The 3 - October 29, 2023

In this week's edition of The 3, there is more news of Christian leaders standing in support of Israel, with a major announcement coming recently regarding three letters signed by over 100 leaders.  And, a couple in Pakistan has received a reprieve from being convicted under that country's blasphemy laws, having been released on bail.  And, two top Oklahoma leaders are at odds after a historic vote to allow a the nation's first religious charter school.

Coalition of American Christian leaders stand with Israel

This past week, a virtual press conference occurred in Washington, DC, in which a number of high-profile Christian leaders announced the issuance of three letters concerning the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The conference, according to the website for National Religious Broadcasters, was "hosted by NRB member and partner Dr. Susan Michael, USA Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and Director of ACLI."  NRB President and CEO Troy Miller was among the featured speakers. 

The event was centered around those three letters, "signed by Miller and 113 other leaders from 100+ organizations to challenge the Biden administration, the United Nations, and presidents of universities to exercise moral clarity in condemning terrorist attacks on Israel and antisemitism at home and abroad."

The three letters were as follows:

1. A letter to President Biden urging his continued support for Israel throughout the war.
2. A letter to the UN calling for greater moral clarity and resolve by condemning the heinous terrorist attack and supporting Israel’s right of self-defense and efforts to free her citizens of this threat.
3. A letter to the presidents of universities asking them to condemn antisemitism and provide greater support and security for their Jewish students.

The ACLI, in a press release, stated:

One hundred and fourteen prominent Christian leaders, including Dr. James Dobson, Gary Bauer, Michelle Bachman, Troy Miller, Samuel Rodriquez, and Star Parker, united under the banner of American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) to challenge UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. President Joe Biden to oppose further aggression by Hamas and ensure the safe return of the nearly 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Couple in Pakistan allowed to post bail in case involving blasphemy laws

A Christian couple that had been accused under Pakistan's stringent blasphemy laws has been released from imprisonment on bail, after having been "accused of defiling the Quran," according to a story published on The Christian Post website.

The article relates:

Kiran Bibi and Shaukat were granted bail on Oct. 18 by Additional Sessions Court Judge Mian Shahid Javed, UCA News reported, adding that the couple had been accused of defiling the Quran.

Javed cited a lack of evidence of “willful damage or defilement of the original text of the Holy Quran” under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It states:

The couple was accused by Muhammad Tamoor, who claimed to have seen Quranic pages fly out of the couple’s house on Sept. 8.

Tamoor claimed he had been given access to the house by Kiran Bibi. She suggested the pages might have been accidentally thrown by her children — all minors. The court noted gaps in the evidence and report.

The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, or CLAAS, had stated that there was "no credible eyewitness testimony." Nasir Saeed directs CLAAS, and said, "This decision underscores the importance of a thorough investigation to establish the facts and ensure justice prevails..." The court had instructed the police to do further investigation.  Saeed has also said that the blasphemy laws in Pakistan should be altered.

Oklahoma Governor, Attorney General square off on religious charter school authorization

What would be the "nation’s first religious charter school," according to The Daily Signal, has received "the authorization of funds for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School" from the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.  That's obviously a landmark decision by the Board, which was supported by Governor Kevin Stitt. who stated after the vote in June, according to the Daily Signal: “This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child’s education..."

However, Attorney General Gentner Drummond doesn't see things the same way, filing a lawsuit against the board's vote. The Daily Signal article said that he "filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, claiming that funding the school would violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment and that the Constitution does not allow for 'sectarian control' of public schools. Drummond is quoted as saying: “That is a gross violation of our religious liberty,” adding, “As the defender of Oklahoma’s religious freedoms, I am prepared to litigate this issue to the United States Supreme Court, if that’s what is required to protect our constitutional rights.”

The article goes on to quote the governor, who said about the attorney general:

“He should be defending the board, but instead, he’s actively trying to join in with these left-wing groups out of California and challenging religious freedoms,” the governor said.

“We believe in religious freedom,” Stitt said. “We believe in school choice. We believe empowering parents to let them choose where they think the best education is for their kids. So, it’s that simple.”