v. Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government. That court concluded Louisville cannot misuse its laws to compel Nelson to create photographs and blogs celebrating a view of marriage she does not believe. The city of Louisville then appealed that ruling to the 6th Circuit.

In the articles on both cases, ADF attorneys repeated a phrase at the center of the 303 Creative case, "Free speech is for everyone..."

Ohio voters to decide on revising state constitution and protect life

It's a two-pronged process, and it is vital that pro-life organizations and groups educate voters regarding what is a stake in Ohio, where early voting has already begun on a ballot measure that would affect the potential results of a vote in November.

The Daily Citizen explains:

Issue 1 is a legislatively referred ballot measure that would raise the threshold needed to change the state’s constitution from a simple majority to 60%. Issue 1 needs a simple majority to pass.

According to the official argument in favor of Issue 1,

A YES vote on Issue 1 protects our Constitution from deep-pocketed, out-of-state interests. By passing Issue 1, the People will ensure constitutional changes are widely accepted and declare that Ohio’s Constitution is not for sale.

The article goes on to say:

Issue 1 is designed to counter the extremist abortion lobby’s push to permit the killing of preborn life – at any stage in a pregnancy – this November. Abortion is currently legal in Ohio through 22 weeks of a woman’s pregnancy.

The Daily Citizen notes that, "the well-funded abortion lobby – which hired professional, out-of-state name gatherers – submitted enough petitions to place a pro-abortion measure on the state’s ballot in November."  And, LifeNews.com reported last week that the November ballot initiative has been officially certified by the Ohio Secretary of State.  It reported:

Ohio Right to Life released a statement on the Secretary of State’s announcement that the ACLU’s abortion amendment collected enough valid signatures and will be on the ballot this November. The pro-life group said this ballot measure would enshrine abortion until birth and remove all protections for the preborn—including a parent’s ability to stop their child from being pressured into an abortion. Additionally, it would enshrine the “right” for minors to receive harmful hormone-suppressing drugs, like Lupron, and undergo sex-change surgeries without their parent’s knowledge.

Ohio Right to Life CEO Peter Range noted to Life News, "Based upon the reality that the ACLU barely qualified for the ballot, despite spending millions of dollars, it is clear that a majority of Ohioans do not want this extreme amendment. We ask all Ohioans, who love life, to join us in rejecting this extreme amendment.”

The 3 - July 23, 2023

This week's edition of The 3 includes the news of another state passing legislation to protect children from treatments and surgeries that falsely promise a change in "gender," which is a term that has come to mean something other than biological sex.  Also, a biological male will be representing the Netherlands in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, while another competition has decided to only allow biological women to compete.  Plus, a Christian after-school program will be allowed to meet in a Rhode Island school district as the result of a court decision.

Another state votes to protect children from harmful gender treatments

The number of states whose legislatures have voted to protect children from treatments and surgeries that claim to help a child change his or her sex continues to grow, with the addition of Louisiana this week.

The Washington Stand reports that:

Before this year, only four states had passed legislation prohibiting gender transition procedures on minors, which include irreversible removal of healthy organs and permanent sterilization through cross-sex hormones. As of Tuesday, when the Louisiana legislature enacted protections over the governor’s veto, 21 states have protections (one state improved on previously enacted language).

And, there could be more come into the fold; the article notes: "There is still time for the Ohio Senate (in session until December 31) to pass HB 68, or for the North Carolina legislature (in session until July 28) to override the governor’s veto of HB 808."

The Washington Stand does say that: 

...there is still much work to do, even in states that passed a bill this year. In some states, the legislators pulled their punches. The West Virginia Senate, for instance, stripped out all enforcement mechanisms in an 11th-hour floor amendment. Utah’s bill authorizes the foxes to guard the henhouse. Georgia’s bill is surprisingly weak, with only one enforcement mechanism and large exception. Even among the solid bills, at least a dozen can be improved by prohibiting insurance or public funds from covering gender transition procedures for minors.

"Miss" Universe candidate from one country is actually male

There will be at least one man in the next Miss Universe pageant, and perhaps another, if a contestant in Puerto Rico wins that territory's pageant.  The Daily Signal released an article that reported that a biological male presenting as a woman won the Netherlands Miss Universe pageant. Rikkie Valerie Kollé is 22 years old, has had "gender reassignment surgery," and stated on Instagram: “Yes, I am a trans woman and I want to share my story, but I am also Rikkie and that is what matters to me,” adding, “I did this on my own and enjoyed every moment of it.”

Another male who presents as a woman, Anne Jakrajutatip, now owns the rights to the Miss Universe pageant; the Daily Signal describes him as "an outspoken activist who is the founder and president of a transgender rights organization called Life Inspired for Transsexual Foundation."

The Miss Italy competition has taken a different direction; Newsweek reports it..

...will not allow transgender women to compete, with its patron saying that contestants "must be a woman from birth," weeks after Miss Netherlands crowned its first transgender winner.

"Lately, beauty contests have been trying to make the news by also using strategies that I think are a bit absurd," Miss Italy Official Patron Patrizia Mirigliani said this month during an interview with Radio Cusano, Il Primato Nazionale reported, according to a translation from Google.

"Since it was born, my competition has foreseen in its regulation the clarification according to which one must be a woman from birth. Probably because, even then, it was foreseen that beauty could undergo modifications, or that women could undergo modifications, or that men could become women," Mirigliani added, Il Primato Nazionale reported.

The Newsweek article notes that, "In 2012, the Miss Universe contest announced that it was changing its rules to allow transgender women to compete."  Last month, the Daily Mail reported:

Miss America has tightened their gender rules to ban transgender contestants who have not had a fully completed medical transition for their 2024 season.

In the new Miss 2024 contract, seen by The Standard, competitors now have to identify either as 'a born female' or a female who has 'fully completed sexual reassignment surgery'.

The article noted, "Previously the pageant had allowed anyone who simply identified as 'a woman' to participate."

Ministry's after-school outreach allowed to proceed in Rhode Island

Recently, I had the chance to feature the Executive Vice President of Child Evangelism Fellowship, Moises Estaves, on The Meeting House program.  CEF is devoted to bringing the gospel of Christ to children all around the world.  One of the principal ways that is done is through the Good News Clubs, which are allowed to meet at public schools across the nation during non-school hours. 

Liberty Counsel reminded readers on its website recently that:

In June 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court in Good News Club v. Milford Central School ruled that public schools violate the First Amendment by not providing equal access and equal treatment to Christian clubs when the school has opened the forum to secular clubs, as in this case.

Unfortunately, school officials in Providence, Rhode Island were denying this equal access to children in the state. Liberty Counsel reported that in 2023, it "filed a lawsuit on behalf of CEF Rhode Island after the school district discriminated against them by repeatedly ignoring their applications and not allowing its Good News Clubs on campuses while allowing other clubs to meet." Recently, according to its website:

...a federal district court approved a Consent Decree that prevents the school district from discriminating against CEF, declaring the Christian clubs are entitled to equal access “on the same terms” as other after school clubs.

The website notes:

As a result of the victory, the Providence Public School District is permanently mandated to treat the Good News Clubs “on an equal basis with similarly situated organizations, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Girls on the Run.”

Liberty Counsel has been quite active in defending Good News Clubs, having been involved in some 200 cases, without a loss.

The 3 - July 16, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three recent stories impacting the Christian community, includes a reprieve for a new Tennessee law that was passed in order to protect children from dangerous sex-change treatments and surgeries.  Also, a federal judge has taking aim at Big Tech and government actors working together to censor social media content.  And, a biological male who wants to use the girl's bathroom at a Wisconsin school will temporarily be allowed to do so, but the school district's superintendent intends to challenge a recent court decision favoring the student. 

Appeals court overturns lower court decision to block new TN law protecting children

Across the country, not only are concerned citizens, including Christians, responding to treatments and procedures that are designed to help a child who is confused about his or her sexuality "change" his sex, by speaking out against these actions, but lawmakers have taken concrete steps to ban them.

Tennessee is one of those states, with its Legislature passing and governor signing legislation that would prevent children from undergoing these permanent, damaging sex-change steps from taking place.  A federal lower court judge temporarily halted the legislation from becoming effective on July 1, but it was restored in a federal appeals court while the court case proceeds.

TheHill.com reported that: "The state’s ban was set to go into effect on July 1, but a federal judge halted its implementation,siding with the American Civil Liberties Union, who said the law interferes with parental rights to choose necessary medical care for their children."  The article went on to say:

Two of the three judges on the appeals panel ruled to reinstate the law, saying that decisions over transgender care are better left up to state legislatures rather than judges.

It quoted from Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, who wrote, "Given the high stakes of these nascent policy deliberations — the long-term health of children facing gender dysphoria — sound government usually benefits from more rather than less debate..."

1819 News quoted from a statement by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who said: "The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a critical ruling in favor of Tennessee's right to enforce commonsense laws against giving kids experimental and life-altering sex changing drugs," adding, "Proud to have led a 17-state brief in support of Tennessee's law, highlighting the critical difference between evidence-based science and the extreme gender ideology that is pushing these drugs and causing irreparable harm to our youth."

That article also gave a progress report on the court case involving Alabama's VCAP bill, implementing a ban on gender treatments and surgeries, which was partially put on hold by a federal district judge.  The article stated: 

A three-judge 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel heard oral arguments for VCAP in November 2022. The 11th Circuit is currently considering Alabama's appeal of the district court's preliminary injunction order. The trial is set to begin in April 2024.

Judge rules against policy linking government officials to Big Tech

For years, Christian individuals and organizations have sounded the alarm about censorship on social media platforms.  It is certainly a concern in the Christian community, and a ruling on the Fourth of July actually shows that Big Tech censors were working hand-in-hand with the federal government.

Liberty Counsel stated on its website:

A federal judge issued a historic, 155-page ruling on Independence Day citing “substantial evidence” the federal government engaged in large-scale censorship efforts targeting social media content that questioned or countered its “official” narratives. The 86-pages of background facts detail a shocking pattern of consistent pressure and threats exerted by the Biden administration demanding that social media platforms censor protected speech.

The article says: "In response to the evidence, Chief U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty for the Western District of Louisiana concluded, 'the alleged suppression has potentially resulted in millions of free speech violations.'”  It goes on to say:

Judge Doughty said the evidence presented in the case paints the federal government as an “Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’”

Judge Doughty wrote, “…the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history. In their attempts to suppress alleged disinformation, the Federal Government, and particularly the Defendants named here, are alleged to have blatantly ignored the First Amendment’s right to free speech.”

It is not far-fetched to think that declarations that are consistent with Biblical truth could run afoul of official government narratives.  There are people in high positions who are determined to silence those with whom they disagree.  This lawsuit, championed by attorneys general from Louisiana and Missouri, indicates the length to which public officials will go to silence opposing viewpoints.  

The Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, Mat Staver, stated: “Reading the factual findings of the disturbing pattern of censorship one would assume this is China or a dystopian novel. Sadly, this government-coordinated censorship occurred in America at the highest levels of government. The Biden administration and government agencies intentionally and knowingly deceived the public. Everyone involved must be held accountable.”

Court allows biological male to use female bathroom in WI

A school district in the Milwaukee area had implemented a policy that would require students to use the restroom corresponding to his or her biological sex.  A court has now put that policy on hold, according to WISN Television, which stated:

A federal judge says the Mukwonago School District can't enforce its ban on transgender students using restrooms that they prefer.

The ruling comes after a mother and her 11-year-old trans daughter filed a civil rights complaint against the Mukwonago Area School District.

Now, keep in mind that the phrase "trans daughter" or "trans female" actually means "biological male."

The report goes on to state:

According to the complaint, from third grade through fifth grade, her daughter was allowed to use the bathroom she preferred.

But that changed this past June during summer school when the district said she had to now use a boy's bathroom or a gender-neutral bathroom at the school.

Again, this is the mother's 11-year-old son, who, according to the district's new policy was required to use the boy's bathroom or a gender-neutral bathroom.  The judge issued a "temporary restraining order," preventing the ban from being implemented while the case proceeds.

This case brings to mind the situation involving a female student identifying as male, Gavin Grimm, who was not allowed to use the boy's bathroom at a Virginia school. That case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021, but the high court decided not to hear the case.  So, perhaps this school district, since the high court has not ruled, decided it would test the waters on these unresolved privacy concerns. 

The WISN article said that, "Superintendent Dr. Joseph Koch indicated they'll continue the court fight," quoting him as saying, "The District will continue to defend Policy 5514 in the interest of protecting the safety, privacy, and wellness of all students."

The 3 - July 9, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a federal appeals court ruling that clarifies the conditions in employment law under which a religious accommodation can be granted regarding hiring LGBT individuals.  Also, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the rights of a graphic designer to not be forced to communicate messages that violate her religious beliefs has affected the case of Oregon bakers who declined to provide a cake for a ceremony celebrating a same-sex union.  And, a British woman has received a significant financial award in her case, involving the termination of her contract due to her beliefs on gender and sexuality.

Federal appeals court clarifies Bostock, provides for religious freedom protection

The Bostock decision has been used and abused in a variety of ways - the current administration uses it to change the definition of "sex" in civil rights law to mean gender identity or sexual orientation.  But, as Liberty Counsel points out:

In June 2020, SCOTUS heard the Bostock case which combined several lawsuits, including a case where a homosexual man was fired from a county job after inquiring about starting an LGBT softball league at work, and a case where a funeral home employee was fired after dressing as a different gender. The High Court ruled that “An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.”

But, the website noted: "However, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in Bostock’s majority opinion that employers who have religious objections to employing LGBT people could possibly raise those claims in their specific cases."

So, that's what Braidwood Management, a Texas company did - it sued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which, according to Liberty Counsel, "claims that bias against LGBT workers is a form of unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." As the legal organization pointed out, Braidwood "operates under Christian beliefs and doctrine, which includes 'marriage is between one man and one woman.' The company, which will not hire people engaged in behavior that is 'sexually immoral or gender non-conforming,' brought the case against the [EEOC]..."

And, Braidwood's position was upheld unanimously by a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. It found, as Liberty Counsel stated: "...that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 protects not just a church, but a private entity from violating their religious beliefs by having to employ someone who does not share the same beliefs or whose conduct does not align with the company’s views. The RFRA prevents the federal government from enforcing otherwise neutral laws that burden a person’s free exercise of religion. In this case, the RFRA protects a Christian business from having to employ homosexual or gender-dysphoric employees who are incompatible with the company’s biblical views on sexuality and marriage."

The court said, "Braidwood maintains that it has sincere and deeply held religious beliefs that heterosexual marriage is the only form of marriage sanctioned by God, pre-marital sex is wrong, and ‘men and women are to dress and behave in accordance with distinct and God-ordained, biological sexual identity.’ To that end, the EEOC guidance almost assuredly burdens the exercise of Braidwood’s religious practice.”

303 Creative Supreme Court decision affects another long-standing case

On the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in the 303 Creative, upholding the rights of a graphic designer to decline to communicate messages that violate her deeply-held beliefs, the high court sent a case it had reviewed before and sent back to the state level back again.

First Liberty reported on Friday, June 30, that in the case involving cake bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries...

...originally imposed a devastating $135,000 damage award against the Kleins for violating Oregon’s public accommodations statute after they declined to design and create a wedding cake celebrating a same-sex marriage. Following a series of appeals, the Supreme Court in 2019 returned the case to Oregon for further consideration in light of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which held that government officials cannot be hostile to the free exercise of the religious beliefs of its citizens. In today’s order, the Court returned the case to Oregon to reconsider in light of 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis.

After the case was returned in 2019, the Oregon Court of Appeals waived the amount for damages, but then sent it on to the BOLI, which then assessed the Kleins $30,000. 

British Court sides with woman who lost her job due to beliefs on gender

And, in the United Kingdom, there was another positive development in the area of freedom of expression. CBN News reported that, as the result of a court decision involving her views on gender, Maya Forstater, described as a "researcher," received a significant cash award.  An article from last week said:

As CBN News reported, Forstater shared her opinion on sex and gender in 2018 in a series of tweets that didn't sit well with some of her colleagues at the Centre for Global Development (CGD). Following several complaints, Forstater's employer did not renew her contract for the following year.

Forstater took legal action when her contract was not extended, stating, "My belief...is that sex is a biological fact and is immutable. There are two sexes, male and female. Men and boys are male. Women and girls are female. It is impossible to change sex. These were until very recently understood as basic facts of life by almost everyone."

In 2021, the British High Court determined that her views were protected under the U.K.'s Equality Act.  The CBN article said, "Judge Akhlaq Choudhury said Forstater's views might be offensive to some but were covered by freedom of belief protections in the Equality Act."

Earlier this year, Christian Today reported that Forstater "has given expert evidence in support of a Christian teacher who faces being struck off the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after allegedly misgendering a pupil."  The article from February said that Joshua Sutcliffe...

...was suspended from his Oxfordshire school over the incident and eventually dismissed. He took legal action against the school for constructive dismissal and discrimination, and the case was settled out of court.

Ms Forstater was asked to give evidence at Monday's hearing on the compelled use of preferred pronouns and the dangers of affirming trans policies in schools.

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.

The 3 - May 14, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, coming on the heels of the day when we celebrate mothers, consists of three pro-life stories, including cybersecurity concerns of a pro-life group that is part of the lawsuit against a federal agency's authorization to distribute the abortion pill.  Also, a group of U.S. Senators is challenging seven pharmacy chains, warning them about illegalities involved in selling the abortion pill. And, four California churches will be receiving a financial reward of $1.4 million to pay attorneys' fees in their lawsuit against a state mandate to include abortion in their health care plans.

Another type of attack on pro-life group: cybersecurity concerns

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear the case involving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill later this week, and one of the plaintiffs has experienced not a physical act of vandalism, but a cyber-attack. CBN.com reported that "The pro-life American College of Pediatricians has become the target of ongoing, malicious cyberattacks after a federal judge ruled in its favor and halted the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, a drug used in chemical abortions."

The article notes that:

The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) was founded by "a group of concerned physicians who saw the need for a pediatric organization that would not be influenced by the politically driven pronouncements of the day."

Dr. Jill Simons, a board-certified pediatrician, and ACPeds' executive director, told the Daily Signal, that she contacted law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, after hackers attempted to access the group's website servers, email accounts, financial accounts, and social media accounts on April 24.

Fortunately, protective software thwarted the majority of the attacks, except for a website that had been archived, which suffered damage Dr. Simons termed, "costly to recover." But, she noted, "we will not be intimidated by these illegal bullying tactics that amount to a hate crime...,: and stated, "We will continue to promote the health and well-being of children by protecting the rights of born and preborn children, promoting biological integrity, and defending conscience rights for healthcare professionals."

Senators warn drug chains about abortion pill distribution

There's more news related to the abortion pill from a group of U.S. Senators. One, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, posted on her website, that she and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma "led colleagues in letters to seven major U.S. pharmacies that warn them of their obligations under federal and state laws, including longstanding federal laws that criminalize the mailing and interstate shipment of abortion drugs."

The website notes that "the most critical" of the letters "were sent to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid for their intent to be certified to dispense abortion drugs." It also states, "Four additional letters were issued to Walmart, Albertsons, Costco, and Kroger encouraging them to maintain their current decisions not to seek abortion drug distribution certification."

The two afore-mentioned senators were joined by seven colleagues in the Senate, stating in the letters, “We write to express our support and agreement with 21 State Attorneys General, who have reminded you that Federal law in 18 U.S.C. 1461-1462 criminalizes nationwide using the mail, or interstate shipment by any express company or common carrier, to send or receive any drug that is ‘designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion...'" The Senators stated their disagreement with advice from the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel saying that the ban on distribution of the bill only applies to situations where abortion is illegal.

A number of pro-life organizations supported the Senators' letters. 

Churches resist CA mandate to pay for abortion in their health care plans, collect damages

In 2014, the California Department of Managed Health Care, or DMHC, issued a mandate that forced religious organizations to pay for abortion in their health care plans. The Alliance Defending Freedom website notes that according to Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus, "For years, California officials, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, have unconstitutionally targeted faith-based organizations."

A year after the mandate was handed down, ADF filed a lawsuit on behalf of three California Churches: Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino, and The Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. The ADF website says that, "In August 2022, a federal court ruled in favor of the three plaintiff churches, concluding that the California abortion-coverage mandate was unconstitutional."

In 2016, another lawsuit was filed against the CA abortion mandate, this time on behalf of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego. ADF notes that, "In light of the court’s ruling in the Foothill Church case, state officials conceded that the abortion-coverage mandate also violated Skyline Church’s constitutional rights and agreed to a stipulated court order."

And at the end of last week, it was announced that the churches would collectively receive $1.4 million dollars that would be used for attorneys' fees. Regarding the positive rulings for the churches, Galus said, "This is a significant victory for the churches we represent, the conscience rights of their members, and other religious organizations that shouldn’t be ordered by the government to violate some of their deepest faith convictions.”

The 3 - May 7, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, highlights a new report on religious freedom identifying countries singled out for their violations.  Also, a Missouri school district has been found to be violating state law providing for parental notification when topics related to sexuality are taught.  And, the gospel was spread in Boston, site of a gathering of self-proclaimed Satanists. 

Arm of State Department issues religious freedom report

Each year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which is a division of the U.S. State Department, issues a report on religious freedom, including a listing of nations designated as Countries of Particular Concern. CBN.com reported recently on the latest report, the cover of which, according to the article, "...features the face of the late Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman killed last year by Iran's morality police for violating the country's headscarf law. This is just one of many examples where religious freedom is under attack around the world."

Iran is one of the 17 nations who have been designated as CPC's, joining other repeat offenders, including: Burma, China, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. 5 countries were added this year, according to the article, "Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Syria, and Vietnam."  There has been a concerted effort to return Nigeria to the list after being absent. 

Senator Marco Rubio noted, "These violations do not go unnoticed..."

The article concludes by saying, "The USCIRF hopes the president, State Department, and Congress will take action to address the global religious freedom violations, believing every country named in the report is watching to see how the U.S. will respond."

Missouri school district allows LGBTQ book, even though it violates state law

The state of Missouri has a law on the books, that, according to The Daily Signal, says: "School districts must notify parents of the 'basic content of the district’s or school’s human sexuality instruction to be provided to the student' and a 'parent’s right to remove the student from any part of the district’s or school’s human sexuality instruction...'"  

But, at a school outside of St. Louis, in the Webster Groves School District, an "elementary school allowed a parent to read the transgender-promoting children’s book 'I Am Jazz' to a second-grade class without first informing other parents, although state law requires school districts to notify parents beforehand about lessons on sexuality." The article says that the book, "is the story of transgender-identifying biological male Jazz Jennings. It is rated as age-appropriate for children aged 4 and up."

The article said the book was read as part of a "Mystery Reader" program, "where a family member surprises a child by reading to the class." It goes on to say, "A student’s parent asked for permission to read the book, and the school approved the request. But the school chose not to inform the parents of other students," according to a parent.

But, this is not the first time the district has pushed the envelope on gender ideology.  The Daily Signal states:

The Webster Groves district, with 10 schools and more than 4,400 students, has a history of pushing radical gender ideology on children. Also in September, a high school librarian encouraged students to check out sexually explicit books from her list of commonly banned books and enter a raffle for a “sweet prize.”

The school district also plans to include the personal pronouns “they/them” in math problems and hire certified teachers as “math interventionists” to fight racism and gender bias in math classes, following a curriculum evaluation.

One family was upset when their second grader came from school saying she had learned that boy bodies can have girl brains and vice versa. After the family expressed concerns, the teacher included two brief sentences about the classroom reading of “I Am Jazz” in a longer email to parents.

Unfortunately, a district spokesperson said that the district doesn't believe it violated state law.

SatanCon attendees hear the gospel

It was billed as the “largest satanic gathering in history," according to The Christian Post, referring to SatanCon, which occurred the last weekend in April in Boston. 

Lynn MacAskill, a regional leader for Intercessors for America, who was in Boston as part of a ministry team reaching out to conference attendees, said, “Numerous Christians from several teams did minister to SatanCon attendees...with some great stories, so seeds were definitely sown,” adding, “God really did move as we were able to be in the venue. Everyone was peaceful and polite, and we felt God gave us specific prayer assignments, especially on Sunday, that were powerful.”

She also noted, "...we were told by several sources that Revive Boston and YWAM evangelists did record 98 salvations and at least 15 recommitments to the Lord among regular people during street evangelism."  The Christian Post article went on to say:

“You could definitely tell a lot of prayer had gone before us due to the peaceful nature of interactions and openness of many, though definitely not all attendees, to dialogue with believers,” MacAskill said. The IFA Boston co-leader revealed that most of the attendees were “averse to being prayed for.”

“A lot of them had been raised Christian and had been hurt or oppressed by the church, so I think that’s something we as the Body of Christ need to learn from so as not to push people away from knowing Jesus,” she continued. “Several evangelists shared with me that although they were opposing the Church, many of them smiled or their eyes softened or even shed tears when they heard the name of Jesus and that He loved them.”

Nevertheless, MacAskill believes “seeds were sown,” and now she charged believers to continue to show the love of Jesus to the world: “We need to be faithful to continue to pray that these seeds will be watered and that other Christians will be called to show the love of Jesus to these people wherever they call home.”

The article noted that Boston was specifically targeted by the Satanic Temple after the city's refusal to allow a Satanic flag to fly at City Hall after the U.S. Supreme Court decision finding that it was incorrect for Boston to reject the Christian flag simply because it was religious.  Satanists also desire to offer prayers at city council meetings.