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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Stockpiles Abortion Pills to Make Sure Babies Can be Killed

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Stockpiles Abortion Pills to Make Sure Babies Can be Killed

Idaho Army National Guard Sued for “No Christians in Command” Policy

BOISE, ID – Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Idaho Army National Guard infantry officer against Governor Brad Little and two army generals for unlawfully removing the officer from command solely due to his personal Christian expression on biblical sexuality made outside of the military environment. An investigation into the officer, which revealed no wrongdoing, nevertheless recommended a policy to monitor potential candidates for command for any “concerning ideologies” as a way of “rooting out” any “extremism” in the ranks. In this case, the decision to remove him from command on this basis shows that his superiors believe his Bible-centered beliefs on sexuality to be concerning and essentially puts an unconstitutional “No Christians in Command” policy into action.

The investigation noted that the Idaho Army National Guard should consider “creating a policy…of conducting public records search on the Internet and on popular social media sites to see how a selected candidate portrays themselves publicly,” and that candidates for command be “scrutinized to ensure there is no concerning information within the public domain.”

In the lawsuit, Liberty Counsel contends that despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing by the officer, the Idaho Army National Guard affirmed the investigation’s policy recommendation by ordering the officer removed from command “for the mere exercise and expression of his religious views.”

These discriminatory actions violate the First Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Idaho Free Exercise of Religious Protection Act. Liberty Counsel seeks a permanent injunction against the discrimination of Christians in the Idaho Army National Guard and a temporary restraining order for it to restore the officer and cease all efforts to force him out of the military.

In addition to Gov. Little, the lawsuit names Adjutant General of the Idaho National Guard Major General Timothy J. Donnellan and the Assistant Adjutant General for the Idaho Army National Guard Brigadier General James C. Packwood.

The events that led to this unjustifiable policy began when Major David Worley, an infantry officer, ran for mayor in Pocatello, Idaho. During Worley’s political campaign, which he conducted strictly outside his military duties, he expressed his religious convictions and moral objections to certain issues relevant to political discourse in his community. He expressed his opposition to issues involving so-called “Drag Queen Story Hours,” pornographic material for minors in public libraries, and the medical mutilation of gender-confused children. All of Worley’s protected speech occurred off-duty in his private capacity and before he took command of the Idaho Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention unit.

In 2023, a subordinate senior enlisted man under Worley’s command, who claims to be homosexual and is ideologically opposed to Worley’s religious beliefs, filed a formal discrimination complaint against Worley. Despite only meeting Worley twice without incident, the complaining guardsman alleged he was discriminated against because of his sexual orientation and that Worley created a hostile work environment. The complaining guardsman noted he felt “threatened and unsafe” merely due to Worley’s beliefs.

However, Worley’s Christian beliefs denote that all people are made in God’s image and have inherent dignity and are worthy of respect. He is committed to serving those under his command, regardless of political or religious disagreements, and would give his life in defense of his state and nation. As a result, the Idaho Army National Guard suspended Worley from command in July 2023 following the complaint and then illegally pressured him to resign without benefit of any counsel or notice. He rescinded his notice two hours later after contacting Liberty Counsel.

The Idaho Army National Guard then proceeded with a formal investigation into the complaint. Ultimately, General Packwood found the complaints from the complaining guardsman were unsubstantiated and found no evidence Worley did anything wrong in the workplace. Yet, out of the investigation came the recommendation that all candidates for command be scrutinized to ensure any concerning expression is discovered, reported to the Department of Defense, and investigated for extremist activity. Accordingly, General Packwood concluded Worley’s religious beliefs were “toxic” and removed him from command solely due to those protected religious views.

“The ‘No Christians in Command’ policy constitutes a religious gerrymander by unconstitutionally orphaning sincerely held religious beliefs while permitting the more favored nonreligious value systems,” wrote Liberty Counsel. “On its face and as applied, [the policy] lacks any rational basis and is irrational and unjustifiable.”

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that military members do not shed their constitutional rights when they step forward to serve the nation. Nor are the military departments immune to the laws protecting their individual freedoms. By suspending and removing Major David Worley from command over his Christian beliefs, the Idaho Army National Guard informally adopted an unconstitutional ‘No Christians in Command’ policy. The Constitution simply does not allow the military to punish those with sincerely held religious beliefs or to specifically target religion for disparate and discriminatory treatment. Governor Brad Little must ensure that the Idaho Army National Guard upholds federal and state law and protects the free speech of its service members. This discrimination against Major Worley must stop and his record must be cleared and his career restored.”

The State of Religious Liberty in the United States

Annual Report of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty:

The Annual Report summarizes developments in religious liberty at the federal or national level in the United States in 2024. In the final section, it identifies five areas of critical concern—issues where there are both threats and opportunities—for religious liberty in the coming year, with recommended actions that readers can take in response to each issue.

Law & Policy

As was the case in the 2023–2024 Annual Report, because control of the two chambers of Congress was divided, most bills that threatened religious liberty—that is to say, immunity from coercion in religious matters—did not move forward. Legislation aiming to increase access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) was introduced in 2024. The most significant threats to religious liberty at the federal level came in the form of finalized regulations by federal agencies, such as the Section 1557 rule, which implements the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These rules heavily focused on imposing requirements regarding abortion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The Supreme Court did not decide any cases in 2024 that dealt primarily with a question of religious liberty. However, rights of conscience played an unexpectedly key role in two decisions about abortion: Moyle v. United States and FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the Court limited the power of federal agencies to interpret laws passed by Congress, signaling a major change in how regulations and religious liberty will intersect in the future. The Court heard arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti regarding whether the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause bars states from prohibiting so-called gender transition procedures for minors.

Politics & Culture

In 2024, there were several significant developments in politics and culture. Two issues that were prominent in the 2024 election have implications for religious liberty: immigration and gender identity. Immigration policy becomes a religious liberty problem when religious charities and social services are singled out for special hostility. Gender identity rules have led to religious liberty conflicts, but following the election, some Democrats seemed to signal a desire to moderate on this issue. The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics included a display that mocked Catholics, while the governor of Michigan appeared in a social media video in which she gave a tortilla chip to a podcast host in a manner that lewdly imitated a priest giving communion at Mass. The Committee for Religious Liberty hosted a symposium on the theme of Religious Liberty in a Culture of Self-Invention. Religious charities serving newcomers found themselves the targets of lawfare, largely motivated by misinformation and partisan rhetoric related to the U.S.–Mexico border, while shocking reports of antisemitic incidents emerged from the campus protests that began following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

The five areas of critical concern—threats and opportunities—for religious liberty are:

·        the targeting of faith-based immigration services

·        the persistence of elevated levels of antisemitic incidents

·        IVF mandates, which represent a significant threat to religious freedom, while the national discussion of IVF represents an opportunity for Catholics to share Church teaching and advocate for human dignity

·        the scaling back of gender ideology in law

·        parental choice in education, one of the longest-running areas of concern for American Catholics

Read the full report.

The Pope who SAW SATAN

AG nominee Pam Bondi: FBI targeting Catholics ‘must stop’

 Attorney general nominee Pam Bondi told lawmakers at her Wednesday confirmation hearing that she would put an end to what she called the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice and FBI against Catholics, pro-life Americans, and others. “Going after parents at a school board meeting has got to stop,” Bondi said. “For practicing your religion – sending informants into Catholic churches must stop.”  READ

Pam Bondi Will Stop the Liberal Lawfare That Has Targeted Americans

Pam Bondi Will Stop the Liberal Lawfare That Has Targeted Americans

Thomas More Society Petitions President Trump to Pardon 21 Pro-Lifers Targeted by Biden’s DOT

 (Washington, D.C.) On January 14, 2025, Thomas More Society attorneys submitted to the incoming Trump administration formal requests for presidential pardons on behalf of 21 pro-life advocates who have been unjustly prosecuted, convicted, and in several cases, imprisoned, by the Biden Department of Justice. In their letter submitted to President Donald J. Trump, Thomas More Society attorneys “urge that these pro-life Americans are deserving of full and unconditional pardons.”

The pardon request package includes 21 individual pardon requests, one for each pro-life advocate, outlining the specific facts of each case, their upstanding personal and moral character, and the reasons why President Trump should grant a presidential pardon. The pardon request package also includes a cover letter outlining the legal rationale for the requested pardons and explains how the Biden DOJ routinely and unconstitutionally weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and “Conspiracy Against Rights” statute against peaceful pro-life advocates.

The 21 pro-life advocates for whom Thomas More Society has submitted pardon requests are: Joan Bell, Coleman Boyd, Joel Curry, Jonathan Darnel, Eva Edl, Chester Gallagher, William Goodman, Dennis Green, Lauren Handy, Paulette Harlow, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, Jean Marshall, Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, Justin Phillips, Paul Place, Paul Vaughn, Bevelyn Beatty Williams, Calvin Zastrow, Eva Zastrow, and James Zastrow.

“With these requests for presidential pardons for 21 peaceful pro-life advocates, we urge President Trump to right the grievous wrongs of the Biden administration’s weaponization of the Department of Justice,” stated Steve Crampton, Thomas More Society Senior Counsel. “These 21 peaceful pro-lifers, many of whom are currently imprisoned for bravely standing up for unborn life, are upstanding citizens and pillars of their communities. Through full and unconditional pardons for these pro-life advocates, President Trump has the chance to remedy the harm done to them and their families, deliver on his campaign promises, and repair trust in our constitutional order.”

On at least three occasions, President Trump has publicly signaled his intent to pardon the pro-life advocates wrongly prosecuted during the Biden administration. In September 2023, on the heels of the FACE Act convictions in Washington, D.C., President Trump stated he would review the “cases of every political prisoner who’s been unjustly persecuted by the Biden administration.” In February 2024, in a speech to the National Religious Broadcasters in Nashville, Tennessee, Trump referenced the “pro-life activists... convicted on outrageous charges” in the Nashville FACE Act trial and pledged to review those convictions following his return to office. In June 2024, in a speech for the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Trump reiterated his earlier statements and specifically referenced 76-year-old Paulette Harlow in his remarks, who is included among the pro-life advocates requesting a full pardon in the communicated pardon request package.

“We are hopeful that the second Trump administration will spell a new day for pro-life advocates who have faced FBI raids, federal prosecutions, and severe punishment for peacefully and courageously witnessing for life,” added Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation. “By acting on the requested presidential pardons, President Trump has a golden opportunity to not only stop the lawfare against peaceful pro-lifers, but to also undo some of the unprecedented damage of the Biden administration. Inside and outside the courtroom, Thomas More Society attorneys have seen up close the harm inflicted by the Biden DOJ’s weaponization the FACE Act. Today, we call on President Trump to pardon these peaceful pro-lifers and put an end to this government overreach.”

Read the Pardon Request Package Cover Letter, “Re: Petitions for Pardon of 21 Peaceful Pro-Life Advocates,” addressed to President Donald J. Trump, by Thomas More Society attorneys on behalf of 21 pro-life advocates, here. For privacy reasons, the detailed individual requests are unable to be made public.

About Thomas More Society
Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and freedom. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices across the country, Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, please visit the website at thomasmoresociety.org.

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Catholics In The New Congress Split On Abortion

By Bill Donohue, Catholic League president 

The 119th session of the Congress that began on January 3 is overrepresented by Christians. While most are Protestant, 28 percent are Catholic. Nationwide, Christians make up 62 percent of the population, but they make up 87 percent of the new Congress. Almost three-in-ten Americans are religiously unaffiliated (28 percent), though the three Congressmen who fall into this category make up less than 1 percent of Congress.

 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has repeatedly said that abortion is the “preeminent priority” for voters. Accordingly, we examined the voting record of every returning Catholic member of Congress, and sought to ascertain the position on this issue as expressed by Catholic freshmen when they were running for office.

 

We used the scorecard of National Right to Life, and the scorecard of Reproductive Freedom (formerly NARAL), to see how they rated these Catholics. As expected, the results of the pro-life organization and the pro-abortion organization showed wide agreement.

 

To simplify matters, we will refer only to the National Right to Life scorecard. To see the complete tally of all Catholic members of Congress as scored by both organizations, click here.

 

In the House of Representatives, there are 126 Catholics: 71 Democrats and 55 Republicans. From our analysis, more Catholic representatives are pro-abortion (70) than are pro-life (54); two can be regarded as moderates.

 

Six-in-ten (59) Catholic representatives received a score of 0 percent from National Right to Life, and all of them were Democrats. Two scored near zero (both Democrats) and two scored near the middle (one from each Party). There were 44 Catholic representatives who received a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life, and all were Republicans. Nineteen, all freshman, had no scores.

 

In the Senate, there are 23 Catholics: 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans. From our analysis, more Senators are pro-abortion (14) than are pro-life (8); one, a Republican, can be regarded as a moderate.

 

Of the 14 Catholic Senators who are pro-abortion—they received a score of 0 percent from National Right to Life—all but one was a Democrat. There were 7 Catholic Senators who received a pro-life score of 100 percent; one was a freshman without a score, though he was endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony List.

 

The data show how sharply the Parties differ. The Republican Party is overwhelmingly pro-life and the Democrats are overwhelmingly pro-abortion.

News from the Iowa Catholic Conference

 

The 91st Iowa General Assembly is scheduled to convene today, Monday, Jan. 13. Leaders will address the chambers about their plans for the session. Tomorrow night at 6 p.m., Gov. Kim Reynolds will present the “Condition of the State” message to the Legislature with live coverage from Iowa PBS. The Condition of the Judiciary and Condition of the National Guard speeches are also scheduled for this week.

ICC staff anticipates advocating for several key issues at the Capitol, including preschool funding, maternal health care, immigration, conscience rights for medical professionals, probation reform, and addressing the online black market for abortion pills.

Here are some lobbying basics for helping you make your views known to your legislators. 

Stay informed about the 2025 legislative session

The Iowa Catholic Conference is hosting a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. called “Advocating for Justice 2025.” Diocesan and ICC staff will update participants on current issues of interest and help participants find ways to advocate for justice. Register here. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and engage.

Enrollment in Catholic schools increases

Enrollment in Iowa’s Catholic schools increased in the 2024-25 school year. As of October 2024, there were 25,265 students enrolled in Catholic schools, up about 4% from the previous year.

About two-thirds of those students – 16,714 - received an Education Savings Account from the state, which means their family income was 400% or less of the federal poverty level. The number of students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch increased by 4.5% to 5,182. In addition:

• the number of non-White students was 5,835, a 4.6% increase
• there were 1,580 English Language Learner students, a 28% increase
• the number of students with IEPs increased by 15% to 834

Finally, there was a 77% increase in the number of Catholic school grade levels which have a waiting list to 96 statewide.

Let your friends know they can join the Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education and the National School Choice Awareness Foundation for a school fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. This event is free with family entertainment and will showcase different school and education options including public schools, private schools, microschools, and more.

Our final Faith On Trial program

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This week on Faith On Trial: A look at what's ahead

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This week on Faith On Trial: Girls Banned from wearing 'Save Girl's Sports' t-shirts; School denies request for Bible club

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