The 3 - March 19, 2023

This week's edition of The 3 features several developments regarding the distribution of the abortion pill, including a new law in Wyoming and a hearing before a federal judge.  Also, an Iranian pastor and two other Christians have been released from captivity in Iran.  And, a Vermont Christian school that forfeited a girls' basketball game that included a biological male has now been punished by a state board. 

Pharmacy chain refuses to sell abortion pill in over 20 states, one state governor balks

There has been quite a bit of news recently about the sale of the so-called abortion pill, which is now reportedly the most popular method of terminating a baby's life - and has been proven to be quite dangerous.

SBA Pro-Life America reported last week that in Wyoming, "Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill to prohibit dangerous chemical abortion drugs." In a press release found at the organization's website, its Western Regional Director Adam Schwend is quoted as saying:

“We thank Gov. Gordon for signing SF 109 to prohibit dangerous abortion drugs that can cause hemorrhaging, the need for surgery and even death. According to Medicaid data, the rate of chemical abortion-related ER visits have increased 500% since mifepristone was approved. Wyoming’s new law will limit the abortion industry’s ability to jeopardize the health and safety of women and girls.

“The new chemical abortion law, along with the Human Life Protection Act and extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, make Wyoming one of the most pro-life states in the country.”

Meanwhile, last week, a Federal judge held a hearing on the FDA's approval of the abortion pill, in a lawsuit brought by several pro-life organizations. Live Action News reported:

The lawsuit was initially filed in November of 2022 on behalf of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM), a nonprofit membership organization representing nearly 30,000 health-care professionals including major medical groups such as the American College of Pediatricians, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. The group sued the federal government for “illegally approving chemical abortion drugs that harm women and girls.”

At a press conference following arguments before the court, Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Erik Baptist and Dr. Donna Harrison (Chair of AHM), reiterated their case against the FDA.

Baptist said, "As time has gone on, the FDA has ignored the warnings from our clients about these drugs and has rolled back safeguards that make these drugs even more dangerous to take," adding, "The FDA never studied the safety of the drug regimen and disregarded clear evidence that the pills cause life threatening complications. As a result of ignoring the science, women and girls became victims of the FDA’s reckless, agenda-driven approval.”

Harrison is quoted as saying: “As the FDA has removed safeguards around the drugs, women and girls have been left more vulnerable than ever. These women most often have to face the trauma of passing a dead child and risk bleeding out and dealing with deadly infections alone, with no doctor either present or even involved to get her the attention she needs.”

Meanwhile, Baptist said, "After years of evading responsibility, it’s time for the government to do what it’s legally required to do: protect the health and safety of vulnerable women and girls. We hope the court will agree the FDA never had the authority to approve these dangerous drugs and reject the rolled-back protections and distribution of them.”

And, in related news, The Washington Stand had reported that week before last, "Walgreens announced...it would not sell the abortion pill mifepristone in the 20 states where pro-life attorneys general say distribution would violate state and federal law."  This prompted California governor Gavin Newsom to attempt to punish Walgreens for its decision.  The article, published March 8, related:

“California won’t be doing business with @walgreens — or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk,” declared Newsom on Twitter Monday afternoon. “We’re done.” California, which has 13 million people on its Medicaid program alone, “is reviewing all relationships between Walgreens and the state,” said Newsom spokesman Brandon Richards.

Pastor, other Christians released in Iran

An Iranian pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani, who, according to ChristianNews.net, was "once sentenced to death in Iran for apostasy," has become the "third Christian convert recently released from prison as part of the government’s annual amnesty marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution."

He has been in and out of prison since that original death sentence in 2010, after which he was declared not guilty for apostasy.  But, he had been arrested for other so-called "crimes," including involvement in establishing house churches, and in 2018, had been serving a 10-year sentence at Iran's notorious Evin Prison. 

The Christian News article, from Morning Star News, said that the pastor was released in late February, "following the pardon and release earlier in the month of Hadi Rahimi and Zaman Fadaei, religious freedom advocates said. While welcoming the releases, they noted that those released had already served significant portions of their sentences in cases marred by legal irregularities even by Iranian standards." A representative of Middle East Concern stated, "Their pardon hardly addresses the injustice of the original sentencing and suffering that the men and their families endured,” adding, “But we are glad for their sakes that they are free and with their families again.”

The article notes: 

The February pardons were part of a larger game of musical chairs the Iranian state plays with prisoners of conscience, including religious conscience. On Jan. 28, authorities released Anahita Khademi, a Christian convert, on a bail bond of 180 million toman (about US$4,000) in connection with various charges, including distributing “propaganda against the system” and “disturbing public opinion.”

VT Christian school faces tournament ban for forfeiting game with transgender player

Not only is it unfair for biological males claiming to be female to compete in female sports, but it presents a threat to player safety, according to a Vermont Christian school team that forfeited a game recently, according to The Daily Citizen, which quoted from a statement from Mid Vermont Christian School to Fox News, published at National Review: “We believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players. Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”

But, as The Daily Citizen reports, "Yet, in response to MVCS’ decision, their entire school is now being punished, excluded, and caste [sic] aside in the name of 'inclusion' and 'fairness.'"  The Vermont Principals Association, in a statement, said: "The VPA’s Executive Council met today, March 13th, 2023 to discuss the relevant forfeiture. The result was a determination that policies have been violated at the school level, thus there is an immediate determination of ineligibility for Mid-Vermont Christian in VPA sanctioned activities and tournaments going forward."

The article states, "All Christians should be calling foul at that decision."

The article points out that in events sponsored by the Association, a statement is read, and the article states that VPA "tells attendees and athletes to maintain respect for everyone’s religion,' but then punishes Christians for living up to their deeply held religious convictions – not to mention basic biological facts."