The 3 - May 8, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, concentrates on the response to the leaked document containing what is called a "draft opinion" on Roe v. Wade, allegedly written by one of the U.S. Supreme Court justices.  Also, after a string of delays, a new Methodist denomination launched on May 1st.  Plus, there are more limitations on religious expression in China, with a popular Christian website apparently experiencing being removed.

Opinion from Supreme Court justice leaked, debate on abortion intensifies

The leak of a document attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito that gives insight into the possible Court vote regarding the Roe vs. Wade has resulted in enthusiasm from those who are pro-life and consternation from those who favor abortion. It has been referred to as a "draft opinion."

Despite the unfortunate set of circumstances leading to the disclosure of this information, it has provided a reality check, in a sense, that U.S. law surrounding abortion is about to change dramatically.  As Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, stated: "Though we want to celebrate the apparent victory of the High Court overturning Roe v. Wade, it is concerning that confidentiality would be breached in this situation by someone inside the Supreme Court. For many years, I have confidently said that I will live to see the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. We are now witnessing an historic event that will reverberate around the world."

Liberty Counsel's website stated:

In the apparent draft labeled the “Opinion of the Court,” Justice Alito wrote, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

CBN News quoted Brad Lingo, executive director of the Robertson Center for Constitutional Law at Regent University: "We now have confirmation. There are five votes to overturn Roe v. Wade clearly and unequivocally, there is a draft opinion...Nothing is final until opinion comes out. With abortion, a case of this magnitude, you never say never, but it would be very surprising if anyone changes their votes at this time." The article quoted from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said, "it is our intention for the Senate to hold a vote on legislation to codify the right to an abortion in law...," but pointed out it would take 60 votes in order to bring the legislation to the Senate floor, unless it votes to abandon the filibuster. 

Family Research Council reported that its President, Tony Perkins, and a consortium of 32 policy organizations from states across America, wrote to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other House leaders, saying that any commitment made to America as the nation awaits the U.S. Supreme Court's impending decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization 'must include a bold strategy to protect unborn life.'"

The letter stated:

"There has never been a better time to protect life. Americans support the pro-life policies we have worked to enact in the states by large margins. A majority of Americans support prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion, requiring clear health and safety standards for chemical abortion, providing immediate medical care for infants who survive abortion, and protecting unborn children from the horrors of abortion as early as the first trimester.

"Even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe this year, a strong congressional plan to protect unborn life will be needed...

One of the signatories is Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Action.  Sadly, its headquarters were attacked over the weekend. FRC President Tony Perkins responded, saying, in part that the...

"...violence and intimidation designed to silence the voice of Americans who stand for life will not succeed; it will fail. The violent and illegal actions of abortion supporters only reveal the true nature of abortion to America. Abortion on demand until birth unleashed violence and a culture of death.

"Abortion is not a political issue, and it's not even a policy issue at its core. Abortion is a profoundly moral and spiritual issue that cuts to the heart of who we are as a people.

New Methodist denomination launches

After years of wrangling within the United Methodist denomination regarding the authority of Scripture, especially as it relates to sexuality, and after several delays in calling a meeting to provide an amicable separation between the denomination and those who wish to leave it, the Global Methodist Church on May 1 launched.

ReligionNews.com reported:

After decades of rancorous debate over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists, a special session of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference and three postponements of a vote to formally split the denomination, the schism finally came “without fanfare, but full of hope, faith, and perseverance.”

That’s how the Rev. Keith Boyette, chairman of the Transitional Leadership Council of the Global Methodist Church, described the launch of the new denomination in a statement published days earlier on its website.

Boyette had told Religion News that the launch “was very definitely driven by practicality and the fact that the postponement of General Conference moved many people to say they were tired of waiting and tired of the conflict not being addressed and resolved by the United Methodist Church.”

The Daily Citizen reported: "The UMC has 12.5 million members worldwide, with 6.8 million in the U.S. Around the world, the largest membership is in African countries. The international churches are generally more orthodox, holding to biblical teaching about marriage and sexuality." It went on to say:

United Methodist churches in Africa, most of which are expected to join the GMC, applauded the move, saying:

We joyfully welcome the birth of the GMC. We celebrate and congratulate everyone who has been a part of this process, whom God has used to create a safe space where believers in Jesus Christ from across the global Community-Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Australia can commit to making disciples of Jesus Christ, and expressing the love of God to all humanity through our services to the church and society.

Meanwhile, in the greater Atlanta area, a large congregation that has found itself at odds with the United Methodist bishop for its region, but a settlement appears to be in the works, according to EastCobbNews.com.

China blocks popular Christian website

The nation of China continues its assault on religious freedom, and a recent story from The Christian Post provides yet another example.  The report says that:

The people behind the popular Christian website, “Jona Home,” have put a notice on the Home page, which reads, “Due to reasons known to everyone, from now on our site can no longer serve brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks to all for your company and support in the past 21 years!” U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said.

The notice further reads, “The disappearance of a website is merely a disappearance of a website, it does not carry any meaning. Except that the website link can no longer be opened, there is nothing else which stopped at that moment; Need not to be concerned, and just keep walking.”

The article notes that, according to Bitter Winter, a new law called, Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services, went into effect on March 1st. The Post says:

The law mandates an “Internet Religious Information Service License” for any religious group that wants to disseminate religious content on the internet. But it says only “legally established” organizations can do so, which practically means only groups that are part of the five authorized religions in China can use the internet to distribute religious content.

And even the five preferred religious groups face scrutiny; the law says:

“[T]hey can broadcast sermons and lessons, but these would be checked by the authorities for their ‘Sinicized’ content, making sure they promote socialist values and support the party, and are not intended as proselytization tools. Religious universities and colleges may disseminate content via the internet only to their students. Any attempt to spread religious content to minors or ‘induce minors to believe in religion’ will lead to the termination of the license.”