This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of the conviction of five pro-life protestors at a clinic in the nation's capital. Also, a city in Iowa has reversed course on a ban against counseling people who wish to overcome same-sex attraction. And, parents in California are facing opposition from a state government official after a local school board approved a new parental notification policy require parents to be informed by school officials regarding gender identity information.
Pro-life activists convicted for actions outside DC clinic
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act, was used to convict five pro-life activists from an organization called the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU), which had staged a protest at an abortion clinic in Washington, DC - the Washington Surgi-Clinic, which, according to an article at The Federalist website, is "operated by the late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo." The article says that, "They were also charged and found guilty of one count of conspiracy to block the entrance..."“Some simply kneeled and prayed at Santangelo’s facility, some passed out pro-life literature and counseled abortion-minded women, and others roped and chained themselves together inside the facility.”
The article goes on to say:
Handy told the jury: “My belief that was formed after watching the video was … if the fetus survived the abortion attempt, they were left to die” at Santangelo’s facility. It was outside this same D.C. facility that the bodies of 115 preborn babies were recovered in March of 2022. At least five of the babies were significantly larger — between 20 to 40 weeks gestational age, with one boy appearing nearly full term.
The Federalist also reported that, "The defendants could face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000."
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said in a statement to Fox News Digital Tuesday’s verdict is "a shameful day for a nation founded on unalienable rights, first and foremost including life."
"Pro-life advocates like Lauren Handy have put their freedom on the line – peacefully and bravely – to protect babies and women from the brutality of abortion. They have done a vital public service in exposing the horrors of late-term abortion taking place in D.C., where there are no limits on abortion up to birth, and across the country," the statement read.
City in Iowa rescinds counseling ban
In May of last year, the City Council in Waterloo, Iowa voted on a ban on counseling designed to help a minor child overcome same-sex attraction. The Daily Citizen reports, "Under the guise of banning so-called 'conversion therapy,' the City Council prohibited any medical or mental health professional from helping minors struggling with unwanted homosexuality or transgenderism." The article notes:
As the Daily Citizen has previously stated, “conversion therapy” is a term invented by activists who oppose the truth that some people with same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion don’t want to embrace those thoughts, feelings, identities or behaviors. It is a non-existent practice – but these bans have the effect of prohibiting legitimate professional therapy for those with unwanted sexual identity confusion or homosexual identity, attractions and behaviors.
...June 30 demand letter showed that local governments in Iowa do not have the authority to regulate licensed counseling because the Iowa Legislature has given that power solely to Iowa’s Board of Behavior Science.
In addition, the letter explained that Waterloo’s ban on counseling therapy (erroneously called “conversion therapy”) was “offensive to the First Amendment” because it banned counseling “based on the viewpoint of that counseling.”
Liberty Counsel reported the original vote in favor of the ordinance was 6-1 - it was repealed by a 4-3 vote.
Parents square off against state pols in CA
In California, several school districts have adopted parental notification policies that would require school officials to notify parents if their children express a desire to identify as another gender outside of their biological sex. The Chino Valley Unified School District passed such a policy and is facing heat from the state's Attorney General.
The Washington Stand reports that AG Rob Bonta has sued the district, "alleging the school district’s policy requiring faculty and staff to notify parents of students’ attempted gender transitions is a civil rights violation." The article quotes Greg Burt, director of capitol engagement for the California Family Council, who said in an interview that “Passing this lawsuit actually helps get the message out, exposing what [the] California Department of Ed. and our school districts are actually doing and what they really think of parents. They think they’re dangerous.” He added, “It’s undeniable now that, yes, it is true that the state of California thinks they’re better parents than the average parent.”
WORLD Magazine reports: "Chino Valley School Board President Sonja Shaw said the lawsuit was an attempt to 'shut parents out of their children’s lives.'” It noted that California School Districts Temecula Valley and Murrieta Valley have also implemented parental notification policies. Last week on The Meeting House, I discussed how Sonja Shaw's Christian faith has driven her actions as president of the school board. I quoted from a Christian Post article, which said:
“People from all over the nation have called, emailed and continue to write letters of support and saying this gave them hope,” she explained. “A few years ago, when I joined this journey, God kept showing me hope [in] Jeremiah 29:11.
“I have drawn closer and closer to God during this time and look to Him for direction and protection.”
And, just days ago, The Daily Signal reported that: "Protect Kids California, a coalition of parental rights advocates and others who oppose gender ideology, filed three ballot initiatives...for the November 2024 ballot, aiming to circumvent the Golden State’s Legislature." The article says:
The ballot measures require schools to notify parents if their children claim to identify as transgender, prevent biological males from entering women’s spaces and sports, and forbid medical professionals from putting kids on experimental drugs or performing surgery on them to “affirm” a gender identity opposite their biological sex.
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