Louisiana Gov. Signs Pro-Life Measures
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed three pro-life measures into laws last week, according to OneNewsNow.com.
One measure deals with abortion funding in federal healthcare reform, banning coverage for elective abortions in the insurance purchasing pools. "Louisiana exercised its prerogative in saying, 'Thank you, Mr. Obama, but no thanks. We are not interested in providing public monies, or pools of public monies, to offset or provide for insurance coverages that would extend to or include abortion,'" said Gene Mills, executive director for the Louisiana Family Forum.
Another measure was their ultrasound bill, which received the most debate. It does something unique in providing a window into the womb for a mother seeking an abortion, according to Mills. "It's required that the provider offer — not force, but offer — the young mother an opportunity to see the screen and/or a photographic image of her child," the LFF executive director explains.
The third law, according to Mills, bans doctors who perform elective abortions from being covered under medical malpractice laws, which is expected to be challenged in court.
Professor Fired After Lecture on Homosexuality
Kenneth Howell, adjunct professor and lecturer for nine years with the University of Illinois' Department of Religion was fired recently after he explained — in an introductory class on Catholicism — that the Catholic Church believes that homosexual acts are immoral.
A follow-up e-mail to his students — elaborating on a class discussion the previous day regarding Catholic beliefs about sexual behavior — said: "Natural Moral Law says that morality must be a response to REALITY. In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same." As a result, an anonymous student claimed to be offended by Howell's statements and called them "hate speech."
Howell said, "My responsibility on teaching a class on Catholicism is to teach what the Catholic Church teaches. I have always made it very, very clear to my students they are never required to believe what I'm teaching and they'll never be judged on that."
The Alliance Defense Fund is representing the professor in his quest for reinstatement at the school. David French, senior counsel, said the university cannot censor professors' speech simply because some students find that speech offensive. "Professors have the freedom to challenge students and to educate them by exposing them to different views." The university is reviewing the decision. [CitizenLink.com, OneNewsNow.com]
• Governor Expands Abortion-Consent Law
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced Wednesday that a bill, which expands the requirements made on abortion clinics, would go into effect on Aug. 28 without his signature. The expanded 24-hour abortion consent law requires clinics to offer women the chance to have an ultrasound, as well as listen to the preborn baby's heartbeat. The state will provide printed materials detailing the risks associated with abortion. It also includes the statement, "The life of each human being begins at conception. Abortion will terminate the life of a separate, unique, living human being." The brochure will also list available alternatives and show what the preborn child looks like throughout the pregnancy. The new law also makes Missouri the fifth state to opt-out of abortion funding in the new federal health care law. [CitizenLink.com]
• 'Jesus' Prayer Gets Pastor "Fired"
Last month, Pastor Ronnie Baity was invited to serve as a guest chaplain at the North Carolina state House for the first week. He provided a transcript of his prayer beforehand to a liaison for the Legislature who said she had a problem with him praying in the name of Jesus, as there might be some people that would be offended. Pastor Baity said plainly, "My faith requires that I pray in His name. The Bible is very clear." House Speaker Joe Hackney decided Baity could offer his prayer, but his services would not be needed for the remainder of the week. A legal representative for Baity sent a letter to Hackney asking that his client receive an apology letter from lawmakers and another invitation to offer an uncensored invocation at the House. [ChristianPost.com, FRCAction Update]
• Pharmacists' Conscience Rights
An unexpected reversal in Washington state policy promises to provide protection for pharmacists. The decision to carve out specific protections for pharmacists comes just weeks before a scheduled trial to challenge state regulations mandating pharmacies to stock and dispense Plan B, a drug that may cause an early abortion. The lawsuit was filed by a family-owned pharmacy — Ralph's Thriftway — and two pharmacists, claiming that the regulation to stock the drug would force them to close their business based on religious beliefs. The trial will be postponed while the Washington State Board of Pharmacy begins creating new conscience-protecting rules for all state pharmacists. [CitizenLink.com]
• Presbyterian (U.S.A.) Resolutions
At their 219th General Assembly last week, the legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted on a variety of proposals. The assembly approved one proposal to allow the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals to the clergy. Another, in response to Arizona's controversial immigration law, was to refrain from holding national meetings in states where immigrant members might be subject to harassment. All proposals must now be approved by a majority of the denomination's 173 local governing bodies — known as presbyteries — before it can take effect. [ChristianPost.com, CitizenLink.com]
• 'Drag Queen' Teachers Celebrated
At their meeting this year in New Orleans, the largest professional organization and labor union in the U.S., the National Education Association, featured a new caucus: the NEA Drag Queen Caucus. Finn Laursen, executive director of the NEA alternative Christian Educators Association International, said, "They already have had the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, [and] Transgender Caucus and apparently felt that the drag queens needed their own caucus. ... America, I think, needs to respond and to realize what the National Education Association stands for; they're not hiding it. It's appalling to many of our conservative Christian educators who, in their own lives, could not support this kind of thing, but find that their dues are being used to support just those kinds of things." Click here to review list of recognized NEA caucuses. [OneNewsNow.com]
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