Pro-life Missourians to challenge Illinois law allowing minors to get abortions without parental consent JEFFERSON CITY – Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker will soon sign a bill into law that undermines parental authority by repealing a law requiring parents or guardians be notified when girls younger than 18 are referred to abortionists. The move by Illinois lawmakers is likely to trigger a legislative, and perhaps a legal, challenge from Missouri since it will undercut pro-life … [Read more...]
Justices order court to reconsider ruling on abortion mandate
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court signaled Monday (Nov. 1) its dissatisfaction with a lower court’s ruling on a state abortion mandate and ordered it to reconsider that decision in light of the justices’ unanimous opinion in support of religious freedom earlier this year. In the order, the high court nullified a New York court ruling against a Roman Catholic diocese. The diocese had challenged a state requirement that employers fund abortions in workers’ health insurance plans. … [Read more...]
Lankford saves Hyde amendment with late-night move
WASHINGTON (BP) – Opponents of taxpayer funding of abortion gained an encouraging victory in the U.S. Senate late Tuesday (Aug. 10) to the satisfaction of the Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity. During consideration of a budget resolution, senators approved in a 50-49 vote an amendment by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., that bars federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. The amendment also blocks funding for government programs that discriminate against individual health … [Read more...]
$2.7M government grant goes toward fetal tissue harvesting, report says
PITTSBURGH (BP) – According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, at least $2.7 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has gone to support a project at the University of Pittsburgh that includes the possible removal of organs and tissue from pre-born babies who are still alive. An Aug. 3 press release from Judicial Watch and The Center for Medical Progress uncovered public records from the National Institutes of Health (a part of HHS) … [Read more...]
Appeals court upholds Tennessee waiting-period law
CINCINNATI (BP) – Pro-life leaders and Tennessee officials commended a federal appeals court opinion Thursday (Aug. 5) that upheld a state law requiring a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati overturned by a 9-7 majority a federal judge’s 2020 decision that invalidated the waiting-period law. The appeals court also reversed its own three-judge panel that refused by a 2-1 margin in February to place the law back into … [Read more...]
Appeals court protects church freedom in employment decisions
CHICAGO (BP) – Religious freedom advocates praised a federal appeals court opinion that protects the freedom of churches and other religious groups in the face of government interference in employment decisions. In a 7-3 decision, July 9, the full Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled the legal doctrine known as the “ministerial exception” encompasses not only hiring and firing by religious organizations but the supervision of ministers during their employment. The opinion … [Read more...]
Senate acts to stymie China’s genocide of Uyghurs
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Senate approved an import ban on goods made by forced labor in western China on the same day global religious freedom advocates brought attention to the Communist Party’s genocidal campaign primarily against Uyghur Muslims in the region. Senators approved by unanimous consent July 14 the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which would prohibit products made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from being introduced into the U.S. market. … [Read more...]
State Rep. Doug Richey to hold listening session on CRT, COVID-19
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri State Rep. Doug Richey, senior pastor of Pisgah Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs, will hold an official listening session to give Northland parents an opportunity to make their voices heard on pressing education issues such as critical race theory, critical pedagogy, and the ongoing COVID-19 response. Richey will be joined by Representatives Josh Hurlbert and Chris Brown for the session that is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Providence … [Read more...]
High court rejects florist, gives hope to Maine parents
WASHINGTON (BP) — Barronelle Stutzman’s lengthy legal effort to operate a florist shop in Washington state according to her Christian convictions came to an end Friday (July 2) at the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices announced they would not review an appeal by Stutzman, a Southern Baptist, of a Washington Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that she was guilty of illegal discrimination by declining to design flowers for a same-sex wedding. The court’s order said three associate justices – … [Read more...]
Biden’s proposed budget excludes Hyde Amendment
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity and other pro-life organizations are urging Congress to restore long-standing bans on federal funding of abortion that President Biden excluded from his proposed budget. On May 28, Biden released a $6 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 that failed to include the 45-year-old Hyde Amendment and other pro-life policies in federal programs. If Biden’s proposal succeeds, it would mark the first time since 1976 the Hyde … [Read more...]
Twice pardoned: Freeway Ministries’ Stroup gains Governor’s pardon
SPRINGFIELD – Thirteen years ago, as John Stroup sat in a prison cell, the gospel arrested his attention. He placed his faith in Christ, his sins were pardoned by God and his life was transformed. Late last month, the former-drug-addict-turned-minister received another pardon, this time from the state of Missouri. Stroup serves as executive director of Freeway Ministries, which is transforming lives not only throughout Missouri and in Nebraska, but also throughout the globe. The ministry … [Read more...]
KC church’s suit can move forward, judge says
KANSAS CITY – A federal judge says a Missouri Baptist church's lawsuit against Jackson County's COVID orders can continue, even as Jackson County abandoned its mask mandate. Abundant Life, a Lee's Summit church, filed suit in March 2020, when Jackson County announced it would limit churches to 10 worshippers regardless of building size. Rules for commercial businesses were less onerous. Later versions also included "gathering protocol" that lacked proper First Amendment safeguards, … [Read more...]
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