This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance impacting the Christian community, includes threats to free speech threats for pro-life people in California. Also, I pinpoint several developments in different parts of the country regarding COVID vaccine mandates. And, a Canadian pastor who has resisted restrictions on church gatherings in that nation has been arrested yet again.
California governor signs law to curb pro-life speech, draws lawsuit
The state of California has certainly shown its hostility toward speaking on behalf of the unborn. A law that would have forced pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, and recently, pro-life people who desire to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest and to communicate truth with women who are considering taking the life of their unborn child.
According to Life Legal Defense Foundation, in a press release issued last Monday announcing its filing of a legal challenge to the law, stated:
Using the threat of COVID as an excuse, the Legislature enacted a breathtaking restriction on speech that will ban core First Amendment activity in numerous locations across California.
The law, SB 742, was signed by Governor Newsom on Friday. While SB 742 started out as a bill to restrict protests concerning COVID vaccines, it was amended to cover every location where any type of vaccine is provided. Planned Parenthood, Family Planning Associates, and other abortionists dispense STD vaccines, including Gardasil, which makes them “vaccination sites” for the purpose of the law.
The organization stated:
Life Legal is filing the lawsuit on behalf of pro-life sidewalk counselors who regularly speak with women entering “vaccination site” abortion clinics, and who provide literature and display signs offering help with abortion alternatives – all activities that may be illegal under the new law.
Vax mandate developments in major states
The decision whether or not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should ideally be a decision of conscience, not a matter of government coercion. Citizens should not be forced to ingest any substance to which a person would have an objection. Those objections can be for a variety of reasons, including medical concerns, or even based on someone's religious convictions.
The Christian Post reports on the actions of Governor Greg Abbott of Texas within the past few days. In an Executive Order, according to the article, Abbott stated, "No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19,” and he added, “I hereby suspend all relevant statutes to the extent necessary to enforce this prohibition.”
Meanwhile, healthcare employees in New York will continued to be spared from being forced to receive the COVID vaccine; The Christian Post reported:
A federal judge on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction against New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers after a group of 17 Christian medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, protested in a lawsuit that the mandate violated their religious freedom by not allowing employers to consider religious exemptions.
U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd issued a new order blocking the New York health department from rejecting employer-approved religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate enacted on Aug. 26. It comes as a similar order issued in September was set to expire.
And, Ohio pastors have written a letter to President Biden, expressing their concerns over mandated vaccinations, either directly through forcing government employees to receive a COVID vaccine or pressuring businesses and companies, under threat of fines, to force their employees to receive the shot. CBN.com reported: "A group of Ohio clergy representing more than 100 congregations across the state signed a letter Monday that was addressed to President Biden, detailing why they strongly disapprove of his directive, according to Front Lines Ohio." The CBN article quoted from the letter, which said, "This unilateral and divisive order is unethical and tantamount to what a totalitarian king would dictate," adding, "Furthermore Mr. President, with respect to your vaccine mandate, we respond by saying 'We have no king but King Jesus.'"
Canadian pastor jailed for violating COVID protocols arrested again
The coronavirus has certainly been disheartening for Artur Pawlowski, a pastor from Canada who has now faced multiple arrests for standing against the regulations of public health officials. CBN.com reported earlier this month on a recent arrest of Pawlowski, "who is of Polish descent," who "garnered widespread attention in April when he kicked health officials and law enforcement officers — who were there to enforce mask mandates — out of his church."
He was arrested again in May by the Calgary Police Service for "holding indoor worship services, which the agency described as 'organizing an illegal in-person gathering.'""I came to the United States with a simple warning," the pastor told Ingraham about his recent trip abroad.
"You're next," he said. "If they came for me, be sure of it, they're coming for you as well."
The Christian Post reported last Friday on the sentence handed down by a judge: he has avoided jail time, but was sentenced to 18 months' probation, 120 hours of community service, $23,000 in fines, and what amounts to a gag order: if he comments on COVID restrictions, he is required to add additional language consistent with the government-supported view on COVID-related policy.
No comments:
Post a Comment