The 3 - March 12, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, spotlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, including a story out of UK about a pro-life advocate who has now been arrested twice for praying outside an abortion clinic against the backdrop of a new law, which has been extended throughout the UK.  Also, a controversial nominee to the Federal Communications Commission has withdrawn her name from consideration.  Plus, the issue of biological males competing in girls' sports has had some developments recently, including proposed federal legislation. 

Pro-life lady in UK arrested for silent prayer at abortion clinic arrested again; new law passed

Perhaps you're familiar with the case of a British lady named Isabel Vaughn-Spruce.  In December, she was arrested in front of an abortion clinic engaging in silent prayer.  According to Liberty University's Standing for Freedom Center:

Vaughn-Spruce was initially arrested on December 6 for violating the Public Space Protection Order after police received a complaint that she might be praying silently in her head. Police searched and arrested her and she was charged with protesting and engaging in an act that is intimidating to service users, even though she was praying outside of operational hours. The charges were later dropped, but when police said she could be re-arrested in the future, Vaughn-Spruce sought an official ruling and a judge found her not guilty.

Just days ago, according to the article, Vaughn-Spruce was arrested again for silent prayer outside the clinic. The story goes on to say that the day that she was arrested again, "Parliament voted to expand censorial buffer zones around all abortion clinics across the U.K., banning anyone from attempting to influence — through thought, word, or deed — a woman’s decision to have an abortion."  The website, in the article published last Wednesday, said: 

Yesterday’s vote effectively expands the Public Spaces Protection Order across the entirety of England and Wales. That law, first implemented in October in five local councils, made it illegal to engage in various forms of “protest” in areas surrounding abortion clinics. Since then, multiple pro-lifers have been arrested for praying silently, including Isabel Vaughn-Spruce, who was charged by police in December and again this past Monday for the crime of “praying in her mind.”

Member of Parliament Danny Kruger said: “We are making a momentous step, we are crossing an enormous river. When we criminalize prayer… or indeed consensual conversations… we are doing something of enormous significance.”  Jeremiah Igunnubole of Alliance Defending Freedom UK, stated, "...it is extremely regrettable that Parliament, which exists to protect and champion the rights of the electorate, has taken a clear stance against fundamental freedoms, opening the door for nationwide thought-crime prosecution.”

FCC nominee withdraws from nomination

After three Senate hearings, hours of testimony, and opposition stated by advocacy groups like National Religious Broadcasters, Gigi Sohn, nominated to serve on the Federal Communications Commission, withdrew her nomination. The Washington Post quoted from the ex-nominee, who said, "The unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks on my character and my career as an advocate for the public interest have taken an enormous toll on me and my family." 

But, as Troy Miller, the CEO of NRB had stated, “Ms. Sohn is an activist lawyer who has made no secret of her contempt for conservative media,” adding, “As a professional association that exists to keep platforms open for Christian communicators, we have serious concern about Ms. Sohn’s demonstrated hostility to broadcasters and her apparent openness to the use of FCC regulatory action to censor ideas with which she personally disagrees.”  Miller noted that Sohn could possibly act by "jeopardizing broadcast licenses to limit what kinds of political perspectives can be expressed on-air."  

Developments occur on the issue of biological males in women's sports 

Across the nation, the allowing of biological males to compete against girls in female sports is facing challenges.  One of the most recent developments has to do with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to become involved in a case out of West Virginia, in which a law was passed to prevent male participation in female sports, which was upheld by a federal district court and placed on hold by an appeals court.  An article at FoxNews.com states that a soccer player from the state, Lainey Armistead "...and her lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on her case against the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). That group is trying to strike down West Virginia's Save Women's Sports Act, which bans male student athletes who identify and present themselves as female from playing on girls' school sports teams."

18 states have passed legislation to prevent boys from competing in girls' sports. And, there is activity on the Federal level; ADF, on its website, reported on the introduction into the U.S. Senate of the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a bill that protects women’s sports by clarifying that allowing males to compete on women’s teams violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded schools and colleges..."

Similar legislation has been introduced into the House, according to Alliance Defending Freedom's website, which also reported that a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit had upheld a policy in Connecticut allowing male participation in female sports, but that decision will be reviewed by the entire court; ADF's Christiana Kiefer stated: "We’re pleased the 2nd Circuit has decided to rehear this important case, and we urge the court to protect women’s athletic opportunities. Eighteen states have enacted laws that protect women and girls from having to compete against males, and polls show that a majority of Americans agree that the competition is no longer fair when males are permitted to compete in women’s sports. Every woman deserves the respect and dignity that comes with having an equal opportunity to excel and win in athletics, and ADF remains committed to protecting the future of women’s sports.”

The 3 - March 5, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes developments on the gender identity front, with two states recently approving laws to protect children from damaging treatments and surgeries that falsely claim to help a child change his or her biological sex.  Also, a pro-life reality TV star's miscarriage has been mischaracterized by those who want to make her look as if she is being hypocritical.  And, a California teacher has lost her job because she would not be dishonest regarding disclosing information about a child's declaration of "gender identity" and the use of pronouns that do not represent a child's biological sex. 

MS, TN governors sign laws to protect children from gender treatments and surgeries

Liberty Counsel began a piece on its website in this way:

As the gender ideology assault on America’s children continues, state legislators are pushing back with legislation to protect minors from harmful puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and mutilating surgeries.

Approximately 100 bills have been proposed in 27 states aimed at protecting children from accessing hormone blocking drugs, surgeries and other types of “gender-affirming care.” Other draft laws being debated in state legislatures entail pronoun use in schools and biological boys in girls’ sports teams and bathrooms.

It noted that...

...Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed into law HB 1125, known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures Act,” which prohibits puberty blockers and any “gender transition” medical procedures on minors.

The Clarion-Ledger quoted the governor:

"There is a dangerous movement that's spreading across America today. It's advancing under the guise of a false ideology, and pseudoscience is being pushed onto our children through radical activists, social media and online influencers, and it's trying to convince our children that they are in the wrong body," Reeves said. "This dangerous movement attempts to convince these children that they're just a surgery away from happiness. It threatens our children's innocence, and it threatens their health."

Meanwhile, just a few days afterward, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill that would ban these types of treatments and surgeries for minors and protected children in another way.

Regarding the first bill, The Tennessean says that House Majority Leader William Lamberth, who sponsored the legislation, "said minors lack the maturity to make 'life-altering' medical decisions before they become adults." He added, "These treatments and procedures have a lifetime of negative consequences that are irreversible..." The article also reported that the governor signed a bill that would prevent drag shows from being performed in the presence of children:

Lee also signed off on a new law to prohibit "adult-oriented" entertainment, including "male and female impersonators," from public property and limit it to age-restricted venues.

Pro-life organizations respond to distortion of Christian reality star's miscarriage

Since the Dobbs decision returning abortion laws to the states, there has been a significant amount of misrepresentation from the pro-abortion side about the effects of overturning Roe v. Wade. 

Live Action reported on a recent instance, in which reality star Jessa Duggar Seewald's miscarriage was characterized in an irresponsible way. The article stated:

Seewald shared a video about her miscarriage on YouTube, expressing her heartbreak after the loss of her fifth child. After she began bleeding, she visited the doctor, who told her the outcome didn’t look good. “Nothing could have prepared me for the weight of those words in that moment,” she said in the video. “At that moment I was just in complete shock. I didn’t have words. I just immediately started crying.”

Because she had health risks preventing her from passing the body of her preborn child at home, she had to have a post-miscarriage dilation and curettage, or D&C. “I was able to thank God in that moment for giving us this life, even if we wouldn’t be able to hold this baby in our arms,” she said, adding, “Those 10 to 15 minutes before I was taken back to the room where Ben and my mom were waiting were probably some of the hardest in my life, just laying there feeling so alone.”

But some with a pro-abortion bent claimed she had had an abortion. Lila Rose of Live Action did not mince words; she tweeted out, “This is at best ignorance, at worst a cruel lie. Jessa miscarried. Her baby passed away & she needed a surgery to remove her little one’s body. An abortion intentionally kills a living baby. Abortion is an intentional act of homicide, a miscarriage is a tragic natural death.”

Charlotte Lozier Institute issued a statement regarding the coverage of the incident by Parade Magazine; saying: "Lozier Institute today called on Parade Magazine to apologize to Jessa Duggar Seewald and the millions of women who have walked through the valley of miscarriage, which the magazine chose to conflate with the intentional killing of an unborn child."

Dr. Ingrid Skop of the Institute, a practicing OB/GYN doctor, stated:

Parade chose to misrepresent Jessa Duggar Seewald’s tragic pregnancy loss and in doing so rekindled the hurt, sadness and grief experienced by thousands of women, their partners, and their families every year. Parade’s decision places the online media outlet’s pro-abortion ideology over basic human empathy. There is nothing pro-woman about their coverage.

California teacher loses job for not using gender pronouns

When students demand that teacher call them by pronouns corresponding to their so-called "gender identity," essentially, the teacher is being asked not to tell the truth about their biological sex. It is also unethical and unbiblical for a teacher to hide students' declaration of their gender identity from their parents. A California teacher is no longer employed by her school district because of her refusal to comply with the district's LGBTQ-friendly policies.

An article at The Washington Stand stated:

Jurupa Unified School District served physical education teacher Jessica Tapia, mother of three, with a Notice of Unprofessional Conduct for not embracing the district’s new polices promoting transgender identities and, on January 31, fired her after determining it could not accommodate her religious beliefs.

District administrators directed Tapia “to refrain from disclosing the gender identity of a student who is transgender to a parent who does not know the student’s gender identity” and “to address students by their preferred name and preferred gender pronouns.” But she told them that her religious beliefs made her “unable to comply” with the two directives.

Article writer Joshua Arnold said that in a meeting with school district officials last fall, according to Tapia, "I made sure to clarify..., too, with [the] district personnel that were sitting across from me. I looked them in the eye, and I said, ‘Are you asking me to lie to parents?’ and they said, ‘Yes. It’s the law.’”  

Arnold notes: 

This is false, of course. California law stipulates that “parents … have an absolute right to access to any and all pupil records related to their children.” In fact, accessing student records requires parental consent most cases. But if a school district is simply following the direction of the California Department of Education (CDE), they wouldn’t know that.

The article concludes by saying:

Tapia said she doesn’t believe God is “calling us to love by affirming those lies and confusion. I believe firmly that God created man and woman, and you are who he made you to be. And when someone has confusion about that, I believe that’s lies and confusion from the devil.”

The 3 - February 26, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, has more developments regarding the issue of malpractice in the area of gender treatments and surgeries, with the AG of one state looking into events at a hospital and lawmakers in another trying to prevent these incidences from occurring. Also, a Jacksonville, FL ordinance is being challenged because of the possibility of silencing a faith-based bookstore owner from sharing her faith with customers.  And, the leadership board of the Southern Baptist Convention has made some decisions in areas of abuse and women in church leadership.

MO officials to look into operation of gender clinic, TN legislators vote on bill to ban gender treatments and surgeries

Not only are state legislators attempting to restrict harmful surgeries and treatments that claim to alter a minor child's biological sex, but the activity and irresponsibility of gender clinics are being exposed.

Liberty Counsel reports on its website that:

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office has launched a multi-agency investigation into the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital after a former employee went public and accused the hospital of lying to parents and harming hundreds of children with puberty blockers and mutilating surgeries.

Bailey is quoted as saying, “We have received disturbing allegations that individuals at the Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital have been harming hundreds of children each year, including by using experimental drugs on them. We take this evidence seriously and are thoroughly investigating to make sure children are not harmed by individuals who may be more concerned with a radical social agenda than the health of children..."

Meanwhile, another state has taken up the cause of minor children who are in harm's way through treatments and surgeries that claim to help a child change his or her gender.  The Tennessean that the Tennessee House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill to that effect, stating:

The bill prohibits children from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapies or surgical procedures.

People who received the treatments as minors would also be able to sue parents, guardians and physicians for authorizing the care under a statute of limitations under the legislation.

The article also notes, "If it becomes law, the bill would officially take effect this summer and give existing patients until March 31, 2024, to cease treatment..." The bill now goes to Governor Bill Lee, who has indicated, according to the article, "he is 'supportive' of the bill's content."

FL SOGI law forces Christian bookstore owner to stay silent about faith

Over the past few years, municipalities have passed ordinances that would offer special status to individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, or SOGI.  Opponents of these laws have expressed concern that they could pose a threat to people of faith who do not agree with the gay lifestyle.

Case in point has occurred in Jacksonville, FL, which has a Human Rights Ordinance on the books. The Alliance Defending Freedom website reports that the ordinance "forbids communications that could lead someone to feel “unwelcome” based on various protected traits."

That would include a Catholic who runs a Catholic bookstore, and ADF has gone to court to protect the owner's right to discuss faith principles in the store she owns, the Queen of Angels Catholic Bookstore. The owner is Christine DeTrude, and the ADF website states that...

...The bookstore serves all customers and gladly sells its products to anybody but DeTrude and her bookstore staff cannot speak messages that violate their faith. Thus, they affirm that men and women are different and cannot use pronouns or titles that don’t align with a customer’s sex. DeTrude also wants to explain this policy and her Catholic beliefs about gender and sexuality in her store and on the store’s website.

But, this would violate the HRO and result in punishment for the store, so ADF has filed a lawsuit against that ordinance in federal court. ADF Legal Counsel Rachel Csutoros is quoted as saying, “Christie, owner of Queen of Angels Catholic Bookstore, gladly serves everyone, but she can’t speak messages that go against her religious beliefs. Yet Jacksonville is illegally mandating Queen of Angels abandon its religious beliefs—the very faith that motivates the store to open its doors to customers every day.”

SBC governing body partners with gay-affirming organization to run abuse response, questions loss of operating dollars

There are a significant number of members of the Southern Baptist Convention who believe that the denomination as a whole has drifted from its Biblical foundations.  There are also leaders of the SBC that believe that everything is OK, except for one area - sexual abuse.  And, efforts to combat the heinous activity of sexual abuse on a national level, rather than at the local church level have led to some unfortunate consequences.  

Some of those consequences emerged from the latest 2-day meeting of the SBC Executive Committee.  According to The Baptist Paper: 

“The (investment funds) have been cut in half,” said EC member Monte Shinkle of Missouri. “We dropped $6 million this past year. We have $6 million left … it doesn’t look good.”

Mike Bianchi, interim chief financial officer, noted the EC received an unqualified opinion (which is good) on its 2022 audit report, but the auditors emphasized “the sexual abuse issues, the DOJ investigation and the deteriorating liability of the EC” as concerns.

The current pace is “unsustainable,” Bianchi said, noting options such as liquidating assets (including the EC building), changing financial arrangements, obtaining other financing, etc., were discussed with the auditors.

Furthermore, the organization hired by the original Sexual Abuse Task Force, which was empaneled almost two years ago, Guidepost Solutions, has been facing it own share of criticism.  Its support of the LGBTQ agenda, tweeted out last June and reinforced now as details are emerging about causes to which it has contributed, has been facing criticism. Georgia's Christian Index states:

The SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force recommended using New York-based Guidepost Solutions to establish and maintain a database of pastors who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse at an estimated cost of between $1.5 million and $2 million.

"Credibly accused" is a term that has raised some concerns.  Writing last year for The Federalist, attorneys Jon Whitehead and Joshua Abbatoy wrote, regarding the original task force's recommendations: "...there was...widespread criticism of the recommendations as not biblical, not Baptist, and not just." They wrote:

Guidepost proposed that the SBC should maintain an “offender information system,” a public list of those “credibly accused” of sexual abuse and those who “aided and abetted” them. As Matthew Schmitz noted in the Wall Street Journal, this standard “trample[s] the rights of the accused.”

And, those seeking to expose the SBC as rife with abuse have now exposed it to an investigation by the Department of Justice.  Ideally, the national organization should be empowering local churches to deal with unfortunate charges of abuse in their congregations, not accepting liability for what may have transpired.  

And, the attempt to paint the entire denomination of millions as being insensitive and misogynistic due to the sins of less than a thousand men across the country has been characterized as being unfair, and is being used to divide believers and to undermine the Baptist Faith and Message position, based on 1st Timothy chapter 2, about women in leadership. The EC this past week determined that five churches were "not in friendly cooperation with the Convention," according to The Christian Index. 

Saddleback Church was one of the five; until recently, it has been pastored by Rick Warren...the article says:

The Executive Committee said the action was taken becasue Stacie Wood, wife of Saddleback’s current lead pastor Andy Wood, is “functioning in the office of pastor.”

But the controversy began in 2021, when Warren ordained three women as associate pastors, prompting discussions within the denomination about possibly expelling the megachurch.

Warren retired last year after 42 years at Saddleback. He made an emotional speech in June 2022 at the Southern Baptists’ annual convention in Anaheim, Calif., standing by his ordination of women. He told delegates who debated the issue, “We have to decide if we will treat each other as allies or adversaries.”

These churches can appeal the decision.  Saddleback was being considered for this distinction last year, but the Credentials Committee had said that the BF&M was not clear on women in pastoral leadership.  

The 3 - February 19, 2023

In this week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is news out of yet another U.S. state preventing surgeries and treatments that claim to help a minor child change his or her sex.  Also, in Oklahoma, transgender activists protested inside the State Capitol there against legislation in that state that has similar goals.  And, the FCA in a school district in California has temporarily been banned from that district pending a hearing before a federal appeals court. 

Another state takes a step to protect children from gender malpractice

One by one, states across America are seeing the light regarding the harm to minor children that is being perpetrated in the name of so-called "gender-affirming care," which actually is just the opposite. Manipulative treatments, mutilation of bodies, and more are being exposed now - and the governor of another state has signed a bill into law that is designed to provide protection. 

Liberty Counsel reports this on its website:

...South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed a bill into law that bans harmful and experimental puberty blockers and mutilating irreversible surgeries for children and teens who struggle with gender confusion.

Gov. Noem signed HB 1080, also known as the “Help Not Harm” bill, after the state legislature overwhelmingly passed it 30-4.

South Dakota is now the seventh state to enact legislation to protect children from these procedures, joining Utah, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas.

The article goes on to say: 

According to the new law, “a healthcare professional may not, for the purpose of attempting to alter the appearance of, or to validate a minor's perception of, the minor’s sex, if that appearance or perception is inconsistent with the minor's sex.”

This would included puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries.  

OK trans activists invade State Capitol building

But there are some who are supportive of transgenderism who will not take "no" for an answer.  We have seen that there are those in the LGBTQ+ movement that do not allow for an alternative view on sexuality and are willing to punish Christians and other people of faith for opposing homosexuality and transgenderism.

Some of them were on display recently in Oklahoma, as the New York Post reported earlier this month: "Transgender rights activists occupied the Oklahoma state Capitol’s rotunda...to protest a push...to limit so-called gender-affirming care in the state."

The article reported that, according to the Oklahoma Daily, some 150 people, chanting and holding signs and banners, entered the rotunda to protest these bills.  The article says:

One of the new proposals, Senate Bill 129, would ban health care professionals in the Sooner State from referring anyone under 26 for gender-affirming care, including both surgical and non-surgical interventions.

The second bill, Senate Bill 252, aims to prevent anyone under 18 from undergoing a sex change operation.

The Post article said, referring to Gov. Kevin Stitt: "In his State of the State address...Stitt called for a statewide ban on gender affirmation surgeries and other treatments for minors, the Oklahoma Daily said.

One protestor said: "Lawmakers fear the trans community as if trans people are coming for their kids, but in reality, trans people just want to live and mind their business..."  But, we see in instance after instance that there is a significant effort to do force the trans agenda on children, and those that protested inside the Capitol building were certainly not minding their business. 

Ruling in favor of FCA under court scrutiny

At Faith Radio, we are so appreciative of the ministry of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, that provides young people with Christian teaching and fellowship, and provides an avenue for students to come to Christ. WORLD Magazine reported recently on a court case, in which FCA was sued and received a positive ruling, that is now in danger of being reversed.

The article notes that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that, "the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at San Jose’s Pioneer High School had a right to follow its statement of Biblical beliefs about marriage and sexuality."  But, recently, the 9th Circuit had set that ruling aside, meaning that, as WORLD puts it, "For the time being, the school district may ban the group unless it opens its leadership to students who do not adhere to its statement of faith."

Article writer Steve West says: 

Even though the appeals court directed the school to recognize FCA and allow students to meet, the controversy did not end, Becket counsel Daniel Blomberg told me. School officials complied, approved FCA’s request for official recognition but then refused to recognize any other student clubs throughout the district. Rather than meet and be subject to harassment by other students and some teachers, FCA students decided to meet privately for prayer.

The article goes on to say:

At this point, there is nothing to prevent the school district from ejecting FCA from campus once again, said Blomberg. “The students are no longer protected from the same school district that has been attacking them for years,” he said. Becket attorneys are evaluating whether to seek protection from the appeals court while the case is reconsidered.

The full 11-member appeals court will be hearing the case on March 20 in California. 

The 3 - February 12, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes some background on what is being termed a "revival" at a Kentucky university that went non-stop after a chapel meeting last Wednesday.  Also, a Jacksonville church is calling on members to affirm the Biblical viewpoint of sexuality and the sanctity of marriage.  And, a former Georgia police officer who affirmed the Biblical definition of marriage on his personal Facebook page has resigned after receiving opposition.

Asbury students gather non-stop for revival meetings

For some on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, KY, it may have seemed to be a normal Wednesday morning.  But, when God shows up - in His own way, according to His timing, He begins to do what He does - loving people and changing lives.  MinistryWatch reported:

On the morning of February 8, a seemingly normal chapel service took place at the campus’s Hughes Auditorium. It included a message about confession and repentance, according to reports. After the service was over, a group of students stayed behind to continue worshiping. Then more joined them.

The article quoted from Asbury Theological Seminary Vice President of Formation Matt Barnes, who stated this on Facebook: “God began pouring out his love among the students in a profound way. The students continued praying and worshiping even though chapel had concluded..." The MinistryWatch article said:

Asbury December graduate Elle Hooper told the Asbury Collegian, “I am one of many who have been praying for this since my freshman year. To be here and witness to this is life-giving.”

The Christian Post reported on what God has been doing on the campus; its report included comments from Alexandra Presta, the Executive Editor of the Collegian; it stated:

“I had left for a few minutes but then felt called to return. Since then, it hasn't stopped. It's been a mix of worship, testimony, prayer, confession, silence,” she explained, calling it “a full experience of the Holy Spirit.”

Presta estimated that as many as 1,000 people have come to the revival gathering since it started, noting that while “some have come and gone,” there are others who “have slept on the floor and continued to praise God nonstop.”

Jacksonville church issues statement on Biblical sexuality, requires members to affirm

The Church should be bold to declare what we believe; there should be no ambiguity regarding salvation, sin, holiness, and other areas where the Bible speaks clearly.

The Blaze website reported on a church in Jacksonville, FL where members, in order to retain membership, are being required to affirm their view on sexuality from a Biblical viewpoint.  The article said:

Last October, leaders of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, developed a statement that recognizes exclusively traditional Christian beliefs regarding marriage and sexuality.

"As a member of First Baptist Church, I believe that God creates people in his image as either male or female, and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice," the first half of the statement reads.

"I believe marriage is instituted by God, not government, is between one man and one woman, and is the only context for sexual desire and expression," the statement concludes, citing passages from Genesis, Matthew, Corinthians, and Romans to support that teaching.

The Senior Pastor of the church is Heath Lambert, who conducted a Q&A session about the statement.  The article reported:

Lambert and others hosted a question-and-answer session to address concerns regarding the statement. One woman who attended the meeting with "her partner" claimed that the statement erases the "existence" of "LGBTQ+ people."

But, the pastor rightly believes that sharing about God's standards is the loving thing to do, stating: "It is the ultimate demonstration of hatefulness for Christians to know about sin, to know that sin will separate sinners from God forever, and yet refuse to call sinners to repentance," adding, "On the other hand, it is the love of Christ to point out sin and call people to faith in Jesus."

Police officer in GA resigns after backlash against post on marriage

Jacob Kersey was a new police officer in the city of Port Wentworth, GA, outside of Savannah, according to an article at The Daily Signal, but he ran into trouble when he posted 20 words affirming the Biblical view of marriage on his personal Facebook page.  The article stated:

Kersey’s supervisor asked him to remove the post after someone complained.

When the young officer refused, he was placed on paid administrative leave. Kersey was ultimately given a choice by his command staff: Either agree not to post views that could be seen as controversial or face losing his job. Ultimately, Kersey made the choice to resign, explaining that he refuses to abandon his religious convictions.

In a Daily Signal podcast transcribed on the website, Kersey said:

"...I knew immediately that there’s no way that I could back down. Especially after standing up and encouraging people, saying, “Hey, stand up for what you believe. Don’t be silenced. Don’t let cancel culture cancel you. Share your story.” And I’ve been saying that for years.

And then when it happened to me, at first I was like, “I don’t know if I want to do this or not. There’s going to be a lot of naysayers.” But at the end of the day, I knew what I had to do. And I believe part of that was the Holy Spirit coming in and in the moment letting me know, “Hey, you have to do this.” 

The 3 - January 29, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news out of the United Kingdom, where the Church of England is considering a more tolerant stance of same-sex marriage while not allowing it under church law. Also, two people have been arrested in pro-abortion violence against three pregnancy resource centers in Florida.  And, a Colorado baker who won a U.S. Supreme Court victory has been back in court and has lost in two state courts as a result of declining to decorate cakes that send a message  that violate his beliefs.

Church of England proposal allows blessing gay marriage by not performing it

The Church of England, regrettably, has been debating its position on so-called "same-sex marriage," and recent proposals indicating that the door is opening for a full endorsement of the practice.

Premier Christian News noted:

The draft proposals - announced by the House of Bishops earlier this month – suggest a set of prayers that would bless same-sex couples instead of legalising marriage.

The plans are the result of a six-year period of internal debate on whether to allow same-sex marriage in the church.

But given divisions among the bishops themselves, the proposals are being described as “the best we can do” in the current context of the Church.

CEO of the UK's Evangelical Alliance, Gavin Calver, doesn't seem to agree that this is a "best" course of action, saying that these recommendations are a "clear step away from the church's historical position." The article says:

He told Premier: “That step away also probably suggests further steps away into the future. So it's not just about the Holy matrimony, it's also about choosing to bless things that perhaps haven't previously been blessed by the church.”

“And it's also about the place of sexual activity in faithful relationships. And so it's deeply concerning and problematic on a number of levels.”

These "blessings" are being referred to as the "Prayers of Love and Faith." The article relates: "Once debated and refined in General Synod, the Prayers of Love and Faith will be made available to all priests in the Church of England."

Two arrests made in violence against pro-life pregnancy centers

Nearly nine months after the Dobbs opinion leak on May 2, 2022, which triggered a wave of pro-abortion violence, the DOJ finally announced the first two grand jury indictments against Caleb Freestone and Amber Smith-Stewart." That's the wording in a report on The Washington Stand website, which states, "The indictment alleges that these individuals 'targeted pregnancy resource facilities and vandalized those facilities with spray-painted threats.'”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is quoted as saying, "This, frankly, is good to see if it is an indication that the Justice Department will start upholding the law in a fair, non-biased way...”  The Washington Stand article notes about the three facilities that were vandalized:

These attacks are among more than 100 incidents of pro-abortion violence targeting churches and pregnancy resource centers that TWS has catalogued since the Dobbs opinion was leaked. All three attacks were against Catholic-affiliated pregnancy resource centers where the vandals were captured on security tape — but not by police.

The indictment charges Freestone and Smith-Stewart with violating the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act by threatening employees and intentionally damaging property. If convicted, they face “a maximum of 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $350,000.” The FACE Act was passed to protect abortion centers, but it protects pro-life pregnancy centers and churches too.

But as the website's headline suggests, this could be a case of "too little, too late."  The article goes on to say:

The DOJ’s lack of action on PRC investigations has opened it up to criticism of implementing a two-tiered system of justice. “The Biden administration was slow to respond to the many attacks on these centers despite pressure from pro-life members of Congress and outside advocacy groups,” said Perkins. These indictments came only “after months of dragging their feet on responding to the attacks on pregnancy resource centers.”

Meanwhile, there has been an increase of pro-lifers who were targeted for FACE act violations during 2022. 

Colorado baker back in court, loses again in state proceeding

Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips, who was victorious, to a certain extent, in the U.S. Supreme Court case bearing his shop's name, the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, has continued to face court action since the day the high court announced it would hear the case, in which it eventually upheld his right to decline to provide a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding ceremony.

That's according to the website of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which reported that on that day...

...an activist attorney called Masterpiece Cakeshop requesting that Phillips create a custom-designed cake, pink on the inside and blue on the outside, that would symbolize and celebrate a gender transition. The attorney then called back—requesting another custom cake depicting Satan smoking marijuana to “correct the errors of [Phillips’] thinking.” Phillips declined to create both custom cakes because they expressed messages that violate his core beliefs. The activist then filed this lawsuit. Phillips works with all people and always decides whether to take a project based on what message a cake will express, not who is requesting it.

The Colorado Court of Appeals last week ruled against Jack Phillips in the case. ADF stated: "Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop had asked the Colorado Court of Appeals to uphold his First Amendment rights after a trial court issued a ruling that punished Phillips for declining to design a custom cake celebrating a gender transition."

ADF Senior Counsel Jake Warner is quoted as saying:

"...This cruelty must stop. One need not agree with Jack’s views to agree that all Americans should be free to say what they believe, even if the government disagrees with those beliefs. The same law being used to punish Jack is also at issue now at the U.S. Supreme Court in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The court there should reject Colorado’s attempt to mandate orthodoxy and drive views it disfavors from the public square and affirm that graphic artist Lorie Smith and all artists—writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, calligraphers, cake artists, and more—have the right to create freely without fear of government punishment. Cultural winds may shift, but freedom of speech is foundational to our self-government and to the free and fearless pursuit of truth.”

The 3 - January 22, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, including three stories of relevance to the Christian community, including news out of two states where, moving forward, biological males will be prevented from competing against females in girls' sports.  Also, an NHL player has taken a strong stand based on his faith against a deviant view of sexuality.  And, Florida pharmacies have been put on notice against selling the abortion bill in light of the FDA's decision to widen distribution of chemical abortion.

Boys prevented from competing in girls' sports in two more states 

Since the beginning of 2023, the list of states preventing boys from participating in girls' sports has grown by two.

Alliance Defending Freedom reported that, "Female athletes in Indiana scored a victory...when the ACLU withdrew its lawsuit challenging a state law that protects athletic opportunities for girls." ADF Legal Counsel Rachel Csutoros stated in response: “Indiana joins a growing coalition of states that has enacted laws to preserve fair competition for female athletes. We’re pleased to favorably close this case to the benefit of the brave female athletes we represent who are speaking out to protect the future of women’s sports.”

This comes on the heels of a court ruling several weeks ago upholding a West Virginia law that bans biological males from competing in girls' sports. ADF states, "On Jan. 5, a West Virginia federal court upheld the state’s Save Women’s Sports Act, rejecting a legal challenge that would have undermined women’s sports in the state by allowing males who identify as female to compete with females in girls’ and women’s sports."

Professional hockey player puts "pride" celebration on ice

Ivan Provorov is a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers - and a defender of the Christian faith and a Biblical view of sexuality.  So, chose not to participate in a pre-game acknowledgement and did not wear a "pride" jersey celebrating the LGBTQ+ lifestyle at a recent special promotion sanctioned by the Flyers.

The Washington Stand quoted from the Russian player: “I respect everybody, and I respect everybody’s choices...My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say.” Fortunately, his coach respected his choice as well, with Flyers coach John Tortorella saying, “It was really a great night. With Provy, he is being true to himself and to his religion. This has to do with his beliefs and his religion. That is one thing I respect about Provy, he is always true to himself, so that’s where we’re at with that.”  As for the League's position, ESPN.com reported: 

The NHL said that clubs "decide whom to celebrate, when and how" and that players "are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues."

Good for them, sort of.  The Washington Stand article said...

...in its rush to embrace transgenderism, the NHL held an All-Trans Draft Tournament in Wisconsin in December, bragging, “This was the first tournament comprised entirely of transgender and nonbinary players, with around 80 folks participating!”

And, the article notes that, "Florida Governor Ron DeSantis...was especially outraged by one of the NHL’s job postings in Fort Lauderdale, where only people who 'identify as female, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and/or a person with a disability' were invited to apply." The governor's office issued a statement saying: “Discrimination of any sort is not welcome in the state of Florida...and we do not abide by the woke notion that discrimination should be overlooked if applied in a politically popular manner or against a politically unpopular demographic. We are fighting all discrimination in our schools and our workplaces, and we will fight it in publicly accessible places of meeting or activity.” The NHL has two teams in Florida.

Florida pharmacies warned not to sell abortion pill

The federal Food and Drug Administration has announced its attempt to widen the distribution of chemical abortion, which not only takes the life of an unborn child, but studies show it presents a threat to women's health.  The news has spread that pharmacies will be offering the abortion pill for sale with a prescription, but officials in Florida are warning drugstores statewide to refrain from participating.

That's according to an article at The Christian Post, which says that: "The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration released a statement...stating that Florida law continues to prevent women from obtaining mifepristone at pharmacies. The agency cited two Florida statutes that it says prohibits the abortion pill at pharmacies."

The article notes that:

One statute declares that “[n]o termination of pregnancy shall be performed at any time except by a [licensed] physician." The other proclaims, “[i]t is unlawful for any person to perform or assist in performing an abortion on a person, except in an emergency care situation, other than in a validly licensed hospital or abortion clinic or in a physician’s office.”

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.”

The 3 - January 8, 2023

The most recent edition of The 3, featuring three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, including a broadening by a U.S. federal agency of availability of chemical abortion. Also, a European country has begun pulling back on permissive policies toward therapies and surgeries that purport to change the sex of a minor.  Also, two state supreme courts recently have ruled, essentially in different ways, on laws related to abortion in those states.

FDA widens access to chemical abortions

The rise in chemical abortion has become a dangerous trend, facilitated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, removed a requirement that the chemicals - a 2-pill regimen - be dispensed in person.

Recently, the FDA took another step by increasing the availability of chemical abortions. The Daily Citizen reported that: 

Recent actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will expand the availability of the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol and ensure that companies sending the drugs through the mail will not blocked by an 1873 law making it illegal for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver anything “calculated to lead another to use or apply it for producing abortion.”

The report stated, "On January 3, 2023, the FDA modified what it calls its “Mifepristone REMS Program” to expand the availability of mifepristone to retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens." The article noted that, "States that prohibit abortion would still be able to prohibit pharmacies from dispensing the drug, but the increased availability in other states increases the prospect of more babies dying, as well as increasing the danger to women’s health."

The Daily Citizen article quotes Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of SBA Pro-Life America, who said, "Abortion activists want to turn every post office and pharmacy into an abortion business, and the Biden FDA is a willing participant – even while studies show emergency rooms are being flooded with women suffering from serious, life-threatening complications caused by abortion drugs..."

Sweden pulls back on allowing minors to attempt to change their sex

While there are those in the medical community and the political realm in the U.S. who want to make so-called gender change therapies and surgeries more available, a European nation would like to put on the brakes.  

CBNNews.com has reported that:

...Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW) recently changed its treatment guidelines for children with gender dysphoria admitting that "care has been characterized by both deficiencies in accessibility and a lack of knowledge about the results of the care."

In May, the board officially ended the practice of prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors under age 18, but now the board is cutting back on providing mastectomies to minors as well.

The article notes that "Sweden is one of several countries halting gender-affirming care after finding there is insufficient evidence to back that it is beneficial to minors, " adding, "As CBN's Faithwire reported, England's National Health Service recommended that doctors limit gender medical treatments for children."

However, Scotland is apparently heading in the opposite direction, The Christian Post has related that "Scotland's Parliament passed a bill...that, if enacted, will allow citizens as young as 16 to be legally recognized as transgender without requiring a gender dysphoria medical diagnosis." According to the article, the legislation "still awaits royal assent."

But, a high-ranking Scottish official has concerns; the article states:

Alister Jack, the secretary of state for Scotland, said in a statement that the government might block the legislation due to various concerns.

"We share the concerns that many people have regarding certain aspects of this Bill, and in particular the safety issues for women and children," said Jack, according to The Telegraph.

State supreme courts tackle abortion-related laws

Since the Dobbs ruling brought the overturning of Roe v. Wade, states have had the option to craft their own policies on abortion.  And, within the past few days, the Supreme Courts of two U.S. states have issued rulings that are seemingly diametrically opposed to each other. 

Liberty Counsel reports that the Idaho Supreme Court has upheld three different pro-life laws.  The organization's website stated:

In a 3-2 decision, Chief Justice Richard Bevan, Justice Gregory Moeller and Justice Robyn Brody upheld three pro-life state laws and echoed the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning for overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey on June 24, 2022, finding that the right to an abortion is not “deeply rooted” in the state’s traditions and history.

The site states that the South Carolina Supreme Court...

...struck down a ban on abortion after cardiac activity is detected, ruling the restriction violates a state constitutional right to privacy.

In a 3-2 decision, the Court overturned South Carolina’s Fetal Heartbeat and Protection Act and ruled that is an unreasonable restriction upon a woman’s right to privacy to prevent her from having an abortion.

Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver is quoted as saying, “While we celebrate victory on behalf of the unborn and women in Idaho, this tragic ruling in South Carolina is a reminder that the fight for innocent unborn life continues in the states. The people of South Carolina need to amend the Constitution to protect life. Three judges should not impose a death sentence on innocent and helpless children..."

The 3 - December 25, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, highlights a recent federal appeals court ruling that upheld one state's action of allowing biological males to compete in female sports.  Also, hundreds of instances of violence against churches have been reported, bringing security concerns for the Church.  Plus, a group of lawmakers have challenged officials regarding the military paying for abortion-related services, including transportation of members to other states.

Court rules male athletes can continue to compete against females

In a case out of Connecticut that was spotlighted in a Meeting House conversation with Christiana Kiefer, who is Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled against four female athletes who were challenging the ability for biological males claiming to be female to compete against them. 

ADF's website reports that the lawsuit was "filed on behalf of four female athletes who were consistently deprived of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels because the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference adopted a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events..."

Kiefer is quoted as saying: "The 2nd Circuit got it wrong...Our clients—like all female athletes—deserve access to fair competition. Thankfully, a growing number of states are stepping up to protect women’s athletics. Right now, 18 states have enacted laws that protect women and girls from having to compete against males, and polls show that a majority of Americans agree that the competition is no longer fair when males are permitted to compete in women’s sports. Every woman deserves the respect and dignity that comes with having an equal opportunity to excel and win in athletics, and ADF remains committed to protecting the future of women’s sports.”

Hostility against churches continues

We have continued to spotlight acts of violence against pro-life ministries and churches dating back to just after the draft of the majority opinion in the Dobbs case was leaked. In fact, over the past few years, there have been a concerning number of attacks on churches in general, according to a disturbing report by Family Research Council.

In a press release, FRC stated that, "A total of 420 acts of hostility against churches occurred between January 2018 and September 2022 across 45 U.S. states and Washington, D.C." The study also notes, "There were at least 57 pro-abortion acts of hostility against churches from January 2022 to September 2022."

FRC President Tony Perkins stated, "As a former commissioner and chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom..., I've seen the warning signs of this gathering like clouds across the Atlantic. As the mainstream culture moves further and further away from a biblical worldview, I've witnessed the hostility to moral truth creep closer to our shores. The West, once the safe haven of free speech and religion, is turning cold to our religious foundations that have helped us thrive..."

  

He called for the current Administration to "do more" relative to attacks on churches. He added: 

"Christians must not live in fear. We must not be intimidated; we must continue to stand upon the truth of God and defending the freedom of all to live out their faith free from the fear that they will be subject to a violent attack."

The report's author, Arielle Del Turco, Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at FRC said that, "When faced with such blatant violence and disrespect against churches (and religion more broadly), our response must be to condemn these acts and reaffirm the right of all people to worship and live out their faith freely -- including the freedom to live without fear that they will be the next target of such an attack."

Lawmakers warn Defense Department that federal law prevents it paying for abortions

It is unfortunate and offensive that we have numerous lawmakers across America who support the taking of the lives of unborn children through abortion - and then want taxpayers to pay for it!  A group of members of Congress have taken the Department of Defense to task, sending a letter to the Secretary of Defense calling him out for supporting taxpayer-funded abortion. 

The Daily Signal reports:

“Both the law itself and Congressional intent are clear: the U.S. military may not fund elective abortion,” the bicameral group of lawmakers said in a letter first obtained by The Daily Signal. “This necessarily includes funding for any activity necessitated by the abortion, such as travel and transportation.”

Representatives Chris Smith and Vicky Hartzler and Senators Steve Daines and James Lankford were responsible for the letter, which, according to the article...

...references the Pentagon’s Oct. 20 memorandum announcing that the Defense Department would establish “travel and transportation allowances for Service members and their dependents … to facilitate official travel to access non covered reproductive health care that is unavailable within the local area of a Service member’s permanent duty station.”

The report also notes:

The lawmakers called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to explain whether the DOD has begun providing transportation and travel for abortions, and if so, where the money is coming from to fund this “illegal policy.” They also demanded specifics on during “what week gestation would travel and transportation to obtain an elective abortion be provided”—including whether the DOD would implement the illegal policy up until birth.

The 3 - December 18, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, focusing on three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a toy manufacturer's inclusion of gender identity-related subject matter in a guide it has made available.  Also, a flight attendant who lost her job due to her expression her pro-life views on personal social media has received not only a financial settlement, but a court has order that her employment be restored.  Plus, a second federal appeals court has ruled against what is known as the "transgender mandate," which would require medical professionals to perform sex-change surgeries, which they find objectionable due to conscience.

Toy manufacturer creates uproar due to its embrace of gender identity messages

Last week, I noted that actor Kirk Cameron had been rejected in attempts to schedule the reading of his latest book at libraries across the country.  He had been quoted by Fox News Digital as saying: "This is proof that more than ever, we are getting destroyed in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children."

Another instance of what Cameron was addressing comes from a major toy manufacturer.
CBNNews.com reports that:

American Girl has published a guide that advises girls as young as three to transition their gender, also promoting puberty blockers – and it is sparking outrage.

The American Girl website is selling "A Smart Girl's Guide: Body Image Book" for $12.99. The 96-page book, authored by Mel Hammond, shows four girls of different backgrounds on the cover and the subtitle reads, "how to love yourself, live life to the fullest, and celebrate all kinds of bodies."

According to CBN, "But screenshots shared by the DailyMail and parents on Facebook reveal that there is more to this guide than advertised."  The article notes:

The book normalizes being transgender, promotes the use of puberty blockers, and encourages free gender expression.

"If you haven't gone through puberty yet, the doctor might offer medicine to delay your body's changes, giving you more time to think about your gender identity," reads a snippet.

The article states, "Earlier this year, American Girl's parent company, Mattel, released a transgender Barbie doll." 

The CBN article referenced a Christian Post piece written by Anne Young, who is the mother of two girls.  She wrote:

I am calling on American Girl to stop publishing books that teach girls to destroy their bodies by changing their sex. I am calling on American Girl to go back to creating dolls and stop sending these destructive messages. I have loved this brand since my daughters were babies and we want to continue enjoying their products. But we can no longer do so unless they choose to change course. I emailed the executives and I encourage everyone to do likewise.

Families like mine go to the American Girl store to purchase dolls, not gender ideology. What they are pushing on our girls is horrific and it must be stopped.

Flight attendant suspended for pro-life views to be reinstated

A flight attendant who posted her pro-life views online, fresh off winning a court case several months ago, is now in position to get her job back, according to LifeNews.com, which reported that Charlene Carter...

...worked as a flight attendant at Southwest for nearly 21 years. In 2017, she was fired after sharing her pro-life beliefs on Facebook and speaking out against the Transportation Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 556 spending members’ dues on pro-abortion activities.

In July, a federal district court in Dallas, Texas awarded her $5.1 million, but she pressed on with her legal battle because of her love for her job and the customers she serves and carter hoped to get her job back. A judge has ruled that will now happen.

Decision Magazine reported that the latest ruling...

...also requires Southwest to rehire Carter with full seniority and benefits, send a copy of the jury’s verdict and judgement to all its flight attendants and post the documents on internal bulletin boards for at least 60 days, and inform flight attendants that the airline is not allowed to discriminate against them for expressing their opinion about abortion on social media.

The article noted that "...the judge limited the amount of damages to $810,180, which includes $300,000 each from Southwest and the union in compensation, $150,000 in back pay, and $60,180 in prejudgment interest."

Another federal appeals court blocks administration rule forcing medical professionals to perform transgender surgeries

Just a few weeks ago, the Administration allowed a deadline to pass to appeal a ruling by a Federal appeals court against a rule made by the Department of Health and Human Services that would force medical professionals to violate their conscience and be involved in surgeries intended to help a person change his or her gender.  

Another appeals court has issued a similar ruling, and Baptist Press reports:

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dec. 9 a permanent injunction that barred enforcement of a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that has become known as the “transgender mandate.” A three-judge panel of the appeals court, which is based in St. Louis, unanimously affirmed a North Dakota federal judge’s decision that the Catholic entities that challenged the regulation were entitled to protection under a federal law that guarantees free exercise of religion.

In August, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans unanimously endorsed a permanent injunction against the HHS rule issued by a federal judge in Texas. The Biden administration declined to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court by the 90-day deadline in late November.

Luke Goodrich, a former Meeting House guest who is Vice President and Senior Counsel at Becket, issued a statement from which the article quoted; he said: “The federal government has no business forcing doctors to violate their consciences or perform controversial procedures that could permanently harm their patients,” adding, “The government’s attempt to force doctors to go against their consciences was bad for patients, bad for doctors, and bad for religious liberty.”

The Baptist Press article pointed out the attempt on the part of HHS to change language to have a different meaning; it noted:

During the Obama administration, HHS’ original mandate, issued in 2016, defined sex to include “gender identity” and “termination of pregnancy.” The Trump administration issued a rule in 2020 that rescinded the Obama-era policy by returning to the ordinary interpretation of the word “sex.”

Under President Biden, however, HHS announced in May 2021 a reinterpretation of sex discrimination to include discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation includes homosexuality, bisexuality and pansexuality, while gender identity refers to the way a person perceives himself or herself regardless of biology at birth.

The 3 - December 11, 2022

In this week's edition of The 3, offering three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the so-called Respect for Marriage Act returned to the U.S. House after being amended and passed in the Senate, where it was approved again, amidst concerns of a lack of religious liberty protections.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in a case involving a graphic artist and web designer who did not wish to be forced by her home state to communicate messages about same-sex marriage that violate her religious beliefs.  Plus, a flight attendant will be getting her old job back after being dismissed for expressing her pro-life views. 

U.S. House passes Senate-amended version of so-called Respect for Marriage Act

This bill called the "Respect for Marriage Act," which actually does not show respect for marriage that consists of one man and one woman but reaffirms the concept of same-sex marriage, has now completed its journey through Congress, passing the U.S. House a few days ago - the chamber had passed the bill originally; after being amended in the Senate, it returned for another vote.

The Daily Citizen reported on the bill, which passed the House 258-169. It stated that it "embeds a false definition of marriage into the American legal fabric" and "repeals the Defense of Marriage Act," the 1996 bill that "defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman." The Respect for Marriage Act, the article says, "also codifies 'same-sex marriage' into federal law."

The article included a quote from Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, who said that: "Enshrining into law a destructive definition of marriage that undermines and expresses hostility towards God’s sacred design of a multi-millennia old institution invites the inevitability of unintended consequences. It also threatens to criminalize people of faith and jeopardize organizations that have done so much good for so long."

Kelly Shackelford, President and Chief Counsel of First Liberty said, "As our legal experts have made clear, this bill is a threat to religious liberty. It punishes the free exercise of religion by letting radical activists harass faith-based institutions in court because of their religious beliefs about marriage."

U.S. Supreme Court holds arguments in free speech case

Early last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of a Colorado graphic artist and web designer who does not wish to be forced to communicate messages on same-sex marriage to which she objects, based on her Christian beliefs.  The case is 303 Creative v. Elenis, and Alliance Defending Freedom is representing the designer, Lorie Smith. Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, discussed those oral arguments in a recent Meeting House conversation on Faith Radio. 

SCOTUS Blog reported:

Smith is challenging a Colorado law that prohibits most businesses from discriminating against LGBTQ customers. Requiring her to create websites for same-sex weddings, she argues, would violate her right to freedom of speech.

At the oral argument, Justice Sonia Sotomayor asserted that a ruling for Smith would be the first time that the Supreme Court had ruled that “commercial businesses could refuse to serve a customer based on race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation.” But Chief Justice John Roberts countered that the Supreme Court has never approved efforts to compel speech that is contrary to the speaker’s belief, and his five conservative colleagues signaled that they were likely to join him in a ruling for Smith.

The article notes that ADF CEO, President, and General Counsel "Kristen Waggoner emphasized that Smith 'decides what to create based on the message, not who requests it.'"

Actor rejected in numerous attempts to schedule the reading of a Christian story in public libraries

While the concept of the Drag Queen Story Hour has continue to spread, apparently, among taxpayer-funded public libraries, some libraries that allow these events have not been open to allowing a reading of a Christian story, according to a FoxNews.com report, which said that, regarding actor Kirk Cameron's request to read his book, As You Grow...

...over 50 public libraries have either outright rejected him or not responded to requests on his behalf.

A story-hour program for kids and parents connected to new book releases is an activity that many libraries typically present to their patrons and communities.

Many of the same libraries that won't give Cameron a slot, however, are actively offering "drag queen" story hours or similar programs for kids and young people, according to Cameron's book publisher and according to a review of the libraries' websites and current program listings.

The Fox article, published on December 7, noted that:

Reacting to the news that he has yet to be booked into a single children's story hour at a public library in America for his new book — and commenting on the rejections and comments he's received — Cameron told Fox News Digital, "This is proof that more than ever, we are getting destroyed in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children."

The 3 - December 4, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a court victory against a mandate for health professionals to be involved in so-called "gender assignment surgeries."  Also, another federal circuit court ruled in favor of Air Force members who have objected to the COVID vaccine for religious reasons. Plus, a majority of the U.S. Senate has caved on upholding religious freedom in approving the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act."

Deadline passes for administration to challenge court decision on transgender surgeries

Back in August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down a mandate that originally had been put in place since the Obama administration that, according to FoxNews.com, "required doctors and hospitals to performance [sic] gender reassignment surgeries on any patient – including children – even if it was against a doctor’s conscience or medical judgment."

At the time, the Biden administration was given a deadline of November 25 to appeal that decision - and it took a pass, meaning the mandate is no longer in effect.   Former Meeting House guest Luke Goodrich of Becket stated: "The final demise of this unconscionable mandate is a major victory for conscience rights and compassionate medical care in America," adding, "Thousands of doctors will be able to do their jobs without the government requiring them to perform harmful, irreversible procedures against their conscience and medical expertise."

One of the groups challenging the mandate, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, issued a statement, in which CEO Mike Chupp is quoted; he said, "This key legal battle is a hard-fought victory that impacts and protects the rights of healthcare professionals across this country...After more than six years of fighting this case in federal court, we have now set a national precedent and ensured we can continue to provide the best and safest care to our patients.”

FoxNews.com also noted that, "A similar case is pending in the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals."

Air Force members receive relief concerning vax mandate

Attempts to mandate the COVID vaccine to members of the military have received quite a bit of pushback from numerous members, including those who have requested a religious exemption from the requirement to be vaccinated in order to serve. 

Liberty Counsel reports on its website that:

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a classwide injunction that protects U.S. Air Force personnel from the COVID-19 shot mandate since it violates their religious freedom under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA).

There were 18 active duty or reservist plaintiffs in the lawsuit.  The lower court allowed that to be expanded to a class of thousands of Air Force members.

The Christian legal organization, which presents a daily commentary from its Founder and Chairman, Mat Staver, on Faith Radio, said:

After the Air Force ordered all service members to get vaccinated against COVID-19, approximately 10,000 members requested religious exemptions from this mandate. However, the Air Force granted only about 135 of these requests and only to those already planning to leave the service. By July 2022, the Air Force had “administratively separated” 834 members. Yet it has granted thousands of other exemptions for medical reasons, such as a pregnancy or allergy, or administrative reasons, such as an impending retirement. 

Judge Murphy of the Sixth Circuit wrote, "Under RFRA, the Air Force wrongly relied on its ‘broadly formulated’ reasons for the vaccine mandate to deny specific exemptions to the Plaintiffs, especially since it has granted secular exemptions to their colleagues. We thus may uphold the Plaintiffs’ injunction based on RFRA alone."

Staver is quoted as saying: "No service member should be required to choose between service to the country and service to God. This will be a good precedent for our upcoming argument at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and our January trial seeking a permanent classwide injunction for the U.S. Marines.”

Respect for Marriage Act endures challenges on religious liberty basis, passes U.S. Senate

An amended version of the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act," which not only is a legislative action upholding same-sex marriage, but presented valid religious liberty concerns, according to a number of Christian organization, after attempts to strengthen religious liberty protections failed, was passed by the U.S. Senate.  It now goes back to the House for affirmation.

The James Dobson Family Institute posted a statement from its Founder Chairman, James Dobson, who is heard on Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk Saturday mornings on Faith Radio, and the Institute's Senior Vice-President of Public Policy Gary Bauer; they stated:

The proponents insisted they were merely trying to protect same-sex marriages, but same-sex marriage is under no imminent threat. Instead, the bill struck a dangerous blow against Americans’ fundamental right of religious freedom, and the potential ramifications are distressing.

The post noted some of those ramifications:

1. It will make it easier to override legal protections for religious freedom.
2. It sets the stage for government agencies to proclaim, and courts to find, a governmental “compelling interest” that justifies forcing religious entities to recognize same-sex marriages.
3. It takes a step toward revoking the tax-exempt status of religious organizations whose views do not align with the LGBTQ agenda.
4. It could force faith-based foster and adoption care agencies to place children with same-sex couples.
5. It could mandate that religious organizations hire and retain staff who publicly repudiate the entity's beliefs about traditional marriage.

The 3 - November 27, 2022

In this week's edition of The 3, featuring three recent relevant stories for the Christian community, there is an update from a story last week involving a judge in Georgia who had placed the state's pro-life "heartbeat" law on hold - the state Supreme Court said that the law could continue to be enforced while an appeal by the state's attorney general is being heard.  Also, another state supreme court, the Alabama Supreme Court, became involved in a free speech case, ruling that a lawsuit against a university in the state over its on-campus speech policies can continue.  Plus, the Food and Drug Administration is facing legal action over its loosening of policies involving chemical abortions.

GA Supreme Court reinstates ban on abortions after heartbeat is detected

Last week, I reported that a county judge in Georgia struck down the law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor that would ban abortion when the heartbeat of a pre-born child is detected. The bill was passed prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which was the rationale behind the judge's decision, who struck the law down because it was passed prior to that Supreme Court decision.

But, the Georgia Supreme Court had a different idea and put the Fulton County judge's ruling on hold, according to WSB Television, which said:

The Georgia Supreme Court has overturned the stay on Georgia’s heartbeat abortion law, effectively making abortions after six weeks illegal again in the state.

In a one-page order, the high court put a lower court ruling overturning the ban on hold while it considers an appeal. Abortion providers who had resumed performing the procedure past six weeks after the lower court ruling will again have to stop.

The article on the TV station's website said:

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr filed an immediate appeal with the Georgia Supreme Court. Carr’s office also asked the high court for an order putting the decision on hold while the appeal was pending.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of the lower’s court’s ruling, which allowed the heartbeat abortion law to go into effect again as the state’s appeals continue. The Supreme Court did not give an explanation about why it granted the stay.

Free speech ruling from AL Supreme Court allows student's legal action to continue

There was a positive outcome by the Alabama Supreme Court involving a student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a member of a campus organization, who had challenged a speech policy at the school. According to the website of Alliance Defending Freedom:

Student members of Young Americans for Liberty want to engage their peers in important policy debates about a variety of issues including gun control, federalism, and other topics, but are refraining from doing so for fear of violating the university’s burdensome speech policy. The policy requires students to share their views on certain topics in specified speech zones and request approval to speak days in advance. And because the permits are subject to the university’s approval, administrators can pick and choose which events and viewpoints are allowed on campus.

ADF claims, "Alabama’s Campus Free Speech Act requires public colleges and universities to respect the free speech rights of students on campus and explicitly prohibits speech zones, prior permission requirements, and other speech-suppressive measures."  It argued that the UAH policy violated Alabama law.

The state's highest court agreed.  The ADF website reported that, "The Alabama Supreme Court ruled unanimously...to allow a free speech lawsuit to proceed by a Young Americans for Liberty chapter and student-member Joshua Greer..." ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch is quoted as saying, “College students have the freedom to share their beliefs anywhere on campus; they don’t need permission from college officials to speak, nor should they have to jump through burdensome and illegal hoops just to talk with their classmates outside,” adding, “We’re pleased the Alabama Supreme Court has affirmed the freedom of all college students to speak freely on campus without being restricted to small speech zones. The university never should have attempted to skirt the explicit provisions of state law that reinforce these rights."

FDA sued over chemical abortion policy

It has been noted that chemical abortions or "mail-order abortions" have become one of the leading sources of abortion in the nation, and this was set off by the Food and Drug Administration loosening restrictions on the distribution of the two-pill regimen that is used to terminate a pregnancy.

The Charlotte Lozier Institute issued a press release applauding a lawsuit filed by Alliance Defending Freedom challenging the FDA's policy-making.  It linked to the court filing, indicating a number of organizations and individuals who are plaintiffs in the suit, including the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Pediatricians, and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.

The press release stated:

Charlotte Lozier Institute, which in 2021 revealed a dramatic surge in abortion pill-related emergency room visits, today applauded Alliance Defending Freedom for challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) erroneous and highly-politicized approval of the abortion drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol, which redefined pregnancy as an “illness.”

It quoted from Dr. James Studnicki, who serves as vice president of data analytics for the Lozier Institute, who has been the "lead author" of "abortion pill studies;" he stated: “The safety of chemical abortion is greatly exaggerated. In fact, the increasing dominance of chemical abortion and its disproportionate contribution to emergency room morbidity is a serious public health threat, and the real-world data suggests that threat is growing."