The 3 - April 24, 2022

The 3 offers three stories of relevance to the Christian community, and in this week's edition, there is news from Florida regarding new guidelines on attempts to change a person's gender. Also, a Federal appeals court has sided with the challengers of speech codes on the University of Central Florida campus. Plus, a man preaching God's Word in public in the U.K. has been acquitted of charges that he broke the law.

Florida health department takes steps to protect children from gender change treatments and surgeries

The pushback to the real-life harmful consequences of pushing the LGBTQ agenda on children continues in Florida.  Just weeks after Alabama passed a bill criminalizing the use of so-called "gender change" treatments and surgeries, which proponents are now calling, "gender-affirming," the Department of Health of the state of Florida, which is certainly on a mission to stop the advance of this agenda, issued a set of guidelines regarding attempts to change one's gender.

Liberty Counsel reported that:

In a press release from the DOH, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo stated, “The federal government's medical establishment releasing guidance failing at the most basic level of academic rigor shows that this was never about health care. It was about injecting political ideology into the health of our children. Children experiencing gender dysphoria should be supported by family and seek counseling, not pushed into an irreversible decision before they reach 18.”

The article goes on to say:

Florida’s DOH further stated that “current evidence does not support the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgical procedures for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria considering:

• 80% of those seeking clinical care will lose their desire to identify with the non-birth sex,
• the importance of puberty to brain development, with the pre-frontal cortex (which is responsible for executive functions, such as decision making) continuing to develop until approximately 25 years of age,
• and the potentially irreversible consequences such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, infertility, increased cancer risk, and thrombosis.”

But there are Biblical answers to gender dysphoria, answers that some policymakers want to ban.  Liberty Counsel points out that it...

...represents licensed therapists who provide life-saving counseling to minors who desperately desire to conform their attractions, behaviors, and gender identities to their sincerely held religious beliefs. In Otto v. City of Boca Raton, FL, a three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a city and county ordinance that banned counselors from providing minor clients with help to reduce or eliminate unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, or gender confusion. The appeals court found that the laws were both content and viewpoint based and violate the First Amendment right to free speech.

Federal appeals court sides with challengers on speech codes

We have seen instances in which colleges and universities have attempted to limit the speech of individuals and groups, including Christians, by implementing stiff regulations, including speech codes and small "speech zones," where free speech is permissible. The Christian Post has reported that at the University of Central Florida, a speech code had been put in place, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has recently found it to be unconstitutional.

The article notes:

In February 2021, Speech First filed a lawsuit against university officials on behalf of students seeking to engage in debates over hot-button issues.

According to the complaint, the university policy was “overbroad” because it punished students who engaged in “verbal acts, name-calling, [or] graphic or written statements (via the use of cell phone or the internet)” that other students may find “humiliating” or offensive.

The lawsuit expressed concern over UCF’s bias response team, which according to the lawsuit, could discipline behavior done on or off campus “without regard to whether the act is legal, illegal, intentional, or unintentional.”

The article says that a three-judge panel ruled unanimously against the university, overturning a lower court decision.  The case has been sent back to the lower court. 

Alliance Defending Freedom had filed a "friend-of-the-court" brief in the case; Vice President of Appellate Advocacy and Senior Counsel John Bursch said, in part:

“...We are pleased the 11th Circuit continues to protect this fundamental right and has affirmed freedom for all students at the University of Central Florida. Universities ought to encourage a diverse set of viewpoints and perspectives, not stifle those opinions with which they disagree. As the 11th Circuit rightly pointed out, some regulations that appear well-meaning—like the university’s anti-harassment, anti-discrimination policy in question—can be so vague and broadly applied, that students simply wishing to share their religious or ideological views are chilled into silence. That is a violation of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment for every American.”

British street preacher accused of "hate speech" acquitted

A man in the United Kingdom who was exercising his free speech rights by preaching in public has been acquitted. Christian Headlines reported that:

According to the website Conservative Woman, Pastor John Sherwood of the Penn Free Methodist Church of Penn, England, was acquitted of the charges by the Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on April 7.

As Christian Headlines previously reported, Sherwood was arrested in April 2021 at the center of Uxbridge, London, for preaching on the biblical definition of marriage as outlined in the book of Genesis.

The article goes on to say:

According to CBN News, Sherwood's trial was filled with Scripture to drive home the point that his preaching is grounded in the Word of God. "Pastor Sherwood was determined to impress upon the prosecution that everything that he ever preaches upon is grounded in the final authority of God's word, the Bible," his colleague, Pastor Peter Simpson, wrote in the Conservative Woman article.

Christian Headlines also notes: "Sherwood, who asked to be sworn in with his own Bible, argued in his defense that he has a right to freedom of expression as outlined in Article 10 of the U.K.'s 1998 Human Rights Act."

The 3 - April 17, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes two veto overrides in the state of Kentucky, including pro-life bill and a bill that prevents biological males from participating in girls' sports.  Also, DC police said that five babies whose bodies were among waste removed from an abortion clinic were not viable, but pro-lifers are telling a different story.  Plus, a well-known sports commentator and former NFL coach has responded forcefully to criticism for supporting a Florida law that is designed to promote fatherhood. 

Bluegrass state lawmakers override gubernatorial vetoes on pro-life, trans sports bills

It's no secret - the (blue) grass roots for religious freedom are strong in the Bluegrass state, but between the limitations placed on a county clerk who did not wish to grant same-sex marriage licenses to the oppression of churches during the pandemic, some higher authorities have not been respectful of the freedom to practice one's faith.

And, Governor Andy Beshear was caught recently pushing progressive causes, such as the participation of biological males in female sports and the advocacy for abortion - the Legislature, however, said "no."

Alliance Defending Freedom reports that the Legislature voted to override the veto of a bill that is "designed to protect athletic opportunities for the state’s female athletes." ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Advocacy Strategy Emilie Kao said that "Kentucky now joins a strong coalition of states that have acted to preserve fair competition for all female athletes, whether in grade school or in college, ensuring they will not face the losses that come with allowing males to compete in women’s sports. We are grateful for the Kentucky legislators who took a strong stand for female athletes by overriding the governor’s veto.”

Susan B. Anthony List reported on another veto override on strong pro-life legislation, which "protects unborn children from painful late abortions, stops dangerous mail-order abortion drugs, and more. Science shows unborn children can feel pain by 15 weeks and that chemical abortion poses a growing public health threat."

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said that “Beshear is an extremist who regularly sides with the abortion lobby against constituents and must be held accountable. Like most Americans, Kentuckians want commonsense safeguards for unborn babies and their mothers and reject abortion on demand. We thank all our allies who fought to get this legislation across the finish line, and we hope the U.S. Supreme Court will soon allow the people and their legislators nationwide to enact laws that save lives.”

Bodies of over one hundred babies who were aborted found, five could have lived outside the womb, pro-lifers claim

A convoluted series of events in Washington, DC involving pro-life advocates and an abortion clinic has resulted in a groundswell of concern for the lives of unborn babies. The Standing for Freedom Center reports that according to the activists, the bodies of 115 aborted children "including the five third-trimester children, were provided to them by a truck driver who had come to pick up 'biomedical waste' from the Washington Surgi-Clinic...," which is a local abortion clinic.

The website says that the activists "alerted the D.C. Metropolitan Police to the fact that they had recovered the remains of five late-term fetuses who may have been illegally killed at the Washington Surgi-Clinic." But, there were nine members of the group, the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, who were "arrested on federal charges, not for having possession of the fetal remains but for having allegedly illegally entered the Washington Surgi-Clinic in violation of federal law in October 2020." And, as the Center relates, "The D.C. police have not investigated the case of the five fetuses, but they say the children died as a result of abortion 'in accordance with D.C. law.'"

The abortionist at this clinic is Dr. Cesare Santangelo, who has been likened by pro-life advocates to the well-known abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who is serving a prison sentence of life without parole.

Standing for Freedom says that "PAAU and other activists are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to take over the investigation from the D.C. police and to prosecute Santangelo for violating the aforementioned federal laws."  The Center notes that "Nearly 70 members of Congress...are calling on the Justice Department to investigate and determine if any federal laws were violated. Prior to that, another 23...sent a letter to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Chief of Police Robert J. Contee III, demanding that the D.C. police conduct an investigation, compete [sic] with autopsies. They also sent a copy of the letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland."

A Twitter hashtag has been launched: #JusticeForTheFive. The article notes that March for Life tweeted: “These five children, like all children, have inherent value and deserved better than abortion – they deserved life. But at a minimum, they deserve to have their deaths investigated to ensure that no D.C. or federal laws were broken.”  The article also notes that:

Allie Beth Stuckey responded to the tragic find by writing a lengthy feature article for World. She stated, “While there are lingering unknowns surrounding this story, the heartbreaking images remind us of this incontrovertible truth: Abortion is a horrifying, grotesque, and evil tragedy. There is no nuance here. No caveats. It is not possible to be ‘personally pro-life’ but politically pro-abortion. There is no ‘pro-life ethic’ that does not include legal opposition to abortion.”

Lila Rose of Live Action tweeted: "The abortionist, the industry he works in, and the government of D.C. think that if they can just ignore this scandal long enough, it will go away. I can promise them that they are wrong. We will not stop demanding justice for these children until true justice is achieved.”

Legendary coach responds to critics over support of Florida fatherhood bill

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has continued to receive hostility for his actions - for instance, he has come under fire for his support of the commonsense bill protecting the rights of parents and the hearts and minds of young children regarding teaching about gender and sexuality.  He has been a leading voice for freedom during the coronavirus pandemic. The New York Post reports that DeSantis "signed a 15-week abortion ban into law," and noted that Florida had joined other states "that have imposed similar restrictions on the procedure."  The Post states:

The new law — which will go into effect July 1 — would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a dramatic cut from the current limit of 24 weeks.

It does not allow for exemptions for pregnancies causes by rape, incest or human trafficking. However, it does permit the procedure when an abortion is deemed necessary to save the mother’s life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

The article noted that Oklahoma and Kentucky recently implemented pro-life legislation. 

And,Gov. DeSantis just signed a bill that allots public dollars to support the institution of fatherhood in the state.

At the bill-signing ceremony, there was an appearance by former Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy. ChristianHeadlines.com reports that, "Social media was filled with criticism of Dungy for appearing alongside DeSantis.  The article reported that Dungy tweeted out, “2 days ago, I spoke on behalf of a Florida bill that supports dads & families, and it offended some people,” adding “14 yrs ago, Pres Obama said the same things almost verbatim. I’m assuming people were outraged at him too. I am serving the Lord, so I’ll keep supporting dads and families.” The article says that:

Dungy, in the tweet, referenced a quote by Obama where the former president said, “children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.”

As Fox 13 Tampa Bay noted, the organization that Dungy founded, All Pro Dad, will benefit from this new program. 

The 3 - April 10, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 highlights good news out of the Alabama Legislature and the Governor's Office concerning legislation that protects children in the state from potentially harmful ideas and procedures concerning sexuality.  Also, there's good pro-life news out of Oklahoma, where a strong pro-life bill has cleared the state Legislature.  But, a New York City Christian leader appointed to a special education panel has been swiftly removed after reports that she told the truth about the sinfulness of homosexuality.

Alabama governor signs bills to protect children from harmful LGBTQ ideology and actions

Last week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed two bills related to stemming the tide of the advance of LGTBQ ideology in the state.  As the Alabama Citizens Action Program, or ALCAP, reported it, the VCAP bill, "...prevents parents from allowing hormone blockers and/or surgical procedures to be used on their children under the age of 19." The report notes that the bill continues to allow hormone blockers, but not for changing the "sexual appearance of a child."

The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family noted that the bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 24-6 and in the House by a 66-28 margin - it says that the bill "recognizes the research that the substantial majority of minors 'experiencing discordance between their sex and their sense of identity' will outgrow it by the end of puberty and their discordance will be resolved in favor of an identity that aligns with their sex."

The other bill, which has been described as a "transgender bathroom bill," according to ALCAP, "requires school children to use the bathroom that matches their sex at birth. An amendment was added that prevents sexual orientation from being taught in grades K-5."  Yellowhammer News reported that "The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 26-5 and was concurred in the House by a vote of 70-26."

Oklahoma passes strong pro-life legislation penalizing abortionists

Several years ago, Alabama legislators passed the Human Life Protection Act, which banned most abortions in the state. It was set aside in the Federal courts.  According to The Federalist, the bill "defines all unborn children as persons..." and "defines most abortions as class A felonies and attempted abortions as class C felonies." 

Now Oklahoma, in the face of the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, has passed a strong pro-life bill with similar provisions.

CBN News reported that: "Oklahoma lawmakers passed a measure...that would make performing an abortion a felony except during a medical emergency that calls for saving the life of the mother."  It goes on to say, "Under the bill known as SB 612, a person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine."  The bill passed the House 70-14 and was sent on to Governor Kevin Stitt. 

The article notes:

Word of the Oklahoma bill's passage came a day after Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis signed a measure putting the right to abortion into state statute.

It permits abortion for any reason and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions.

NYC education leader fired for views on LGBTQ

It was only a matter of hours after Kathlyn Barrett-Layne had been appointed to New York City's Panel for Education Policy when new Mayor Eric Adams removed her.

The Washington Examiner reported that Barrett-Layne "was forced to resign from her position hours after being appointed following reports she had previously labeled homosexuality as a sinful behavior alongside adultery, pedophilia, and fornication."  The article states:

In an interview with the New York Times, Barrett-Layne claimed her comments were taken out of context.

"I feel bullied. I believe that the city is being bullied,” she said. "I feel as though my character, my name, my church have been defamed with lies and that everything was taken out of context."

The new appointee "had previously written a book titled Challenging Your Disappointments as Appointments With Destiny that said Christian leaders dealt with the same temptations their congregations did, including homosexuality." She wrote: "Leaders struggle with the same temptations of drugs, alcohol, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, pedophilia, stealing, lying, envy, covetousness, and every other sin that the congregation struggle with..." The article relates, "The writings were first reported by the New York Daily News and resulted in Barrett-Layne's resignation hours after Adams announced her appointment to the panel."

The 3 - April 3, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 includes good news out of Finland, where a high-ranking public official and religious leader have been exonerated in a religious freedom case.  Also, governors in two more states have signed legislation that would prevent biological males from participating on female sports teams.  And, the White House's new budget recommends waiving a provision that prevents taxpayer funding of abortion.

Finnish official triumphs in free speech case

A Member of Parliament in Finland, Päivi Räsänen, as well as Bishop Juhana Pohjola, faced punishment for publicly sharing their religious beliefs regarding sexuality.  The Helsinki District Court has dismissed the charges against both of them, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International, which reports that Räsänen...

...had been charged with “hate speech” for sharing her faith-based views on marriage and sexual ethics, in a 2019 tweet, a 2019 radio debate, and a 2004 pamphlet. The bishop faced charges for publishing Räsänen’s pamphlet for his congregation over 17 years ago. Their case has garnered global media attention this year, as human rights experts voiced concern over the threat this case posed to free speech in Finland.

The ADF International website also stated that:

Räsänen’s defence, supported by the legal advocacy organization ADF International, argued that finding Räsänen guilty would significantly damage free speech in Finland. What Räsänen said, they argued, was an expression of Christian teaching.

The Court recognized that while some may object to Räsänen’s statements, “there must be an overriding social reason for interfering with and restricting freedom of expression.” The Court concluded there was no such justification.

More governors sign bills limiting male participation in female sports

The number of states who now have laws preventing biological males from participating in girls' or women's sports continues to grow. Last week, the Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, according to The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family, signed such a bill into law, saying that the bill was “common sense," adding, “When it comes to sports and athletics, girls should compete against girls. Boys should compete against boys. And let’s be very clear: That’s all this bill says."

In Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey signed three significant bills into law, according to a report on the ABC15 website, which stated that the governor "signed a number of bills Wednesday, including banning abortions after 15 weeks, gender reassignment surgery for minors, and banning transgender athletes from playing on girls' sports teams."

The report said that one bill...

...delays irreversible gender reassignment surgery until the age of 18. The bill does not prohibit puberty-blocking hormones or any other hormone therapy and will not require any child to go off any prescriptions they may be taking.

The sports bill, according to the article, "requires all Arizona public schools, and any private schools that compete against them, to expressly designate their interscholastic athletics teams based on the biological sex of the participating students."

Ducey said, regarding the two gender-related bills, "...This legislation is common-sense and narrowly targeted to address these two specific issues ⁠— while ensuring that transgender individuals continue to receive the same dignity, respect and kindness as every individual in our society..."

No Hyde Amendment in President's latest budget

The pro-life advocacy organization, the Susan B. Anthony List praised the actions of Governor Ducey, as well as the Arizona Legislature: SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel said:

“We thank Governor Ducey for delivering a swift victory for women and children. The new law signed today will save approximately 900 lives a year by stopping barbaric late abortions. In Arizona and across America, life is winning, with hundreds of pro-life measures introduced in legislatures nationwide this year. Ahead of a decision in the Dobbs Supreme Court case, momentum is growing to modernize our laws and remove the United States from the tiny club of nations – including China and North Korea – that allow abortion on demand well after unborn children feel pain, even up to birth...

Susan B. Anthony List also criticized President Biden for proposing a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes taxpayer funding of abortion. The organization's website says that:

The FY 2023 budget proposal calls for:

• Eliminating the Hyde Amendment, longstanding bipartisan policy that prevents taxpayer funding of abortion on demand, as well as the Dornan Amendment (“D.C. Hyde”).
• A 40% funding increase to Title X, the second largest source of taxpayer funds for abortion giant Planned Parenthood, while the Biden administration previously rolled back the Protect Life Rule.
• A 72% funding increase to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),which has actively partnered with some of the worst human rights abusers in the world, like China and North Korea.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated, “For more than four decades, the Hyde family of pro-life policies has kept American taxpayers out of the abortion business, with the Hyde Amendment itself saving 2.5 million lives."

The 3 - March 27, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 includes hearings that occurred in Washington this week on a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and provides information on a high court decision concerning a death row inmate's interaction with clergy in the final hours.  Plus, numerous states have been considering bills to ban male athletes from participating in women's sports, and there are several developments.

SCOTUS nominee avoids questions on gender, science, and child porn sentences

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings this week to hear from U.S. Supreme Court nominee Katanji Brown Jackson. Her opponents have expressed their concern for her judicial activism but her statements on gender and life have caused concern, in addition to her record on sentencing those guilty of child pornography.

Denny Burk, the President of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, wrote in his blog concerning Judge Jackson's response to Sen. Marsha Blackburn's request for the prospective justice to provide the definition of a "woman."

Here we have a Supreme Court nominee who either can’t or won’t offer a definition of what a woman is. Why? Because she claims that she’s not a biologist. Really?

Burk states, "Have we really come to the point that a sitting judge and nominee for the highest court in the land cannot define what a woman is? Think how fast transgender propaganda has taken root in our culture that this very basic question would produce a blank stare and an 'I don’t know' from a sitting judge."

He also writes:

The One who creates has the right to command. He also has the right to name and define. Indeed He has written His design into every cell of our bodies. Our actual identity as male or female is not self-constructed, self-defined, or self-directed. Our identity as male and female is God-constructed, God-defined, and God-directed. Maleness or femaleness aren’t assigned at birth. Rather, they are revealed in God’s special, distinct design of male and female bodies.

Attorney Jenna Ellis, writing at Newsmax, states that Jackson...

...is far form ignorant, and she likely knows defining "what is a woman" destroys the crux of the left’s gender theory as a social construct, which has implications for litigation that will likely end up at the high court.

This isn’t just a policy or biology question.

This is key to uncovering Jackson’s judicial philosophy. Sex is a protected class under the Civil Rights Act. Title VII and IX are all about women. Legislation protecting women’s sports is being signed into law or contemplated in states across the country.

How can Judge Jackson provide a competent opinion on these issues if she "can’t" provide a definition to the word 'woman'?

Ellis adds, "How can the American people know whether or not Jackson will be faithful to the Constitution, which protects our fundamental rights, when she won’t answer questions?"

Lila Rose of Live Action wrote on Twitter regarding Jackson's record on Child Sexual Abuse Material: "Tragically, in every case in which Judge Jackson had discretion, she gave CSAM criminals sentences below the guidelines & below what the prosecutors sought. During her hearings, Judge Jackson has indicated she thinks penalties for these crimes should be lighter. I disagree."  She added, "The greatest responsibility of adults is to protect those more vulnerable. Children are the most vulnerable members of society. It is profoundly unjust when we permit the law to be lenient with their rapists––in part because children have no way to advocate for themselves."  In conclusion, Rose wrote: "I strongly oppose Judge Ketanji Brown for her pro-abortion advocacy, but her leniency on child sex abusers is another reason for all of us to passionately oppose her confirmation to the highest court of justice in the land."

Lila Rose was one of almost 40 pro-life leaders who signed a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing concern over her pro-abortion record.

High court affirms right for death row inmate to have clergy interaction

While Senators questioned Ketanji Brown Jackson this week in hearings, the current high court issued a decision in the case of a Texas death row inmate who had requested that a member of the clergy lay hands on him and pray during his final hours.

The SCOTUS Blog website reported: 

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that a man on death row in Texas can have his pastor touch him and pray out loud while he is being executed. The decision in Ramirez v. Collier was the latest chapter in the nearly three-year-long dispute over the presence of spiritual advisers at executions, and the justices appeared to express some frustration that the case was before them at all. The ruling, which urged states to adopt clear rules for the future and instructed courts to allow executions to go forward with religious accommodations when necessary, brought together justices from both ends of the ideological spectrum, with only Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting.

Alliance Defending Freedom, which had filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the prisoner, John Ramirez, included a quote on its website from Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch:

“Mr. Ramirez has come to hold sincere religious beliefs, and his appeal to God in his final moments demands respect and accommodation. The First Amendment right to freely exercise one’s religion extends to prison and to those like Mr. Ramirez who are confined within its walls. Throughout history, clergy members have been a comforting and expected presence at executions, ministering over and praying for the condemned before death. We are pleased the Supreme Court has affirmed Mr. Ramirez’s constitutionally protected freedom to have his pastor pray by his side at such an hour.”

Transgender sports bills advance in several states, veto in one state overriden

The groundswell in state after state to prevent the unfortunate occurrence of male athletes participating in women's sports based on the biological male's so-called "transition" continues, with the Arizona Legislature becoming one of the latest states to ban male participation. CBN News reports that:

The Arizona legislature voted on Thursday to prohibit sex-change surgeries on children and to ban transgender athletes who were born male from playing on girls' sports teams.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has not said if he will sign either of the bills.

The article notes that this week, governors in Indiana and Utah "vetoed similar bills that were intended to protect the rights of women and girls who are athletes."

However, in Utah, as the National File website reports, "...the Utah legislature voted to override Governor Spencer Cox’s veto of a measure that would prevent transgender girls from participating in female sports in schools across the state." The override vote in the House was 56-18 vote; in the Senate it was 21-8.  The article says:

Cox, who has “he/him” pronouns in his Twitter bio, wanted Utah to become the first state to find a “compromise” that would protect the integrity of women’s sports while also allowing limited participation form “transgender youth.”

Regarding the Indiana legislation, according to the article, Governor Eric Holcomb "claimed the bill left 'too many unanswered questions' and questioned the need for such legislation at the state level."

The Arizona bill dealing with attempts to change a child's gender would only limit surgeries, but not "hormone therapies and puberty blockers," according to CBN. That is unlike Alabama's proposed Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, currently awaiting consideration in the House, which would ban surgeries and treatments.

The 3 - March 20, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes several stories relative to the LGBTQ+ agenda, including the continued opposition to allowing male swimmer Will (Lia) Thomas to compete in women's events.  Also, a teacher in Kansas has faced action against her for refusing to call a student by the requested "gender identity" pronouns.  And, backlash among gay employees at Disney continues in light of Florida's passage of a bill protecting parental rights and impressionable children regarding "gender identity" continues.

Male swimmer wins again in women's competition, Christian women's group files complaint

Ordinarily, one could be dazzled and amazed by the women's swimming records that have fallen as the result of the University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.  However, Thomas' records have been tarnished because they have been challenged by a biological man, named Will Thomas.

And, the Christian-based advocacy organization Concerned Women for America has said, "enough."  According to the Christian Newswire website:

Concerned Women for America (CWA) filed a formal Civil Rights Complaint under Title IX with the U.S. Department of Education against the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for refusing to protect the rights of college female athletes under federal law.

UPenn continues to allow male athletes who identify as women to compete in women's sports. Lia Thomas (formerly Will Thomas), a Division I swimmer who is biologically male but rostered as a senior on UPenn's women's team, has competed throughout the season displacing female teammates in events and shattering pool, league, and national records.

Penny Nance, CEO and President of CWA, says: "The future of women's sports is at risk and the equal rights of female athletes are being infringed," adding, "We filed a formal civil rights complaint against UPenn in response to this injustice." Nance went on to say, "Any school that defies federal civil rights law by denying women equal opportunities in athletic programs, forcing women to compete against athletes who are biologically male must be held accountable."

Kansas teacher fights back after being forced to use gender identity pronouns

Perhaps you heard my conversation that aired last week on The Meeting House on Faith Radio with Monica Gill, a teacher in Loudoun County, VA, who is challenging her school district's policy requiring teachers to use a student's "gender identity" pronouns rather than the ones corresponding to the biological gender.  The conversation can be found online at FaithRadio.org and through the Faith Radio app. 

The Christian Post reports on Kansas teacher Pamela Ricard, who, according to article on the website, "...has filed a lawsuit against her school district after being suspended for refusing to use a trans-identified student’s preferred name and pronouns because doing so would violate her religious beliefs."  Ricard is a middle-school math teacher in Geary County, Kansas.  The story states:

According to the lawsuit, Ricard was suspended in April 2021 for three days and given a written reprimand because she called a biologically female student by her legal name and used female pronouns.

The article also notes:

The lawsuit further states that Ricard is a Christian who “holds sincere religious beliefs consistent with the traditional Christian and biblical understanding of the human person and biological sex.”

“Any policy that requires Ms. Ricard to refer to a student by a gendered, non-binary, or plural pronoun (e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them, zhe/zher, etc.) or salutation (Mr., Miss, Ms.) or other gendered language that is different from the student’s biological sex actively violates Ms. Ricard’s religious beliefs,” continued the lawsuit.

Ricard had requested an accommodation, but was denied by the school board.

Disney LGBTQ employees chide company for perceived lack of support over FL parental rights bill, company decides to put gay kiss in animated film

Last week, I reported to you about the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which was passed by the Florida Legislature and affirms the rights of parents in directing their children's education and prevents the teaching of so-called "gender identity" for young students in schools.  

The CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek, spoke out against the legislation toward the final days of the legislative process, but was derided because he did not speak out soon enough, according to LGBTQ+ employees of the company. CBN News reported that gay employees of Pixar, which is a division of Disney, in addition to criticizing the degree of Chapek's opposition to the Florida legislation, also demanded that a same-sex kiss that had been cut from the upcoming Buzz Lightyear movie be restored.  The company announced that the action will be included in the animated feature.

The CBN story linked to a piece on the Variety website, which said:

According to a source close to the production, Pixar’s next feature film, “Lightyear” — starring Chris Evans as the putative real-life inspiration for the “Toy Story” character Buzz Lightyear — does feature a significant female character, Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba), who is in a meaningful relationship with another woman. While the fact of that relationship was never in question at the studio, a kiss between the characters had been cut from the film. Following the uproar surrounding the Pixar employees’ statement and Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, however, the kiss was reinstated into the movie last week.

The Variety piece notes several examples of Pixar's previous attempts to interject gay-friendly content in the past; it states:

In Pixar’s 27-year history, there have been just a small handful of unambiguous LGBTQ characters of any kind. In 2020’s “Onward,” a one-eyed cop (Lena Waithe), who appears in a few scenes, mentions her girlfriend. In 2019’s “Toy Story 4,” two moms hug their child goodbye at kindergarten. And 2016’s “Finding Dory” features a brief shot of what appears to be a lesbian couple, though the movie’s filmmakers were coy about defining them that way at the time. The most overtly LGBTQ project in Pixar’s canon is a 2020 short film, “Out,” about a gay man struggling with coming out to his parents — which the studio released on Disney Plus as part of its SparkShorts program.

The story also points out that a LGBTQ relationship in Luca was toned down and gay symbols in backgrounds of Soul and Inside Out have been nixed in the past. Also a walkout has been announced for Tuesday as a step to "regain trust of the LGBTQIA+ community and employees."

The 3 - March 13, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes a new law in Florida that protects parents and young students from harmful ideology regarding sexuality. Also, the pro-life Texas Heartbeat Act has withstood another challenge in court. And, the leadership of a large organization of Christian communicators has reaffirmed it commitment to upholding Biblical truth.

Bill to restrain teaching of LGBTQ agenda to younger school children passes FL Legislature

It's being derided as the "Don't Say Gay" bill in Florida, and Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing back on the legislation that has now been passed by both chambers of the state Legislature. The Christian Post states:

At the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Monday, the Republican governor responded to a question from WFLA reporter Evan Donovan about HR 1557, “an act relating to parental rights in education.”

The bill would ban “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation and gender identity” for kindergarten through third-grade students. Donovan prefaced the question by noting that critics refer to the legislation as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” a characterization that DeSantis took issue with.

The article goes on to say:

The Christian Family Coalition Florida, an organization that has advocated for HR 1557, issued a statement to The Christian Post describing the Senate’s passage of the legislation as “a huge victory for parental rights.”

In a tweet last week, DeSantis’ Press Secretary Christina Pushaw characterized HR 1557 as an “Anti-Grooming Bill.”

In a statement to local news outlet 10 Tampa Bay, Pushaw indicated that she came up with the term “Anti-Grooming Bill” herself, asserting that DeSantis has never used the phrase. At the same time, she maintained that “For ages 3-9, classroom instruction on sexual topics is not developmentally appropriate, and it’s difficult to understand why anyone would disagree.”

The Christian Post notes that the U.S. Department of Education has voiced its opposition for the bill.

Texas "Heartbeat Act" loses in court...again

The law has been challenged by abortion supporters and it has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court two times, yet the law banning abortion in the state of Texas at and after the point when a heartbeat can be detected by ultrasound continues to withstand challenges and save lives.

CBN News reports that:

In a ruling Friday, the Texas Supreme Court delivered another legal blow to abortion providers' federal lawsuit challenging the state's abortion restrictions.

The court ruled state agencies are not authorized to enforce the law, and thus, recommended the abortion industry's lawsuit be dismissed.

It's the enforcement mechanism that has protected the law from being struck down in court, relying on private citizens to bring civil lawsuits rather than authorize state agencies to punish abortion providers. The CBN article states:

In a statement, the pro-life group Texas Right to Life called the ruling, "a big victory."

"Today's ruling is a big victory for the life-saving Texas Heartbeat Act," the group said. "We have said from the beginning that abortionists' lawsuit should be dismissed. The Legislature clearly never intended state agencies to participate in enforcing the Texas Heartbeat Act, and the Supreme Court of Texas agreed. This is not the final step in the journey, as the case will now return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but it affirms a positive path forward for the historic law. We're grateful that the Texas Heartbeat Act will continue saving thousands of lives, and we're hopeful that the judiciary will soon pave the way to protect all preborn children by overturning Roe v. Wade."

National Religious Broadcasters Board includes denunciation of CRT in list of resolutions

Last week, members of the Faith Radio team attended the 2022 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.  The annual event is an opportunity for like-minded Christian communicators to worship, learn, and fellowship together.  

A number of sessions at this year's convention dealt with how Christians can respond to cultural trends. The NRB Board of Directors, in fact, according to an article on the ChristianHeadlines.com website, gave its approval to a resolution entitled, “Opposing Critical Theory and Anti-Christian Ideology.” It said in part that, "Critical theory places culpability for human suffering at the feet of anyone who thrives within, benefits from, or upholds an authority structure subjectively deemed corrupt by the secular culture, including God-given institutions such as the church, traditional family, and much more..."

The article goes on to say:

As reported by The Christian Post, the resolution also states that Christians are to “embrace our citizenship in God’s kingdom and reject false promises of secular utopia.”

“As Americans, we inherit founding principles (equality of mankind, God-given rights, and self-government) that point to worthy and Biblical ideals for an orderly society, and we endeavor to advance these cherished promises for all,” the resolution said.

According to a press release, the organization passed a number of other resolutions, with the titles:

• Opposing Deplatforming Based on Religious Viewpoint Discrimination
• On Maintaining Full Protections for Religious Nonprofits
• Opposing Federal Regulatory Overreach of Internet Regulations
• Urging that Congress Pass the Local Radio Freedom Act
• Urging that Congress Oppose Passage of the Equality Act
• Combatting Antisemitism
• Urging Strong Protections for Donor Privacy in Charitable Giving, and 
• Affirming the Right to Life.

I am grateful that Faith Radio belongs to NRB, an organization that has reaffirmed its commitment to Biblical truth. One of my Meeting House guests throughout the years has been pastor, author, and podcast host Lucas Miles, who observed how some of the more progressive Christian leaders took NRB to task in a personnel matter last year, involving a staff member who had violated a directive.  Lucas penned these words, appearing at The Stream: "The real play...is to try to take down the National Religious Broadcasters, which is one of the few evangelical Christian organizations that hasn’t been completely infiltrated by duplicitous Marxist foot soldiers peddling socialism, vaccine passports and Critical Race Theory as they attempt to dismantle every remnant of a Biblical worldview."

Miles added:

So wake up church, stop believing the tired lies of the Left. It’s time to double-down on support for the National Religious Broadcasters and any other organization that still stands for Biblical truth.

The 3 - March 6, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, shines the light on a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court involving a football coach who went to midfield after every game to pray and lost his job as the result.  Also, a group of pro-life individuals who had been arrested for participating in peaceful activity on behalf of unborn children in North Carolina have reached a settlement in the county where the incidents occurred.  And, the U.S. Senate turned back an effort to pass a Federal law in support of abortion, which would have overturned state pro-life laws.

Former and current NFL pros joined fired Washington coach's team

High-profile individuals from the government and sporting realms are lining up behind the former Bremerton, Washington, football coach, Joe Kennedy, who was suspended by his school district and eventually terminated because of his postgame practice of going to the 50-yard line to pray and was joined by others - he had been doing that for seven years when a complaint was filed, setting in motion the chain of events resulting in his firing.  The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case - again - after sending it back to lower courts several years ago.

In a recent press release issued by First Liberty, the firm that represents the coach, it notes that "Six former U.S. Attorneys General, Coach Tommy Bowden—son of legendary football coach Bobby Bowden, former college and NFL coach Lou Holtz and America First Policy Institute, and NFL Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Darrell Green joined dozens of individuals and organizations by filing 'friend-of-the-court' briefs..."

Alliance Defending Freedom added to that list on its website, saying that current NFL players and other former players have signed on to a "friend-of-the-court" brief in which ADF participated, listing "Kirk Cousins, Joe DeLamielleure, Nick Foles, Phil Olsen, Christian Ponder, Drew Stanton, Harry Swayne, and Jack Youngblood."

ADF's John Bursch is quoted as saying, referring to Coach Kennedy: "The fact that he prayed after a game doesn’t change the fact that his speech is just as protected by the First Amendment, and we hope the Supreme Court will reverse the 9th Circuit and affirm just that.”

North Carolina county settles with pro-life organization regarding on-site protests

In March of 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina, members of a pro-life organization called, Love Life, were engaged in speaking up for the unborn publicly - ChristianHeadlines.com reported that "police arrested Love Life members for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions outside A Woman’s Choice abortion clinic in Greensboro. The members were praying and conducting sidewalk counseling, although they insisted they were following CDC recommendations for social distancing."

The story goes on to say:

Alliance Defending Freedom sued the county and the city of Greensboro on behalf of the ministry and the members, asserting that the police’s actions violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and religious liberty.

As part of the settlement, Guilford County agreed that the ministry’s actions are protected by the First Amendment. The county also will pay $15,000 in attorneys’ fees. ADF agreed to file a dismissal of the case, while the ministry’s members agreed not to seek damages.

The article does note that "ADF’s lawsuit against Greensboro is still active." Denise Harle of ADF noted, " If abortion businesses could stay open to perform elective abortions during the pandemic, Christians abiding by health and safety guidelines should certainly be allowed to pray outside."

This echoes a suit filed in a Charlotte instance in 2020 on behalf of a group of pro-life people, including well-known Christian communicator David Benham. CBN.com related that in April of the same year 
that David, the head of the pro-life group, Cities4Life, "and other representatives of pro-life groups were across the street from an abortion clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina to offer counseling and prayer to expectant mothers considering abortion."  Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Benham and those who stood with him.

The article continues: "As CBN News reported, police arrested the activists and cited them for violating COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, even though they were following all the health and safety requirements including social distancing.

This is another instance of civil authorities using the COVID pandemic in order to override constitutional rights.  The CBN article states:

During a previous interview with CBN News, Benham said we need to love our neighbors and not let our pro-life views be silenced because of COVID.

"It's viewpoint discrimination. They're using this COVID emergency as an opportunity to grasp and silence our voices so we have a constitutional issue on our hands and we really have to stand against it," Benham said.

Senate votes to halt bill that would establish so-called "right to abortion" and override state laws.

Abortion was front and center in the U.S. Senate recently, as lawmakers attempted to push through the Women’s Health Protection Act, described in an article at The Christian Post as a “bill to protect a person’s ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide abortion services.”

Carol Tobias, the president of National Right to Life, said: “This legislation would have made sweeping changes, including expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and eliminating requirements that a woman be given information about the development of her unborn child so she can make an informed decision.” The Director of Federal Legislation for NRLC, Jennifer Popik, said, "This legislation would quash nearly all existing protective state laws,” adding, “With this bill, elective abortion would have become the procedure that must always be facilitated — never delayed, never impeded to the slightest degree.”

The bill has already passed the House and needed 60 votes to move forward in the Senate. It only garnered 48 votes, with 46 opposed.   

The 3 - February 27, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 includes three more stories of relevance to the Christian community, including Christian sites being banned by Facebook due to subject matter surrounding gender identity.  Also, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing the case of a website designer who received a court ruling against her in her attempt to prevent action taken against her for standing on her convictions.  Plus, a former nurse who would not refer women for abortion has won a large court settlement.

Christian sites suspended from Facebook due to themes of gender identity

Recently, warped gender ideology has resulted in several Christian feeds being removed from Facebook. The Christian Post reported that two pages devoted to helping people overcome unwanted same-sex attraction were banned, then reinstated.  The article says that Help 4 Families and Living Stone Ministries were the ministries on the receiving end of this action.

Denise Shick, who directs Help 4 Families, that, according to the words of the article, "Facebook removed the organizations' pages from its platform at the behest of LGBT activists."

The Christian Post also reported recently on The Babylon Bee's latest skirmish with Facebook, when it had a post suspended referring to a satirical piece on Amy Schneider, described as "a trans-identified female, passing the total amount of winnings that a biological female had earned on 'Jeopardy!' during Schneider’s reign."  The article says:

Facebook reportedly told the Bee that the post “goes against our Community Standards on hate speech” and that the post will not be visible to others.

The article reports that:

Bee CEO Seth Dillon said in a statement posted on the affiliated website Not the Bee that he would appeal the decision labeling the post “hate speech.”

“Remember how Facebook recently rolled out new rules stipulating that ‘real satire’ cannot ‘punch down’? Are they really willing to say that defending women against a male takeover of their records is ‘punching down’ and – even worse – ‘hate speech’? We’re going to find out,” stated Dillon.

High court to hear case of web designer in pre-emptive challenge against using site to promote content that violates her faith

Another religious freedom case out of Colorado has been accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the website for Alliance Defending Freedom, whose client, Lorie Smith of 303 Creative, which designs website, lost in a Federal appeals court in a case in which she was seeking protection from being forced to endorse ideas about sexuality that violated her religious beliefs.

The ADF site relates:

The 10th Circuit issued an unprecedented decision in the case, 303 Creative v. Elenis, holding that Smith serves “all people regardless of sexual orientation,” yet Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act requires her to engage in speech that violates her conscience and in turn creates a “substantial risk” of removing “certain ideas or viewpoints from the public dialogue.”

ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, stated: “Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent. Colorado’s law—and others like it—are a clear and present danger to every American’s constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation.”

Pro-life nurse who would not refer women for abortion wins legal settlement

Sandra Mendoza Rojas, of Rockford, Illinois, had served as a pediatric nurse for 18 years, but lost her job at the Winnebago County Health Clinic in 2015. The reason?  According to LifeNews.com, "She said she refused to comply with a new requirement that nurses be trained to help women obtain abortion drugs and refer women to abortion facilities."

The Life News article quotes from a CBN.com report, which stated: "An Illinois trial court ruled Wednesday that Winnebago County must pay more than $374,000 in attorney’s fees for requiring a Christian nurse to provide abortion referrals and contraception."  

The article goes on to quote from the court ruling: “The Health Department improperly discriminated against (Rojas) by refusing to accommodate her objections of conscience in her existing job at the clinic,” adding, “The Court has concluded that the Health Department could have reasonably accommodated (Rojas’) objections without removing her from her job.”

The 3 - February 20, 2022

This week on The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the trial of a government leader in Finland is finished as she defended herself against criminal charges for upholding Biblical truth; thousands indicated in a petition that they stood with her in prayer.   Also, multiple thousands have come to know Christ through an evangelistic outreach that was launched on New Years Eve. And, a Christian student group at a university in Texas will not face retaliation for choosing leaders who hold to Christian beliefs. 

Thousands declare their prayer support for Member of Parliament in Finland, pastor formerly imprisoned in Turkey delivers petition

Perhaps you have been following the plight of a member of Finland's Parliament who was outspoken on sexuality, consistent with the Biblical view. According to a story from last Friday on the Faithwire website:

Päivi Räsänen, whose criminal trial began Jan. 24 and ended Feb. 14, was charged with violating the dignity and equality of the LGBTQ population by engaging in purported hate speech. She told Faithwire Thursday her plight began June 17, 2019, when she tweeted the text of Romans 1:24-27, which condemns homosexuality as sinful.

15 years before, she had written a pamphlet that presented a Biblical view of sexuality, which could be banned in Finland if she is found guilty.  She also could be fined and put in prison for up to two years. She told Faithwire that: "[The case] has been a shock to many, many thousands of Christians that this happens in Finland,” she said. “This is a very historical case in Finland. Never before has happened something like this, because I have not spoken anything about hate threat against any minority. I have spoken those things that represent a very classical interpretation of the Bible and churches.” 

The Faithwire website last week also reported on the over 14,000 people who indicated in a petition sponsored by the Family Research Council that they would pray for Räsänen.  The article stated:

Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was held hostage in Turkey and has since gone on to become an outspoken advocate for religious freedom, delivered a letter in support of Räsänen. The petition, crafted by the Family Research Council, has been signed by 14,341 people.

The letter stated, in part:

“I, the undersigned, want you to be encouraged that I am praying for you and Bishop Juhana Pohjala as you are being persecuted and attacked for sharing the truth of Scripture regarding God’s design for marriage and sexuality,” he wrote. “Your bold stand to live out Acts 5:29 by obeying God rather than man is inspiring to Christians in Finland, the United States, and around the world.”

Pohjala has also been indicted; he is with the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland.

Evangelistic organization reports great harvest from film released on New Year's Eve

As we consider news of interest to the Christian community, we can remember faithful ministries whom God is using to bring people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  One such ministry is heard on Faith Radio. Christian Newswire published a release by the Luis Palau Association that stated, regarding a virtual presentation that was launched on New Years Eve:

The online event, Light Your World, featured music from top Christian artists, multiple Gospel presentations, and changed-life stories from individuals around the world. In total, more than 245,000 people indicated a decision for Jesus Christ as a result of watching the program.

The release said that:

The event included music from TobyMac as well as Maverick City Music. It also included testimonies from Danny Gokey, Darren Mulligan from We Are Messengers, television star Myrka Dellanos, and more. Andrew and Wendy Palau hosted the event and shared encouraging and inspiring messages of hope throughout the program.

Following the premiere, and all throughout the month of January 2022, geo-targeted ads delivered short rescue stories from contributors around the globe, inviting people to pray and respond to the Gospel. The Palau team used these Gospel ads to reach every continent on earth—ultimately reaching more than 43 million people in 237 different nations.

As a result, more than 1.9 million people visited a website with a clear, written Gospel presentation and 245,609 of those individuals indicated a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Over 21,000 of those new believers signed up for a discipleship program that included a 50-day devotional called, "Made New."  

Prior to the launch, there were over 10,000 people that signed up for the "Light Your World Challenge," committing to pray for five people who did not know Christ.

Christian student group at university in Texas can require leaders to be Christians, according to legal settlement

Finally, Ratio Christi is a student organization that meets on college campuses, devoted to Christian apologetics.  Ideally, such organizations should have leaders who are believers in Christ.  But, as an article at The Christian Post relates, that was not the case at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. 

Because the university had required Ratio Christi to allow anyone, regardless of faith background to serve in leadership, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit last fall, claiming, according to the article, "the school had wrongfully refused to grant the group official student organization status." It goes on to say:

The university gave the group official recognition soon after the lawsuit was filed, claiming in a statement that the litigation had nothing to do with their decision on Ratio Christi’s status.

The article says, "According to ADF, the university agreed as part of a settlement to enact a policy confirming that registered student organizations could limit their leaders to those who shared their beliefs."  However, the university has been gaslighting since that lawsuit was filed, and issued a statement to the Post last week saying that Ratio Christi was in compliance with university policies even before that filing.  However, the school did agree to this recent settlement, which tells a different story.

Nevertheless, the lawsuit has been dismissed by ADF.

The 3 - February 6, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes secretive efforts by schools to promote so-called "gender identity" and hide from parents the gender issues their children are experiencing.  Also, a new bill in a Midwestern state would prevent boys from participating in girls' sports. And, a delivery driver in Florida who declined to work a scheduled shift on religious grounds has been rewarded a financial settlement. 

Schools' secret gender conditioning produce lawsuits

When young people are in positions where education officials promote their exploration of a "gender identity" other than their biological one, that is certainly a problem.  And, when they keep it a secret from their parents, that is even worse.

Consider the instance from Florida, where the parents of a 12-year-old girl are suing the Clay County school district, alleging that, according to The Hill, "their daughter’s mental health and gender identity struggles were concealed from them for months by school officials." The article states:

The parents say a school counselor conducted “secret” therapy sessions with their daughter regarding her alleged gender dysphoria, which the Perez’s were only made aware of following their daughter’s first suicide attempt.

On two separate occasions, the young girl, who has not been named because she is a minor, tried to take her own life by hanging herself in a school restroom.

The father said on Fox News that the secretiveness was because of their religious stance. He told Laura Ingraham: "The counselor had secret meetings with our daughter about gender. She was groomed to something that she’s not, and she was encouraged..."

The Hill says the school denies the allegation.

Then, you have an instance in California, reported on by Christian Headlines, in which a parent has filed a lawsuit, alleging that her 11-year-old daughter was inappropriately influenced by a school about her sexuality. The girl, referred to in the suit as "A.G.," met with teachers and, as it's alleged: 

“At these meetings and in other discussions,” the teachers “planted the seed in A.G.’s mind that she was bisexual,” the suit says. “That idea did not originate with A.G. In fact, she did not fully understand what that term meant.

“Shortly thereafter,” the teachers “planted the seed in A.G.’s mind that she was transgender. As with bisexuality, that idea did not originate with A.G., nor did A.G. fully understand what it meant.”

A counselor also supported what the girl was being told by the teachers. The girl was allegedly, according to the story, "recruited" to "join an LGBT Equality Club." The Center for American Liberty, which is representing the parent, stated in a news release: “Parents absolutely have a right to know what is being taught in their kids’ school, especially with respect to sensitive issues like gender and sexuality,” adding, “... But parents are denied that right when activist teachers think they know better and intentionally hide information from moms and dads.”

South Dakota bill would limit male participation in girls' sports

The state of South Dakota has joined other states in implementing a law that would prevent biological male athletes from participating in girls' sports.  CBN News reported that South Dakota joins 9 other states, including Alabama, in passing similar legislation.  Governor Kristi Noem stated in a bill-signing ceremony: "This bill has been an important priority for a lot of the people behind me," adding, "And I appreciate all of their hard work in making sure that girls will always have the opportunity to play in girls sports in South Dakota and have an opportunity for a level playing field, for fairness, that gives them the chance to experience success."

It hasn't been an easy road to passage.  As the article notes:

Noem lobbied heavily for the bill this year after vetoing a similar ban in March of last year. She had issued a "style and form veto" that led to its demise, arguing that the previous bill contained flawed language that put the state at risk of litigation and retribution from the NCAA.

Later that month, she signed two executive orders that represented what she'd hoped the legislature would pass.

Last week, there was plenty of activity on that front, as CBN points out: 

USA Swimming released a new operating policy manual on Tuesday amid the controversy surrounding transgender athlete Lia Thomas' participation in the sport.

Before transitioning genders, Thomas competed for three seasons at the University of Pennsylvania as a man named Will Thomas, according to The New York Post.  

The article goes on to say:

The Washington Post reports 16 members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team sent a letter to school and Ivy League officials Thursday asking that they not take legal action challenging the NCAA's recently updated transgender policy.

That new NCAA policy could possibly prevent Thomas from competing in the NCAA championships scheduled for next month.

Delivery driver who was fired for not working on Sundays receives settlement

A driver who works for a delivery service in the Tampa Bay area that delivers for Amazon had been fired because he would not work on Sundays, in order to participate in church services.  According to The Christian Post, he took his complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The article relates:

According to an EEOC statement, the delivery service had scheduled the employee for a shift on a Sunday even though he had made it clear earlier that he could not work Sundays.

The EEOC argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on religion and "requires employers to reasonably accommodate an applicant’s or employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would pose an undue hardship."

The delivery service has agreed to pay the driver $50,000 in a settlement, which was agreed to by a federal judge. The article also notes:

In addition to the $50,000 the delivery service will pay in relief, the company must also train staff to avoid religious discrimination and appoint a “religious accommodation coordinator.”

The 3 - January 30, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, focusing on three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the announcement by a U.S. Supreme Court justice that he will be stepping down at the end of the current term.  Also, two sets of families who have been involved in operating bakeries received positive court rulings recently.  Plus, a Texas city has successfully resisted an attempt by the nation's largest provider of abortion to overrule the decisions of the voters to make their city abortion-free.

Justice resigns from high court, leaving dismal track record on life, marriage, better on religious freedom

The U.S. Supreme Court will have a vacancy later this year, as Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intent to resign last week. Breyer had been described as a "pragmatist," but his rulings and opinions show a justice who was not favorable toward the sanctity of life and marriage.  He was solidly regarded as one of the "liberals" on the high court. CBN News puts it like this:

Breyer, who was appointed to the high court by President Clinton, has been one of the more liberal justices on the bench, a staunch supporter of abortion.

The SCOTUS Blog highlighted Breyer's record, and while it did not include the Obergefell ruling on gay marriage, which Breyer supported, it did include a number of cases, stating that Breyer "...wrote for a five-justice majority in Stenberg v. Carhart, striking down Nebraska’s ban on a procedure the state referred to as 'partial birth' abortion."  When partial birth abortion came to the high court again seven years later, he was in the minority as the court banned the procedure.

The blog also noted, "in 2016, he wrote for the majority in another major ruling on abortion, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, that struck down two provisions in a Texas law that sought to regulate abortion providers in the state."  He was also in the majority for a ruling in a similar case out of Louisiana in 2020.

Regarding religious freedom, his record was mixed.  As the SCOTUS Blog points out: "On a single day in 2005, Breyer provided the pivotal vote in a pair of cases challenging public displays of the Ten Commandments. In one case, Breyer agreed with the court’s conservative wing to uphold the display; in the other, he sided with the court’s liberals to strike down the display." The blog also reported that:

Fourteen years later, Breyer joined Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion for the majority in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, allowing a 40-foot-tall cross, erected in a Washington, D.C., suburb shortly after World War I to honor soldiers killed in battle, to remain in a traffic circle. Breyer wrote a brief concurring opinion, this time joined by Kagan, in which he reiterated his view that “there is no single formula for resolving Establishment Clause challenges.”

Breyer was also an opponent of what is called, "court packing," designed to add justices to produce a certain ideological makeup.  

Bakers in U.K., U.S. receive court victories

Within the past month, two families in the same profession involved in similar court cases have received positive results.  One of those cases involves Ashers Bakery; the Christian Institute reported on the origins of the case, which began in 2014, when "Ashers Baking Co, a small bakery in Northern Ireland run by the McArthur family, declines an order by LGBT activist Gareth Lee for a cake iced with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ due to the owners’ sincere Christian beliefs."

The Institute's website reported: "The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has thrown out Gareth Lee’s challenge to the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous 2018 ruling in favour of Ashers Baking Company."  The site goes on to say:

Let no one be in any doubt, this case was never about Christians versus gays. It was about freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.

Can equality law be used to compel people to say something with which they profoundly disagree? The answer from the highest court in the land remains clear – unanimously so – ‘No, it can’t’.

To a lesser extent, some court relief was rewarded to the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Oregon - according to First Liberty: 

The Oregon Court of Appeals issued a ruling involving our clients, Christian bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein. It reversed a decision that forced the Kleins’ family bakery, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, out of business by penalizing them $135,000 for declining to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding. The court also admitted that an Oregon bureaucratic agency acted with hostility against the Kleins’ religious beliefs.

But, the court apparently did not back down regarding its belief that the Kleins acted illegally. The legal organization's website quotes Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub, who said, “Oregon is trying to have its cake and eat it, too,” adding, “The Court admits the state agency that acted as both prosecutor and judge in this case was biased against the Kleins’ faith. Yet, despite this anti-Christian bias that infected the whole case, the court is sending the case back to the very same agency for a do-over. Today’s opinion should have been the end of this ten year long saga. It’s time for the state of Oregon’s hostility toward Aaron and Melissa to end.”  

The Kleins are planning to appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court and perhaps even to the U.S. Supreme Court, which had sent the case back to the Oregon court system for reconsideration in light of the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision.

Nation's largest abortion provider drops lawsuit against nation's largest sanctuary city for the unborn

Since 2019, over 40 cities across America have decided to designate themselves as a "sanctuary city for the unborn," where abortion is illegal, according to The Daily Citizen, a website of Focus on the Family. The largest such city is Lubbock, Texas, with "with a population of just over a quarter million," according to the website.

After being enacted, as the result of the approval of over 6-in-10 voters, the site reports, "Planned Parenthood immediately challenged the law in court, asking a federal court to issue an injunction blocking the law from enforcement. The federal court declined to issue an injunction because Planned Parenthood didn’t have the right to bring the case." Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, has decided not to appeal the decision.

The Daily Citizen notes:

Regarding the proposal’s legality, Right to Life East Texas explained, “The ordinance is structured in a manner similar to the Texas Heartbeat Act, which outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detectable but prohibits state officials from enforcing the law, instead authorizing private citizens to sue those who perform or aid or abet illegal abortions. By adopting this unique private-enforcement scheme, the city of Lubbock made its ordinance immune from pre-enforcement lawsuits because neither the city nor its officials have any role in enforcing the law, so they cannot be subjected to lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of the ordinance.”

The 3 - January 23, 2022

This week's edition of The 3, features coverage of the 49th annual March for Life in Washington, DC, in which thousands rallied and marched through the nation's capital to support life.  Also, the issue of transgender athletes is a concern among Christian groups, and the NCAA has addressed the topic recently. And, another court has ruled against mandating COVID vaccines, this time for federal employees.

Thousands brave cold and COVID to March for Life

After a year off from the traditional March for Life event, which was more of a virtual occasion last year, thousands came to the nation's capital to show their support for the sanctity of human life and the protection of unborn children, with marchers no doubt keenly aware that changes in abortion law could be implemented soon. Faithwire announced on its website:

Organizers say at least 50,000 people packed the streets of our nation’s capital for the 49th annual March for Life, and as seen on the CBN News livestream, the demographics of attendees varied greatly and included a significant number of young people.

Faithwire is a CBN website and offered the livestream on its home page. 

Its summary article about the march, which had the theme, "Equality Begins in the Womb," noted that a scheduled concert by Matthew West did not proceed due to his COVID issues, but Jordan St. Cyr provided the opening music.  

Several speakers were notable, according to coverage of the event, including Katie Shaw, a 36-year-old with Down Syndrome, Toni McFadden, founder of Relationship Matters, Lisa Robertson, wife of Duck Dynasty's Al Robertson, and Kirk Cameron.  The Faithwire story stated that Kirk said...

...that it was important that after this march, it was important to continue our marching orders for God, who is our “commander-in-chief” in the heavenly places. “His executive orders trump all executive orders,” Cameron said, before quoting Micah 6:8.

NCAA changes policy on transgender athletes

There continue to be attempts by biological males to participate in and win convincingly in female athletic events.  Some states, like Alabama, have passed legislation to prevent this practice.  And, now, the governing board of college athletics, the NCAA, has something new to say on the matter.

WORLD Magazine reports that:

Beginning with the 2022 winter championships, transgender athletes will need to document testosterone levels in compliance with their specific sport four weeks before the selection of championship participants. Eighty percent of Olympic athletes compete in collegiate sports first, and this brings the NCAA in line with the International Olympic Committee policy.

The WORLD article notes "College athletes previously only had to be taking hormone therapy to compete with students of the opposite sex."  Perhaps the NCAA was forced to act because the visibility of biological male swimmer Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania, who "was on the men’s team for three years but competed on the women’s team this season. Thomas, a man, broke several records, igniting controversy and calling attention to the NCAA’s policies."

Another WORLD article, from Mary Jackson, quoted from Linda Blade, president of Athletics Alberta and a coach and Team Canada heptathlon competitor, and the co-author of the book, Unsporting: How Trans Activism and Science Denial Are Destroying Sport. Jackson said that Blade "said she was working with multiple international women’s sports groups to form a united consortium to lobby for young female athletes: 'We are trying to organize and say, Who is going to be the female voice at the table?'"

Swimmer Erika Brown was referenced in the WORLD article. A recent ChristianHeadlines.com article stated:

Brown, a Christian, said the issue could be confronted while respecting individuals.

“I want to share something that’s been on my heart regarding what is going on in USA Swimming at the moment,” Brown wrote in an Instagram story, according to SwimSwam.com. “I believe that we are all God’s children, and we are called to love one another. I don’t want to create any hate, only speak up for what is right.

“We cannot allow transgender females to compete against biological women. A biological male goes through male puberty. Even when she has transitioned, she still has the physiology of a male. A few years of testosterone blockers and estrogen doesn’t change the fact that she will have more powerful muscles, a larger heart and greater lung capacity than a biological woman.

Another court ruling against vax mandates

COVID vaccine mandates have become problematic for a number of people of faith, including employees of a variety of religious organizations, some of whom were involved in the case regarding the business mandate from the 6th Circuit that wound up at the U.S. Supreme Court, that struck down the mandate over a week ago.

There have been other challenges to various types of mandates, including the attempt to force federal employees to get the vaccine. Liberty Counsel reported late last week about a ruling out of a federal district court in Texas, stating on its website:

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has blocked Biden’s shot mandate that required all federal employees to receive the COVID shot or face termination.

In Feds for Medical Freedom v. Biden, Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown granted a preliminary nationwide injunction that covers all federal employees. Judge Brown wrote that the mandate would pose a substantial threat of irreparable harm over the “liberty interests of employees who must choose between violating a mandate of doubtful validity or consenting to an unwanted medical procedure that cannot be undone.”

In describing this mandate, Liberty Counsel noted "3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions."

And, FoxNews.com reports that federal employees requesting religious exemptions could be entered into an online database.  The story states:

Religious rights groups are calling foul about the databases.

"This is concerning because of the type of data that's being gathered," Ryan Bangert with Alliance Defending Freedom told Fox News.

Bangert is quoted as saying, "This data is being collected on a massive scale, and this is information about citizens' privately held religious beliefs..." The story also notes that, "Some of the databases also collect the vaccination status of all federal employees, not only those who said no for a religious reason." Fox reports that there will be a period during which comments from the public will be solicited prior to the databases becoming active.