WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s oral arguments Tuesday (April 18) in a religious freedom case offered no clear indication whether it intends to revisit a previous decision and strengthen the right of workers to practice their beliefs without penalty. In arguments approaching two hours, the justices considered a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee’s contention that his belief in observing Sunday as the Sabbath was not properly accommodated. The high court is contemplating … [Read more...]
Supreme Court suspends abortion pill ruling temporarily
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court placed a temporary hold Friday afternoon (April 14) on a week-old decision that suspended the federal government’s 2000 approval of the abortion pill. Associate Justice Samuel Alito ordered a stay of the federal court ruling out of Texas until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) Wednesday, April 19. Alito, who is assigned motions that arise from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, said a response to the emergency request by the Biden administration for the hold must … [Read more...]
Fifth Circuit upholds protections in abortion pill appeal
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – A federal appeals court has blocked a nationwide injunction suspending the two-decade-old approval of the abortion pill but restored protective requirements weakened in recent years by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In an opinion issued late Wednesday (April 12), a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans halted a federal judge’s April 7 stay of the FDA’s 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first drug in a two-step process commonly … [Read more...]
Protect moral objections to contraceptive mandate, ERLC tells federal agencies
WASHINGTON (BP) – A newly proposed rule would crush the freedom of conscience of Americans with a moral objection to the provision of “life-threatening contraceptives,” a Southern Baptist entity has told the Biden administration. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) filed public comments Monday (April 3) in opposition to the administration’s proposal to repeal the exemption for employers’ moral objections to coverage of contraceptive services under the 2010 Affordable … [Read more...]
Proposal from United States health department would roll back conscience rights, ERLC says
“Southern Baptists have long rejected this sort of action and have decried the repeated attempts of government to trample on the consciences of faithful Christians serving in the medical field.” – Hannah Daniel, ERLC policy manager WASHINGTON (BP) – A proposed regulation regarding conscience protections actually would result in fewer safeguards for the right of Americans to act according to their beliefs, a Southern Baptist entity has told the Biden administration. The Ethics & … [Read more...]
First post-Roe March for Life marked by ‘celebration, resolve’
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes additional reporting by Pathway editor Benjamin Hawkins. WASHINGTON (BP) – Thousands of pro-life Americans gathered Jan. 20 for the 50th annual March for Life to rejoice in a long-sought victory and to restate their commitment to protect preborn children and care for their mothers. Initiated in 1974, the latest March for Life was the first to be held since the U.S. Supreme Court overruled in June of last year the Roe v. Wade decision. That 1973 ruling … [Read more...]
ERLC urges CVS, Walgreens to protect preborn, consciences
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity has urged the country’s two largest pharmacy chains to alter their policies regarding their intention to dispense abortion pills. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), encouraged the chief executive officers of CVS and Walgreens in a Jan. 6 letter to reverse course on their decision to carry and dispense mifepristone, the first drug in a two-step process commonly referred to … [Read more...]
House votes to protect babies that survive abortions
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed by a nearly party-line vote Wednesday (Jan. 11) legislation to require medical care for children who survive abortions. The House voted 220-210 for the Born-alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in one of two pro-life actions taken in a chamber newly controlled by Republicans. Rep. Henry Cueller of Texas was the lone Democrat to vote with the GOP for the bill. Representatives also approved a resolution denouncing the attacks … [Read more...]
Biden enacts law protecting same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) – Same-sex marriage is now protected in federal law. President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) Tuesday (Dec. 13) and thereby finalized landmark legislation that redefines the world’s oldest institution. Five days after Congress completed passage, Biden enacted a bill that mandates federal and state recognition of any same-sex marriage considered legal in the jurisdiction where it took place. Although the new law does not require states to legalize gay … [Read more...]
House completes congressional approval of same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) – Congress has given final approval to enshrining same-sex marriage in the law. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 258-169 for the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) Thursday (Dec. 8), 10 days after the Senate approved the same legislation. With the votes, Congress has decided to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). While the measure does not require states to legalize same-sex marriage, it mandates federal and state recognition of any gay marriage considered … [Read more...]
Supreme Court debates website designer’s freedom of speech over same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court debated with lawyers at length Monday (Dec. 5) whether a state has the right to compel speech in the latest case involving the intersection of religious freedom and same-sex marriage. The justices heard oral arguments for more than two hours in a designer’s challenge of a Colorado policy that requires her to create custom websites for same-sex weddings in violation of her religious beliefs. After two lower courts ruled in favor of the state, the … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist ERLC offers guide for pastors on LGBT issues
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read about further resources, compiled by a Missouri Baptist pastor, here. NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist pastors and churches have a new theological and practical guide to help them address issues involving sexuality and gender. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) published the document “A biblical resource for pastors on gender and sexuality”on its website (www.erlc.com), Oct. 11. The guide is intended to assist pastors and other ministry leaders in … [Read more...]
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