Why Is the U.S. Navy is attacking a navy chaplain?

Chaplain Wes Modder, USN

Chaplain Wes Modder is a decorated Navy chaplain who has been entrusted with the spiritual well-being of the Navy’s most elite forces. His commanding officers praised him as a “national asset” with “charismatic leadership and sound judgment.”  One called him “the best of the best.” He is a respected and decorated chaplain with a doctorate in military ministry; Chaplain Modder had a spotless, even exceptional, 15-year record.

However, a  very small number of sailors requested private, pastoral care and counseling sessions during which they asked him about certain matters of personal conduct and belief.  Chaplain Modder’s answers, as always, were in line with the teachings of his endorsing denomination, as required by his denomination and protected by federal law. Then, a handful of sailors complained, because they disagreed with the biblical views Chaplain Modder expressed in response to their questions.

In reaction, the Navy removed Chaplain Modder from his unit and isolated him at the base chapel, cutting him off from his sailors and forbidding him from ministering to their spiritual needs. Chaplain Modder’s commander launched a three-pronged attack against him, requesting that Chaplain Modder be:  

1)    Removed from the promotion list.

2)    “Detached for cause,” the military equivalent of being fired. 

3)    Brought before an official Board of Inquiry, where he could be involuntarily forced out of the Navy.

Chaplain Modder’s attorney, Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Mike Berry—Director of Military Affairs for Liberty Institute, a former U.S. Marine JAG Officer, and adjunct law

Mike Berry

professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, will be our guest Tuesday on Faith On Trial. 

Liberty Institute has requested that the Navy rescind all three threats against him, and return him to duty and good standing so he can continue his “best of the best” service to sailors and Marines who need him. 

Let Deacon/Attorney Mike Manno, and his co-host Gina Noll keep you up to date with the latest religious liberty news every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (central) and re-broadcast at 9 p.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines, where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday night.

Should a printer be forced to print messages he has a moral objections to? Next on FOT Kentucky t-shirt printer’s attorney

When a print shop in Lexington, Kentucky, Hands on Originals, was asked to print t-shirts promoting a local gay and lesbian organization, the owner, a Christian who believes that sexual relationships and sexual activity is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, declined. Instead, he offered to refer the group to another printer who would match his price. Despite getting their t-shirts printed for free at the other shop, the gay group pursued a complaint with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission accusing the printer of discrimination. 



Jim Campbell

If this story sounds familiar, it’s probably because stories like this are becoming more and more common. 

 

In a troubling ruling, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission found that the owner of the shop, Blaine Adamson, had discriminated against the organization and ordered that he not only print promotional materials that express messages he does not want to promote, but that he attend a government-run reeducation program.

 

Tuesday, Deacon Mike and Gina Noll will host Blaine Adamson’s attorney, Jim Campbell, senior legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).  Since joining ADF in 2007, Campbell has been involved in defending marriage, religious liberty, and freedom of conscience against legal attacks.  He earned his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude in 2006.  

Join Deacon Mike and Gina for a lively discussion at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.  Faith On Trial is sponsored by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC, 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines, where there is entertainment in the tap room every Thursday.

 

City spies a church and demands it obtain a business license; Church’s attorney will be on FOT this Tuesday

Compiled from OneNewsNow.com:

After sending a city spy to report on church activities in order to collect incriminating “evidence,” the City of Lake Worth in Florida is now demanding that church property owners obtain “business licenses” to avoid foreclosures, hundreds of dollars in daily fines and ultimately shutting services down.

Worshipers at Common Ground Church in Lake Worth, Fla

After being informed about the local government’s “KGB-type harassment,” Liberty Counsel issued a letter to the City of Lake Worth. Attorneys with the Christian nonprofit legal organization are demanding that it retract what they are calling a baseless order requiring all churches in the area — some of which have been pillars of light in their communities for nearly a century — to close their doors.

In addition to the threatened fines and licensing demands, the City has allegedly been taking park in a “KGB-type” investigation of Common Ground Church, sending one of its employees to spy on the church and meticulously record its worship services in hopes or documenting and video recording violations.

Tuesday on Faith On Trial, one of the Liberty Counsel attorneys representing the churches, Richard Mast, will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll to discuss this case.

Liberty Counsel obtained a statement recorded and prepared by the city “spy,” which attorneys say “reads like a report from behind the Iron Curtain describing illicit activity.” Here is how it reads:

“I walked back to the Coffee Bar and was able to visualize … what appeared to be a ministry in progress,” the City spy wrote in the report, which then listed off various observations. “[This included:] Someone speaking from a podium … A (sic) overhead TV or projection with [S]cripture verse on it … Rows of people sitting in chairs on both sides like a gathering setting … People holding what appeared to be [B]ibles or religious books, as one had a cross on it." 

In the report, it is noted that the church activities were captured on video on the “city phone” and that the recordings would later be used “for future court presentation.”

Join Deacon Mike and Gina Noll for a lively discussion of this issue Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CDT) and re-broadcast at 9 p.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com

Guess what the IRS wants to know during a ‘random’ audit of a faith-based non-profit law firm? Next on FOT

Robert Tyler

Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts. Its mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.  Attorneys with Advocates have often appeared as guests on FOT.

Recently, Advocates were informed by the IRS that it was performing a “random” audit of the firm for 2012. In wake of the recent abuses of the IRS targeting many conservative groups around the country, and being well aware of the overreaching attempts made by the government to intimidate and stop conservative groups in the past, Advocates refused to let anything stand in the way of fighting for your right to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet the IRS requested lists of their 2012 donors, volunteers, newsletters, and financial records. 2012 just so happened to be the year Advocates argued in the Ninth Circuit in defense of Proposition 8, California’s marriage initiative, as well as the year we hosted a controversial figure, Dinesh DiSouza, to speak at the group’s Justice Gala.

The IRS also asked that the board of directors to adopt a new policy by which it would discontinue sending our supporters links to places they can find Christian-based voter guides that explain where candidates stand on various issues.

Todd Erzen

Tuesday Advocates president and general counsel Robert H. Tyler will be our guest on FOT to discuss this issue with Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll and he will tell our listeners what answer he gave to the IRS.

Robert has been featured in American Lawyer and has been published in The Daily Journal, as well as a number of other national media. On numerous occasions, Robert has been called on to comment and be interviewed by local, national, and international media outlets. He has been a featured guest on Fox News, MSNBC, TBN, PBS, as well as Faith On Trial.

Also joining us Tuesday will be our monthly visit with our media analyst Todd Erzen, formerly with the Des Moines Register.

Join Deacon Mike and Gina for a lively discussion at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.  Faith On Trial is sponsored by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC, 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines, where there is entertainment in the tap room every Thursday.

Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America; a 400 page report from Liberty Institute: It’s author is next on FOT

The Liberty Institute, one of America’s leading defenders of religious rights has just published its 2014 edition of Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America. The nearly 400 page report catalogs a 133% increase in attacks on religious freedom in our nation since the Institute’s first survey three years ago.

Justin Butterfield  

Editor-in-chief of the report, Justin Butterfield, senior counsel and Director of Research and Education for Liberty Institute, will be our guest on Faith On Trial Tuesday.  

Justin graduated from Harvard Law School where he served as the student coordinator for the Veritas Forum, was a member of the Federalist Society, and was heavily involved with the Harvard Law School Christian Fellowship. He is also a Blackstone Fellow. A native Texan, Mr. Butterfield completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at El Paso where he graduated summa cum laude, with honors, and University Banner Bearer with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. 

In addition to his practice in the area of religious liberty, Mr. Butterfield co-authored two scholarly articles: “The Light of Accountability: Why Partisan Elections Are the Best Method of Judicial Selection,” published in The Advocate, and “The Parsonage Exemption Deserves Broad Protection,” published in the Texas Review of Law & Politics. 

In addition to his practice in the area of religious liberty, Mr. Butterfield co-authored two scholarly articles: “The Light of Accountability: Why Partisan Elections Are the Best Method of Judicial Selection,” published in The Advocate, and “The Parsonage Exemption Deserves Broad Protection,” published in the Texas Review of Law & Politics. 

Undeniable is a free download and may be found here.  

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (when not pre-empted by Dowling Catholic Basketball) on Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. 

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC, 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, just off the bike trail south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines. 

Join Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll this week for what should be a lively discussion of hostility to religion and people of faith.

Can judges be forced to perform gay marriages? Can they be jailed if they refuse? Next FOT

Harry Mihet

Cases from Alabama and North Carolina raise the question as to how far a federal court can go in ordering state judges to perform so-called same sex marriage.  In at least one state some magistrates are being threatened with jail if they refuse.

Discussing these matters with Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll on Tuesday will be senior litigation counsel for Liberty Counsel Harry Mihet. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. The purpose of this ministry is to preserve religious liberty and help create and maintain a society in which everyone will have the opportunity to discover the truth that will give true freedom.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday morning at 9 (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming live on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The probram is re-broadcast at 9 p.m. when not pre-empted by Dowling Catholic basketball.

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company just off the Bike Trail south of Grey’s Lake at 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines, where there is live music in the taproom every Thursday.

Why was teacher awarded $2 million against the Church for “hurt feelings”?

Pat Smith

Last year a federal district court jury awarded a former Catholic school teacher nearly $2 million over “hurt feelings.” Apparently, her feelings were hurt when her contract was not renewed due to her violation of Church teaching.  She engaged in vitro fertilization after being warned that it was against Church teaching and violated her contract. When she continued with the IVF treatment, despite the warnings, she was allowed to work out her contract, but the contract was not renewed.

The teacher sued and the jury awarded her nearly $2 million.  Tuesday we will dissect the case with a local labor lawyer, Pat Smith, a parishioner at St. Augustin Parish in Des Moines.  

After that discussion we’ll make our monthly visit with our media critic, Todd Erzen, about how the mainstream media is covering the major religious issues of the day.

Todd Erzen

Join Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll for a lively discussion of our religious freedoms every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program is re-broadcast at 9 p.m. except when pre-empted by Dowling Catholic basketball.

Faith On Trial is sponsored by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live music in the taproom every Thursday evening.

District of Columbia mayor signs coercive bills damaging religious freedom of D.C. Catholic schools and colleges

By Kimberly Scharfenberger 

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed into law two bills that will severely damage the religious freedom of Catholic educational institutions and organizations in the nation’s capital.

The first bill, the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act, could coerce religious organizations to work with and hire those in favor of abortion and force employers to cover elective abortions in their health plans, regardless of their religious objections.

The second, the Human Rights Amendment Act, repeals an exemption that protected religious schools and universities from approving or funding homosexual advocacy. This new law would effectively force schools to recognize LGBT student groups or advocacy groups on campus.

In October, The Cardinal Newman Society joined The Catholic University of America and the D.C. Catholic Conference in warning the D.C. City Council that such a bill would violate the religious freedom of Catholic schools and universities.

According to the Council’s interpretation, the exemption allowed “religiously-affiliated educational institutions to discriminate based on sexual orientation.” However, the exemption gave Catholic schools the ability to uphold their religious beliefs for the past 25 years and was not problematic, argued Cardinal Newman Society President Patrick Reilly.

In a column published in The Wall Street Journal, Reilly went on to note that the Council’s decision “has the appearance of an attack on traditional religious teachings on sexuality, rather than any substantial victory for gay rights.” He stressed that the “narrow exemption was never intended to hinder human rights, but to put a stop to the unreasonable demands of city officials.”

“It remains for Catholic families and educators to preserve faithful Catholic education, even at great cost,” Reilly stated in December concerning the Human Rights Amendment Act. “If America is no longer the land of the free, then at least we must remain brave enough to live and teach our beliefs without compromise while challenging unjust laws.”

Congress still has the ability to state its objection to the bills and protect the rights of D.C. residents. This action would then require both the House and Senate to pass a resolution, as well as the President’s signature, in order to overturn the new D.C. laws.

Originally published by Catholic Education Daily is an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society.

Documentary "One Generation Away" special showing Monday at Christ the King Catholic Church, Des Moines, Iowa

Monday evening at 7 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Des Moines there will be a special showing of the new documentary “One Generation Away.” The event is free and open to the public.

One Generation Away is a fast-paced film that travels the United States (and Europe) in search of a deeper understanding of the religious freedom clauses in the Constitution's First Amendment. From Hobby Lobby to the Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego to wedding service providers in the Northwest, One Generation Away asks hard questions about the status of religious liberty in America today. The film includes leading voices on both sides of the issue. One Generation Away discovers that our “first freedom”—religious liberty—is one that demands attention at this critical point in American history.

Your free ticket for the movie can be downloaded here, however the sponsors of the movie say a ticket is not necessary to enter but only gives them a idea of how many to expect. They are planning on refreshments.

Last Tuesday our movie reviewer Stephanie Crowley gave the movie a big thumbs up and this Tuesday we’ll be continuing our discussion on the issues raised in the film.

For more information on the movie itself, and to see the trailer, go here.

Christ the King is located at 5711 SW 9th Street, Des Moines.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” 

 

-- Ronald Reagan

U. S. Supreme Court rejects appeal by Diocese of Baton Rouge over seal of the confessional case

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari (declined to hear) an appeal of the case in which the Louisiana Supreme Court held that a trial court could decide whether a communication between a teenager and a priest over the 14-year old's sexual abuse by a parishioner amounted to a confession.

According to the teenager, the information was told to the priest during a sacramental confession.  The diocese maintains that the seal of the confessional prohibits the priest from revealing anything told to him during the confession, event the identity of the person making the confession. The girl and her parents claim that the priest was a mandatory reporter under Louisiana law and had an obligation to take the information to the police.

In response to the denial, the diocese of Baton Rouge issued the following statement:

“This morning, January 20, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Diocese and Father Bayhi’s  Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to review the decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The Diocese and Fr. Bayhi are disappointed that the Court denied our request, at least at this stage, to intervene in this case, which has significant ramifications for religious freedom in Louisiana and beyond.

“Notwithstanding the Court’s decision not to intervene at this time, The Diocese and Fr. Bayhi have a number of options for raising further constitutional challenges in this case, which they are currently evaluating.  The denial of the writ is in no way a ruling on the merits of the case, nor does it preclude the Diocese or Father Bayhi from pursuing constitutional challenges which have not yet been ruled upon by the trial court.  The Diocese and Fr. Bayhi will continue their efforts to protect the guarantees of religious freedom set forth in our state and federal constitutions, and are confident that those efforts will, in due course, be successful.”

We’ve had two earlier posts and programs on the topic.  Our program on July 15, 2014 featured Msgr. Larry Beeson, a canon lawyer discussing the topic; you can read the earlier story here. And on September 9, 2014 we discussed the matter with Professor Dane Ciolino of the Loyola New Orleans School of law.  The earlier post for that program is here.

We will keep you posted as this case now goes back to the Louisiana state courts.

Ontario Catholic schools required to adopt curriculum encouraging sexual immorality contrary to the Catholic Church's teaching

By Kimberly Scharfenberger 

Catholic schools in Ontario, Canada, will be unable to opt out of a mandatory sexual education curriculum that will allegedly encourage immoral sexual activity and teachings contrary to the Catholic Church, according to Life Site News.

Ontario’s education minister, Liz Sandals, reportedly announced that all of the region’s school systems—both Catholic and public—will use the same curriculum document, despite significant opposition in 2010 over a former version of the curriculum.

“If the curriculum is anything like its forerunner, shelved in 2010 after parental backlash, it will likely contain items contrary to Catholic sexual and moral teaching, such as approval of masturbation, anal and oral sex, homosexuality, and contraception,” Life Site News reported.

According to another Life Site News report, distraught parents protested against the 2010 curriculum which would have purportedly “taught children to question their male/female identity [and] experimental family structures.”

The report continued:

When host Steve Paikin asked Sandals directly to respond to concerns that the curriculum would “actively encourage 12 year olds to masturbate as one way of learning about your body and teach eight year olds that being male or female is merely a social construct,” she did not deny that the curriculum contained these components. Sandals instead deflected the question, saying that such components would be included in the teacher’s aid as a “suitable response” if kids were to ask questions on the topic. 

The curriculum’s forced implementation is being spearheaded by Ontario’s Premier, Kathleen Wynne. Wynne requested the Ministry of Education “to finalize a new health and physical education curriculum that gets at some of the root causes of gender inequality, and starts at the very earliest stages to develop an understanding of healthy relationships and consent,” Life Site News reported. 

 

Originally published by Catholic Education Daily, an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society.

Attorney for Fire Chief terminated for Christian views next on FOT

Chief Kelvin Cochran

Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran who authored a book which is being sold on Amazon, is entitled “Who Told You That You Were Naked?” which is centered on God’s question to Adam following his disobedience in the Garden of Eden, and parallels the matter with those who are now “clothed in Christ,” was fired from his job by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

“Uncleanness [is] whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion,” Cochran wrote. “Naked men refuse to give in, so they pursue sexual fulfillment through multiple partners, with the opposite sex, the same sex and sex outside of marriage and many other vile, vulgar and inappropriate ways which defile their body-temple and dishonor God.” Many criticized the book as promoting discriminatory and anti-gay views.



Kevin Theriot

Earlier, Chief Cochran had been suspended without pay and ordered to undergo sensitivity training. He was fired after returning to work at the end of his suspension.

Mayor Reed called the book discriminatory. “I was surprised and disappointed to learn of this book,” he stated. “I profoundly disagree with and am deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in the paperback regarding the LGBT community. I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration.” The incident has been turned into a fight over religious liberty and free speech rights.

Tuesday, Chief Cochran’s attorney, Kevin Theriot will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll to discuss the case and its implications on religious freedom.

Mr. Theriot serves as vice president of the Center for Religious Liberty with Alliance Defending Freedom and oversees its Education and Church Projects, as well as legal matters involving freedom of expression in the public square. Since joining Alliance Defending Freedom in 1993, Theriot has been successful as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous cases preserving religious freedom.

Tune in to Faith On Trial Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg& Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials.

Parents Alarmed By “Pleasure Activist” in High School Classroom

Lafayette, CA—Controversy is growing in a Northern California community as parents have learned disturbing new details about recent sex ed presentations for freshmen in the Acalanes Union High School District.

For months, parents have pushed school officials for answers about who was involved and what was being taught by Planned Parenthood on campus. Just before Christmas, in response to a public records request from Pacific Justice Institute, the District finally identified some of the PP employees involved with the program. Parents are now more concerned than ever. The parents started asking more questions and learned that one of the sex ed instructors at Acalanes High School, when she is not working for Planned Parenthood, leads “pleasure workshops” demonstrating the use of sex toys for a sex toy porn shop in Berkeley called Good Vibrations. It is not yet clear what this instructor may have told students about the store’s offerings.

Brad Dacus

Parents also identified the public Twitter feed of another sex ed instructor at Acalanes High School, the PP education manager for Northern California, where she calls herself a “pleasure activist.” She commented enthusiastically on attending the CatalystCon pornography conference for her continuing education along with other Planned Parenthood representatives, just prior to teaching at AHS this past fall. This event attracts leading members of the porn industry and focuses on topics like using explicit instructional media for sex ed, the history of sex toys and how to effectively share your sex life on the stage and on the page. Other tweets (since deleted) by this instructor are too vulgar to be included here.

PJI previously reported on the District’s use of racy sex checklists, a diagram of the “Genderbread Person,” and coaching students in asking each other if it’s okay to take their clothes off. In a letter sent to PJI in early January, a lawyer for the District strongly defended the program as “age appropriate” and claimed the sex checklists were merely “idea-generating worksheets” rather than illegal surveys or questionnaires.

Although the District is promising to continue the controversial program, there are signs it is beginning to feel the parents’ pressure. After being confronted with the backgrounds of the two instructors outlined above, Superintendent John Nickerson confirmed to parents that neither of those individuals would take part in the sex ed program that began January 5. The District has not disclosed, however, who would be teaching the class and has previously admitted it does not conduct background checks on PP instructors.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, and frequent FOT guest, commented, “It has become clear that Acalanes officials have breached parental trust at every turn. They have brought individuals into the classroom who should not be anywhere near a school campus, and they continue to defend an indefensible program. In light of these most recent revelations, we are renewing our call to the District to suspend its relationship with Planned Parenthood and make sweeping changes to comply with the letter and spirit of state law. We are also calling on responsible journalists to join us in asking tough questions and holding the District accountable for these serious lapses in judgment.”

How is Planned Parenthood getting to our children? Next on FOT

What is Planned Parenthood up to these days? What new plan has it hatched to get to your

Jenifer Bowen

children? For one, PP has developed a new phone app for 12 year olds.  To discuss these recent activities as well as the events surrounding the upcoming March for Life, we will be joined Tuesday by Jennifer Bowen, executive director for Iowa Right to Life.

Jenifer has been involved with Iowa Right to Life since 2001 and joined the staff in 2007. Five years ago, she was named executive director. She holds a B.A. in Counseling from Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and has counseled women in crisis in both religious and secular institutions.

In addition to her current role, she serves on the board of directors for “And Then There Were None”, a national ministry, founded by former Planned Parenthood clinic manager Abby Johnson, which provides financial, emotional, spiritual and legal support to anyone wishing to leave the abortion industry. In the two years since forming, they’ve already assisted over 140 now or soon-to-be former workers!

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials and there is entertainment in the taproom every Thursday evening.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 & 9.  If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.

What’s up for religious freedom in 2015?

Where is religious freedom going this year? Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday as they discuss what to look for with Daniel Blomberg, legal counsel with one of the nation’s leading institutions protecting religious liberty, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

The Becket Fund has represented clients numerous clients against the Obama Administration’s HHS Mandate, including Hobby Lobby, the Little Sisters of the Poor and

Daniel Blomberg

EWTN and Belmont Abby College.

Before joining Becket, Mr. Blomberg clerked for Chief Judge Alice M. Batchelder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and, before that, served as litigation counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Tune in to Faith On Trial Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY Des Moines. Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail, just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road – check for their weekly specials. If you have comments or questions about the program you can contact Deacon Mike at DeaconMike@IowaCatholicRadio.com or Gina at Gina@IowaCatholicRadio.com.