The 3 - January 15, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes pro-life action in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also, a former postal employee who asked not to work on Sundays is having his case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.  And, a federal court has ruled against a consortium of LGBTQ students who contested the rights of religious schools to operate by Biblical principles. 

U.S. House passes multiple pro-life bills

The U.S. House of Representatives, following the election of the new Speaker of the House, immediately went to work.  One of the initial bills was the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which, according to The Washington Stand, "requires that if a baby is born alive during a botched abortion, the abortionist must provide the same level of lifesaving care a doctor would provide to any child of comparable age, or face up to five years in prison for letting the baby die. The surviving child must immediately be transported to a hospital, and abortion facility employees must report any violation of these medical standards. The bill also empowers grieving mothers to sue abortionists for their inaction."

The House also passed a resolution condemning acts of violence directed at pro-life pregnancy resource centers and churches. The Washington Stand reported that the legislation stated, "Following the leak of the draft Dobbs decision, radical anti-life advocates initiated a pressure campaign designed to influence the Supreme Court’s opinion...” The language says that the advocates “defaced, vandalized, and caused destruction to over 100 pro-life facilities, groups, and churches.”  The resolution also took issue with the lack of response by the current administration.   

The abortion survivors bill passed 220-210 and the resolution against pro-abortion violence was approved 222-209.

U.S. Supreme Court to hear case of former postal employee who was refused religious accommodation about Sunday work

Gerald Groff is a former employee of the United States Postal Service who, according to the website for Christian legal organization First Liberty, began working for USPS as a letter carrier in Lancaster County, PA in 2012.  When Amazon began Sunday deliveries through the Postal Service, Groff asked to be excused from Sunday work, he was sent to another branch. Ultimately, that branch began Sunday deliveries, he again asked that he not work on Sundays.  First Liberty, on its website, stated:

The postmaster initially granted his request, allowing him to work additional shifts on other days of the week instead, but later the USPS offered only proposals that would still require Groff to work on Sundays and thereby violate his conscience. Forced to choose between his faith and his career, Groff resigned and sued the USPS. The district court sided with the USPS, concluding that accommodating Groff would pose an undue hardship on USPS. The Third Circuit upheld that decision.

Now, Gerald Groff will get his day in court in the highest court in the land, because the U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will take the case. First Liberty and other firms will be representing the former letter carrier; its website notes, "Attorneys for Groff, argue that, as a federal employee with USPS, Groff was protected by Title VII from discrimination based on his religious beliefs and practices. They suggest the Supreme Court re-examine TWA v. Hardison, the key case that determined the lower courts’ decisions."

Court dismisses case involving religious schools' receiving of federal funds

A Federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of LGBTQ students who attend or formerly have attended religious schools, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom website, which claims that the suit "intends to prevent any students from using tuition grants, student loans, and any other federal financial assistance at schools that operate according to religious beliefs on sexuality."

ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman stated in response:

“A federal district court today rightly rejected an unfounded assault on the religious freedom of faith-based educational institutions. Title IX, which applies to schools receiving federal financial assistance, explicitly protects the freedom of religious schools to live out their deeply and sincerely held convictions. A group of activists asked the court to strip that protection away from schools that educate the next generation and advance the common good. The court correctly concluded that Title IX’s religious liberty exemption doesn’t violate any of the plaintiffs’ claimed rights.”