Most Americans Think Cohabitation Is Fine, But That's Not What Social Science Says

By Peter Sprigg Senior Fellow for Policy Studies, Family Research Council 

A nineteenth-century humorist once warned that a bigger problem than knowing little is “to know so many things that ain’t so.” Well, Americans know “many things that ain’t so” about cohabitation and marriage.

A new Pew Research Center study shows Americans both cohabitate (“live with an unmarried partner”) and find cohabitation acceptable more than before. But other research shows this is unwise. Here is what the Pew Research Center found.

More young adults have cohabited than have married. Pew’s analysis in the summer of 2019 of the National Survey of Family Growth found that, for the first time ever, the percentage of American adults aged 18-44 who have ever cohabited with a partner (59 percent) exceeded the percentage of those who have ever married (50 percent).

It should be noted, however, that the current living arrangements of adults of all ages still show a strong preference for marriage: 53 percent of American adults are currently married, while only 7 percent of adults are currently cohabiting (although cohabitation has risen from only 3 percent in 1995). These findings may either reflect that many people cohabit first and then marry, or that cohabiting relationships are less stable and thus much shorter than marriages.

A majority of Americans (69 percent) say that “it is acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together even if they don’t plan to get married.” They may assume that they can decrease their chances of a bad marriage and increase their chances of a good one by giving the relationship a cohabitation “test run.”

Sixteen percent say cohabitation is acceptable only if the couple plans to get married. Just 14 percent hold a view consistent with a biblical sexual ethic, that cohabitation with an unmarried romantic partner outside of marriage is “never acceptable.”

This widespread approval of cohabitation may be the result of the public believing “things that ain’t so.” The Pew poll demonstrates that public holds some perceptions of cohabitation that are at odds with previous empirical research (not covered in the Pew report) on cohabitation outcomes. Here is what many Americans believe, contrasted with the reality shown from existing research.

A plurality of Americans believe cohabitating before marriage yields more successful unions. Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) believe that couples who live together before marriage “have a better chance of having a successful marriage.” This view is even more prevalent among young adults aged 18-29 (63 percent).

Another 38 percent of all Americans say cohabitation “doesn’t make much difference” on marital success. Only 13 percent of Americans believe cohabiting couples have “a worse chance” of having a successful marriage.

The reality: Couples who cohabitated before marriage are more likely to divorce. Cohabitation’s effect on marital success has been empirically tested, and the results are clear: couples who cohabit before marriage are more likely to get divorced, not less.

A 2018 article published by the Institute for Family Studies said this “premarital cohabitation effect” is so well-known, “It has a long and storied history in family science.” Contrary to popular belief, cohabitation is not “practice” for marriage. Instead, it is “practice” for lacking commitment, keeping one’s options open, and focusing on the short-term rather than the long-term. Such attitudes are antithetical to a successful marriage and may increase the risk of marital failure.

Most Americans believe cohabitating couples raise children just as well as married couples. Pew also surveyed people’s opinions about cohabiting couples raising children, and 59 percent of Americans declared that cohabiting couples “can raise children just as well as married couples.” Again, the younger respondents were most likely to have a favorable view of cohabitation: among adults aged 18 to 49, 67 percent agreed cohabiting couples do just as well, while 32 percent said: “Married couples do a better job raising children.”

The reality: Children of cohabitating parents face higher risks of negative outcomes. The Pew survey’s question focused on the perceived parenting skills of the couple rather than the actual outcomes for the children. The actual outcomes are notably worse for the kids.

While Americans are optimistic about the ability of cohabiting couples to raise children, a study published by the American College of Pediatricians in 2014 reported that children whose parents cohabit face a higher risk of: “premature birth, school failure, lower education, more poverty during childhood and lower incomes as adults, more incarceration and behavior problems, single parenthood, medical neglect and chronic health problems both medical and psychiatric, more substance, alcohol and tobacco abuse, and child abuse,” and that “a child conceived by a cohabiting woman is at 10 times higher risk of abortion compared to one conceived in marriage.”

Much of what Americans believe about cohabitation is factually incorrect. If Americans knew the truth about the risks and consequences of premarital cohabitation, perhaps they would be less likely to approve or practice it.

Portland Settles Federal Free Speech Case With Evangelist

PORTLAND, OR – The Pacific Justice Institute has successfully negotiated a settlement of street evangelist Mark Mayberry’s federal lawsuit against the City of Portland. The Portland City Council approved the $50,000 settlement on Wednesday in a meeting held via video conferencing due to COVID-19 concerns.

“The City of Portland unfortunately has a well-earned reputation for being hostile toward
Christians who share their views in the public square,” said Ray D. Hacke, PJI’s Oregon-based staff attorney. “But throughout our negotiations, the City’s attorney sincerely expressed that Portland truly wants to be a better, more tolerant city. Approving the settlement is an important step in that direction.” quoted Hacke.

The incident giving rise to this case occurred almost one year ago, on June 1, 2019: While at Portland’s Waterfront Park, Mayberry, holding a sign defending the unborn, passing out related tracts, and engaging people in conversations about abortion and the gospel, was confronted by a park officer who ordered him to leave. When Mayberry refused, asserting his constitutionally protected right of free speech, the park officer issued Mayberry a citation excluding him from the park for 30 days.

Although Portland’s City Auditor ultimately overturned the exclusion, Mayberry was rightfully concerned about being harassed again should he ever return to share his views in Portland, which is already subject to a federal injunction prohibiting the City from infringing on individuals’ free speech rights. Hence, the lawsuit and PJI’s involvement in protecting Mayberrry’s rights. City representatives testified at Wednesday’s hearing that Portland’s police and park officers are receiving training to ensure that future infringements on free speech rights will not occur, which was Mayberry’s ultimate goal.

“This is a huge win – not just for Mark Mayberry, but for the freedoms of speech and religion in Oregon,” PJI President Brad Dacus said. “It’s never too late for a city to commit itself to changing for the better and upholding constitutional rights, as they are obligated to do. I applaud the City of Portland for being truly repentant and making things right with Mark Mayberry.”

To become a PJI member and learn more about what PJI is doing in Oregon and beyond, visit pacificjustice.org.

This Thursday on Faith On Trial

This Thursday @ 10 a.m.: Faith On Trial 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM or IowaCatholicRadio.com. Guests:

Brian Burch from Catholic Vote on how religious liberties might be affected by the election; and Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, on the controversy surrounding Norma McCorvey, Roe of Roe v. Wade.

Also, check out our Facebook page: Faith On Trial.

PJI GOES COAST TO COAST: New Office Defending Churches and Believers in NY and NJ

White Plains, NY– With many churches on the East Coast flooding Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) for counsel and possible defense, PJI is pleased to announce the opening of its first office on the East Coast.

“The continued harassment and unequal treatment of churches, combined with other religious freedom cases already in existence before the pandemic, requires us to step up our presence with a new office,” said Brad Dacus, attorney and President of PJI. PJI already represents in court the first amendment rights of an Orthodox Jewish school being ordered by New York to compromise its beliefs regarding its curriculum. “All of our cases are taken on without charge, and we want to make sure that every single request for help on the East Coast is handled when it involves religious freedom, parental rights, or the sanctity of life.”

The new office based in White Plains, New York, will also serve surrounding areas including New Jersey and be directed by PJI Staff Attorney Mishael Pine. “It is an honor to join PJI in advancing religious freedom here on the East Coast,” Mishael Pine commented. “I welcome churches and believers of all denominations to reach out to me through our website, PJI.org, and take advantage of the dozens of free resources available there.”

In addition to the pandemic-related requests, requests for help had already been increasing as a result of PJI’s radio presence. The airing of PJI’s short weekly radio spots, The Legal Edge, and its half-hour weekly show, The Dacus Report, heard on hundreds of radio stations across the country, has generated cries for help along the East Coast from those attacked because of their faith.

Dacus launched PJI in 1997 to meet the growing threats to religious liberties and parental rights. Within the last few years, PJI has experienced tremendous growth, with satellite offices throughout California and now in Oregon, Washington State, Nevada, and Colorado. PJI has become known for taking on—and winning—legal battles for religious freedom in the most hostile territory in America. In addition to its dozens of active cases across the nation, and past wins at the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. Circuit and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, PJI is also known for producing a large number of educational and self-help legal resources, available at no charge at www.PJI.org.

During the COVID-19 crisis, PJI has also emerged as a national leader in preparing state-specific resources for churches in particular. PJI has prepared COVID-19 legal memos for both New York and New Jersey, as well as extensive checklists for reopening.

“Over the last several years, the number of requests we have been getting from New York and New Jersey has been steadily increasing, and we could not let those cries for help go unanswered,” Dacus commented. “We are thrilled by this opportunity to serve even more churches and people of faith in the Empire State and Garden State.”

Dacus further noted that, while many law firms and organizations are scaling back in the face of COVID- 19 and economic uncertainties, PJI is expanding to meet the unprecedented challenges to religious freedom.

MassResistance helping WV city officials confront proposed LGBT ordinance – being pushed on town by national movement

"Transgender" activist leading the effort is exposed by MassResistance – as convicted child molester!

It’s been happening in relatively conservative cities and towns across America: Massively funded LGBT organizations come in and force the local city councils to pass onerous “sexual orientation and gender identity” non-discrimination ordinances. They use sophisticated propaganda and intimidation tactics. They bring in crowds of angry LGBT “citizens” from surrounding areas (and even other states) to intimidate the politicians and local conservatives. Unfortunately, these campaigns have been successful across the country.

But this time our local MassResistance chapter is on the ground to turn their tactics around and derail the push!

Star City, West Virginia is a fairly conservative suburb of Morgantown. Although the state of West Virginia is relatively conservative, Morgantown (located just south of Pittsburgh) is dominated by West Virginia University and other local colleges. It has become a center for LGBT activism in that region.

The “SOGI” ordinance

Near the end of last year a local LGBT activist – a bizarre man who dresses as a woman and calls himself Dee Dee McIntosh – came to the City Council meeting and with a crowd of other LGBT activists. He presented a “sexual-orientation gender-identity” (SOGI) non-discrimination ordinance that his group wanted the city to enact.

Dee Dee McIntosh’s ordinance was written by PFLAG, a powerful national LGBT organization that also pushes homosexuality and transgenderism in public schools, colleges, and other public venues across the country. PFLAG has a very active chapter in Morgantown.

The text of the ordinance is cleverly crafted to blend homosexuality and transgenderism with race, religion, and other common non-discrimination categories. It says it seeks to “promote the public health and welfare” and ensure that “all persons have equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations.”

The legal penalties for violations of the proposed ordinance are vague. But the real muscle is in a clause that allows the ordinance to be enforced “through a private civil action” in court.

In other words, it sets up the national LGBT movement to do what they’re doing across America: Swoop in and sue individual businesses who refuse to toe the line on transgender or homosexual demands. And you can be sure that the LGBT activists will be aggressively seeking to entrap local businesses.

But even without the “private civil action” clause, getting homosexuality and transgenderism written into the city ordinance gives the movement the ability to be in everyone’s faces – from “gay” parades to “gay/trans” library books, LGBT school programs, and much more.

Working to get the ordinance passed

In late 2019, the radicals were already moving forward on their propaganda campaign, with their emotional appeal that the town desperately needed “civil rights protections to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.” It’s a psychologically confusing approach that can be very effective, especially on weak-minded people who “just want to be fair.”

When the proposal was presented, the Council sent it to its Ordinance Sub-Committee, but did not subsequently put it on the full Council agenda for discussion. So at the February, 2020 City Council meeting, Dee Dee McIntosh came back with his LGBT group and also got a Morgantown TV station to show up and report on his demand. (Unfortunately for him, the TV report accentuates his deep male voice.)

Dee Dee told the TV reporters he will keep coming to the City Council meetings until the ordinance gets passed. His LGBT activists clearly intend to do whatever it takes to intimidate the politicians into caving in.

MassResistance gets involved

In late February, West Virginia MassResistance got word of all this and reached out to the City Council. The politicians who got back to us said they welcomed our help. They admitted that they were concerned that the LGBT movement was organizing in Star City and gaining momentum to force this through.

Our activists immediately began contacting local religious leaders and conservative activists to get our own momentum started.

MassResistance exposes “Dee Dee” as convicted child molester

MassResistance activists also decided to do some research on just who “Dee Dee McIntosh” really is. What they found was incredibly shocking – but unfortunately not so unusual.

“Dee Dee” is actually Donald David McIntosh. According to published records, he is a convicted child molester who served time in jail. McIntosh was a schoolteacher in Morgantown who was convicted on three counts of molesting elementary and middle-school children.

This information wasn't that hard to find. Only MassResistance cared to look for it!

But it gets even worse.

McIntosh attempted to vacate his conviction on appeal. In the appellate ruling obtained by MassResistance, The State of West Virginia v. David McIntosh, we discovered that according to testimony during the trial against him, McIntosh actually had a long history – nearly 40 years! – of abusing minor children who were under his care as a teacher.

According to our West Virginia MassResistance activists in the Morgantown area, Donald McIntosh’s predatory behavior against children was all too well known. The Monogalia County school district allegedly moved him around from school to school, providing cover for the perverted teacher’s predatory behavior. The testimony in his trial came from victims who were in elementary school, middle school, and one in ninth grade (high school) at the time of the crimes.

At one point in the late 1980s (according to court documents), in response to complaints the school system mandated that:

[McIntosh] was not to have physical contact with students, was not to be alone with a child in any part of the building, and was not to engage in one-on-one conversations with a child.

It appears that the mainstream media was too enamored with the LGBT movement to take the time to look into McIntosh’s background, as bizarre a person as he clearly is.

But in fact, it has become increasingly alarming how many LGBT activists are connected to the sex trade, sexual deviance, and even criminal conduct of a sexual nature.

These revelations about “Dee Dee” McIntosh should be enough to quash the City Council’s further interest in pursuing any kind of non-discrimination ordinance for LGBT behaviors and so-called identities. But of course, this won’t stop the local LGBT activists and the national groups like PFLAG from continuing to push their agenda – because it doesn’t bother them. And they know that most local news organizations and conservative groups would never bother to look into their criminal backgrounds. But MassResistance does!

Final thoughts

Our activists in the Morgantown and Star City area are definitely ready to roll on this!

You may recall our report this past February about our outstanding West Virginia Chapter in Morgantown – which stopped a hideous “Drag Queen Story Hour” from taking place in the public library. They did it by publicly revealing the depraved activity of the Drag Queens who would be reading to the children, and also the criminal conviction of one of them. With that information, they forced the politicians to completely back down – despite the fury of the LGBT activists.

(MassResistance has also uncovered past criminal activity by public library “Drag Queens” in Houston and Austin.)

Because of the COVID-19 virus, the next City Council meeting in Star City is not until July. We will be ready for it – and let you know what happens!

This week on Faith On Trial

This week joining Deacon Mike and Gina will be Mike Gonzalez from the Heritage Foundation who will be talking about the re-write of American history in the 1619 Project which may be coming to a school near you, as well as his new book, The Plot to Change America: How identity Politics is dividing the Land of the Free.

After Mike we’ll be joined by noted Catholic attorney Christopher Ferrara now special counsel to the St. Thomas More Society on a Federal lawsuit he has filed in New Jersey over police shutting down an Orthodox Jewish home prayer service and threats against a priest if he says Mass.

This Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM; on IowaCatholicRadio.com, or on our free downloadable app.

Faith On Trial is sponsored by Imogene Ingredients.  

PELOSI DECLARES WAR ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the latest attack on Catholic schools:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who boasts of her Catholic schooling, is now seeking to cripple Catholic schools. She has money in her bill, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, for illegal aliens and sanctuary cities, but wants to rescind funding for Catholic schools that were granted money by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes her effort.

What Pelosi wants to do is immoral: She seeks to discriminate against taxpayers who send their children to Catholic schools, families who were equally impacted by the pandemic. She is also violating the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) policy as outlined in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

In January 2018, FEMA released new funding rules that allowed direct funding to houses of worship damaged by natural disasters. The rules said that FEMA will not "exclude houses of worship from eligibility for FEMA aid on the basis of religious character or primarily religious use of the facility." It said that "activities of community centers or houses of worship open to the general public" qualify for federal funding.

The new policy was written to provide relief to churches that were damaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Coronavirus has also impacted churches, as well as schools. It does not discriminate. Pelosi does. 

This week on Faith On Trial

This Thursday at 10 a.m. on Faith On Trial: What control does a Catholic School have over its teachers that teach the faith? And Dr. Matthew Bunson, executive editor of EWTN News on what Pope Benedict meant by an anti-Christian creed and social excommunication.

Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM; IowaCatholicRadio.com, or our free app. Thursday at 10 a.m. Central.

Yesterday's National Day of Prayer Proclamation

Missed in the flood of developments, yesterday was National Day of Prayer. Here is the full text of President Trump's Proclamation which focused in large part on the COVID-19 crisis, saying in part:

"Today, as much as ever, our prayerful tradition continues as our Nation combats the coronavirus.  During the past weeks and months, our heads have bowed at places outside of our typical houses of worship, whispering in silent solitude for God to renew our spirit and carry us through unforeseen and seemingly unbearable hardships.  Even though we have been unable to gather together in fellowship with our church families, we are still connected through prayer and the calming reassurance that God will lead us through life’s many valleys.  In the midst of these trying and unprecedented times, we are reminded that just as those before us turned to God in their darkest hours, so must we seek His wisdom, strength, and healing hand.  We pray that He comforts those who have lost loved ones, heals those who are sick, strengthens those on the front lines, and reassures all Americans that through trust in Him, we can overcome all obstacles....

"I encourage all Americans to observe this day, reflecting on the blessings our Nation has received and the importance of prayer, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in their houses of worship, communities, and places of work, schools, and homes consistent with the White House’s “Guidelines for Opening up America Again.”

Lawsuit Filed Challenging N.Y. Mayor de Blasio’s Suspension of the First Amendment

(New York – May 7, 2020) – Today, the American Freedom Law Center (AFLC), a national public interest law firm, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his police commissioner.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of political activist Pamela Geller, challenges Mayor de Blasio’s recent announcement that, pursuant to his executive orders, the First Amendment no longer applies in the City of New York as he has made it unlawful to peaceably assemble and protest.

Geller is an author, a conservative blogger, and champion for the First Amendment.  In addition to successfully challenging government restrictions on free speech in New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Seattle, she was the organizer of the successful public protest of the Ground Zero mosque construction in Lower Manhattan.

But for Mayor de Blasio’s suspension of the First Amendment, Geller would organize and participate in a public protest of de Blasio’s policies, including the draconian restrictions he has imposed upon fundamental liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As alleged in the lawsuit:

“Public protests are an effective way to change public policy, particularly during this current COVID-19 pandemic.  For example, shortly following a large public protest outside of the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, the Michigan Governor eased many of the restrictions that fueled the protest, realizing that her political power and future were in jeopardy as a result of her exceedingly unpopular decisions.  Other similar protests have sprung up in major cities across the country.  Through the First Amendment Restriction, Defendant de Blasio seeks to silence such opposition to his policies so that he can retain his political power over the City and its residents.  Consequently, the First Amendment Restriction operates to suppress those viewpoints that oppose efforts by government officials, which specifically includes Defendant de Blasio’s efforts, to control people’s lives and restrict their liberty during the COVID-19 pandemic—a viewpoint shared by Plaintiff Geller.”

AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel David Yerushalmi commented:

“Our natural political liberties, enshrined and protected by the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution, do not go on vacation or in hiding or on lock-down during times of crisis.  Government has a role to play in protecting the public health to be sure.  But when it exercises this authority, granted by the People, it must act surgically and most carefully when restricting our protected civil liberties—Freedom of Speech and Assembly, first among all.  It is high time Mayor de Blasio and his police commissioner understand that they do not rule by mere fiat.”

AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Robert Muise added:

“Too many leftwing, progressive politicians like Mayor de Blasio see this current pandemic as an opportunity to impose draconian restrictions on fundamental rights and liberty.  Mayor de Blasio’s latest effort to suspend the First Amendment in the City of New York is one of the most egregious restrictions we have seen.  It is unfathomable that a government official’s thirst for power would go this far.  He needs to be stopped, and we intend to do so.”

Attachments

• Complaint - Filed

International Assault On Religious Liberty

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the latest attack on religious liberty:

The assault on religious liberty quickened when dozens of international left-wing organizations recently signed a statement lecturing the U.S. State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights. Leading the pack are the Center for Reproductive Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the International Women's Health Coalition.

Their opposition to religious liberty was on grand display. As usual, it's all about sex. In their world, every time religious liberty clashes with abortion rights or the LGBT agenda, the former must bow to the latter.  

The letter addressed to the Commission on Unalienable Rights says, "we urge the Commission to reject the prioritization of freedom of religion as a cloak to permit violations of the human rights of women, girls, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people." 

The hostility to religious liberty could not be more evident. In their formulation, religious liberty is not a foundational right. No, it is a "cloak" designed to rob people of their newly discovered rights. 

The fact is that religious liberty has long been recognized throughout the world as a foundational right. Therefore, it should never be put on the same moral or legal plane with reproductive or sexual rights. To do so is to devalue religious liberty. This, of course, is exactly what these organizations seek to do.

It is illuminating to note that early on in the letter, the signatories list reproductive rights as "essential to the realization of fundamental human rights, including the rights to health, life, equality, information, education, privacy, non-discrimination and protection from torture and other ill-treatment." These sages obviously don’t see the irony in mentioning the right to life in a statement that rejects it. And, of course, religious liberty is intentionally left out of their list of "fundamental human rights."

It has not escaped the Catholic League that many of the most prominent organizations attacking religious liberty have a history of bashing religion, especially Catholicism. Let's begin with the three organizers. 

Center for Reproductive Rights has attacked the Catholic Church with such venom that I once registered a formal complaint with the United Nations after it released its highly politicized report, "The Holy See at the United Nations: An Obstacle to Women's Reproductive Rights." It is funded by George Soros.

Human Rights Watch also labels the Holy See "obstructionist" for standing up for the rights of the unborn. When Filipino bishops merely stated the Church's position on contraception and abortion, it launched an attack on them. It is funded by George Soros.

International Women's Health Coalition went bonkers when the Commission on Unalienable Rights was launched. "Despite its innocuous name, the concept of natural rights and natural law is rooted in 13th century theology and used anti-rights actors to attack women's and LGBTQI rights." It noted that Mary Ann Glendon was chairing the commission, no doubt another red flag. It is funded by George Soros.

Much the same could be said about the other signatories. Here is a sampling.

Guttmacher Institute has consistently criticized Catholic hospitals for buying secular hospitals. It is appalled when Catholic-owned hospitals follow Catholic norms. 

Human Rights Campaign opposes laws that allow a religious exemption for adoption agencies, and relentlessly opposes religious liberty whenever it clashes with the LGBT agenda.

International Planned Parenthood Federation has attacked the Catholic Church for its sex education curriculum and has sought to delegitimize the Holy See's role at the U.N.

NARAL Pro-Choice America opposes Catholic hospitals exercising their right to buy secular entities, and has a well-documented record of anti-Catholicism dating back to its origins in the 1960s.

Catholics for Choice is an anti-Catholic front group that specializes in disseminating disinformation about the Catholic Church, especially its teaching on the sanctity of life. It is funded by George Soros.

Center for Constitutional Rights provided assistance to an anti-Catholic victims' group when it petitioned the International Criminal Court to prosecute Pope Benedict XVI for allegedly covering up clergy sexual abuse. Its bogus campaign failed. It is funded by George Soros.

National Center for Transgender Equality opposes the conscience rights and religious freedom protections afforded by the Trump administration. It is funded by George Soros.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America has a long history of attacking Catholic teachings on sexuality. It also opposes Catholic faith-based initiatives. It is funded by George Soros.

Population Institute calls the Holy See an "anti-contraception gestapo" and works to undermine its work at the U.N. It is funded by George Soros.

In other words, these left-wing organizations have long harbored an animus against the Catholic Church. Were it not for its atheist-billionaire benefactor, George Soros, many would be struggling and some crash.

This Thursday on Faith On Trial:

Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the state attorney general, and

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel on restrictions on church services and requiring names of church attendees.

Thursday at 10 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM or IowaCatholicRadio.com.

California's 'Worst of the Worst' Bills: Blocking Parents from Kids' Abortions and Trans Treatments

CBN News -- California's 39 million residents are getting ready for their economy to re-open. Gov. Gavin Newsom says schools could open as early as July. He's also looking to open businesses that are able to practice social distancing earlier than that. 

Next week, California lawmakers go back to the state capitol to pass a budget before their June deadline. However, it's not all positive news.

Greg Burt, director of capitol engagement for California Family Council, has compiled some bills on his "worst of the worst" list that he's concerned about the state passing. 

Parents Kept in the Dark on Abortion and Trans Treatments

One of the measures would allow insurance companies to hide from parents certain medical procedures given to their children. These procedures could include abortions and transgender treatments. 

In a press release, Burt explained how that bill known as SB 1004 would work, along with others. 

"This Planned Parenthood sponsored bill requires health insurance companies to hide from parents 'sensitive' medical procedures given to their adult and minor children. These 'sensitive' services include abortions; sexually transmitted infections treatment; drug abuse and mental health treatment; sexual assault treatment; and for adult children, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change operations," Burt said. 

"If passed, parents will find themselves obligated to pay for medical bills for their dependents, but they will not know what they are paying for," he noted.

No More Genders in Kid's Stores

Another bill known as AB 2826 would force stores with 500 or more employees to not display children's clothing or toys according to gender. 

According to this bill, it would be illegal to display children's clothing or toy items by gender in stores with more than 500 employees. Burt says separating these items by sex incorrectly implies that their use by one gender is inappropriate. A retail department store violating this law is liable for a $1,000 civil penalty.

Sponsoring Sex-Changes 

A third bill known as AB 2218 would set up a wellness fund amounting to $15 million for LGBT and transgender individuals to have sex-change operations and cross-sex hormone treatments.

"This bill establishes the $15 million Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund to provide grants to nonprofits, hospitals, health care clinics, and other medical providers that provide puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, as well as cross-sex hormones and 'sex-change' operations for adults," Burt noted. "All these drugs and procedures sterilize the recipient and permanently damage healthy body parts."

No More Co-Pays for Abortion

Another measure titled AB 1973 would eliminate co-pays and deductibles for abortion for those with public or private health insurance. 

"This Planned Parenthood sponsored bill would prohibit Medi-Cal, a health care service plan, or an individual or group policy of disability insurance from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage for abortions," Burt writes. 

Secret Abortions for Foster Youth

And the last, but not least, "worst of the worst" bills known as AB 2035 would require social workers to inform foster youth 10 years or older of rights to secret abortions and birth control.

"This bill mandates foster children, starting in fifth grade, are told of their rights to receive free birth control and abortions without the approval or knowledge of their foster parents," Burt explained. "It specifically would require county social workers to verify to the court that they have informed foster care children over 10 years of age of these rights and where to get these services."

The bill also requires foster families to receive annual training explaining these rights for foster care children.

Burt warns Californians that even though legislators are due to return to the state capitol in Sacramento May 4, no one can say how the bills will proceed through the approval process given this new "crisis" reality.

CNN’s Toobin Not Alone in Using COVID-19 to Slam Religious Freedom, Christianity

By Jay Hobbs

Ancient Rome was not exactly a haven of religious freedom, particularly for a new sect called Christianity. Writing at the end of the second century, Christian apologist Tertullian summed up the situation:

They think the Christians the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its waters up over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightaway the cry is, “Away with the Christians to the lions!”

To be sure, today’s America is no ancient Rome, and opponents of American Christianity are no toga-draped, lion-feeding emperors. Blessed with a unique heritage of religious freedom, Americans—Christian or otherwise—have very little to complain about compared to the treatment religious minorities faced in ancient Rome, and still face in many other parts of the world.

But it doesn’t take an historian to notice that knee-jerk hostility toward religion in general, and Christianity in particular, is alive and well among some of the nation’s top influencers.

Consider a recent piece at The New Yorker by CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin entitled, “Despite the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Government Is Still Targeting L.G.B.T.Q. Rights.” If that headline’s assertion strikes you as far-fetched, the article’s itself will both confirm your suspicions and thoroughly confuse you on the facts of every case and issue he mentions.

“‘Religious freedom,’ in its current incarnation, has little to do with religion or freedom,” Toobin contends. “Rather, it’s a payoff to a privileged political constituency, usually at the expense of others.”

While Toobin couches his argument in criticism of the Trump administration’s vigorous commitment to religious liberty, it’s painfully obvious that Toobin’s real objection is to the idea that Americans should be allowed to live and work according to their beliefs. That much is clear from Toobin’s complaint that “religious groups want special privileges”—which he curiously went on to illustrate by referring to Mississippi drive-in churchgoers fined $500 for sitting in their cars in the church parking lot even though the exact same activity was legal at a Sonic restaurant a few blocks down the street.

In this case, which Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys fought and won, as in so many others, mayors and governors have clearly overstepped their authority and violated the First Amendment in the process. The government cannot treat religious groups including churches worse than secular groups—that’s not “special privileges”; it’s constitutionally guaranteed freedom.

Toobin also complains about a Department of Labor rule from last August—one of several strange choices in a piece trying to tie in with a pandemic that started several months later— protecting faith-based organizations like adoption and foster care providers from government punishment simply for operating according to their faith.

That’s not a hypothetical scenario. It’s one the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, where the city abruptly cut Catholic Social Services from its program just days after putting out an urgent call for 300 more foster homes in March 2018. Further, this came a year after Catholic Social Services successfully placed 226 children in foster homes. Why was Catholic Social Services targeted? Because Philadelphia disagrees with the Catholic Church’s marriage view.

And Philadelphia isn’t the only government entity that has cut ties with these vital lifelines. Similar discrimination against faith-based providers has gone on in Michigan and New York state as well—even while more than 400,000 children in the foster system are waiting for homes.

Unfortunately, Toobin is far from alone in his misguided attempt to use the COVID-19 crisis to lash out at ideological opponents. At a time where cooperation and unity at both at a premium, writers at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and elsewhere have gone out of their way to smear Christians.

Worst of all has been the current criticism of Christian humanitarian group Samaritan’s Purse, which is being harassed even as it provides life-saving medical services for New Yorkers in its Central Park field hospital at the height of the pandemic. As with all of its relief projects in the United States and around the globe, Samaritan’s Purse serves all people, no questions asked, and at no charge to either the hospitals it works with or the patients it serves.

But that did not deter some activists from attacking the ministry. One leader at the discredited Southern Poverty Law Center called for the field hospital to be expelled. And a New York lawmaker went so far so as to say it’s “a shame that the federal government has left us in the position of having to accept charity from such bigots.” All because Samaritan’s Purse hires people who share the same faith and mission.

If ever there was a time to call a ceasefire to the much-derided “culture wars,” it would be now. But Toobin and others looking to score political points won’t have it. To them, a crisis is just another opportunity to sow division.

Scapegoating, bullying, and vilifying those with whom we disagree has always been a surefire way to destroy a culture. Tertullian’s contemporaries failed to learn that lesson. Rome’s best days were behind her, and her fall was just around the corner.

Let’s hope we learn our lesson and choose unity over division before it’s too late.