The 3 - December 26, 2021

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

SCOTUS to hear vaccine mandate challenges in early January

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

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

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

Rejection of BBB prevents taxpayer funding of abortion

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

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

The bill would have:

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

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

Remainder of Haiti missionaries held captive since October are now free

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

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

The article continues by quoting Showalter:

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

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

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