The 3 - September 29, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of a recent letter sent by just under a-third of the nation's state attorneys general chiding a large organization of pediatricians for its support of gender-change treatments and surgeries.  Plus, an American pastor who was doing ministry in China in the 1990's, when he was imprisoned and received a life sentence has been released and is back on American soil.  And, a survey by a leading pro-life organization shows that out of over 700 Christian colleges and universities surveyed, over a-tenth of them have a relationship with Planned Parenthood.

Attorneys general call out pediatricians prescribing puberty blockers

Across the nation, state legislatures have been passing laws to curb the proliferation of treatments and procedures that offer a false promise of enabling a minor child to change his or her gender.  Now, a consortium of attorneys general has called on the American Association of Pediatrics to stop its promotions of these therapies, "including puberty blockers and surgeries."

That's according to a FoxNews.com report that "Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador sent a letter...to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) accusing the organization of abandoning 'its commitment to sound medical judgment.'"

The letter stated, "That halt on what is fairly described as medical experimentation on children is long overdue – particularly since the majority of children initially diagnosed with gender dysphoria desist and 'grow out' of the condition by the time they are adolescents or adults..."

Labrador was joined by the AG's of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and over a dozen other states in signing the letter.

Pastor imprisoned in China since 2009 freed

The hostility of the Chinese government toward the Christian faith is quite tangible and of great concern.  And, in the case of pastor David Lin, that was extended toward an American who was imprisoned for sharing his faith.

CBN.com reported that:

...Lin had frequently traveled to China in the 1990s to spread the gospel, according to China Aid, a U.S.-based advocacy group for persecuted activists in China.

Chinese authorities questioned Lin in 2006, while he was building a Christian training center in Beijing that the regime did not approve. In China, all Christian churches must pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party or face punishment.

Lin denied all wrongdoing but was still sentenced to life in prison on fraud charges in 2009, a method that's frequently deployed against leaders of churches that operate outside the regime's parameters.

As the article reports, Lin was freed recently from his imprisonment. CBN quotes from a text from Lin's daughter to Bob Fu of China Aid, who was described as a "longtime supporter." The text said: "Praise God! We got the call late last night!!! Dad is free and over Alaska now..."

Over 80 "Christian" colleges have connections with nation's largest abortion provider

One would think that an institution of higher learning that claims to be "Christian" in nature would not have a relationship with an organization that supports and participates in the taking of human life in the womb.  But, as Live Action reports:

A recent report from Students for Life of America (SFLA) revealed that 83 Christian colleges and universities across the United States have ties to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading abortion provider.

The investigation by SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement examined 732 Christian-affiliated institutions for the fourth year in a row for any connections to abortion services, including listing Planned Parenthood as a health resource, promoting its events on campus, and advertising the abortion corporation’s volunteer, internship, or career opportunities.

The article relates: "SFLA President Kristan Hawkins urged on her X account, 'We must demand these institutions sever all connections with abortion providers immediately and fully commit to the pro-life values they were founded on...'"  Live Action says that: "According to the study, schools were graded from A+ to F based on their level of affiliation with abortion services. An 'F' grade is assigned to institutions with four or more infractions."

The study also found that "65 professors at Christian schools have connections to the abortion industry through events or publications, and 14 of those professors have been directly affiliated with abortion industry leaders like Planned Parenthood through previous employment or board positions."

But, there is good news out of the survey.  Live Action reports that out of over 700 schools which were surveyed...

...58 institutions earned an “A+” for having no infractions and actively supporting pro-life alternatives, such as local pregnancy resource centers—a 32% increase compared to 2023. Another 591 schools received an “A” for either having no infractions or cutting ties with Planned Parenthood after being notified by SFLA.

The 3 - September 22, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes an action by the governor of Kentucky that has serious negative implications for Christian counselors who help minors deal with gender confusion.  Also, two Georgia ladies have died from complications resulting from the abortion pill - not because of the state's pro-life heartbeat law.  Plus, a Seattle pastor who had been arrested twice for reading from the Bible in public has received a positive outcome from the courts.

KY governor issues order that bans therapy to help minors overcome gender confusion

Christians are called to speak God's truth and to share a message that the presence of Jesus can help a person overcome sin.  But, in Kentucky, if a minor sees a counselor to help him or her overcome sinful sexual desires, including same-sex attraction, it's against the law for a counselor to help that minor to win victory over these desires.

Liberty Counsel reports: "Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order...banning counseling for minors who want to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, and gender confusion. The governor’s action sidesteps the Kentucky legislature after it has repeatedly protected children by denying attempts to enact an actual law banning counseling."

The Christian legal organization stated:

Liberty Counsel has represented licensed counselors who have used talk therapy to help many people. Through Liberty Counsel’s efforts, city ordinances in Florida and Iowa banning this type of counseling have been struck down or repealed preserving the free speech rights of counselors so they can help their clients to reduce or eliminate unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, or gender confusion.

Mat Staver, heard on Freedom's Call on Faith Radio, who is the Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, is quoted as saying: "Governor Beshear’s executive order is unconstitutional. He should wise up because his executive order will cost the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He will lose. Counselors and their clients should have the freedom to choose the counsel of their choice. Gov. Beshear has no business inserting himself between a client and a counselor.”

Abortion pill usage, not Georgia's heartbeat law, results in deaths of two ladies

Amber Nicole Thurman was a 28-year-old woman who was pregnant with twins.  She was past six weeks, so Georgia's pro-life, heartbeat law prevented her from taking their lives. So, she went to North Carolina.  The Daily Citizen reported that, according to a New York Times article: "...she felt she needed an abortion to preserve her newfound stability.” The Daily Citizen continued:

According to the story, Thurman missed her appointment. Instead, the clinic gave her the abortion pill, which she took – but then proceeded to suffer serious effects in the days following.

The article said, "Thurman was eventually hospitalized back in Georgia, diagnosed with sepsis and died following emergency surgery."  It continued:

The New York Times speculates that Georgia officials may have delayed performing a D&C out of “fear” – but offer no evidence to back up the accusation. Despite claiming otherwise, D&C’s are not illegal in Georgia to save a mother’s life – they’re only illegal if they’re specifically performed in order to kill the preborn baby.

The Times also glosses over the risks of chemical abortion itself – even though the pills have been known to cause serious problems. Goldberg claims that abortion pills are “safer than penicillin or Viagra and significantly less perilous than childbirth.”

LifeNews.com stated, "Doctors monitored her condition and hospitalized her but she died before they could do a D&C medical procedure to remove the parts of the unborn babies left inside her and finish the incomplete abortion caused by the failed abortion pill."

The article also reported: 

Now, a Georgia woman named Candi Miller has died following a botched aboriton [sic] due to the abortion pill.

According to multiple reports, the 41-year-old woman ordered abortion pills online, but they caused an incomplete abortion, leaving parts of the baby’s body inside her. She would need a would need a dilation and curettage procedure, which is not an abortion, to remove the parts of the baby, but she stayed at home and did not go to the emergency room or a doctor for the care, which is fully allowed under Georgia law.

The article quotes from Ingrid Skop, an OB-GYN who serves as Vice-President and Director of Medical Affairs for the Charlotte Lozier Institute:

“The tragic deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller in Georgia demonstrate conclusively how dangerous medically unsupervised, ‘self-managed’ abortion drugs are, as we have been warning for years. Yet, the FDA has steadily removed important safeguards on these drugs, allowing them to be ordered online and delivered in the mail without a single in-person doctor visit. Both women suffered failed abortions requiring surgical treatment. Amber died from sepsis, a complication the FDA alerts physicians to watch for in its ‘black box’ warning on mifepristone. Physicians must be aware of this risk and swiftly intervene.

“Candi’s family states she did not seek medical care because she was worried about prosecution, but every pro-life state law prohibits prosecution of women for seeking an abortion. Intentional misinformation by pro-abortion media regarding criminal penalties and claims that abortion drugs are ‘safer than Tylenol’ frighten women so that they do not seek medical care when they suffer complications like severe pain and heavy bleeding. This misinformation is to blame for these women’s tragic deaths, not pro-life state laws protecting them and their unborn children.”

Samuel Sey at the Slow to Write blog took issue with attempts to blame Georgia's heartbeat law fo4 Thurman's death.  He stated:

...MSNBC published an article saying:

“If the Christian right had not had its way at the Supreme Court, Amber Nicole Thurman would be alive today. She would have been able to get the medical care she needed in 2022…The true crime is that Thurman’s life was cut short because of ideologues who for 50 years trumpeted ‘biblical’ values as they sought to make women pay for unwanted pregnancies, even with their lives.”

The author’s hatred for Christianity is clouding her judgment. Amber Thurman didn’t die because of Christians or Georgia’s pro-life laws. She died because people like MSNBC refuse to tell the truth about the abortion pill.

Seattle pastor arrested for reading Bible in public vindicated

A pastor in Seattle who had been arrested for reading the Bible in public has been completely cleared, according to a piece at the First Liberty website, which said: 

In the summer of 2022, Seattle police arrested Pastor Matthew Meinecke for sharing the Gospel at two public events. This week, First Liberty entered a consent order that represents a complete victory for the Pastor, who brought his case against the City of Seattle.

The consent order provides Pastor Meinecke all the relief he sought in the case. He is now free to read his Bible or share the gospel on the streets of Seattle without fear of arrest. He also received monetary damages for the two false arrests, along with reasonable attorney fees and expenses.

The article states that the pastor "...went to a Seattle pro-abortion rally to read the Bible aloud, hold up a sign and hand out literature. He was censored and arrested on two separate occasions for simply reading the Bible to others because his Gospel-oriented message triggered hostile reactions from activists." That included some Antifa members, who defaced the Bible, tore out pages, and knocked the pastor to the ground.  Two days later, he experienced more harassment when he attempted to share God's Word at the Seattle PrideFest event.  

First Liberty noted, "Hecklers mistreated Meinecke again, and Seattle police officers silenced Meinecke again. The officers then arrested Meinecke for refusing to depart from his intended audience." The article relates:

In April, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Pastor Meinecke, concluding that the city’s policy amounts to an unconstitutional heckler’s veto and remanded the case with instructions for the district court to enter a preliminary injunction for Meinecke.

The recently-released consent order "mirrors the decision of the appellate court," according to the Christian legal organization.

The 3 - September 15, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news out of a federal appeals court, which upheld a ban on the practice of offering young people with gender confusion an alternative to their same-sex attraction by offering gospel-centered direction.  Also, a challenge is underway to IRS guidelines on how non-profit organizations are allowed to participate in political speech.  And, a well-known football star and TV personality has been involved in speaking out on legislation that is designed to protect children from online exploitation.

Law banning so-called "conversion therapy" upheld by federal appeals court

When young people are experiencing confusion about their gender, they need someone to talk to, hopefully, someone who will give them guidance, from a Biblical perspective, about God's love for them and the truth about their identity.  But, in Colorado, it is illegal for people to engage in counseling that is designed to provide Christ-centered direction regarding their gender struggles. 

And, that continues today, as the result of a recent ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.  The Daily Citizen reports:

A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld Colorado’s counseling censorship law that bans so-called “conversion therapy.” Colorado’s law prohibits mental health professionals from helping minors struggling with unwanted homosexuality or transgenderism.

Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor in Colorado, brought a lawsuit in an attempt to prevent enforcement of Colorado’s Minor Conversion Therapy Law, which was passed in 2019. Kaley helps clients with many issues – including unwanted sexual identity confusion and same-sex attraction.

But Colorado’s law prohibits her from helping minor clients, who struggle with these issues, live according to a biblical sexual ethic.

The article notes:

According to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing Chiles, Colorado’s therapy ban violates her – and all counselors’ – freedom of speech and infringes on her free exercise of religion. It also censors the speech of her clients by prohibiting certain private client-counselor conversations regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. It also removes agency and autonomy from clients who desire such therapy.

The article also refers to previous content on the website that stated: “‘conversion therapy’ is a term invented by activists who oppose the truth that some people with same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion don’t want to embrace those thoughts, feelings, identities or behaviors. It is a non-existent practice – but these bans have the effect of prohibiting legitimate professional therapy for those with unwanted sexual identity confusion or homosexual identity, attractions and behaviors.”

Religious broadcasters' organization joins with others to file complaint about IRS rule on political activity

A complaint has been filed by the National Religious Broadcasters organization, Intercessors for America, and two Texas churches in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler, Texas. Together, they are challenging what is known as the Johnson Amendment; according to NRB's website, "plaintiffs argue that their speech has been wrongfully silenced under the language known as the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from supporting or opposing candidates for public office, including restrictions against comparing the positions of candidates to the positions of the organization."

The NRB website notes, "The complaint details the fact that many 501(c)(3) organizations engage in electoral activities that are open, obvious, and well-known, yet the IRS allows some, but not all, such organizations to do so without penalty."

Troy Miller, NRB President & CEO, is quoted as saying, "For too long, churches have been instructed to remain silent on pressing matters of conscience and conviction during election season or risk their 501(c)(3) status...We believe that all nonprofits should have the constitutional right to freely express their point of view on candidates, elections, and issues on the ballot. Our challenge to the Johnson Amendment is about securing the future of free expression for all Americans, particularly those standing in the pulpit.”

Former Heisman winner devotes energy to protecting children

Tim Tebow, former Heisman Trophy winner and current SEC Network analyst, as well as founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, has devoted energy to protect children from online sexual exploitation. He has been a leading spokesman for the Renewed Hope Act of 2024.  The Christian Post reported:

The former Heisman Trophy winner read chatroom posts from sex offenders to help people understand the threat predators pose to children during a press conference on Capitol Hill this week to introduce a bill to fight exploitation.

The article says that, "The legislation would enhance the ability of U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to rescue exploitation victims and identify predators. The measure aims to provide the agencies with the resources to hire and train personnel and equip them with advanced victim identification methods."  It goes on to say:

Tebow stressed that the issue is about people, not politics, specifically the boys and girls who are victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Some may not understand the implications behind an explicit photograph or video, he said.

"It's not just images; it's not just videos," Tebow stated. "It's boys and girls that are in the worst moments of their life. And then people are celebrating it."

The Foundation has established itself as a force to combat human trafficking, and supports special needs individuals through the annual partnership with churches known as the "Night to Shine."

The 3 - September 8, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, features news about a federal appeals court decision against a California law providing for certain requirements for social media companies. Also, a federal judge has put a new Administration rule that would prevent states from enforcing legislation that would ban gender-change procedures. And, several companies have announced they are backing down from progressive policies, including special treatment shown toward the LGBT agenda.

New CA law governing speech ruled unconstitutional by federal appeals court

A California law that would place limitations on free speech by social media companies has faced multiple court challenges.  Last year, National Religious Broadcasters, joined by The Babylon Bee and others challenged the law in court. An article on the NRB website noted that this bill, AB 587 "would require social media companies to report content deemed 'hate speech' and 'disinformation' to the government." NRB President and CEO Troy Miller was quoted 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.”

Also challenging the law was social media platform, X. And, last week, according to NRB's Washington Next Week e-mail newsletter, General Counsel Michael Farris wrote, "Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that California Assembly Bill 587 violated the First Amendment by requiring social media companies to report detailed information about their community standards."

Farris listed a number of categories that enumerated areas of speech that companies would be required to "track and report;" he stated: "these categories are largely subjective and give wide latitude for silencing people who simply disagree with the views of either the social media company or the Attorney General of California."

Farris noted that the lawsuit in which NRB was a party had been dropped due to questions about standing on the part of the plaintiffs.  He noted that X used "essentially the same arguments."

Federal judge puts nationwide hold on new federal regulation overriding state laws on medical mutilation

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a new rule back in May, according to Liberty Counsel's website, "requiring federally-funded health care doctors and state insurance plans to perform and pay for harmful puberty blockers, hormones, and mutilating surgeries."  

The states of Texas and Montana filed a lawsuit against the federal government and in an expansion of an earlier ruling applying to just those two states, a judge issued an order that "expands a previous injunction from July 3, 2024, that only applied to Texas and Montana, and at the behest of the two states, he applied it nationwide noting certain provisions of the rule 'are unlawful to all participants.'”

U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle, according to Liberty Counsel, had said that the two states challenged the rule, "claiming the rule would 'override' state laws protecting children from medical mutilation. He also noted that the rule would threaten health care providers and states with the loss of millions in federal funding if they decline to provide and pay for these experimental gender interventions for children and adults alike."  Liberty Counsel states that...

...As a result, every state and medical provider receiving federal financial support is now protected from being forced to comply with the rule under financial threats from the federal government. For the 26 states who have laws protecting children from medical mutilation, this injunction also keeps this rule from preempting those laws.

In other court action on the topic, Liberty Counsel had announced in late August that "the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order allowing Florida to protect children and enforce its state law banning harmful puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and mutilating surgeries for minors. The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to preliminarily remove a lower court’s block on the law allowing it to take immediate effect for now. The Appeals Court also agreed to hear full oral arguments in the case later this year to make its final determination on the law’s future."

More corporations get "back to business," reject pro-LGBT policies

Robby Starbuck is a podcast host and a commentator. His website says about him, as well as his wife, Landon, "Their Christian faith is very important to them as they are active members of their church and God is at the center of everything they do."

Starbuck has been involved in an effort to persuade companies to abandon progressive employment policies.  The Christian Post reported:

Starbuck urged Tractor Supply customers to contact the retailer's leadership to express opposition to its embrace of "LGBTQIA+ events at work" and "LGBTQIA+ training for employees," funding "pride/drag events" and "sex changes" for its employees, engagement in "climate change activism" and display of "pride month decorations in the office."

Tractor Supply announced it was backing off on some of their policies, including providing "data" to the pro-LGBT organization, the Human Rights Campaign.  Other companies contacted by Starbuck also made similar announcements.  For instance, as The Christian Post related:

In a statement posted on X in July, the farm equipment retailer John Deere insisted that it was "always listening to feedback and looking for opportunities to improve" and making several commitments based on recent "conversations."

The business explained that it would "no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events."

Other companies announcing a regression in their progressive policies include Harley-Davidson, Jack Daniel's, Lowe's, and Ford Motor Company.

The 3 - September 1, 2024

On this Labor Day Weekend, two of the stories on The 3 focus on people who stood on their Christian faith and lost their employment.  One involved a Christian officer in the Idaho Army National Guard, who had a complaint filed against him based on his expression of Christian beliefs on personal social media. Then, there's the nurse at a Texas hospital who observed that gender-change treatments were continuing at her place of employment even after a Texas law banning these practices was passed. And, the issue of gender was involved in a lawsuit against a Ohio school district, whose policy against "misgendering" has been upheld in court. 

National Guard officer removed from command, forced out of military for Christian beliefs

John is, or was, an officer in the Idaho Army National Guard.  He is a Christian, and now faces a future apart from his military service.  As the Liberty Counsel website explains:

In 2023, a subordinate officer who identifies as homosexual complained to John’s chain of command, claiming that the posts John made on his own personal social media account made the subordinate officer feel “uncomfortable” and “unsafe.”

John never discussed his Christian views and beliefs about LGBTQ issues with this subordinate officer or anyone else in his command. Instead, the officer’s complaint was SOLEY based on John’s personal social media posts.

Yet the subordinate officer claimed that John’s posts created a “hostile work environment.” The subordinate officer claimed that John’s views were aligned with “hate groups” and “extremists.”

As the website points out, John posted on his personal Facebook account. He shared about his Christian beliefs, but "they were never derogatory, simply a reflection of commonsense parenting based on a Christian worldview."

The website notes that, "Following the complaint, the Idaho Army National Guard removed John from his command, citing an Department of Defense Policy issued in 2009 that "unjustly labels Christians as 'extremists' who need to be removed from military service." Liberty Counsel contends that "The Idaho Army National Guard and the DOD’s policy have violated the First Amendment, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Idaho Constitution."

Whistleblower regarding gender treatments at TX hospital dismissed from job

Vanessa Sivadge was a nurse at Texas Children's Hospital, and according to Decision Magazine, "worked closely with parents in helping with their children’s prescription refills and general care questions on behalf of the physicians in the unit. TCH is the nation’s largest children’s hospital." But, in her capacity, she observed some activity that was troubling to her. On her GiveSendGo page, she wrote, “My faith in Jesus compels me to speak the truth about what I’ve seen while having the utmost compassion and love towards children confused about their sex..."

The Decision article relates that Vanessa shared with...

...independent journalist Christopher Rufo that she had asked the hospital on May 31 for a transfer back to her “core competency” in the cardiology clinic because of a religious objection to the cross-sex hormone treatments that she was having to indirectly participate in. Her letter to the hospital specifically asked for a religious accommodation.

Sivadge, along with a former TCH resident surgeon named Eithan Haim, blew the whistle on TCH for what she and Haim allege were continued gender-altering treatments on minors after a new Texas law banned such practices in September 2023 and after an earlier opinion from the Texas attorney general that such treatments constituted child abuse. Sivadge also alleged the hospital engaged in Medicaid fraud to pay for the treatments.

Sivadge was fired on August 16, and she told Rufo that, "It is retaliation for my coming forward with information on TCH’s egregious pattern of deception and Medicaid fraud,” adding, “and this action also illegally disregarded my request to transfer due to my belief that these procedures bring irreversible harm and lifelong regret to children confused about their sex.”

The article goes on to detail how Vanessa and her husband were visited by FBI agents following her accommodation request who attempted to force her to testify against Haim.  The article states:

In an interview with The Christian Post, Sivadge said, “I am a Christian, and my faith is the foundation of everything. That’s the reason why I’ve spoken out as I have.”

Decision says that she referred to the "weaponization" of the federal government against people of faith, and according to that Christian Post article, she said: “I never thought that [my identity] would come to light, and that I would be ultimately visited by the federal government, wanting to intimidate me into silence,”adding, “Ephesians 5 says to have nothing to do with the worthless deeds of evil and darkness...but instead expose them, and that everything exposed by the light becomes visible."

Court rules against "misgendering" in Ohio school

The use of pronouns that correspond to a person's stated gender, not his or her biological sex, is an affront to the Biblical viewpoint that there are two genders - male and female. Yet, you have officials who are trying to force people to essentially lie about biological fact by embracing so-called "gender pronouns."

The Daily Citizen reports that the practice of not using these pronouns, an act known as "misgendering," is unconstitutional, according to a federal appeals court.   The article reports:

In February 2023, a parent-member of the organization emailed the Olentangy Local School District, inquiring whether their “devoutly Christian child who believes in two biological genders” would “be forced to use the pronouns that a transgender child identifies with or be subject to reprimand from the district.”

The District responded that a “student purposefully referring to another student by using gendered language they know is contrary to the other student’s identity would be an example of discrimination under” the District’s policies.

This prompted a lawsuit against the school district by an organization called Parents Defending Education. The Daily Citizen article stated that "a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently upheld a lower district court’s ruling against Parents Defending Education."

It was a 2-1 decision, and the dissenting judge, Senior Judge Alice Batchelder, wrote this:

The plaintiffs’ position – based on their scientific (biology, physiology, and genetics) and religious beliefs – is that biological gender is immutable, people are either male or female, and there is no such thing as “gender transition”; that is a made-up thing, imaginary or make believe, and a public school cannot force their children to pretend it is a real thing.

Batchelder stated, "The First Amendment forbids the District from compelling students to use speech that conveys a message with which they disagree, namely that biology does not determine gender."

The 3 - August 25, 2024

All three stories in this week's edition of The 3, are centered around the issue of the sanctity of life.  One story has to do with two state Supreme Courts that have taken action in cases surrounding amendments scheduled to be on their respective ballots in November that would expand abortion.  Also, a British woman who was arrested twice for praying - silently - in the vicinity of an abortion clinic has received a financial settlement.  And, seven pro-life protestors were found guilty in court recently in Michigan and face stiff penalties.

One state Supreme Court keeps abortion amendment off the ballot, one allows impact statement

One of the disturbing trends affecting the pro-life movement is the series of attempts by pro-abortion individuals and organizations to place initiatives on state ballots that would expand the availability of abortion in those states. So far, these type of amendments, such as the one passed last year by Ohio voters, have been approved.

A number of states will be confronted with these types of amendments on the November ballot, and there's significant action in two of them.

In Arkansas last week, the state Supreme Court said that the proposed abortion amendment could not go on the ballot. The Christian Post reported:

In a decision released Thursday, the court ruled 4-3 against a petition by Arkansans for Limited Government for a referendum on the November ballot. The issue is whether the organization has collected enough signatures from certified canvassers.

Justice Rhonda Wood authored the majority opinion, concluding that "the petitioners failed to comply with the statutory filing requirements for paid canvassers."

The day before that, the Florida Supreme Court, in a 6-1 decision, allowed a 150-word statement to be posted on the ballots in the state. Liberty Counsel reported on its website: "The Florida Supreme Court voted 6-1 to allow the revised financial impact statement for Florida’s Amendment 4, which proposes to codify unrestricted abortion in the state’s constitution, to be on the November ballot." The website states:

The ballot will now contain a brief, 150-word allotted warning about how it will likely cost the state a significant amount of taxpayer dollars. The warning states the amendment may require the state to use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, invalidate parental consent laws, and negatively affect the growth of the Florida budget over time due to less people being born and due to litigation to resolve legal uncertainties.

British woman arrested twice for praying in front of abortion clinic receives financial settlement

Perhaps you've heard the name Isabel Vaughan-Spruce.  She is a lady from the U.K. who was arrested not once, but twice, for praying in the area of an abortion clinic.  Alliance Defending Freedom International announced last week that Ms. Vaughan-Spruce has received a financial reward after being acquitted last year.  The website stated:

In a victory against UK censorship, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce – the Christian charitable volunteer who was seen being arrested twice for praying silently in viral videos – has received a payout of £13,000 from West Midlands Police in acknowledgement of her unjust treatment, and the breach of her human rights.

The article notes that Isabel was first arrested in 2022 "for silently praying in a censored 'buffer zone...," in the vicinity of an abortion clinic. It goes on to say:

In what is widely thought to be the first “thoughtcrime” case prosecuted in 21st Century Britain, Vaughan-Spruce was searched by police (including through her hair); arrested, criminally charged and tried – even though she had prayed imperceptibly and not expressed any opinion outside of her own mind.

In February 2023, Vaughan-Spruce, was fully acquitted of all charges at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court after the prosecution were unable to offer evidence to support the charge. ADF UK supported her legal defence.

Yet only a matter of weeks later, Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for the same activity yet again – silently thinking prayerful thoughts on a public street within the censored “buffer zone”...

The article notes that, "With support from ADF UK, Vaughan-Spruce issued a claim against West Midlands Police for two wrongful arrests and false imprisonments; assault and battery in relation to an intrusive search of her person; and for a breach of her human rights both in respect to the arrests, and to the onerous bail conditions imposed on her."

ADF International also says, "The news comes days after reports that the Home Office will strengthen the crackdown on silent prayer near abortion facilities by expressly criminalising it in upcoming 'buffer zones' legislation, set to come into force imminently."

Seven pro-life activists found guilty in Michigan case  

Federal officials have been criticized for seemingly turning a blind eye toward those who vandalize pregnancy centers and churches, while raiding a pro-life man's home to arrest him in the early morning hours after an altercation in front of an abortion clinic, in a case that local authorities chose not to pursue.  That man, Mark Houck, was acquitted.

But, that was not the case for seven pro-life protestors in Michigan who staged a protest back in 2020.  Live Action News reported last week:

Seven pro-life activists were found guilty on Tuesday in federal court of conspiracy against rights and violations against the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act. One of the activists is an 89-year-old concentration camp survivor.

The article said that, "were found guilty on all charges related to an August 2020 rescue at Northland Family Planning Clinic, an abortion facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan." It added:

Leif Le Mahieu for The Daily Wire noted that the trial, which began on August 6, was “packed with tension and drama.”

“The seven were prosecuted by the Biden administration, which has been using the conspiracy against rights charge, originally designed for the Ku Klux Klan, to go after pro-life activists. They face over 10 years in prison and hundreds of thousands in fines upon sentencing,” reported The Daily Wire.

The Director of Pro-Life Michigan, Lynn Mills, was quoted in the article. She was "present during the seven days of active arguments," according to the article, and "said that during closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunita Doddamani called the pro-life rescue 'the crime of the century.'” Live Action went on to say:

In addition, Mills said the prosecution told the court, “Burning a cross is protected speech, as reprehensible as that is. But once you break FACE, you lose your First Amendment right to free speech.”

“This conspiracy theory is so over the top,” said Mills. “It’s just extremely frightening what is happening in our country.”

The 3 - August 18, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, features a significant ruling late last Friday from the U.S. Supreme Court, blocking changes in Title IX from going into effect.  Also, hundreds of church leaders are speaking out against Christian persecution in the nation of India. Plus, closer to home, there has been another development in what has become a narrative surrounding Christian persecution in Nicaragua. 

High court prevents Title IX rewrite from taking effect

Ever since the Administration announced its new rules for Title IX, extending anti-discrimination protections, originally intended to protect women, to also include so-called "gender identity," challenges have been filed in court.  Among other things, this would allow biological males to play in women's sports. 

As Lathan Watts of Alliance Defending Freedom had reported on the Friday Meeting House program on Faith Radio, that Christian legal organization had successfully argued for five temporary injunctions to be put in place to prevent these policies from taking effect while the litigation continues. 

Late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld temporary injunctions out of two federal appeals courts against the new Title IX rules.  The Daily Signal reported:

Tennessee and Louisiana are leading two lawsuits against the Education Department and its Biden-appointed secretary, Miguel Cardona, seeking injunctions to block the application of the law. The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th and 6th Circuits granted preliminary injunctions, blocking the new rules from going into effect.

Cardona appealed to the Supreme Court, and the high court denied the emergency appeal Friday.

This prevents the new rules from taking effect in 10 states. The article notes:

Tennessee, Louisiana, and others who joined the lawsuits argued that the administration’s Title IX rules unlawfully redefine sex discrimination and violate students’ and employees’ rights to bodily privacy and safety. They argued that a definition of harassment based on the creation of a “hostile environment” violates the First Amendment by requiring students and teachers to use preferred pronouns.

Persecution of Christians in India draws response from hundreds of church leaders

Sectarian violence in India, including against Christians, has been widely reported, and a consortium of church leaders have decided to speak out against it.  The Stream reported:

Over 300 Christian leaders in the U.S. have petitioned the State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) following an unprecedented escalation of state-sanctioned violence against Christians there.

The article noted that the letter was directed to Secretary of State Blinken and "signed by three archbishops, 18 bishops, 166 clergy from diverse denominations, eight current or former presidents, deans from five theological schools, and leaders from over 40 Christian organizations."

The article goes on to say:

“This surge in violence is propelled by a Hindu ethno-nationalist or Hindutva supremacist political ideology, which conflates a militant Hindu ideology with Indian citizen identities,” the letter explains, leading to a distortion of both Hinduism and India’s constitutional democracy accompanied by “alarming levels of violence” against Christians, lower-caste Dalits, and other religious minorities.

Rev. Neal Christie, executive director of the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA), is quoted as saying, “This is the first public letter of its kind penned by U.S. Christian leaders addressing persecution in India..." The article says, "'As Christians do not practice caste and practice a minority religion, they are considered a national threat,' the signatories write, expressing solidarity with a petition more than 3,000 Indian Christian leaders signed in January. Those leaders boycotted a Christmas lunch hosted by India’s Hindu supremacist Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year."

Religious persecution in Nicaragua faces growing concern

Earlier this year, I became aware of what appeared to be a series of impactful evangelistic events in the nation of Nicaragua, conducted by a ministry called Mountain Gateway.  Its website, in a report filed in January, stated:

In 2023, Mountain Gateway held eight mass evangelistic gospel campaigns in the country, with the support and assistance of the Nicaraguan government. Mountain Gateway fiscally operated under strict accounting from Mountain Gateway staff and budget reviews by the Nicaraguan government to account for every dollar associated with the events. No members of Mountain Gateway have personally profited from funds sent to Nicaragua for ministry functions.

Nicaragua has revoked the registration of hundreds of non-profit and faith-based organizations in the last five years, including most recently, expelling numerous members of the Catholic Church and seizing church property. In these cases, the government often includes the charge of money laundering or other financial charges as the reason for revocation.

Three U.S. citizens in leadership of the ministry, as well as 11 Nicaraguan pastors, were charged with "money laundering and organized crime."  In March of this year, according to Mountain Gateway's website:

The Nicaraguan courts found 11 Nicaraguan Mountain Gateway pastors guilty on charges of money laundering. The pastors were not allowed to be physically present during the proceedings; they were only allowed to attend over a video livestream. At the time of the sentencing, all 11 pastors received sentences ranging between 12 and 15 years. In addition, the pastors were each fined over 80 million USD. Between the 11 pastors, they were fined almost 1 billion USD.

1819 News reported that Mountain Gateway was founded by Britt Hancock, who is from Alabama. In June, according to the website, Senator Katie Britt took to the U.S. Senate floor calling for action from the Administration; the article says:

"Let's be very clear. These Christians are imprisoned today because of their faith," Britt continued. "Their very freedom has been taken away because they chose to preach the gospel and the regime doesn't seem to want to stop there."

Britt reminded Senators the Nicaraguan government has also threatened Hancock and his family with arrest if they return to the country. Britt said Biden must utilize all sanction powers.

"Any options that are in the toolbox should be used to force Nicaragua to remedy the situation," Britt continued. "Today, I want to emphasize that we cannot and we will not stop speaking up against this religious persecution in Nicaragua."

"We are calling on the Biden administration to do more now," she added. "This regime must stop targeting American citizens, and it needs to begin faithfully upholding religious freedom and compliance with international law and universal standards of human rights."

Recently, Crosswalk Headlines reported that:

Nicaragua recently detained around a dozen priests as part of a “renewed crackdown” on the Catholic Church. As reported by The Christian Post, the majority of leaders detained were in the diocese led by exiled bishop Ronaldo Alvarez, a strong critic of President Daniel Ortega’s government who was sentenced to 26 years in prison last year for “undermining national integrity.”

The article states that Christian Solidarity Worldwide, described as a "United Kingdom-based Christian persecution watchdog," "is calling for the release of religious leaders detained by the authorities in Nicaragua." It quotes from CSW Founding President Mervyn Thomas, who said, “The continued detention and arrests of religious leaders by the Nicaraguan government are both unwarranted and unconscionable..."

The 3 - August 11, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the story of a homeschool family with a strong online presence that was harassed and threatened by officials without cause after being harassed by an online group.  Also, Rwandan officials have closed well over five thousand churches for violating regulations.  And, in India over two dozen Christians were arrested after local Hindu activists invaded a meeting and claimed the Christians were trying to convert them.

Homeschool family harassed by officials claiming abuse

J.D. and Britney Lott are homeschool parents, and their family travels the country and posts content on their Instagram page, “AmericanFamilyRoadTrip.”

According to AmericanFaith.com, their fame has its price. Their children were very close to being taken out of their home due to an anti-Christian group's efforts to manipulate human resources officials. Their Instagram page shows that the couple has seven children, with an eighth on the way.

The article says:

The Lotts told Reason they were leaving a Florida campground on their way to Georgia when they received a text message from the DCF reading, “Please respond we need to follow up and verify the children are safe. If we cannot complete this we will have to see an Order To Take Into Custody which is enforceable nationwide. Please work with us so we do not have to do that. Thank you.”

The message came in response to claims by an anti-Christian Reddit group, FundieSnarkUncensored. The group claimed the Lotts’ children were abused, with the youngest child, a baby, suffering from a “severe sunburn” and jaundice.

An employee of the Department of Children and Families had contacted the family regarding having a meeting.  The article says:

The family then contacted the Family Freedom Project (FFP), a group that aids families wrongly accused of child abuse. The organization advised the parents to have their children evaluated by a doctor to prove they were unharmed.

After the medical evaluation, the Lotts were informed their children would not be taken away.

This incident has garnered attention from the Governor's office in Florida; the article notes:

Bryan Griffin, communications director for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) office, told The Daily Wire that the family’s harassment will be investigated by the state.

“Utilizing government entities to make false reports or harass others is unacceptable and will be referred to law enforcement for investigation and ultimately prosecution, Griffin said.

This was posted on the family's Instagram page:

We’re exploring options to introduce accountability for all parties involved. The threat of having our children taken from us still has reverberating effects in our lives. We, and our children, are still traumatized, but we’ve made it through this together and it’s made us stronger as a family.

We are grateful to God for protecting us throughout this situation, and connecting us with people at the Family Freedom Project who have a sincere desire to protect families. We’re excited that our situation is bringing awareness to this issue that so regularly affects innocent families, in hopes that changes can be made to add protections from the threat of false reporters.

Rwandan officials close thousands of churches after inspections

Over the past few years, authorities in the African nation of Rwanda have been attempting to, as a piece published at The Christian Post puts it, "regulate" religious organizations.  That website notes:

Rwanda has progressively been implementing a law it passed in 2018 to regulate religious organizations. Seven-hundred churches were closed then for operating illegally. The law requires religious leaders to have theological training before operating a church and mandates the RGB to inspect the physical safety of the buildings housing the churches. It also requires that the structures be sound proof as one way of limiting noise pollution.

The RGB is the Rwanda Governance Board, which has the task of enforcing these "regulations."  And, it closed down thousands last month alone. The Christian Post article, originally published at Christian Daily International, reports that the number was 5,600 churches that were shut down, out of 13,000 religious organizations that were inspected.  The article says:

RGB Chief Executive Dr. Usta Kaitesi, told Kigali-based news site IGIHE — which reported an even higher number of over 7,700 churches closed — that the board, in collaboration with local authorities, carried out the inspection over two weeks in July. She revealed that a large number of the churches affected did not have the requisite permits to operate places of worship while others could not provide the qualifications of the leaders.

The archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda noted that churches were informed about the regulations, but hinted they may not have taken them seriously.  Meanwhile, another church leader, a pastor, believes that the regulations should be reviewed because they unfairly punish rural churches who may not have neighborhoods nearby that are affected by noise. 

Christians in India arrested for attempting to convert people to Christianity

Twenty-eight Christians in India were taken into custody recently and charged with "illegal conversion," according to a piece at Higher Ground Times, initially provided by Global Christian Relief. The article states:

More than two dozen Christians attending a weekly prayer meeting in India were assaulted by members of a Hindu nationalist organization accusing them of “indulging in conversions.”

The group known as Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or World Hindu Council, called the authorities after attacking the Christian gathering in Rajasthan state on July 5, 2024.

The article goes on to say:

A local news outlet reported that the mob inflicted grievous injuries on the attendees, including women.

“A complaint was received that people had gathered at a house…for religious conversion, following which some people have been detained for interrogation,” said Sunil Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The police did not mention the assault on Christians, but a viral video of the attack on Twitter/X showed several Christians bleeding.

The organization United Christian Forum had described how groups of Hindu extremists invade Christian gatherings in a report from December 2023:

“In almost all incidents, vigilante mobs comprising religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe are involved in forcible religious conversions,” the report said. “With impunity, such mobs criminally threaten and/or physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions. Often communal sloganeering is witnessed outside police stations, where the police stand as mute spectators.

In the Rajasthan incident, it was reported that a VHP leader brought 50 people into the house where the Christians were gathered.  Another publication put the number at one hundred. 

The 3 - August 4, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a court decision regarding so-called "gender pronouns."  Also, a new pro-life law in Iowa has taken effect. Plus, a Colorado church has received positive court action regarding its attempts to minister to the homeless.

Virginia court OK's ability of student to sue school district over gender pronouns

The Daily Signal reports that, "Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia requires all students to refer to “students who identify as gender-expansive or transgender by their chosen name and pronoun, regardless of the name and gender recorded in the student’s permanent pupil record.”

However, a student, based on her religious beliefs, does not think she should be compelled by school officials to act in this manner. The article says, "The student believes God made only two genders—male and female—and that to reject one’s biological sex is to reject the image of God within that person."  So, America First Legal has sued the school district.

A county Superior Court judge has ruled that the student, in fact, could challenge the district's policies, even though the district had contended the student did not have "standing."  A parent, Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, is quoted by The Daily Signal as saying: “I’m joining other parents across Fairfax County today as we collectively inhale the fresh scent of common sense with the court’s verdict," adding, “We knew all along that it was tyrannical and completely wrong to try to compel our children’s speech with forced pronoun usage in their public schools. It is such a relief that justice has prevailed this time to preserve our children’s constitutional rights.”

Iowa "heartbeat" law takes effect

A new law intended to reduce the number of abortion in Iowa took effect recently - last Monday, the Des Moines Register reported:

Iowa's so-called "fetal heartbeat ban" officially went into effect at 8 a.m. Monday, prohibiting most abortions once the first signs of cardiac activity can be detected through an ultrasound, typically at about six weeks. The law has narrow exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities incompatible with life or if the life of the pregnant woman is in danger.

Senate President Amy Sinclair is quoted as saying, "Today, the support for protection of life becomes a reality. Lives will be saved starting today," adding, "Many Iowans have voted, volunteered and prayed to see this day finally happen."

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated, “We thank Gov. Kim Reynolds, Attorney General Brenna Bird and legislators for persisting in the fight for life and representing the people’s will to protect babies with a heartbeat..."

Helping the homeless requires court action in CO

While an Ohio church and its pastor continue to labor through the courts to serve the homeless in their community, despite challenges from local officials, a Colorado church is continuing to pursue litigation to protect its outreach to the homeless.

CBN.com reports:

A Colorado church is suing the town of Castle Rock to maintain its homeless ministry after local officials tried to shut it down. The church recently won a preliminary victory with a federal judge ruling the town must allow the humanitarian outreach to continue while the case proceeds in court.

It's called The Rock Church, which, according to the article, "has provided shelter to those without homes by using an R.V. and a trailer that sit behind its building."  

The article goes on to say:

Last year, the town council ordered the church to stop its activities, claiming it violates zoning regulations.

The church responded with a lawsuit citing the Bible's commands to help those in need and calling it a religious freedom issue.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico, in his ruling in favor of the Church, stated, "As the Church has emphasized, and the Town has not disputed, 'the Church has never experienced any public-safety or other related issues while carrying out this ministry, even as it has temporarily house(d) numerous individuals and small families,'" Judge Domenico explained. "Instead, the Town appears concerned about the precedent that would be set, which it suggests might allow either much larger housing projects on the Church's own property or other institutions or individuals to try to use mobile homes in a similar manner."

The 3 - July 28, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the response of Christians to a disturbing expression during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in France.  Plus, there is a variety of court actions, including a major settlement announcement between the U.S. Navy and current and former service members who had requested a religious accommodation from the COVID-19 shot mandate. Plus, another court has put new government regulations on Title IX on hold while legal action proceeds.

Christians vocal in opposition to display of drag queens in depiction of DaVinci's "Last Supper"

The Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris featured the athletes in a boat parade on the Seine River, along with a variety of expressions that unfortunately, some regard as "entertainment." As 1819 News put it:

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, started with an immediate controversy after a racy drag queen dance routine and a drag depiction of the Last Supper.

Several events in the opening ceremony drew attention to the Olympics' opening night. Several drag queens carried the Olympic torch, followed by others participating in a flamboyant dance routine. However, the display that drew the most outrage across social media was a tableau of Jesus's Last Supper.

The description went on: "The depiction was a cheap parody of the universally recognized painting by the famed Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci..." It featured a "...tattooed person donning a bedazzled headdress designed to look like a halo."  Also, "Later on, a half-naked man wearing blue paint was lowered onto the table, apparently depicting the Greek god Dionysus."

Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt was quick to condemn the display, writing on X: "This was an intentional choice to mock Christianity and Christians," adding, "It's disgraceful. And it's the same kind of bizarre craziness that's being pushed on children and teenagers across America. We need to turn our eyes back to God and restore common sense."

Crosswalk.com ran a story featuring reaction from high-profile Christians, including Jimmy Dykes of ESPN, who wrote on X: "God will not be mocked..."

The article said:

Skillet frontman John Cooper, on Instagram, said the ceremony “mocked Christianity.”

“The 2024 Olympics are mocking the Lord Jesus,” wrote pastor Ted Traylor of Olive Baptist Church in Florida.

This was on X, as well. 

More response from Crosswalk.com:

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio also cited Scripture, writing, “‘In the last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.’ Jude 1:18.”

“Imagine the outcry if the Olympic Games mocked Muhammad the way it is mocking our Lord,” wrote Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action. “My heart is sad for the mindless hatred that one must have to do this.”

“And now they are openly mocking Christians at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony,” wrote Kristen Waggoner, president of Alliance Defending Freedom. “There are billions of Christians across the world -- Christians who will compete at the Olympics. This mockery is repugnant.”

That was written on her X feed. 

And, this lack of judgment on behalf of Olympic organizers has resulted in the company C Spire announcing this on X:

We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Olympics spoke out, but an apology seemed to be half-hearted - or less. BBC.com stated:

The ceremony's artistic director, Thomas Jolly, said there was no intention to "mock or denigrate anyone" and explained the scene in question was designed to reference pagan gods.

"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group," Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters on Sunday.

"On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly did try to intend to celebrate community tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we of course are really sorry."

Navy SEALS, Special Ops, other members settle with Navy after being rebuffed in COVID vaccine religious accommodation requests

A host of members of the U.S. Navy, including Navy SEALS, Special Operators, and other members of that branch of the military, who had requested religious accommodations exempting them from the military's mandate to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, have reached a settlement in a lawsuit.

First Liberty, which teamed with another firm to represent these service members, said on its website: "Navy service members who refused the COVID vaccine for religious reasons will now have an opportunity to have their records corrected and their careers protected."

The Navy has agreed that the next three promotion boards are mandated not to consider "any adverse information related solely to COVID-19 vaccine refusal in cases in which a religious accommodation was requested..." The website also notes:

Servicemembers who elected to leave service after being mistreated by the Navy will also get their records corrected. The Navy also agreed to post a statement affirming the Navy’s respect for religious service members, provide more training for commanders who review religious accommodation requests, revise a policy related to accommodation requests that was changed during the mandate, and pay $1.5 million in attorneys’ fees.

The Navy will “re-review the personnel records of all Class Members to ensure that the U.S. Navy has permanently removed records indicating administrative separation processing or proceedings, formal counseling, and non-judicial punishment actions taken against the Class Member solely on the basis of non-compliance with the COVID-19 Mandate and adverse information related to non-compliance with the COVID-19 Mandate.”

Victories continue in challenges to administration's Title IX policies

Title IX is described on the Alliance Defending Freedom website as "a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for students in education and athletics."  This is a 50-plus-year old law that prevents discrimination on the basis of sex, but you have people in power that believe that word, "sex," should be redefined to include sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The includes the U.S. Department of Education, which has announced changes to the definition, drawing multiple lawsuits.  Alliance Defending Freedom, so far, has filed five legal challenges, and has received positive rulings so far, including one within the past few days; its website notes that, "A federal district court in Missouri ruled Wednesday to immediately halt the Biden-Harris administration’s illegal rewrite of Title IX while the lawsuit State of Arkansas v. U.S. Department of Education moves forward." The website adds:

...Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Amelia Ford, a high school athlete from Arkansas, joined the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota in a federal lawsuit filed in May against the administration for its attempt to redefine “sex” in Title IX to include “gender identity.”

The article notes that, "Out of five lawsuits in which ADF is involved, this is the fifth injunction halting the administration’s unlawful effort to change Title IX..." ADF Legal Counsel Rachel Rouleau stated: “Girls should know that their safety and privacy are of utmost concern for government officials, and the court’s decision brings them one step closer to that reality,” adding, "The administration continues to ignore biological reality, science, and commonsense, and women are suffering as a result. The court rightly decided to enjoin the administration’s unlawful rule, which will protect fairness, safety, privacy, and free speech for students, teachers, and female athletes.”

The 3 - July 21, 2024

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes information on a major fire at a large Dallas church, which destroyed the church's former main sanctuary. Also, another major manufacturer has decided to back off offensive, progressive policies. Plus, California's governor has signed a bill into law forcing school districts to keep information about students' gender and sexuality secret from parents. 

Historic sanctuary at Dallas church destroyed by fire

The evening rush hour in Dallas this Friday was marred by a massive fire that occurred in the "historic sanctuary" at First Baptist Church of Dallas, which is pastored by Faith Radio programmer Robert Jeffress, heard on Pathway to Victory weekdays at 12:30pm.

An article at The Christian Post website noted:

"We continue to praise God for His hand of protection on our church," First Baptist Dallas stated in a Facebook post Friday night.

"We are grateful that no one was injured today and are thankful for the first responders who helped contain the fire to our Historic Sanctuary. They continue working but the primary fire has been extinguished. One way or another, we intend to meet for church this Sunday."

Pastor Jeffress announced on X that the church would meet on Sunday at the Dallas Convention Center in one service.  Fox 4 television reported that Jeffress announced that the sanctuary would be rebuilt.  The station's website quoted that pastor as saying, "We're going to recreate it as a standing symbol of the truth. The unchangableness, the endurance of the word of God. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever..."

He went on to say, "We can not allow Satan to have the last word...If we allow that thing to remain in ruins, it will look to the whole world like we have been defeated by the evil one, so we are going to rebuild, we're going to recreate."

The Christian Post article stated, "According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, the church's secondary chapel was impacted by the fire and suffered a partial collapse...," adding, "The red brick building, known as the church's old sanctuary, was built in 1890. It was the church's home for a long time before it moved to its new worship center about 12 years ago."

The article also said:

In an interview with Fox 4, Jeffress said that the sanctuary was the site of many personal events, including his baptism when he was 6 and ordination for the ministry at 21. The church had just concluded vacation Bible school with over 2,000 kids at the sanctuary.

"It holds a lot of memories," Jeffress said. "We thank God nobody was hurt. … I'm grateful that the church is not brick and mortar, its [sic] people. The people of God will endure. First Baptist Dallas will endure. We thank so many of our friends around the country who are praying for us right now."

Oh, Deere!  Lawn manufacturing company backs off on "woke" support

Another major manufacturing company has announced its intent to reverse policies that are associated with identity politics and favoritism.  WORLD Magazine reports that:

John Deere will no longer support parades or other events focused on what it characterized as social or cultural awareness, a likely reference to gay pride parades. Instead, business resources will be focused exclusively on professional development, recruitment, and retention, the company said. Company training materials will also be audited to ensure they include no social messaging, the statement added. John Deere’s announcement came weeks after farming competitor Tractor Supply made a similar announcement.

The company had announced its commitment to DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in a report in 2022, according to the article.

As The Tennessee Star reported two weeks ago:

Robby Starbuck shared an update into his work exposing John Deere, the American manufacturing company of agricultural machinery and other heavy equipment, for its woke policies, saying how “hundreds” of upset employees have come forward about the drastic changes under the company’s new leadership.

In a radio interview with Michael Patrick Leahy cited in the article, Starbuck, a Christian commentator and filmmaker, said the company had become a "trojan horse for leftism." 

The article also notes, "Starbuck, who recently exposed Tractor Supply Company for its woke policies that forced that company to reverse course amid backlash from consumers, said he’s had corporate sources at John Deere tell him that the company allows transgender individuals to use opposite sex bathrooms."

New California law mandates that schools keep sexual information about students secret from parents

School district after school district in California had passed policies that would force school administrators and teachers to inform parents about information relative to matters of so-called "gender identity" that they had received about students.  Now, a new statewide law will void those local policies.

It's called AB1955, and according to the California Policy Center...

... AB 1955 was pushed through the legislature as a “gut and amend” bill — outside of the normal legislative calendar — to invalidate the popular parental notification policies enacted by local school boards across the state. The policies require school administrators to inform parents if their child changes their name or gender on official school records.

The Center's website goes on to say that the bill, recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, "...instructs school officials to lie to parents if their child changes their gender, name or pronouns at school. The governor’s action is a betrayal of the thousands of California parents and parent advocates who have spoken out against AB 1955 during the rushed committee hearings over the last several weeks." The article quotes from Vice President of Education Policy and Government Affairs at California Policy Center, Lance Christensen, who said “Public schools are meant to support – not subvert – parents in their efforts to educate their children.”  The Center's site also says:

Christensen warned that Newsom’s new “lie to parents” law violates federal law that guarantees parents’ right to access their children’s school records. He also advised districts against creating two sets of files for a student to keep parents in the dark.