What is wrong with the Girl Scouts? Next on FOT

Recently Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis has garnered a lot of media attention by sending a pastoral letter listing concerns he, and the Church, have with the direction the Girl Scouts of America are heading. His letter raises several concerns such as how appropriate

Brian Miller

is it for Catholic schools to support Girl Scout troops considering some of the ways the scouts are undermining Catholic teaching.

Joining us Tuesday will be Brian Miller, executive director of the Catholic Youth Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to discuss some of these concerns. Recently Mr. Miller posted a lengthy article on the archdiocesan website listing some of the reasoning behind the concerns the Church has with the Girl Scouts. Below is an edited portion of that post, which can be read in its entirety here:

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Overview

In “Renewing the Vision,” the US Bishops’ framework for Youth Ministry, we read: “All ministry with adolescents must be directed toward presenting young people with the Good news of Jesus Christ and inviting and challenging them to become disciples” (page 10).

The Catholic Church has long partnered with scouting organizations to achieve this end. Though traditionally the scouting programs we have partnered with have been secular organizations, the Church has worked to foster relationships with these organizations and institute Catholic faith programs to be offered alongside these secular programs. Though the perception is often that these religious programs are offered through the particular scouting organization, the reality is that they are offered by Catholic organizations as supplemental to the scout program itself.

Scouting has been a valuable resource for teaching leadership skills and life skills for many of our youth. We have seen great fruits from our Catholic Scouting programs throughout the years. Unfortunately, concerns have been continuing to surface over the content within some of these programs, particularly within Girl Scouts. As our culture becomes increasingly secular, we need to look closely at any secular organizations with which we are partnering with and entrusting the formation of our youth.  As parents and as Church, we have a sacred duty to help our children learn the faith and ultimately to help them get to heaven.

Due to these ongoing concerns, on 2/18/2016 Archbishop Carlson issued a letter of concern regarding Girl Scouts. You can read that letter here. In November 2014, the Catholic Youth Apostolate issued a similar letter. You can read that here.

Below is a more detailed listing of the ongoing concerns with Girl Scouts and their international parent scouting organization, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Also available are resources for alternative programs and letters you can send to help Girl Scouts hear your voice on this important issue.  Please know that we are here to serve the youth and youth leaders of the Archdiocese in any way that we can.  Thank you for your commitment to aiding us in living our mission: To help all young people hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, to help them actively respond to the Gospel message and to enthusiastically participate in the mission of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Ongoing Concerns

The relationship between Girl Scouts and WAGGGS

Girl Scouts USA is one of the founding members of WAGGGS. GSUSA is also the largest member organization of WAGGGS, contributing somewhere around 25% of the total population of the membership. As an organization, WAGGGS is well known to be an advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, even for youth.  We often hear the term “reproductive rights" from these organizations, and it can be somewhat ambiguous; what these groups are really advocating for is access to abortion and birth control. WAGGGS delegates often include members of GSUSA.  WAGGGS states on their website that they speak on "behalf of their nearly 10 million girl members".   Certainly, WAGGS does not represent its Catholic girl members in this regard.

As the largest member of WAGGGS, we would ask GSUSA to use their lobbying power to put an end to this sad and misguided advocacy.

Transgender and Homosexual Concerns

There is an ever growing concern about GSUSA and their position on transgendered youth. Recently Girl Scouts gained national media attention by refusing a gift of $100,000 that was pledged with the stipulation that it "wouldn't support transgender girls". Since the funds were designated this way, Girl Scouts declined the gift and instead used the national media attention to raise over $300,000 with the tagline that Girl Scouts is "for every girl."   

 

Troops in Utah have recently been formed exclusively to reach out to transgendered youth. Internal policies in Girl Scouts has even suggested that some parents and troop leaders should not be informed if there is a transgender child in their troop. While we are firm in our conviction that all girls should have access to leadership and formational programs, we believe that the invitation of young boys living socially as girls into these programs is not healthy for the boy or the other girls in the troop.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has posted a "statement of inclusivity" explaining their policy of how to welcome a transgender child into your troop.

On Instagram and Twitter, Girl Scouts recently celebrated the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage as one of their top moments of 2015.

While GSUSA claims they do not take a stance on these issues, it is clear that their actions would suggest otherwise. These progressive issues are becoming more and more central to the Girl Scout message. By promoting our local Girl Scout troops to our young women, we

are helping them forming an allegiance to an organization that is becoming increasingly incompatible with Catholic values. As Girl Scouts continues to increase their presence on social media in an effort to reach young women, we are saddened that what our young women will often find is in conflict with our Catholic faith.

Questionable Partnerships

Girl Scouts has often found themselves in questionable partnerships and sponsorships. Many of these are related to organizations that advocate for birth control, sex education, and abortion access, even for minors. Such partnerships include relationships with Coalition for Adolescent Girls, stayteen.org, Amnesty International, Population Council, and many more. While GSUSA has stood by some of these partnerships, others have been have been suspended after complaints from concerned parents and partner organizations. While we are grateful that GSUSA has listened on certain occasions, one cannot help but wonder about the culture of an organization that repeatedly engages in such partnerships.

Curriculum Concerns

In their curriculum, Girl Scouts often highlights role models that are not consistent with Catholic values. They honor many pro-abortion politicians and activists, and they highlight organizations that advocate for reproductive rights, such as many of the organizations listed above. While there are many positive aspects to the Girl Scout curriculum, ensuring that our youth are not exposed to these questionable organizations and ideals requires a level of vigilance that is unfortunate.

Are we the only ones with these concerns?

There are numerous other originations that are researching and issuing letters of concern regarding Girl scouts. Below is a sampling of some of these organizations:

·         The Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) investigated the Girl Scout organization and shared numerous ongoing concerns. The results are listed here.

·         Additional individual dioceses are sharing concerns with their laity as well, including the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS. Their concerns are listed here.

·         Bishop James Johnston, formerly of the Diocese of Springfield Cape Girardeau issued a letter of concern that can be found here.

·         Bishop Michael Sheridan of the Diocese of Colorado Springs issued a statement regarding Girl Scouts this fall. It can be found here.

·         Missouri Right to Life has researched the issue as well and published their concerns here.

·         Several articles have been published in the National Catholic Register detailing ongoing and upcoming concerns with the Girl Scouts in regards to Pro-Life concerns, cookie sale concerns, and transgender concerns.

While we are disappointed in recent changes to the leadership policy of Boy Scouts of America, our concerns are not yet at the same level as the concerns we are presenting here in regards to Girl Scouts. As it stands now, the charter system in place with BSA allows each parish to have governing control over the leadership, curriculum and activities of the troop. This same control is not possible with the current Girl Scout charter system.

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So join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday at 9 a.m. (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will be re-broadcast at 9 p.m.

Faith on trial is sponsored by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

What will the vacancy on the Supreme Court mean for religious freedom? We'll have some answers next FOT

Justice Antonin Scalia 1936 - 2016  RIP

Over the weekend a legal giant, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, died. Justice Scalia was the intellectual leader of the Court’s conservative block, as well as the Court as a whole. 

Justice Scalia’s death, however, leaves the Court deadlocked 4-4 between liberal and conservative justices, and since Justice Anthony Kennedy sometimes sides with the liberals, the balance in the court could shift to the liberals 5-3 on many issues. And if President Obama has his way, he’ll appoint another liberal judge to the court.

So, just what does Justice Scalia’s death mean for the future jurisprudence of the Court? How will religious liberties fare with the current vacancy?

Professor William Piatt

We’ll try to answer some of those questions Tuesday when we are joined by Professor William Piatt of the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. Professor Piatt specializes in constitutional law and jurisprudence with a focus on Catholic perspectives. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s law faculty he served as the assistant attorney general in New Mexico and later as assistant public defender. He also created the first-in-the-nation Center for Terrorism Law. 

What’s next for the Supreme Court after Justice Scalia? We’ll have some answers for you Tuesday at 9 a.m. (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will be re-broadcast at 9 p.m. Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for an interesting and informative look at what the Court vacancy might hold.

Faith On Trial is the only program of its kind on Catholic radio and is sponsored by our loyal underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Tune in every Tuesday at 9 & 9 for the latest legal news and commentary of interest to people of faith.

More on pharmacists’ rights of conscience Tuesday on FOT

Tuesday Deacon Mike and Gina will be joined by Alliance Defending Freedom senior vice president of legal advocacy Kristen Waggoner and pharmacist Greg Stormans to discuss the case of Stormans v. Wiesman which challenges the right of pharmacists to act on conscience by referring a client to another pharmacist rather than to fill a prescription for an abortion inducing drug.

Kristen Waggoner

For four generations, Kevin Stormans’ family has owned Ralph’s Thriftway, a store located in Washington state. Regulations passed by the Washington State Pharmacy Board in mid-2007 mandated that pharmacies like Ralph’s Thriftway must stock and dispense the “morning-after” pill if requested by a patient. Stormans chose not to stock the product in his pharmacy after reading research demonstrating that the pill can prevent the implantation of a human embryo, an early-stage abortion procedure which Stormans opposes on religious, moral, and ethical grounds. Stormans, Inc., and two pharmacists, Margo Thelen and Rhonda Mesler, who work elsewhere, are challenging the regulations in federal court.

See the video below which features Kristen and the Stormans family. Also see the earlier story about the support the Stormans are receiving as they take their case to the United States Supreme Court.

Kristen serves as senior vice president of legal advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom, leading the organization’s legal advocacy efforts. She is a Martindale-Hubbell AV peer-review rated attorney who clerked for Justice Richard B. Sanders of the Washington Supreme Court after law school and served in private practice in Seattle for nearly 20 years. Waggoner is admitted to the state bars in Washington, Florida, and Oregon. She is also admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 1st and 9th Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington.

Join Deacon Mike, Gina, Kristen, and Greg for an interesting, disturbing, and perhaps inspiring story Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

Faith On Trial is brought to you courtesy of our loyal underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.
 

Leading medical groups urge Supreme Court to protect pharmacists’ right of conscience

            Diverse coalition opposes rules that would force pharmacists
                      to choose between their faith and their livelihood  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A diverse coalition of medical organizations, states, Members of Congress, scholars, and religious organizations urged the Supreme Court to hear a case involving two female pharmacists and a family-owned pharmacy, who face the loss of their livelihood unless they sell abortion-inducing drugs in violation of their religious beliefs (view full list). The pharmacists in Stormans v. Wiesman are challenging a controversial regulation in Washington State that has been condemned by the American Pharmacists Association as “a radical departure from past regulation of the pharmacy industry.”

“[The] ‘right of conscience’ has always been integral to the ethical practice of pharmacy,” said the brief of the American Pharmacists Association and 37 other national and state pharmacy associations. “No other regulation in the country so clearly targets pharmacists who conscientiously object to stocking or delivering certain drugs.” 

Margo Thelen, Rhonda Mesler, and the Stormans family have worked in the pharmacy profession for over seventy years. When a customer requests an abortion-inducing drug, they refer the customer to one of over thirty pharmacies within five miles that willingly sell the drugs. For decades, this has been standard pharmacy practice, has been approved by the American Pharmacists Association, and has been legal in all 50 states.

But in 2007, Washington adopted a new law making referrals for reasons of conscience illegal. The law was passed in a cloud of controversy, with then-Governor Christine Gregoire threatening to terminate the State Pharmacy Commission and replacing Commission members with individuals recommended by abortion-rights activists. The law leaves pharmacies free to refer patients elsewhere for a wide variety of reasons related to business, economics, and convenience—but not for reasons of conscience. Because of the law, Margo Thelen lost her job, Rhonda Mesler was threatened with losing hers, and the Stormans family faces the loss of its pharmacy license.

“It is absurd to force a pharmacy to sell drugs against their conscience when there are over thirty pharmacies within five miles that already sell the exact same drugs,” said Luke Goodrich, Deputy General Counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents the pharmacists.

“The regulation was a solution in search of a problem,” said the brief of Democrats for Life and seven other organizations. “Washington’s regulations depart radically from widely established norms within the health-care industry,” said a brief of over 4,600 individual health care professionals.

The Supreme Court will likely consider whether to take the appeal this spring. If the Court agrees to hear the case, it would be argued later in the 2016 term. The plaintiffs are represented by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, together with Alliance Defending Freedom, the law firm of Ellis, Li, & McKinstry, and former Tenth Circuit Judge Michael McConnell. 

FOT host on EWTN to discuss Iowa caucus results

EWTN Nightly News – Published on Feb 2, 2016:

A victory for Ted Cruz and a close call for Hillary Clinton in Iowa – Jason Calvi reports from Des Moines with more on caucus results. Lauren Ashburn sits down with Roll Call’s Melinda Hennenberger to discuss the latest from Iowa and we speak with Deacon Mike Manno from Iowa Catholic Radio to talk about Catholic voting patterns. Loras College’s David Cochran breaks down the history of Iowa caucuses and Catherine Szeltner highlights how social media responded to last night’s results. House Republicans make their latest push to dismantle Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood today – Wyatt Goolsby reports from Capitol Hill. Pope Francis gives his first interview about China – Mary Shovlain has more from Rome. And Right to Life of Louisville’s Margie Montgomery fills us in on a Kentucky order for Planned Parenthood to stop performing abortions.

What’s next for the candidates after the caucus? Join political columnist Kathie Obradovich for a discussion of all things post-caucus.

The shouting, the claims, counterclaims, TV ad blitzes, and robo calls are coming to an end here in Iowa and, in just a few hours, caucus chairman in over 1,700 precinct caucus sites will gavel their meetings to order and the process of selecting the next President of the United States will officially begin.



Kathie Obradovich

It is only the beginning, and not the end of the process, however. What will the Iowa decision mean? Will some candidate be flying high and others crash on take-off?

We’ll try to answer some of those questions Tuesday when our favorite political columnist, Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register, joins us to take stock of the fall-out from the uniquely Iowa precinct caucuses. And to analyze the huge media coverage of the event our media critic Todd Erzen will join us later in the program.

So join Deacon Mike Manno, Gina Noll and our guests Tuesday morning at 9 (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will re-broadcast Tuesday night at 9.

Faith On Trial is proudly underwritten by our sponsors: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

WEATHER WARNING: Due to the possibility of heavy snows and blizzard conditions in Central Iowa Tuesday morning, the program could be delayed or pre-empted.

Special pre-caucus program Tuesday: Everything you always wanted to know about the Iowa caucuses but were afraid to ask

Dem. Chair Tom Henderson

This week will be our last program before the Iowa caucuses and so we are devoting the entire program to the caucuses. Did you know that each party caucuses differently? The Democrats count delegates while the Republicans count individual votes.

How will that make a difference in how the results are reported an analyzed?

Deacon Mike Manno (a poli-sci guy) and Gina Noll (a poli-sci gal) will be joined by the chairman of the Polk County Democratic Party, Thomas Henderson. Deacon Mike, Gina and Tom will discuss the similarities and differences in the way each party conducts its caucus and the effect it will have on the declared – and maybe undeclared – presidential candidates, and how you can best maximize your influence.

We'll also discuss the three-fold purpose of the caucus ... bet you might have only thought of one.

You can also get further information on caucus procedures from the websites of the Iowa Republican Party; the Iowa Democratic Party; and from our friends at the Family Leader. You might also want to check our Facebook page for the latest surrounding Candidate Donald Trump’s campaign spokesperson’s bigoted tweets.

So join us for this special pre-caucus primer this Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. for all things caucus! The Dowling Catholic Basketball game Tuesday night will pre-empt our regularly scheduled re-broadcast at 9 p.m.

Faith On Trial is proudly sponsored by: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Tuesday: Judie Brown, president of American Life League, on threats to life and the “culture of death”

Tuesday we’ll be discussing attacks on life, especially euthanasia and physician assisted suicide with Judie Brown, co-founder and president of the American Life League (ALL), the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States. ALL stands up for every innocent human whose life is threatened by the “culture of death,” which ranges from single cell embryos to the elderly and infirm threatened by euthanasia.

Judie Brown 

ALL started in 1979 and has grown from a kitchen table operation to a full-fledged professional organization with more than 30 full-time employees and 120 Associate organizations throughout the nation. Judie has distinguished herself as an unapologetic pro-life leader. She served three five-year terms (1996-2011) as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life in Rome. Daily Catholic cited her as one of the top 100 Catholics of the 20th century. She has written 12 books, including the most recent The Broken Path: How Catholic Bishops Got Lost in the Weeds of American Politics (2011) and Saving Those Damned Catholics: A Defense of Catholic Teaching (2007).

So join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for a lively conversation with Judie, Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Time is Central.

Faith On Trial is underwritten by our loyal sponsors: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Is there a governmental assault on the family? Next FOT

Do you get the feeling these days that there is a societal attack on the family? If you have been a regular listener to our program, you won’t be surprised that it is happening. And when you add in attacks from governmental authorities the problem only seems to be

Michael Quinlan

getting worse.

Our discussion Tuesday will center on this issue. Our guest is Michael Quinlan, the Executive Director of the Center for Christian and Family Renewal in St. Louis, who recently penned an article for Crisis Magazine, “First Steps Toward Protecting Parental Authority.” He is an attorney, mediator and conciliator, with extensive experience and course work in mediation, conflict resolution, personal coaching, and child advocacy, including knowledge of domestic relations law and experience in the family courts.  He has degrees in Philosophy and Law from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Laws degree from Washington University.

So join Deacon Mike Manno, Gina Noll, and our guest as they discuss these and other important issues facing men and women of faith. Faith On Trial airs on Iowa Catholic Radio every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (re-broadcast at 9 p.m.) 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streams on IowaCatholicRadio.com. All times are Central.

Faith On Trial is brought to you by our loyal sponsors: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Call a transgendered “him” or “her” by the wrong pronoun and it will cost you in New York City – and it will cost you a lot!

This is a man, but calling him "him" might get you fined!

We’re starting off the New Year with a story that is almost guaranteed to give heartburn to even our most loyal listeners. The City of New York’s Commission on Human Rights has just published new enforcement rules concerning how transgendered people are to be treated and, among other things, it makes it a violation to call a transgendered person by the wrong pronoun which subjects the “violator” to a $250,000 fine for each such violation!

Our friends from MassResistance have called the new rules “more radical and oppressive then we’ve seen so far in the U. S. It covers all people in all areas of employment, public accommodations, and housing.”  

Joining us Tuesday to talk about this and other issues of interest will be Sean Ryan, director of communications for MassResistance, a Massachusetts a pro-family activist organization that educates people to help them confront the attacks on the traditional family, children, religion, and society.

MassResistance has obtained a copy of the 10-page commission document and you can read it for yourself here.

Joining Deacon Mike Manno this week will be our research associate, Stephanie Crowley, sitting in for Gina Noll. In addition to Sean Ryan, we’ll also have our monthly visit from our media critic, Todd Erzen.

Faith On Trial is heard every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM and 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streams on IowaCatholicRadio.com. It is re-broadcast at  9 p.m. unless pre-empted by Dowling Catholic Basketball.

FOT is brought to you by our loyal underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Outrageous: Court rules that pro-life clinic must promote abortion!!!

Brad Dacus

Sacramento, CA—A federal court ruled late Monday that a law requiring pro-life pregnancy clinics to promote abortion can go into effect January 1st.

Pacific Justice Institute represents three pregnancy clinics that are challenging the law, AB775, on free speech and free exercise of religion grounds.

In a 59-page order, U.S District Judge, Kimberly Mueller agreed with PJI that the law raised "serious questions" about potential First Amendment violations and would also cause irreparable harm to the clinics.  However, Judge Mueller determined that the interests of the clinics in refusing to promote abortion were outweighed by the interests of the State to ensure women receive information about all their options.

"This ruling should alarm everyone who believes in a robust First Amendment," said Brad Dacus, Pacific Justice president and frequent FOT guest.  "The notion that the government can compel religious non-profits to promote practices antithetical to their values is chilling."

The clinics are evaluating all their legal options, including appeal.

Planned Parenthood and the Maine Attorney General combine to silence Pro-Life speech; Thomas More Law Center files federal lawsuit

 

The Thomas More Law Center (“TMLC”), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, MI, today, filed a federal lawsuit against the Maine Attorney General, the City of Portland, Maine and several Portland police officers to stop enforcement of a portion of the Maine Civil Rights Act (“Act”). Under the Act, it is illegal to make any noise that can be heard inside an abortion clinic after being warned by a police officer. A Portland police officer officially warned Pastor Andrew March that employees could hear his anti-abortion message inside their facility and in so doing paved the way for a State lawsuit against him under the Act.

As a result, TMLC filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pastor Andrew March to stop enforcement of the Act as a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. Pastor March is the father of three children and the founding preacher of a church in Maine. He feels called by God to oppose the culture of death and to work to end the murder of his fellow citizens behind the walls of Planned Parenthood. When the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against his friend and fellow preacher Brian Ingalls under the Act, he took up his mantel and began to preach outside the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Andrew March not only wants to save lives, but also wants to give women a last chance to avoid the enduring physical and psychological harms caused by abortion.

The Portland Planned Parenthood is located on a busy public thoroughfare, which, in addition to usual street sounds such as sirens, honking, and other traffic noises, hosts city parades and protests by hundreds  of yelling and chanting people. Yet, among this cacophony of sounds, Planned Parenthood claims the lone, unamplified voice of Andrew March interferes with its abortion services.

Planned Parenthood, assisted by the Maine Attorney General and the City of Portland, is using Maine’s Civil Rights Act to silence all Pro-Life speech in front of its facility by claiming to hear it within the building. TMLC’s lawsuit contends that the Act is an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and is being used to target and silence the Pro-Life viewpoint. In fact, amid the far louder traffic and city-approved parades, police officers enforcing the statute admit that it is the Pro-Life content of Andrew March’s speech that allegedly interferes with abortion counseling and procedures within the building.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, commented on the lawsuit: “Our lawsuit is based on the bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment that government, in this case the State of Maine and the City of Portland, cannot ban Pro-Life speech just because they disagree with its content or find it offensive.”

Click here to read the full complaint

TMLC recently defeated a previous attempt by the same Planned Parenthood facility to silence Pro-Life speech. On Oct. 8, the U.S. District Court in Maine entered a consent judgment in which the City of Portland agreed that their 39-foot “buffer zone” silencing Pro-Life speech within the vicinity of Planned Parenthood was unconstitutional. In light of the City’s defeat, Planned Parenthood and the City of Portland seem to be going through a list of Maine’s laws to intimidate and silence Pro-Life speech. After charging Brian Ingalls and warning Andrew March under the Act, police officers are now threatening Andrew March with criminal charges for disorderly conduct—all this despite the fact that both preach peacefully and respectfully from the Bible.

Good news for the Christmas season: making lemonade from lemons; God gets last word

You probably remember the saga of Richard and Betty Odgaard, owners of the Gӧrtz Haus Gallery in Grimes, Iowa. For those of you who don’t remember, the Odgaards, they owned a former church building that they had turned into an art gallery that they rented it out for weddings.

Pastor Ryan Jorgenson

A strong Mennonite family, the Odgaards refused to rent their facility for a same-sex ceremony and ultimately were put out of business when the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, supporting the same-sex couple’s false claims (they had already been married in another state, see our earlier post here) effectively put the family out of business.

But God always has the last word. The building was turned back into a church and has now generated a large congregation of largely younger people. To discuss this turn around Tuesday will be Pastor Ryan Jorgenson of the new Harvest Bible Chapel, which has risen from the legal disaster foist upon the Odgaards by the militant homosexual movement and abetted by biased members of the Civil Rights Commission. We’ll hear his story and his special Christmas wish for our listeners. See the Harvest Bible Chapel video below.

We’ll also have our monthly visit from our research associate and movie reviewer Stephanie Crowley with a review of the movie “The Letters” the story of Mother Theresa whom the church has just announced will be canonization by His Holiness Pope Francis.

Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com for a “good news” Christmas edition of Faith On Trial. Unless pre-empted by Dowling Catholic basketball, the program will re-broadcast at 9 p.m.

Faith On Trial is brought to you by our loyal sponsors and underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.  

Physician loses hospital privilege over LGBT warnings

Dr. Church loses final appeal at hospital. Board of Directors upholds physician’s expulsion for telling the truth about high-risk LGBT behavior to colleagues

 

 

Dr. Paul Church

The cave-in at the major Boston Harvard-affiliated hospital is complete. The Board of Directors of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has formally notified Dr. Paul Church that they are upholding his expulsion from the hospital and that his medical privileges there are terminated.

His crime? As MassResistance has reported, Dr. Church, a urologist who is also on the Harvard Medical School faculty, voiced concerns to his colleagues about the hospital's aggressive promotion of LGBT activities. He pointed out the long list of serious medical risks -- and also moral issues -- associated with those behaviors.

The hospital never disputed the truth of Dr. Church's statements. Nor did they claim that he ever discussed this with patients or treated them differently. Instead, the hospital took extraordinary steps first to silence him and then to expel him on a ludicrous charge of making "offensive" remarks. Over months of hearings and appeals, the hospital wouldn't relent.

In September Sean Ryan, MassResistance director of communications, was our guest and told our listeners the Dr. Church story. See our earlier post.

Court allows lawsuit of unjustly fired fire chief to go forward against city of Atlanta

ATLANTA – A federal court ruled Wednesday that an Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit filed on behalf of former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran will go forward against the city for unjustly firing him because of his religious beliefs. While the court agreed to dismiss some claims, the court is allowing the lawsuit to go forward on Cochran’s primary claims of retaliation, discrimination based on his viewpoint, and the violation of his constitutionally protected freedoms of religion, association, and due process (firing without following proper procedure).

At oral arguments in October before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Cochran v. City of Atlanta, ADF argued that the city’s arguments themselves confirm Cochran’s claim that the city fired him for holding and expressing religious beliefs city officials didn’t like.

“A religious or ideological test cannot be used to fire a public servant, but the city did exactly that, as the evidence and facts of this case clearly demonstrate,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot, who argued before the court. “We look forward to proceeding with this case because of the injustice against Chief Cochran, one of the most accomplished fire chiefs in the nation, but also because the city’s actions place every city employee in jeopardy who may hold to a belief that city officials don’t like.”

“Tolerance must apply to people of different viewpoints, not just those who agree with the beliefs the government prefers,” added ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “Americans don’t surrender their constitutionally protected freedoms when they become public servants.”

After activists who don’t agree with Cochran’s Christian views on sex and marriage complained about a brief mention of the topics in a 162-page book Cochran had written on his personal time, Mayor Kasim Reed suspended Cochran for 30 days without pay and announced that he would have to complete “sensitivity training.” Reed then fired him, even though a city investigation concluded that he did not discriminate against anyone. Public statements Reed and City Councilman Alex Wan made late last year confirm the truth about why the city fired Cochran.

“I want to be clear that the material in Chief Cochran’s book is not representative of my personal beliefs and is inconsistent with the administration’s work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all citizens…,” Reed said in November of last year to explain why he suspended Cochran.

That same month, Wan told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I respect each individual’s right to have their own thoughts, beliefs and opinions, but when you’re a city employee and those thoughts, beliefs and opinions are different from the city’s, you have to check them at the door.”

Reed recounted in his 2014 State of the City Address that he “begged” Cochran to return to Atlanta in 2010 from his job as U.S. fire administrator in the Obama administration. Cochran agreed, and the city council confirmed him to serve a second time as the city’s fire chief, a job Cochran originally held from 2008 to 2009.

In 2012, Fire Chief Magazine named Cochran “Fire Chief of the Year.” In a city news release issued about the award, Reed thanked Cochran for his “pioneering efforts to improve performance and service within the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department,” applauded “Chief Cochran and all of Atlanta’s brave firefighters for the commitment to excellence shown throughout the department,” and recognized that Cochran’s “national recognition” as Fire Chief of the Year was “much-deserved.” 

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.