The 3 - June 30, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" features a positive ruling in an ongoing case of one large retailer owned by a Christian family that continues to fight for its right to conscience in the case of the government's contraception mandate.   Also, thousands of Christian retailers, communicators, and others involved in the manufacturing, marketing, and sales of Christian products gathered this week in mid-America.   And, the big news of the week came from the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued rulings in 2 high-profile cases concerning the issue of gay marriage.

3 - Hobby Lobby receives relief in appeals court

A federal court has ordered the government not to enforce the Department of Health and Human Services contraception and abortion-drug mandate against Hobby Lobby, a nationwide chain of craft stores.  According to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby, the ruling comes just one day after a dramatic 168-page opinion from the "en banc" or entirety of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, recognizing that business owners have religious liberty rights.   After that ruling from the 10th Circuit, a trial court gave Hobby Lobby a temporary restraining order against the mandate, and further proceedings are scheduled for July 19 in Oklahoma City.

Kyle Duncan, General Counsel for the Becket Fund, is quoted as saying that, “Hobby Lobby and the Green family faced the terrible choice of violating their faith or paying massive fines starting this Monday morning...We are delighted that both the 10th Circuit and the district court have spared them from this unjust burden on their religious freedom.”

In its landmark opinion this week, the 10th Circuit majority found that “no one” – not even the government – “disputes the sincerity of Hobby Lobby’s religious beliefs.” The court ruled that denying them the protection of federal law just because they are a profit-making business “would conflict with the Supreme Court’s free exercise precedent.”

There are now 60 separate lawsuits challenging the HHS mandate.

2 - Christian retailers and communicators gather in nation's heartland

This past week, I had the opportunity to gather with Christian communicators and others connected with the Christian retail sector at the International Christian Retail Show at the America's Center in St. Louis.   Faith Radio and The Meeting House had a display area/communication center just outside the exhibit hall, where I recorded dozens of interviews.  Content from the show can be found on The Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info.   Click on the "Meeting House On-Demand" tab to access audio marked, ICRS.   Pictures can be located at the Meeting House Facebook page.

Publishers Weekly featured a story on the show, which reminds us that the changing face of retailing in general, and specifically Christian retailing, presents some challenges touching various parts of the industry.   Total attendance was reported at 3,700, which was down significantly from last year's almost 5,000 in Orlando, and way, way down from the 15,000 that attended the show at its peak in 1999.   Professional attendance was down 15% and international attendance was off 21%.   But, the good news going in to the
show was that total sales in the Christian sector were up 8.5% in 2012 vs. 2011.

CBA president Curtis Riskey, three years into his tenure as association head, has introduced a number of innovations in an effort to revitalize the show, and there were more this year. The new Author’s Alley provided tabletop display space for very small publishers and, primarily, self-publishers. An Author’s Bootcamp gave advice and education about marketing, promotion, distribution, and sales. And a new merchandising area, Lifestyle Stories, offered display ideas targeting three kinds of customers.  Said Riskey, “We’re working into new arenas and trying to find new markets. This show is still the apex of our industry.”

Six films were screened at ICRS, among them The Redemption of Henry Myers from Echolight Studios, which announced that former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum would assume the reins as CEO of the fledgling company.  Riskey noted that “in a video culture” sales of DVDs of family-friendly films related to Christian properties have increased 27% over the past three years.  Said CBA board president George Thomsen, “You have an improvement in production quality, and people have always liked a redemptive story.”

And, the Christian Retailing's Best awards were handed out on Tuesday of the show, following the recognition of excellence in Christian fiction at the Christy Awards on Monday night.   Also, another fiction honor, the Carol Awards, announced their 2013 nominees.   There was plenty of activity to go around, and those involved in communicating truth through Christian products had the opportunity to be informed, to network, and to strategize to help meet the challenges of a fluid retail culture.

1 - U.S. Supreme Court issues decisions on marriage-related cases

The U.S. Supreme Court issued two much-anticipated decisions on Wednesday concerning the definition of marriage.   In one case involving the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the court ruled 5-4 that same-sex partners in states where gay marriage is legal have the right to Federal benefits afforded couples in traditional marriages.   That was a fairly straightforward, not unexpected ruling that Christian leaders were disappointed by, and Federal officials began to take steps to make those benefits available.

In the other case, the Proposition 8 case involving California's marriage amendment, the justices in the majority basically attempted to erase history.  The amendment, which defines marriage as one man and one woman,  had been appealed by 2 same-sex couples in a San Francisco Federal district court.   The judge found in favor of the plaintiffs - the defendants were then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-Attorney General and now-Governor Jerry Brown.   They did not choose to appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, so one of the organizations instrumental in getting the amendment on the ballot, Protect Marriage, filed the appeal.   The high court found that the pro-marriage group did not have "standing", or the authority to appeal, so it did not rule on the merits of the case, threw out the 9th Circuit decision, and basically let the narrow district ruling stand, where the judge ruled in favor of the two "married" couples.   So, the high court did not find a constitutional right to gay marriage, did not rule Prop. 8 unconstitutional, and did not even negate Proposition 8.

As Stuart Shepard of CitizenLink pointed out on The Meeting House on Friday and as Ken Klukowski of the Family Research Council and Breitbart.com related, Proposition 8 is apparently still in effect, and despite the rush to judgment of California officials, is in for some litigation ahead.

You see, according to Klukowski, the California Constitution says that an administrative agency ... has no power:

(a) To declare a statute unenforceable, or refuse to enforce a statute, on the basis of it being unconstitutional unless an appellate court has made a determination that such statute is unconstitutional; (emphasis mine)

(b) To declare a statute unconstitutional;

(c) To declare a statute unenforceable, or to refuse to enforce a statute on the basis that federal law or federal regulations prohibit the enforcement of such statute unless an appellate court has made a determination that the enforcement of such statute is prohibited by federal law or federal regulations.

No such appellate court decision exists!  And, Klukowski also points out that since no one who wants to defend Prop 8 has standing to appeal rulings on it to the Ninth Circuit, there will never be such an opinion in the federal court system. So the only way to get an appellate opinion would be in the California state court system. So someone would have to file a lawsuit regarding Prop 8, and then appeal it to a California court of appeals and then maybe to the California Supreme Court. Only when one of those courts hold Prop 8 unconstitutional can the public officials in that state regard it as stricken from the books.

Now, according to another story by Klukowski at Breitbart.com, the Alliance Defending Freedom, which worked with Prop 8 proponents to defend the amendment, filed an emergency application with the justice who became the fifth vote to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), this time asking for Anthony Kennedy to restore the rule of law on the California Prop 8 case.   Justice Kennedy, without comment, declined to vacate the actions of the 9th Circuit, lifting a stay on same-sex marriages in California.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling this week in Hollingsworth v. Perry that both the Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit never had jurisdiction in the case, the Ninth Circuit on Friday issued an order lifting the stay and gay marriages began within minutes.

But some experts say the Ninth Circuit does not yet have the legal power to lift the stay. A Supreme Court decision does not carry force of law until that judgment is issued in the form of a certified copy of the Court’s order and opinion to the lower court, which usually takes around 25 days.   So, apparently any same-sex marriage licenses issued in California since the Supreme Court decision are premature.

Bruce Hausknecht, Judicial Analyst for CitizenLink, the public policy affiliate of Focus on the Family, looking back on Wednesday's ruling, said that there were some positive aspects to what was handed down:

First and foremost, we can take heart in the fact that the other side didn’t get what they actually wanted most, which was a 50-state mandate imposing same-sex marriage nationwide. Despite their best arguments, the Court did not find a “right” to same sex marriage in the Constitution, nor did it find that homosexuality is entitled to the same status in our law as immutable characteristics such as race or ethnicity deserve. That in itself is a huge defeat for them. At this moment, no state’s marriage law has been changed by these decisions. Thirty-eight states still define marriage as between one man and one woman. The public policy debate will continue, and we still have the opportunity to make our case that marriage is about more than a couple’s romantic ties — it is about the institution that is the best available for raising children.

So, we continue to watch the courts, and we also seek to remain dedicated to the institution of marriage, which was established by God, who gives us the ability to live out marriages that bring honor to Him.   As same-sex marriage seemingly advances across America, we have an opportunity to demonstrate God's best and to express Christ's love through our homes and through the compelling lifestyles that we lead in front of those who do not embrace His principles.

The 3 - June 23, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" includes news regarding the closure a noted Christian organization that has been involved in helping people exit the homosexual lifestyle and overcome unwanted same-sex attractions.  There's also some encouraging news out of the U.S. House that would provide protection for a number of pre-born children.  And, developments in Iran top the news, as Christians are trying to determine what to make of the election of a new President there.

3 - Exodus International exits

It was a piece of news that came suddenly, but not unexpectedly. Exodus International, a ministry that began nearly 40 years ago to help people who struggle with same-sex attractions find freedom through Jesus Christ, announced that it would be ceasing its operation, the same day that Alan Chambers, its president, announced he would be stepping down and gave an apology to the gay community.. According to CitizenLink, some people previously affiliated with the group say its president, Alan Chambers, changed the organization’s message over the last couple of years.

For example, Andy Comiskey, founder of Desert Stream Ministries, is quoted as saying, “It has undergone significant change...(Chambers) became unusually sensitive to those critical of Exodus. He began to take up their case as more important than transformation.”

Joe Dallas, who served as president of Exodus International from 1991 to 1993 and now leads Genesis Counseling in California, was sad to hear of the organization’s closure. "When we come to Christ we can overcome these (temptations),” he said. “I do think if people repent, they have the ability to resist the temptation to homosexuality and have the capacity for heterosexual response.”

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly made a statement, which included these words: “Exodus’ closing is being hailed by some as a victory and indication that Christians are abandoning long-held convictions that living with God’s design for sexuality is possible through the power of Jesus Christ – that change is possible.

“The reality is that while Exodus will no longer exist, there are numerous Christian ministries that continue to provide excellent help to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, including the Restored Hope Network, Desert Stream Ministries, and Katharos Integrity Alliance.

“We understand God’s original intent was for marriage to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman, with children as a natural result. But we also realize that all of us sin in many ways.

“We believe there is hope for those who struggle sexually. Be it a struggle with lust, adultery, pornography addiction, pre-marital sex, same-sex attractions or issues related to identity – there is hope. The hope of a Christian is that our behavior becomes more in line with God and God’s will. He wants us to drink from His full cup of grace and truth – because it’s through Him we can overcome lifelong struggles with sin.”

Stuart Shepard's conversation with me on The Meeting House recently, which included some analysis and commentary on the Exodus situation, can be accessed here.

Baptist Press also covered the story, and quoted Chambers' apology: "I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn't change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents...I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart."

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said it became clear last year -- when Chambers suggested that people can persist in homosexual behavior and still receive the salvation that Jesus offers -- that Chambers and Exodus International were rethinking their understanding of a Christian approach to homosexuality.

"Sadly, it appears that this rethinking has resulted in something like a surrender to the cultural currents of the day," Mohler told Baptist Press.

Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, shared that, "Increasingly churches are addressing persons with same-sex attractions the same way they address everyone else: in terms of the Gospel and a lifelong call to take up one's cross and follow Christ..This means the Christian grappling with same-sex attractions needs to hear that the Gospel addresses him or her, and that this person needs the whole body of Christ, in community, not just an accountability group of those who are defined by the same temptations."

So, there are several factors at work here: We do need to show compassion to those who are trapped in a variety of areas of sin.   And, it's important to recognize that change can occur through trusting in the power of Christ.  Although Alan Chambers may have shifted his view on the possibility of gay people changing their behavior through sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories, the Bible is clear that homosexuality and the temptation of same-sex attraction are contrary to God's standards, and that there is hope to overcome any sin or temptation through the power of the cross.

2 - U.S. House approves ban on most abortions after 20 weeks

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban abortions from after 20-weeks of pregnancy, a point of gestation at which scientific evidence has shown that an unborn child feels pain.

According to LifeNews.com, the vote for the bill broke down on mostly partisan lines with Republicans supporting the ban on late-term abortions and Democrats opposing it. The House approved the bill on a 228-196 vote with 6 Democrats voting for the bill and 6 Republicans voting against it.

One leading expert in the field of fetal pain, Dr. Kanwaljeet S. Anand at the University of Tennessee, stated in an expert report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, “It is my opinion that the human fetus possesses the ability to experience pain from 20 weeks of gestation, if not earlier, and the pain perceived by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by term newborns or older children.”

During a Congressional hearing, a former abortion practitioner, Anthony Levatino told members about the gruesome details of his former abortion practice and how he became pro-life following the tragic automobile accident of his child.

Another bombshell dropped during the hearing came from Dr. Maureen Condic, who is Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She testified that the unborn child is capable of reacting to pain as early as 8-10 weeks. This is when most abortions in America take place.

Mat Staver of pro-family legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel responded by saying, “The blinders are being lifted, and even pro-abortion Americans want restrictions on aborting children who experience pain...The Kermit Gosnell trial and the closure of abortion clinics around the country for unsanitary, unsafe conditions have created a public awareness of the violence against women and children disguised by such names as ‘women’s health clinics,’ ‘family planning,’ and ‘reproductive healthcare.’”

The bill now goes on to the Senate, where it is predicted to be defeated, if a vote is allowed.  Majority Leader Harry Reid is being encouraged to allow the bill to be voted upon.   The President has already threatened to veto the legislation.   But, if the Senate votes, it will get lawmakers on record regarding their viewpoint on late-term abortion, just as the 196 House members that opposed this legislation now have recorded votes on the matter.

1 - Christians not comforted by election of new leader in Iran, more Iranian arrests announced

Christians in America have followed closely the plight of pastors in Iran, such as Youcef Nadarkhani and Saaed Abedini, who were placed in jail as a result of their practice of the Christian faith.  We continue to made aware of persecution of Iranian believers, especially those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.   Religion Today had a piece just this week about six Iranian converts to Christianity who were convicted of crimes related to their membership in a house church, according to World Watch Monitor.  Mohabat News, which reports on news of Christians inside Iran, published a report on June 16 claiming that four men, a woman and her teenaged son were convicted by a Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, in southwestern Iran. The four men were found guilty of attending a house church, spreading Christianity, having contact with foreign ministries, propaganda against the Iranian regime and disrupting national security, Mohabat reported.

Religion Today also relates that, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, 33-year-old Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini told his family his health appears to have improved. However, the ACLJ also said that since Iran's presidential election last week, prison guards had threatened to move
Abedini to a more remote prison. Such a move would make it nearly impossible for his family to visit him.

Open Doors reports that even though Hassan Rouhani won Iran’s presidential election last weekend and he is being portrayed by some as a “moderate” Iranian cleric, because of his loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Open Doors contacts from the region don’t expect positive changes.

“The Christians I recently spoke with seemed rather apathetic about the elections,” says an Open Doors fieldworker in response to the election of the new president. “They don’t seem to expect significant changes in Iran’s policies against Christians.”

This is corroborated by an Iranian believer who told Open Doors last week, “In your Western media, the candidates are divided into conservatives and reformers, as if there is a choice, but let me tell you this: there is no choice. All of the candidates are from Ayatollah Khamenei’s team.”

Christians, as well as minorities such as Baha’i and Dervishes, have seen an intensification of religious persecution in Iran since 2005, when former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected for the first time.
The fieldworker also stated that, “The question is can Rouhani make a change? At least he is an intellectual, who graduated in the United Kingdom and has called for less confrontational relations with the West. I guess we just have to see in order to know, according to Iranian standards, how moderate he is.”

So while change in leadership could provide a source of inspiration for Christians, the current climate that has been fostered by the governing religious authorities indicates that there could be little improvement concerning the religious freedom of Christian believers in Iran.   That is why prayers are very important for these persecuted believers.

The 3 - June 16, 2013

This latest edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", includes 2 stories that would fall under the heading of religious liberty, and another involves a gathering this past week of representatives from a large Christian denomination. The 2 religious liberties stories include a new bill in Texas that attempts to uphold religious freedom during holiday seasons and a statement from the Administration in opposition to an amendment to the most recent defense bill that would provide for religious freedom guarantees for those in the military.

3 - Texas Governor signs bill allowing use of traditional holiday expressions

Texas Governor Rick Perry, showing concern for the religious expression rights of students and others throughout the state, signed a bill on Thursday which has been nicknamed the "Merry Christmas" bill, providing for the rights of students to say "Merry Christmas" or other traditional holiday expressions on school grounds.

He is quoted as saying that "religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion".

Traditional holiday symbols such as a menorah or nativity scene also are protected, as long as more than one religion and a secular symbol are also reflected.

The measure's sponsor, Houston Republican Rep. Dwayne Bohac, says it will provide schools cover from what he called "ridiculous" lawsuits. The bill had passed the Texas Senate and House back in May, with the full support of every Democrat and Republican in the Senate and a large majority in the House.

A group called Texas Values provided the main legal guidance and support for the legislation.

The website, MerryChristmasBill.com, states that Texas school districts have seen long and costly court cases over Christmas expressions in Plano and Katy, and Fort Worth was recently involved in a controversy over Santa Claus at a public school.  Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases have made it clear that such expressions and displays are permissible.

Jonathan Saenz, attorney and president of Texas Values, said, “We hope HB 308 will decrease the number of school districts being naughty and increase the ones being nice...It’s time to end the war on Christmas. This common sense legislation tracks Supreme Court precedent, providing a solid roadmap for public school officials to follow and should help school districts respect First Amendment rights and avoid costly litigation. We thank Gov. Perry for signing this bill into law,” concluded Saenz.

2 - Southern Baptist Convention meets in Houston, resolutions deal with Boy Scouts and other matters, speakers call for unity and revival

The Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting concluded on Wednesday in Houston, with over 5,000 messengers gathering to hear reports and sermons, to engage in worship, and to vote on officers and a host of resolutions.  Baptist Press provided extensive coverage.

Dr. Fred Luter, Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was re-elected President of the SBC - the convention president is generally re-elected following his first year.  Dr. Luter spoke on Tuesday and called on Southern Baptists to put aside division and work for the fulfillment of the Great Commission:

"Could it be...that the reason that lost friend, that lost relative, that lost co-worker, that lost neighbor, that lost classmate, have not yet turned from darkness to light is because they don't see us as the body of Christ getting along? Friend, how is it that we say we love God, whom we've never seen, yet don't speak to our brother and sister that we see every day?"

In the convention sermon on Wednesday, Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, called on Baptists to seek to fulfill Christ's Great Commission. He said: 

"Southern Baptists do many good things, and we should. But we must keep our focus on the most important thing: Jesus Christ and His Gospel."

He said that Southern Baptists must be a Christ-centered people who boast only in Jesus and who see the ministry of bringing the nations to Jesus as offerings of worship to the triune God.

"Paul knew that being Christ-centered would radically impact how we think, how we speak, how we act and how we live," Akin said.

Resolutions included a variety of areas, including a response to the Boy Scout decision to accept openly homosexual members. The Convention, not unexpectedly, did not call for local churches to completely sever  ties with the Boy Scouts, while acknowledging that some would do so.  The resolution did voice opposition to the Boy Scouts of America's decision.

The lengthy resolution stated that churches that choose to sever ties should not abandon their ministry to boys, but should consider expanding their Royal Ambassadors ministry, "a distinctively Southern Baptist missions organization to develop godly young men."

It urged churches and families that remain in the Boy Scouts "to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical standard."

A resolution on mental health expressed support for "the wise use of medical interventions" and supported research and treatment "when undertaken in a manner consistent with a biblical worldview" and called on Southern Baptists to "look for and create opportunities to love and minister to, and develop methods and resources to care for, those who struggle with mental health concerns and their families."

1 - Amendment proposed to preserve religious freedom in military; White House states opposition

This week, another chapter was added to the continued narrative about the religious expression rights of men and women in uniform. Family Research Council reports that the Obama administration issued a statement of administration policy saying it "strongly objects" to Louisiana Republican Congressman John Fleming's religious freedom amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Fleming's amendment was approved last week by the House Armed Services Committee in response to the growing and open hostility toward religious expression by service members.

CitizenLink quotes the administration's position statement: “By limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale and mission accomplishment.”

FRC President Tony Perkins issued a statement, which included these words:

"...The administration's opposition to Rep. Fleming's religious freedom amendment reveals that this administration has gone beyond accommodating the anti-Christian activists who want to remove any vestige of Christianity from the military, to aiding them by blocking this bipartisan measure.

"This chilling suppression of religious freedom is driving faith underground in our military and will eventually drive it out. This not only deprives those who serve of the benefits that flow from religious participation, but it undermines the moral foundation of the world's most powerful military and the country they serve. This should concern everyone."

Representative Fleming told Fox News, “With its statement, the White House is now endorsing military reprimands of members who keep a Bible on their desk or express a religious belief...This administration is aggressively hostile towards religious beliefs that it deems to be politically incorrect.”

The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a organization of chaplain endorsers, quotes Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Douglas Lee, USAR:  “The president’s objections to many other provisions of the 2014 NDAA--including Purple Heart awards for Americans wounded by in-U.S. terrorists--demonstrates his utter disdain for the views of elected representatives and endangers the free exercise of religion in the Armed Services...The chilling effect of his current objections on religious conscience are chilling in and of themselves.”

This statement from the White House is a more overt expression that some would interpret as reflecting policies and activities that have served to restrict the free expression of religion by people of faith, especially Christians, within the military.  We can hope that some dialogue will take place in order to clarify and solidify the rights of our service men and women to practice their religion, even outside the walls of a base or post chapel.

The 3 - June 9, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" features some areas that are not new to readers of the blog, including graduation prayer content.   A South Carolina graduate ripped up his pre-approved speech and led the Lord's Prayer, which is shown in a now-viral video.  Also, religious expression in the military continues to be a hot topic, with a couple of instances that appear to be restrictions on that type of expression making headlines this week.   And, the top story comes from Houston, where messengers gather this week for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention - and the timing of two reports has presumably coincided with the scheduled meeting and an annual evangelistic effort was conducted yesterday.

3 - Graduation prayer controversy in S.C. as valedictorian leads Lord's Prayer

Another graduation video has gone viral, this one showing a valedictorian at a South Carolina high school who deviated from his prepared and his approved remarks to lead the crowd gathered for the ceremonies in the Lord's Prayer.

Roy Costner, who attended Liberty High School in Pickens, South Carolina, had received the requisite approval for his speech, but at a point in the message, he ripped his prepared text up and began to say the Lord's Prayer. As the crowd realized what he was doing, they began to cheer. He said, “I think most of you will understand when I say, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven..."

Apparently, throughout the state, the American Civil Liberties Union sent out letters at the beginning of the school year to warn districts about what they view as establishing religion. And, the Freedom From Religion Foundation had been challenging the specific district.    According to Todd Starnes of FoxNews.com, FFRF holds the district responsible. The co-president of the organization is quoted as saying, “The valedictorian who so insensitively inflicted Christian prayer on a captive audience at a secular graduation ceremony, is a product of a school district which itself set an unconstitutional example by hosting school board prayer."

A school district spokesperson said the valedictorian will not be penalized for what he did and Costner told Fox News that he has absolutely no regrets.

“I’m happy with what I did,” Costner said. “I want this to glorify God. I want to use this as a witnessing tool and I hope others will stand up for God in our nation.”

This comes on the heels of the Texas student body president saying a prayer in his graduation presentation, despite the alleged protests of fellow students. 

There is quite a bit of misunderstanding in school districts across America about a student's religious rights, and we see it surfacing year after year in the graduation context.  It seems to me that by forcing students to submit the text of their messages could be regarded as a form of censorship, especially when there is an emphasis on pre-clearing speech that could be considered "religious".
2 - More religious freedom issues in the military

One of the areas that seems to contain a steady stream of news stories involves the rights of military members to express their faith.  Because we live in a heavily military area, I believe that relating these types of stories can be helpful to embolden our men and women in uniform as they seek to be not only excellent members of our armed forces, but also good soldiers of the Lord and citizens of His kingdom.   These types of stories also help to let those who are not associated with military know some of the challenges people of faith within their ranks are facing.

One story that circulated last week involved an Army Master Sergeant, who held a party to celebrate his promotion last August. According to a post on the Family Research Council website, it was a private event that the soldier paid for himself.   His commanding officers seemed to take issue with the invitations, which read, "In honor of my promotion and in honor of the Defense of Marriage Act, I'm serving Chick-fil-A sandwiches at my promotion party."  Of course, as FRC points out, the DOMA reference was a hat tip to Chick-fil-A owner Dan Cathy, who became the center of a national firestorm when he refused to back down from the biblical definition of marriage.

Shortly after the Master Sergeant's party, he was shocked to receive a letter of reprimand, followed by a negative efficiency report.  The stunned soldier contacted the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty for help. Ron Crews, who heads up the organization, explained that the Army initially talked about bringing "judicial punishment" against the man but decided to investigate first to see if he had "violated any other policy." Apparently, the Sergeant was warned to stop reading conservative books, as well.

This story began to make its rounds along with another instance of religious expression that was seemingly restricted at an Air Force base in Idaho.  FRC reports on the case of a California-based artist who was shocked to discover that one of his prints, the fifth in an inspirational series entitled, "Heroes", was considered too offensive for the Mountain Home Air Force Base dining hall in Idaho.  The painting portrays a modern-day policeman with a faint picture of a white knight behind him.  Across the bottom, the word, "Integrity" and the Scripture reference, "Blessed are the Peacemakers" from Matthew 5:9 are stenciled.   Objectors found the piece to be "repugnant" to objectors, who demanded its removal.   The Military Religious Freedom Foundation contacted the base, and reportedly, within 56 minutes, the painting was removed.  

Well-known Christian artist Ron DiCianni, who painted the portrait, says he was stunned -- first to hear the print was on the installation, and then to hear that it had been torn down.  In a statement, Ron explains how "deeply saddened" they are by the military's censorship.

He said that is was regrettable, "to see the apparent hostility of Pentagon leadership to a message that is clearly in keeping with the foundation of this country and the Air Force -- and whose communication is clearly protected by the First Amendment...The military is an embodiment of the ultimate peacemaker, a pursuit blessed in Scripture. It would seem this is a message that the Air Force should be willing to foster, not censor."

You can hear my conversation with the artist here.

FRC points out that Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana has offered an amendment to the most recent Defense Authorization bill that would help to protect religious freedom in the military. Fleming is quoted as saying, "The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms should not have their own religious freedom jeopardized during their military service...[T]roubling reports indicate that the military may be focused only on protecting beliefs of service members and not the exercise or expression of those beliefs. My amendment is necessary to ensure that men and women of faith will not be discriminated against in the Armed Forces, and will be free to exercise their religious beliefs."  By a 33-26 vote, the Committee gave the green light to Fleming's measure, which stops the Pentagon from restricting religious speech -- except in cases of "military necessity."

Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) added another layer of protection by introducing (and later passing) language that allows chaplains to pray "in Jesus's name."

Those that want to restrict religious content in symbols or speech so often demonstrate an extreme level of religious hostility in seeking to deny the freedom of religious expression.  When words like "inflict" are used to describe prayer, as in the S.C. valedictorian instance, or a word such as "repugnant" to describe a moving tribute to those who keep the peace, it shows that they are doing exactly what they are accusing people of faith are doing - they are attempting to force their belief system, or more accurately, lack of belief, on people of religious faith.  People with a personal faith are allowed to express themselves consistent with their First Amendment rights of religious expression.

1 - Baptists prepare for convention in light of new stats, launch "Crossover" event

This week in Houston, thousands of Southern Baptists will gather for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the traditional run-up to the big event has already begun.

The Saturday before the convention, the Crossover event is conducted, consisting of block parties held throughout the area hosting the convention, an inviting opportunity to reach out to neighborhoods and to share the love of Jesus Christ.  According to the North American Mission Board website, this year, Crossover partnered with the larger initiative of the Union Baptist Association called Loving Houston, designed to be a long-term care and compassion movement.   The Launch week included fun, family friendly activities, sports events and many projects focused on serving the residents of Houston in tangible and practical ways.

There were also several important reports leading up to the convention.   According to Christianity Today, a self-assessment put together by the SBC, the "Annual Church Profile", indicated that the nearly 16-million-member denomination gained 270 churches over the past year, but lost more than 105,000 members and 188,000 Sunday worshipers, marking its sixth straight year of membership decline.

However, the SBC's 42 state conventions still claim almost 6 million Sunday worshipers at more than 46,000 churches.

Last year saw the second-lowest total of baptisms in 60 years. After a small increase last year, the new report shows a decline of 5.5 percent to just under 315,000 people. Reported baptisms have declined six of the last eight years with 2012 the lowest since 1948. The ratio of baptisms to total members increased to one baptism for every fifty members.

“While we celebrate every new baptized believer represented by these numbers, fewer reported baptisms is heartbreaking,” said Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay, an arm of the SBC. “Southern Baptists cannot rest on what God accomplished through us in prior years.”

The self-described reaction of Frank Page, president of the SBC's executive committee: "God forgive us and God help us."

However, giving to international missions was its third-highest total ever.

And, something else notable in the week leading up to the convention was the release of the much-anticipated report on Calvinism in Southern Baptist life, compiled by a 19-member advisory committee, which issued its 3,200-word report to Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Frank Page, according to Baptist Press.  The report acknowledged tension and disagreement between Calvinists and non-Calvinists within the convention and urging Southern Baptists to "grant one another liberty" on the issue and "stand together" for the Great Commission.  Calvinists and non-Calvinists from all walks of SBC life served on the committee, which was assembled by Page and was not an official committee of the convention.

There will be numerous reports to the messengers on the convention floor next week, and a variety of resolutions are anticipated - the most high-profile one will most likely deal with the Convention's response to the Boy Scouts of America lifting its ban on openly homosexual members - the Convention could encourage its churches to disassociate with Scout troops or perhaps another response or language could be approved.

The 3 - June 2, 2013

On this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, I want to continue to look at the progressive fallout from the Boy Scouts' decision to allow openly gay members.   Also, Planned Parenthood is back in the news, including some new charges against one of its clinics in Delaware.   And, the big story from the week involved graduation prayer and the groundswell of support nationally for a young man who exercised his religious rights and said a prayer at his graduation ceremony, even though there were those who wanted to restrict him.

3 - Response grows to Boy Scouts vote: churches begin to dismiss troops; atheists want pledge to God dropped, gay rights groups want openly homosexual leaders

Not surprisingly, there has been a chain reaction to the vote taken by a national council of leaders of the Boy Scouts of America to allow open gay members in its organization.  And, while gay activist organizations have already laid down the gauntlet and said the resolution did not go far enough in that it did not allow for gay scout leaders, churches, which host and sponsor a majority of the Boy Scout troops across the nation, have begun to withdraw their support for the Scout troops that meet in their buildings.

One of the first was Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, one of the nation's top 5 largest churches.   Another was in the metro Atlanta area, Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta.   Two churches in the Birmingham, Alabama area, First Baptist of Pelham and First Baptist of Helena, have also announced that they will no longer allow Scout troops to meet on their property.   The reason is clear:  churches do not feel they can endorse an organization that no longer upholds traditional, Biblical values by embracing a lifestyle that Christians continue to see as incompatible with their beliefs.

And, atheists are not at all pleased with the current stance of the Boy Scouts to encourage devotion to God.  In an article released this week on its website, CitizenLink reports that Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said that the BSA needs to change its policy regarding “humanists and atheists.”  He accused the BSA of “bigotry.”  Some of the other groups wanting this policy change include The Freedom From Religion Foundation and American Atheists. 

With the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in several weeks in Houston, where a resolution or some action is expected that could lead to churches throughout the denomination abandoning Scouting, and with a meeting scheduled in late June for Louisville to discuss alternatives to the Boy Scouts, it appears that a mass exodus has begun.   And, it doesn't come as a surprise - it was predicted that up to 400,000 Scouts could depart the organization if the council voted to allow openly gay members.   But, in a true "what were they thinking?" moment, those 1400 or so people that cast a vote in Dallas 2 weeks ago succumbed to the pressure of political correctness and could have perhaps sounded the death knell for an organization that has been committed to building Godly character for over 100 years.

2 - Planned Parenthood back in the news:  Supreme Court turns down Indiana Planned Parenthood case; Planned Parenthood operator in Delaware cited by AG; Girl Scouts team up with PP

While concern about the direction of the Boy Scouts has been in the headlines recently, a cozy relationship with the Girl Scouts and supporters of abortion came to the forefront this week, as reports surfaced about a conference that was co-sponsored by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which has member organizations across the globe, the largest of which is the Girl Scouts of the USA.  GSUSA is a co-founder of WAGGGS and one of WAGGGS’ largest financial supporters, paying over $1 million each year in membership fees.

According to a report on the LifeNews.com website, WAGGGS is a global organization that is a well-known advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion, for youth, and claims to speak for all of its 10 million members.  Recently, it participated in a global conference called "Women Deliver", which had a purpose of “call[ing] for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.”  Speakers included noted late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart, philosopher Peter Singer, who supports infanticide and euthanasia, and pro-abortion Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  Some of the breakout sessions included “Outing and Addressing Abortion Stigma” and “Why I Perform Abortions.”  Exhibitors included many abortion and population control advocates.

WAGGGS also participated, along with International Planned Parenthood Federation and Planned Parenthood Global (PPFA global), in the Youth Advisory Group for the Women Deliver Conference.  Apparently, there are other instances of ties between the Girl Scouts and abortion advocates.

Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry made the headlines in several instances this week.  
There is a report on the Christian Post website about news from Delaware, where the office of Attorney General Beau Biden, son of the Vice-President, has filed a complaint against a former Planned Parenthood abortion doctor who allegedly engaged in multiple acts of incompetence while performing abortions on five patients.

According to page two of the complaint, Dr. Timothy Liveright performed "multiple acts of incompetence and negligence," which included "over sedating patient," "failing to properly administer oxygen," and "failing to consider alternative treatments."

Now, Planned Parenthood did get some good news out the U.S. Supreme Court this week, as the high court allowed to stand a lower court ruling that negated the Indiana Legislature's law preventing the nation's largest abortion provider from receiving Medicaid funds.

Alliance Defending Freedom is attempting to shine the light on Planned Parenthood's questionable practices with its new "Pretty Ugly" campaign.  According to LifeNews.com, it is designed to reveal “Planned Parenthood’s deception of the American public", and when you visit the website. AllianceDefendingFreedom.com/ItsPrettyUgly, you can get the latest news on Planned Parenthood’s deceptions, attempted cover-ups, and the truth about the abortion giant’s real business model.
Alliance Defending Freedom has already been active in over 45 cases involving Planned Parenthood, including 10 current ones, which are being litigated over issues including abortion funding, informed consent, abortion drugs, taxpayer fraud by Planned Parenthood, and a botched and forced abortion.

1 - Graduation video reinforces students' religious expression rights

Recently, scores of graduation ceremonies have taken place, and we are reminded that students do have certain religious expression rights when they step to the platform to speak.  Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, is quoted as saying that, “The key to expressing any religious viewpoint in public school, including graduation prayer, is that the school should remain neutral - neither commanding nor prohibiting it."

In a precedent-setting case against the ACLU that went all the way to the Supreme Court, Adler v. Duval County School Board, Liberty Counsel won the right of students to pray or give religious messages at graduation. The case established the legal principle that public schools are free to adopt a policy that permits students or other speakers to present secular or religious messages, including prayer, at commencement ceremonies.

At Lincoln County High School in Stanford, Kentucky, class president Jonathan Hardwick said a prayer - and received a standing ovation for it.   Apparently, there were six students at the school that had asked Principal Tim Godbey to prevent any prayers from the graduation ceremony.   According to the Advocate-Messenger website, which covers Central Kentucky, Godbey, a self-professed Christian who says he prays for each of his students daily, said under separation of church and state laws, faculty members have never been able to pray publicly on school grounds or during school-sponsored functions. However, he noted that the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit students from doing so as long as they are not otherwise disruptive.

Apparently, there's a local atheist activist who has threatened to contact organizations such as the ACLU and Freedom from Religion Foundation about the public prayer. 

Those that would cite "religious bullying" are apparently content to deny Christian students their rights of religious expression.   And, I wouldn't be surprised if the FFRF and ACLU aren't already aware of Jonathan's prayer - it has received over 70,000 views on YouTube and is continuing to receive media attention.  

It is so important that Christian students are aware of their free speech rights and realize that those rights don't go away when they enter the school building or go on school property.

The 3 - May 26, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" features 2 famous Christian speakers, who have shown up this week in parts of the world where you would not expect such a speaker to have a broad audience - but they drew sizable in-person crowds and more via television or Internet.   Also, the body of Christ was responsive - again - in the midst of a major tragedy, and Christian organizations were quick and effective.  And, the top story involves the Boy Scouts of America, whose national council voted to remove the prohibition on openly gay members, which provides quite a quandary for the tens of thousands of churches that host Scout troops.

3 - Major international crusades in unlikely places - Michael Youssef, Nick Vujicic

Two high-profile Christian speakers have been leading special meetings in two improbable nations of the world, with significant results.   Michael Youssef, Pastor of Atlanta's Church of the Apostles and speaker on the "Leading the Way" broadcast, recently concluded a 3-day meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, a nation that has the largest Muslim population in the world, but where thousands of people gathered each night to hear a message of hope and truth through Jesus Christ.  According to the Leading the Way website, the meetings were held in a 15,000-seat arena and broadcast to millions via broadcast and online media—impacting untold numbers with the hope of the Gospel.

The first night's message was on the value of a soul, and after the message, hundreds came forward to accept Christ.  The second day, Dr. Youssef and his son Jonathan ministered at a local church for Iranian refugees.  Each of them has come to Indonesia as a half-way point on their journey to free countries like Australia or the United States. They wait as the government of Indonesia and the United Nations process their paperwork. Most have been in Indonesia for up to two years, and they have at least another year to wait. In the meantime, it is illegal for them to work in Indonesia, so they wait in very difficult circumstances.

On the second night, Dr. Youssef brought a message on God's passionate, pursuing, and sacrificial love - again, hundreds responded to the invitation.   On night #3, he preached about Jesus Christ, the Pearl of great price, and how salvation in Christ surpasses the value of any earthly treasure.

The meetings drew crowds into the Istora stadium arena, and the event was broadcast to Indonesia on IndoVision's LIFE channel and around the world on THE KINGDOM SAT.

In addition, Dr. Youssef had been working with local pastors and ministry leaders to train them to take this message to all of Indonesia because he believes a three-day evangelistic campaign is not enough in the face of mounting challenges to the Christian faith in Indonesia.  

Meanwhile, another well-known Christian speaker has ministered recently in Vietnam, a country that is governed by a communist regime that is considered to be quite restrictive on religion - Nick Vujicic, according to the Christian Post, spoke to a significant crowd in a soccer stadium this past Thursday.  

Nguyen Dat An, who helped organize Vujicic's visit, said he was surprised the state broadcaster didn't cut off the speech altogether after Vujicic's comments about his faith.

"This was a miracle in Vietnam," An told the Associated Press. "God is the general director of this event."

Approximately 25,000 people, including the nation's vice president, flooded My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi to hear Vujicic speak, and millions watched the event at home. His speech was primarily motivational, addressing topics like respect for family, the need for forgiveness, and his stance against drinking and bullying.

However, the Australian-born speaker who was born without arms or legs did talk about his relationship with God.

"Do you know why I love God?" Vujicic asked a girl on stage who was also born without arms and legs, according to AP. "Because heaven is real. And one day, when we get to heaven, we are going to have arms and legs. And we are going to run, and we are going play, and we are going to race."

Nick is quoted as saying, "We are a unique ministry. We can go on national TV where other Christians cannot...Of course, in Vietnam there are limitations in how you can and can't talk about your faith, but with wisdom we come in. Some places we go we have to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves."
2 - Ministry organizations respond quickly to devastating storm in Oklahoma

On Monday afternoon, a massive, powerful, EF-5 tornado rumbled through Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding areas, killing two dozen and leaving a path of destruction in it wake.   7 of the victims were at the Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was essentially leveled by the storm.

As NBC's Brian Williams is quoted as saying, the "faith-based FEMA" moved in almost immediately - you see, in times of crisis, Christians ask the right questions about how they can help, and ministry organizations move rapidly into adversely affected areas.   As WORLD Magazine's website reports,  the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma immediately deployed more than 100 volunteers to the disaster site to assess damage and begin setting up relief centers. The relief efforts include mobile kitchens and teams to help with debris removal and clean up work.  The group began to work with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to distribute supplies and direct homeless victims to emergency shelters.  Locations for emergency housing included a number of local churches and Oklahoma Baptist University. 

Samaritan’s Purse was already in the region, responding to tornado damage recently in Texas. The group deployed two more teams to Oklahoma on Tuesday morning, and said it would accept applications for volunteers to help with debris clean-up, chainsaw work, and roof tarping.   They worked in tandem with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team in order to offer physical and spiritual support in the aftermath.

A variety of local churches became involved, and a national ministry based in Oklahoma City, Feed the Children, was actively working to provide relief.   The ministry of Convoy of Hope also had a strong presence in the region.   Numerous ministries were able to provide an outlet for people to get involved financially in helping the victims of the storms. 

1 - Boy Scouts national council votes to allow openly gay members, mass exodus predicted

As the result of a vote by the national council of the Boy Scouts of America, the youth organization will be changing its policy and begin allowing openly gay members as of January 1, 2014.  It will continue to maintain its policy prohibiting openly gay adult leaders.

More than 60 percent of BSA national council members passed a resolution that states: No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” The 1,400-member council voted in Grapevine, Texas.

According to a report on the CitizenLink website, John Stemberger, founder of OnMyHonor,Net, said, “It is with great sadness and deep disappointment that we recognize on this day that the most influential youth program in America has turned a tragic corner...(Allowing) open and avowed homosexuality into Scouting will completely transform it into an unprincipled and risky proposition for parents. It is truly a sad day for Scouting.”

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) created a petition in March asking people to urge the BSA to “uphold the values that have defined the organization for over 100 years.”.   ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman is quoted as saying, “Sadly, the Boy Scouts Executive National Council’s decision disregards not only the nearly 19,000 Americans who signed the petition…but also the millions of Americans who have supported the program...Those promoting the agenda to change what the Boy Scouts have always been won’t rest until there is complete acceptance of any sexual preference for both leaders and members.”

Faith-based organizations host more than 70,000 of the 116,000 local units.  According to WORLD's Warren Smith, before the vote, the Boy Scouts estimated that as many as 400,000 Scouts and Scouters would leave the organization if the resolution passed.  The BSA membership is now made up of more than 2.6 million, with more than 1 million adult leaders and volunteers.

And the groundwork could be laid for what is anticipated to be a mass exodus at a meeting next month.  Stemberger said, “I am pleased to announce that OnMyHonor.Net along with other likeminded organizations, parents and BSA members, are announcing a coalition meeting that will take place next month in Louisville, Kentucky...There we will discuss the creation of a new character development organization for boys.”

Though the meeting will be private, Stemberger is encouraging people to email him with ideas or comments at Contact@OnMyHonor.Net.

“Your voice is very important to us and will be represented there,” he explained. “We will host and facilitate a national coalition meeting of former BSA parents and other youth leaders who wish to return to truly timeless values that once made the BSA great.”

Could it be that a new alternative organization will arise that will mirror the timeless values of the Boy Scouts?   Or could existing youth programs, such as Royal Ambassdors, Awana, or other programs oriented toward youth or children add to their ranks and fulfill the role that Scouting has assumed for over 100 years?

This new direction of Scouting can only serve to encourage behavior that many find objectionable.  Boys and their parents who are uncomfortable with this direction will be looking for a character- and friendship-based organization that is consistent with their values.  

The 3 - May 19, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes the latest development in the saga of a family who fled Germany because of government restrictions they encountered resulting from their homeschooling their children.   Also, the abortion industry continues to be in the spotlight, with the verdict in the Kermit Gosnell trial being rendered and employees of another clinic, this time in Houston, going public about what they saw.  And, the top story, perhaps the top story of the week in general, involves the allegations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted certain groups for increased scrutiny, including some Christian ministries.

3 - German homeschool family loses in appeals court, attorneys vow to continue the process for asylum

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision this week in the case of a family from Germany who had desired to homeschool their children there, but faced increased pressure from officials of the German government, who had even reportedly threatened to force the parents to give up custody of their children.

The Romeikes left Germany in 2008 and were granted asylum in 2010 by Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman.  That grant was overturned by the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2012.  A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit heard the Romeikes’ appeal on April 23 in Cincinnati, and issued a unanimous decision on Tuesday against the family.

Michael Farris, Founder and Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association is quoted on the HSLDA website as saying, “We believe the Sixth Circuit is wrong, and we will appeal their decision...America has room for this family, and we will do everything we can to help them.”  HSLDA has announced it will appeal the ruling.

The court said that the Romeikes had not made a sufficient case, and that the United States has not opened its doors to every victim of unfair treatment.   The court did acknowledge that the U.S. Constitution recognizes the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children, it refused to concede that the harsh treatment of religiously and philosophically motivated homeschoolers in Germany amounts to persecution within our laws on asylum.

Mike Donnelly, HSLDA director of international affairs claimed that, “The court ignored mountains of evidence that homeschoolers are harshly fined and that custody of their children is gravely threatened—something most people would call persecution. This is what the Romeikes will suffer if they are sent back to Germany.” 

Already over 124,000 people have signed an online petition in support of this family.

2 - Philadelphia abortionist found guilty, new reports surface on similar actions in Houston

The Gosnell trial is over, but the conversation about the issue of abortion is hopefully far from over, as this trial has opened up new questions about the nature of the abortion industry.   Pro-life advocates are attempting to make the case that Gosnell's Philadelphia clinic, nicknamed the "House of Horrors" is more of the rule rather than the exception.   Abortion supporters are attempting to make the opposite case.

Gosnell was sentenced to two consecutive life terms on Tuesday for killing babies born alive and received another life sentence on Wednesday.   WORLD continued its comprehensive coverage throughout the week.
  

Gosnell avoided the death penalty by agreeing to give up his right to appeal if he could spend the rest of his life in prison for his first-degree murder convictions.   But jurors on Monday also convicted the abortionist of hundreds of other counts, for which he was sentenced Wednesday. 

The WORLD piece states that the five-week trial hinged on testimony from former Gosnell employees, four of whom pleaded guilty to murder for their roles in the babies’ deaths. The workers testified to seeing babies move, takes breaths, and cry after being born following late-term abortion procedures. Gosnell also was convicted of aborting babies well past Pennsylvania’s 24-week limit. Prosecutors allege one baby was at least 30 weeks when Gosnell sliced through the baby's neck.

And, reports are continuing to surface of horrific late-term abortions and the termination of the lives of babies who survive an abortion attempt.  The Christian Post has a report on an investigation into allegations that Houston-based abortionist Douglas Karpen, who operates three abortion clinics in the state, has performed illegal late-term abortions and killed babies born alive, a violation of the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act.   The Harris County District Attorney's office, spurred on by pro-life groups and Texas Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, is proceeding with its investigation.

In a video released Wednesday by Life Dynamics, a Denton, Texas-based pro-life organization, three former employees of Karpen's clinic discuss the details of routine late-term abortions there in which babies were allegedly born alive and then subsequently killed by the abortion doctor.

A fourth former employee remains anonymous at this time, but is filing an affidavit about her experiences at one of Karpen's abortion clinics.

This latest video release follows on the heels of undercover videos released by the Live Action organization that expose the type of activities taking place inside various clinics and the viewpoints of the abortionists themselves. 

1 - Christian groups join Tea Party, conservative organizations facing increased scrutiny from IRS

First of all, there was an admission by an Internal Revenue Service employee that certain conservative organizations had faced a heightened level of scrutiny for their activities.  Then, the attention turned to Christian ministries, including pro-life organizations, who claimed some negative treatment by certain IRS employees.

Franklin Graham released a copy of a letter he had sent to President Obama citing that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, two organizations that he heads, were notified last September that the IRS would review their records for the 2010 tax year.

The IRS inquiry, he noted, occurred months after the BGEA ran ads in April 2012 supporting a North Carolina amendment that banned same-sex marriage, which passed in May.   Graham wrote in his letter, "I believe that someone in the Administration was targeting and attempting to intimidate us...This is morally wrong and unethical — indeed some would call it ‘un-American.”

Pro-life groups who allegedly faced enhanced scrutiny include Christian Voices for Life, a Texas-based group which encountered delays in its application for tax-exempt status in 2011, and Coalition for Life of Iowa, which delays before getting its tax-exempt status in 2009.    The Thomas More Law Center, representing the Iowa group, had outlined in 2011 what it regarded inappropriate IRS behavior - in its demand letters, the IRS has sought to know whether the group does “education on both sides of the issues,” whether members of the group “try to block people to [sic] enter a … medical clinic” during “40 Days for Life” and “Life Chain” events, whether members of the group “attempt to talk to someone trying to enter a medical clinic,” and to “please explain what you are [doing] during” 40 Days for Life and Life Chain vigils.   Apparently, even the content of prayers was questioned.

Dr. James Dobson, in trying to acquire tax-exempt status for his Family Talk organization was told by an IRS representative:

Family Talk Action is ‘not educational’ because it does not present all views. She continued, saying that Family Talk Action sounded like a ‘partisan right-wing group’ because, according to Ms. Medley, it only presents conservative viewpoints. She then
 added, ‘you're political’ because you ‘criticized President Obama, who was a candidate.’”

This is according to a National Religious Broadcasters report.  NRB President and CEO Dr. Frank Wright said, “I am alarmed by reports that suggest a federal official at the IRS instituting a de facto Fairness Doctrine...The FCC was right to purge that pernicious policy from the Code of Federal Regulations.  After driving a wooden stake in its heart, this vampire seems alive and well at the IRS."

Now a report from WORLD indicates that National Organization for Marriage intends to sue the IRS next week amid allegations that the agency leaked confidential donor information to a key political rival.  In March of 2013, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which advocates for the legalization of gay marriage, released confidential NOM donor lists and addresses on its website.  HRC attempted to conceal the source of the information, but NOM Chairman Dr. John Eastman said computer technicians were able to see redacted portions of the PDF document, proving it had originated from the IRS.

Eastman said HRC had been trying to secure the donor lists in order intimidate and harass groups and companies that supported the cause for traditional marriage. He said that is exactly what happened.   Eastman told WORLD that donors often gave to NOM under the condition that the donations were kept anonymous, and the disclosure led to some donors refusing further gifts out of fear of retribution.

Who knows what the coming week will hold...the reports do appear to establish or at least allege a pattern that has developed with some conservative and Christian organizations who received a level of scrutiny in their dealings with some people in the IRS that perhaps comparable liberal-leaning organizations did not experience.   As tough questions are asked, one would hope that the truth would prevail.

The 3 - May 12, 2013

On this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, some gratifying news out of Iran concerning a pastor whose plight has resulted in online action by over half-a-million people.  Also, a court ruling out of Texas affirms students' rights to post Bible verses on the run-through signs prior to football games.  And, the top story involves more light being shown into a brutal industry that is committed to taking the lives of pre-born babies.

3 - Pastor Saaed released from solitary confinement

This past Tuesday was Pastor Saeed Abedini's 33rd birthday.  Some 52,000 letters were gathered from those standing together with the Iranian-American pastor, who has been in Iran's notorious Evin Prison since last fall, serving part of an 8-year sentence resulting from his alleged participation in Christian evangelistic efforts.  Over 586,000 signatures in support of the pastor have been collected at the website, SaveSaeed.org.

Some good news came late in the week, as reported by sources such as CBN.com and WORLDontheweb.com.  Saeed had been in solitary confinement for over a week, without communication with his family, and the announcement came that he had been released from the so-called "small dark hole".

The CBN report quoted Jordan Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, as saying, "This is a critical development and does raise hope after a very discouraging week."

Saeed's wife, Nagmeh Abedini, called his release the "direct result of the multitudes praying."

 

"I am relieved my husband is out of solitary, but still am deeply concerned about Saeed's health," she said. "While this is a small victory, I am still demanding justice be done and that Saeed be released.

She would like for President Obama to speak out on behalf of her husband.  She says the president has been quick to offer support to others, such as gay basketball player Jason Collins, but is ignoring her family's plight.   Secretary of State Kerry and Press Secretary Jay Carney have called on Iran to release Saeed, but there were reports that Abedini's name was missing from a State Department list of political prisoners in Iran.

2 - Texas cheerleaders receive favorable court ruling on Scripture banners

A major court victory for the religious expression rights of students came out of Texas this week, as a Federal District judge ruled in favor of the Kountze High School cheerleaders, who had been banned from holding up run-through banners for the football team that included Scriptures on them.

The Kountze superintendent had made the decision to halt the banners after the district received a threatening demand letter from Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation.   A temporary injunction allowed the cheerleaders to continue the practice through the end of the previous football season.

According to Christian legal advocacy organization, Liberty Institute, the Court’s Summary Judgment Order declares:

• “The Kountze cheerleaders’ banners that included religious messages and were displayed during the 2012 football season were constitutionally permissible," and
• “Neither the Establishment Clause nor any other law prohibits the cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events.  Neither the Establishment Clause nor any other law requires Kountze I.S.D. to prohibit the inclusion of religious-themed banners at school sporting events.”

“The Court’s order vindicates our clients’ rights and brings this case to a successful end,” said Liberty Institute Attorney Roger Byron. “We are pleased that the judge ruled to protect the cheerleaders’ display of banners with religious messages at sporting events. This is a great victory, not only for these cheerleaders, but for religious liberty of student leaders across the country.”

This victory was also made possible by the help of the Texas Attorney General.

“We especially appreciate the efforts of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who intervened into the case in support of the cheerleaders,” said Hiram Sasser, Liberty Institute’s Director of Litigation. “The extra efforts of Deputy Solicitor General Adam Aston were instrumental in the successful resolution of this case.”

1 - Live Action releases new video in its "Inhuman" series, Congressional action on abortion regulations moves ahead

A verdict is still pending in the murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell at the time of this post, but there are decisions being rendered all across America about the brutality of the abortion industry - every abortion is the taking of a human life, but now even pro-abortion forces are having to deal with the late-term abortion industry and those that would even take the lives of children who survive a botched abortion.

A new set of undercover videos produced by the Live Action organization featuring footage from inside abortion clinics exposes the beliefs of at least 4 abortionists about their lack of appreciation of the value of human life.   The latest in the "Inhuman" series features a Midwestern abortionist named Leroy Carhart, who made some graphic and inappropriate comments to the Live Action representative, posing as a woman desiring a late-term abortion.   These videos are serving to put faces on players in the abortion industry, and paint a less-than-flattering pictures of an industry that has operated in the shadows for far too long.

The LiveAction.org website says that, "Gosnell is not alone. Videos document the blatantly inhuman and barbaric acts of abortionists leaving crying babies to die, or even killing the newborns themselves."

And, there are other efforts to expose the abortion industry.   The continued calls for the media to cover the Gosnell trial have resulted in even some media members criticizing the lack of coverage.   A U.S. Senator attempted to pass a resolution this week to condemn the practices of Gosnell and his ilk - because it was the type of vote that could be stopped by just one opposing vote, it failed.   And, WORLD reports that two U.S. House committees have launched nationwide campaigns earlier this week to investigate the prevalence of poorly regulated abortion facilities similar to the kind Kermit Gosnell ran in Philadelphia for 17 years.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks of Arizona sent a letter to all fifty state attorney generals, asking them to report on efforts to protect the rights of babies and mothers in their states. They also asked for reports on the prosecution process against a person who kills a baby born alive during an abortion and on measures designed to prevent late-term abortions.

 

But, Gallup indicates that the majority of Americans are still not paying attention - that's why some of these other efforts are important in building a body of evidence about the brutality of the abortion industry.  One-quarter of Americans say they have followed news of the case either very closely (7%) or somewhat closely (18%), but that is well below the 61% average level of attention Americans have paid to the more than 200 news stories Gallup has measured since 1991.  An additional 20% of Americans say they are following it "not too closely" while 54% say "not at all."  This makes the Gosnell case one of the least followed news stories Gallup has measured.

 

The poll summary linked to an earlier survey that showed 80% of Americans were opposed to abortion in the third trimester.   The summary says that, "One of the clearest messages from Gallup trends is that Americans oppose late-term abortion. As a result, the publicity surrounding Congress' attempt in 1997 to ban a particular late-term abortion procedure known as partial-birth abortion likely caused more Americans to identify as pro-life."  

 

In the latest poll, Gallup reports that 26% of Americans favor legalized abortion under any circumstances, with 13% favoring legality under most circumstances, 38% favoring it in only in a few circumstances, and 20% saying it should be illegal in all circumstances.   Add those last 2 categories together, and you find, as the Susan B. Anthony list put it, 58% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.

 

The light of truth is certainly being shone on the abortion industry, and combined with the knowledge of the development of an unborn child in the womb through ultrasound technology, hearts and minds perhaps will be changed about the sanctity of life.

The 3 - May 5, 2013

This edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", includes the response to an NBA player admitting his homosexuality and how people of faith have united behind an ESPN commentator that doesn't exactly think this revelation should be celebrated.   Also, the subject of religious liberty in the armed forces reached a whole new level this week as scrutiny was given to the military's policy on sharing your faith and who might be shaping that policy.  The top story:  the observance of the National Day of Prayer at thousands of locales across America, reminding us of the power and significance of united prayer.

3 - NBA player "comes out", ESPN commentator shares Biblical perspective, gains support from Christian leaders

The news travelled swiftly - the first professional player in a men's major sport to admit that he was gay, according to a piece in Sports Illustrated.   And, while there are those that lauded Jason Collins for his admission, calling him courageous and assorted other positive accolades, there were also those that were either indifferent to the admission (you could make the case that a player's sexuality shouldn't be a matter of discussion), or expressed concern that Collins should not have received the attention or the affirmation.

One of those that was none too happy about Collins' revelation was an ESPN commentator named Chris Broussard.  In a discussion aired on the "worldwide leader", he said:

Personally, I don't believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you're openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that's a sin. If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ..."

And, he made a very strong statement about the fruit of someone claiming to be a believer in Christ:

"I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian."

Well, Broussard definitely drew his share of opposition, he was called homophobic and there were calls for his ouster.  ESPN did apologize for Chris' comments, but did not require Broussard to issue an apology.   CitizenLink and the Manhattan Declaration stood with him, encouraging people to send comments of support to ESPN.

Broussard did make a non-apologetic follow-up statement, though.   He said,

...I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA.

PGA golfer Bubba Watson had tweeted out support for the commentator, who had claimed that there are those in the NBA who share his views, but who do not express that perspective because they do not want to be labeled. 

The Christian Post reported that in a teleconference on Thursday sponsored by the K.I.N.G. men's organization, of which Brossard is president, he said, "Even though I'm getting a lot of hate God is being glorified."  He stated, "I'm getting such an outpouring of support from Christians throughout the country and even throughout the world. I've had several big name pastors call me or tweet in support of me. I've had NBA players and coaches and management call me in support."
John Piper is one of those pastors.  In a tweet directing his fans to the link on Broussard's commentary, Piper, former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota, wrote: "Chris Broussard. This is solid steel in a world of cattails."

Yes, this is yet another example of someone who has dared to express a contrary, and Biblical, opinion toward accepting homosexual practice in our society.   And, it shows the intolerance by those promoting the gay agenda for opposing viewpoints that we see all too often on these matters.   It is clear that there are many who are not pushing for equality or a level playing field, but forced subservience to their view concerning the normalization and legitimization of homosexual behavior.  This viewpoint should not prevent Christians from speaking firmly, yet gracefully about God's view of sexuality.

2 - Role of religion in military becomes prevalent topic after news emerges about possible new guidelines

Over the course of the past week, concern has escalated regarding religious freedom in the military.  Recent reports of an Army training presentation citing evangelicals and Catholics as extremists and an e-mail from an Army officer decrying certain Christian organizations for their extremism pale by comparison to a scathing editorial that was published in the Huffington Post on April 16 by a certain Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.   A quote from the piece led a recent column by Ken Klukowski of the Family Research Council on Breitbart.com:

“Today, we face incredibly well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.” 

Klukowski goes on to write about a Washington Post piece by Sally Quinn that references an April 23 meeting that included Weinstein, former Ambassador Joe Wilson, some military officials, and oh, yes, a military chaplain, that presumably dealt with the implementation of new policy in the military concerning religious expression.

The column also, according to Klukowski, approvingly quotes MRFF Advisory Board member Larry Wilkerson as saying, “Sexual assault and proselytizing, according to Wilkerson, ‘are absolutely destructive of the bonds that keep soldiers together.’”  Ken goes on to say:

Did you get that? They say having someone share the Christian gospel with you is akin to being raped. Weinstein makes sure there are no doubts, being quoted by the Post as adding, “This is a national security threat. What is happening [aside from sexual assault] is spiritual rape. And what the Pentagon needs is to understand is that it is sedition and treason. It should be punished.”

Another MRFF Advisory Board member, Ambassador Joe Wilson (the far-left husband of CIA employee Valerie Plame from the Iraq War’s yellow-cake uranium scandal a decade ago), said a military chaplain “is to minister to spiritual needs. You don’t proselytize. It’s a workplace violation.” 

In other words, it should be the official policy of the United States to decree what a human being’s spiritual needs are, and punish for violations a military officer who is an ordained clergyman who attempts to share his own personal faith with another service member when discussing religious matters. 

Some very troubling material, indeed.   The Family Research Council got out front of the story, put a petition to the Secretary of Defense online, and very quickly gathered thousands of signatures.  The Alliance Defending Freedom launched another offensive by filing a Freedom of Information Act request for e-mails relative to MRFF involvement in shaping and enforcing this policy.

By Friday, the same military spokesman who had previously said, "Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense..." and, "Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis...”, was saying this concerning religious freedom in the military: “Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one’s beliefs (proselytization).”

According to a CitizenLink report, the ADF is not particularly convinced by the new comments.   ADF Legal Counsel Joseph La Rue said, “We appreciate the Pentagon’s clarification, but little or no evidence exists of coercive proselytization in the military, so we are troubled over what motivated the original comments."

The Defense Department has attempted to clarify, and according to The Tennessean, the same military spokesman said, "... all service members are free to exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion in a manner that is respectful of other individuals’ rights to follow their own belief systems; and in ways that are conducive to good order and discipline; and that do not detract from accomplishing the military mission."

This seems reassuring, but some lingering questions for people of faith need to be answered:

- what is the difference between evangelizing and proselytization?   Apparently, coercion and lack of consent would come into play, but what constitutes coercion?   Could someone merely sharing about the hope within them to someone who is less than willing to hear be interpreted as coercion, even though that was not the intent?

- is there some sort of new policy on religious expression that is being considered for the military?

- why did military leadership include Weinstein in its meetings on implementing policy on religious expression, especially since his definitions of the words stated above would probably be glaringly different than the views of a plurality religious people within the military, including chaplains?

While I and most mainstream Christians would not endorse coercion within the ranks of the armed forces, it is important for our military members to know exactly what the lines are and to be assured that their constitutional rights of freedom of religion are being upheld.

1 - National Day of Prayer unites believers to call on God for our nation

At city halls and county courthouses, in churches and civic centers across America, people joined together on Thursday to offer prayers to God, calling out to Him with one voice.  According to the NDP Task Force, 50 Governors and the President of the United States proclaimed the 62^nd annual National Day of Prayer as millions of Americans gathered from coast to coast in solemn assembly.  The Task Force says it was the single, largest mobilized effort to prayer in the history of our nation with more than 42,000 events held nationally.

The Cannon House Office Building was the setting for the National Observance on Thursday morning, which featured keynote speaker, Honorary Chairman, Greg Laurie, who said, according to the NDP Task Force website, “With God nothing is impossible and God can turn America around.” After his powerful words of affirmation, hope and inspiration, he closed with the reading of the national prayer.

Finally, according to the site, it was Rear Admiral William D. Lee who ended the 3-hour event with five, yes 5, standing ovations. He gave a desperate appeal for prayer asking all to lift up the armed forces at such a critical time in our nation’s history. “Pray that we will be able to weather the storm that I am almost certain will come – that we will not be required to put aside our Constitutional rights,” he said.   The message was spoken from the heart, no doubt in response to the concerns emerging during the previous week about religious freedom in the military.

Shirley Dobson, Task Force Chairperson, her husband, Dr. James Dobson, Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt and Congressional colleague Frank Wolf, Pat Boone, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black, and Vonette Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ co-founder were also included in the national celebration.

And, that night, the OneCry Prayer Summit was broadcast to some 500 radio stations across the nation, including a variety of speakers and musical artists.  An initiative of Life Action Ministries, the OneCry is a movement of believers who are urgently crying out to God to revive the church and transform the culture. 

The National Day of Prayer is an important day, but it should transcend mere symbolism to motivate God's people to significant prayer and action.   In desperate times, we must bow our hearts before God and demonstrate a passionate dependence on Him, believing that He will make Himself known as we honor Him and humble ourselves before the hand of Almighty God.