KFUO Radio News Break

In today's News:

Lawmakers want to know why pro-life students were arrested

Two lawmakers are calling for an investigation into what they say is the “Unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination” of two pro-life students who were arrested in Washington, D.C., after using sidewalk chalk  to write the phrase “BLACK PRE-BORN LIVES MATTER” in front of a local Planned Parenthood. The students, who are affiliated with Students For Life Of America (SFLA), were charged with defacing public or private property, which is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. Fox News is reporting that Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. James Comer of Kentucky of the Oversight Committee, wrote a letter to Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband questioning the validity of the arrest. The arrest raised eyebrows particularly because the slogan “DEFUND THE POLICE” was recently painted on a prominent D.C. roadway adjacent to the mayor’s commissioned painting of “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” without similar consequences. SFLA has said it intends to pursue legal action against the metropolitan police department for its viewpoint discrimination.

Court overturns conscience protection

In June, President Donald Trump issued a pro-life rule that will protect pro-life Americans and help save babies from abortion. His administration implemented a rule to block the effects of an Obamacare provision that could be used to compel doctors to participate in abortions. The Department Of Health and Human Services finalized a rule that revises 2016 provisions of the Obamacare section 1557 rule that had redefined discrimination “on the basis of sex” to include “pregnancy termination.” The new rule protects doctors, nurses and medical professionals from being compelled to assist abortions. Monday, a federal judge blocked the rule, just one day before it was to have taken effect and relied on a Supreme Court decision related to sexual orientation and gender identity to block the rule, which also pertains to those issues.

Abortion prevented

An unborn baby may be protected from abortion in Florida after a court ruled against a teen who is trying to get a secret abortion without her parents’ knowledge or consent. The Miami Herald reports the Second District Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by 14-year-old “Jane Doe” who is challenging the new state parental consent law. The pro-life law, which went into effect July 1, requires girls under 18 to obtain a parent’s consent before having an abortion. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies and allows a judge to grant permission instead of a parent, a judicial bypass. Doe, who is living with her 17-year-old boyfriend, requested a judicial bypass, but a court rejected her request and, on Monday, the Second District Court agreed, according to the report. In their ruling, the judges said the teen did not show enough maturity to make the decision on her own. They also questioned her credibility after she gave two conflicting statements about her mother to the court.

In today's News:

Pharmacist fired for not dispensing abortion-inducing drugs

Life Legal is representing a pharmacist who has told her employer she cannot dispense prescriptions for abortion-inducing drugs, including oral birth control and emergency contraception. The pharmacist, who is Catholic, has made it clear that dispensing the drugs violates her deeply held beliefs. The pharmacy said if she did not change her position, she would be terminated immediately. The pharmacist did not back down. She has worked for the pharmacy for many years and has always received a religious accommodation to exempt her from dispensing prescriptions that violate her conscience. This year, however, the pharmacy is saying that birth control and morning after pills are “essential” services.

Athletes allowed to defend women's sports law

A federal district court yesterday granted the motion of two female athletes to intervene in defense of Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging in court. The lawsuit seeks to dismantle Idaho’s newly enacted law and force female athletes to compete against males who identify as female. Alliance defending freedom attorneys represent the two collegiate athletes, who run track and cross-country at Idaho State University in Pocatello. The two women, Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall, are long-time athletes, well familiar with the difference in strength and speed between comparably gifted and trained male and female athletes. In its order granting the motion to intervene in Hecox v. Little, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho also temporarily halted enforcement of Idaho’s law while the lawsuit against it moves forward.

Church wins against state

Pastor John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church in California may hold indoor services without legal retaliation for now, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled Friday. California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has banned indoor religious services along with various types of secular gatherings in 29 counties representing 80 percent of the state’s population in the name of containing the spread of covid-19. Numerous churches have defied the order, including Grace Community Church, Cornerstone Church of Fresno, Destiny Christian Church of Rocklin and Harvest Rock Church Of Pasadena. In Los Angeles, conflict over the order has intensified to the point that Democrat Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered that power and water be shut off to buildings where gatherings continue taking place. Grace Community Church Sued The State Over The Ban, And Los Angeles County Counter-Sued, but Chalfant sided with Grace, the Associated Press reports. The judge’s ruling allows the church to gather in person for the time being, provided congregants wear masks and socially distance within the building. He set a September date for a hearing on Los Angeles County’s counter-demand for an injunction against the church meeting in person.

In today's News:

Storms slam Lutherans in upper Midwest

Last Monday, a massive “derecho” wind storm tore through the Midwest, hitting thousands of square miles with winds of up to 112 mph. The storm took down trees and power lines, leveled corn crops, and cut off power and phone signal throughout a massive region spanning much of Iowa, and parts of Nebraska and Illinois. Unlike a tornado, the hurricane-force winds that hit the region, did not just devastate a mile-wide path, but a swath of the Midwest that stretched for miles and miles in every direction. In an area of hundreds of miles through eastern Iowa, nearly every standing tree was damaged. Countless homes were hit by trees or sustained wind damage. Central Lutheran School in Newhall, Iowa, lost the roof to its gymnasium completely. Power and phone signal were cut off to the whole region for days, including major cities such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and The Quad Cities. St. John’s and Central Lutheran sustained damage that will need repairs, as did many other homes and businesses. One elderly member of St. John’s completely lost her home’s roof, which caved in on the kitchen and the living room, though she was unharmed. Last Thursday morning, The Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care Disaster Response, traveled to the affected area and met with local LCMS disaster response coordinators to help organize response plans.

Wedding photographer wins in court

A federal district court issued an order Friday that halts enforcement of a Louisville, Ky., law against a photographer and blogger while her artistic freedom lawsuit moves forward in court. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Chelsey Nelson — an entrepreneur who specializes in photographing, editing, and blogging about weddings — in a legal challenge to a city law that forces her to use her artistic talents to promote same-sex wedding ceremonies if she photographs and blogs about weddings between one man and one woman. The court also denied the city’s request to throw out the lawsuit. The Louisville law also forbids Nelson and her studio, Chelsey Nelson Photography, from publicly explaining on her studio’s own website or social media sites the religious reasons why she only celebrates wedding ceremonies between one man and one woman. Louisville considers such “communications” as indicating that services will be denied because of sexual orientation. The court’s order halts enforcement of that part of the law against Nelson as well.

Lawmakers urge end tax breaks for abortion

More than 100 U.S. senators and representatives have written to the Department of the Treasury to end tax breaks in the IRS code for abortion. Presently, the IRS allows abortion expenses to be tax-deductible as a "medical expense." They urged the IRS not to consider abortions except when the mother’s life is physically endangered to be medical care. The IRS should not treat premiums for health insurance that covers such abortions as medical care, unless in compliance with the law’s separate accounting requirements for coverage of non-medical care the lawmakers say.

In today's News:

Undercover journalist ask for charges be dismissed

Sandra Merritt is asking the California Court of Appeals to dismiss all eight remaining felony charges pending against her. The criminal investigation and tactics began under then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris (now senator and VP candidate) and then her replacement, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who filed 15 charges for Merritt’s undercover journalism work in exposing Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby body parts. During a press conference, Becerra stood with a sign reading, “I stand with Planned Parenthood.” Multiple counts have already been dismissed. Becerra has not shown probable cause for any of the charges. Merritt’s appeal details with evidence that she did not intend to violate any laws but used legal undercover techniques to investigate and expose potential fetal-trafficking abuses and crimes being committed by Planned Parenthood.

Teenagers sue state medicaid program

Two teenagers in Arizona have sued the state's medicaid program, arguing that the state was violating their civil rights by declining to pay for gender transition surgeries. Under the banner of anti-discrimination provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the claimants argue that a 1982 state ban on using medicaid funds is an affront to their civil rights. The lawsuit goes on to argue that two biological females who came out as transgender a few years ago experienced challenges as puberty started changing their bodies and that they had to rely on breast binders and heavy hoodies in order to appear more masculine. Presently, 22 states and Washington, D.C., cover transgender medical practices through government agencies. Eighteen states have no explicit policy and 10 states prohibit it.

City funds abortion efforts

Austin, Texas, is doubling down on their stance as a sanctuary city for the abortion industry. The city’s 2021 budget, approved unanimously by the all-Democrat Austin City Council yesterday, cuts funding for the Austin Police Department and redirects a portion of the funding to subsidize abortion. Last year, the Texas legislature passed a law prohibiting state and local governments from using taxpayer dollars to support abortion businesses and their affiliates. However, the city of Austin circumvented this law by including a line item of $150,000 in the city’s budget for abortion logistical services. While the funding cannot pay for the abortion procedure directly, this money is earmarked for expenses related to abortion, including transportation to the appointment, lodging, childcare, and legal services.

Chinese authorities tell Christians to pray to its president

Authorities in Communist China replaced a cross in the home of an elderly Christian man with an image of Xi Jinping and ordered him to pray to the country’s president instead of God as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to “sinicize” Christianity. The 84-year-old man in Shanxi province was among a number of Christians in several provinces ordered to remove Christian imagery from their homes and replace them with pictures of communist leaders, religious rights magazine Bitter Winter reported.

In today's News:

Medical journal retracts study on sex change treatment

Dr. Andre van Mol, American College Of Pediatricians adolescent sexuality committee co-chair, was the lead author of one of six letters to the editor of American Journal Of Psychiatry (AJP) critical of the methods and findings of the 2019 Branstrom & Pachankis study in AJP claiming decreased mental health treatment use from gender-affirming surgeries. His team included endocrinologist Michael Laidlaw and renowned psychiatrists Miriam Grossman and Prof. Paul McHugh. AJP decided “to seek statistical consultations” on the study, along with reanalysis by the study authors, leading to AJP issuing a correction that there was “no advantage to surgery,” and the study authors conceding “our conclusion . . . Was too strong.” The Branstrom study itself stated that “gender-affirming hormone treatment” provided no improvement either. Consequently, the study, and transgender affirming interventions, now seem invalidated.

Lawmakers defend ‘heartbeat bill’

Georgia Republican leaders are fighting in court to defend a state pro-life law that bans abortions once an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable. The 2019 Heartbeat Law currently is blocked by a court order, but Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration is appealing to the 11th circuit court of appeals, Bloomberg Law reports. The state law bans abortions after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, about six weeks of pregnancy. State lawmakers expected a legal challenge when they passed the law in 2019. The Georgia pro-life law allows exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the mother’s life. In addition, the law allows parents to claim unborn babies as dependents on their taxes and includes unborn babies in census data. It also allows mothers to collect child support for pregnancy and delivery costs from the father prior to the baby’s birth.

Woman dies following an abortion

The West Alabama Women’s Center is estimated to have killed over 80,000 preborn babies in its decades of operation, and recently, an abortion client died after a procedure there. According to Operation Rescue and CEC for life, the botched abortion which caused the woman’s death was committed on May 7. Witnesses saw the woman, escorted by another person, leaving the facility in clear distress. The woman was pale and could barely walk even just a few feet to a vehicle waiting for her. Despite these clear signs of an injury, it appears that a 911 call was not made by anyone at the facility. The woman was taken to Druid City Hospital, where facility staffers confirmed she passed away. The West Alabama Women’s Center was sold in the same month that the woman was killed. Long-time owner Gloria Grey was seeking to retire, and abortion activists with the Yellowhammer Fund launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to buy the facility. The Yellowhammer Fund’s communications director at the time was noted pro-abortion writer Robin Marty, who is now the communications director for the West Alabama Women’s Center.

In today's News:

Lutheran Witness more visible

For almost 140 years, The Lutheran Witness (LW) has served the church and proclaimed the Gospel by publishing theological essays and reflections that interpret “the contemporary world from a Lutheran perspective.” Now, LW seeks to continue this mission by refreshing and expanding its web presence with its own website, witness.lcms.org. Online LW content was previously housed at the Reporter site, where it was less visible and harder to find. Now, with its own domain name, the refreshed LW site is more user-friendly and accessible. The updated site will continue to provide all the same content that was housed under the old domain name.

California city cracks down on worship

Yesterday, Harvest Rock Church received a letter from California's city of Pasadena's code compliance officer demanding that in-person worship services cease. The letter states that the city of Pasadena will continue to enforce the governor’s orders, “Until the present emergency ends. Today, Liberty Counsel appears in the federal district court regarding Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry’s request for a preliminary injunction against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s covid-19 orders. The governor’s orders prohibit all in-person worship, including home Bible studies and fellowship. This ban applies to about 80 percent of the state's population. In the remaining 20 percent, limited in-person worship is permitted but no singing and chanting.

California county declares itself sanctuary for worship

San Luis Obispo County, located in central California, has become a sanctuary county for churches struggling to cope state restrictions on worship gatherings. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow confirmed late last month he will not prosecute churches for holding worship services or for singing in church, which was deemed unlawful by an order from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. More than 30 counties in California are not allowed to gather for church services, according to Newsom’s order that places even greater restrictions on counties included in the state’s covid-19 watch list. Gatherings of 10 people or more in households in those counties are also banned, essentially prohibiting some in-home Bible study gatherings. Whether a church can legally gather or not, singing during worship is disallowed under Newsom’s order.

Democratic nominees go full pro-abortion

Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden yesterday announced that Sen. Kamala Harris Of California would be his vice-presidential running mate. By picking Harris, Joe Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to abortion on demand at any time for any reason and paid for by taxpayers. As a U.S. Senator, Kamala Harris has a 0 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee. By contrast, Harris earned her a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

In today's News:

Americans doubt salvation in Jesus alone

A new survey shows that the majority of Americans no longer believe that Jesus is the path to salvation and instead believe that being a good person is sufficient. As part of the ongoing release of the Arizona Christian University-based Cultural Research Center's American Worldview Inventory, the latest findings — exploring perceptions of sin and salvation — from George Barna, the group's director, show that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that having some kind of faith is more important than the particular faith with which someone aligns. Slightly more than half of Christian respondents said they believe someone can attain salvation by "being or doing good," a figure that includes, 46 percent of Pentecostals, 44 percent of mainline Protestants, 41 percent of Evangelicals, and 70 percent of Catholics. In addition to the viewpoint that eternal salvation can be earned, survey results show that 58 percent of Americans believe that no absolute moral truth exists and that the basis of truth are factors or sources other than God. 77 percent said that right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible. 59 percent said that the Bible is not God's authoritative and true word and 69 percent said people are basically good.

Planned Parenthood refuses to return funds

Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas say they have no intention of returning funds issued to them under the Small Business Administration’s covid-19 relief package, despite their ineligibility to receive the aid. The loans were distributed as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP )under the Cares Act. As previously reported,43 Planned Parenthood affiliates received more than $80 million in PPP funds knowing they had been disqualified from receiving the loans. According to Department of the Treasury records, three Texas Planned Parenthood affiliates received loans. To date, only Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas has returned its loan, which was listed at between $2 million and $5 million. The two remaining affiliates, Houston-based Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast ($2m to $5m) and Planned Parenthood South Texas ($350k to $1m), located in San Antonio, have refused to return the funds.

Mobile pro-life pregnancy center continues operations

A mobile pro-life pregnancy clinic can operate in Connecticut’s capital city without having to adhere to an ordinance requiring that it post signs inside and outside the facility that imply that it does not have medical professionals on-site. Caring Families Pregnancy Services, Inc. and the city of Hartford recently agreed to a settlement over a lawsuit the pro-life clinic filed against the city over its ordinance. As part of the agreement, Caring Families will be exempted from the ordinance because it has licensed medical professionals on staff and will still be allowed to operate in the city. For its part, the city will maintain the ordinance and will not have to admit liability in the case. Both sides agreed to cover their own legal expenses.

In today's News:

The Rev. Dr. Ray Halm called to Glory

The Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, who served as president of Concordia University, Irvine (CUI), Calif., from 1980 to 1998, died Aug. 4. He was 79. Halm was the longest-serving president of CUI. Before becoming CUI president, he served congregations and schools in Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota as an LCMS teacher, administrator and pastor. He also served as vice-chairman of the LCMS Board for Higher Education, a member of the LCMS Blue Ribbon Task Force on Missions, and the Synod’s assistant secretary. Most recently, he acted as senior director of Concordia University Education Network while remaining an active ambassador for CUI.

Marines cave to atheists

The U.S. Marine Corps scheduled an annual training for military lawyers earlier this month, at which the Battle of Gettysburg would be discussed. The instructor for one portion of that training was supposed to be Jay Lorenzen, an Air Force veteran who taught for 10 years at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Lorenzen’s biography, provided to the military lawyers in advance of the training, included references to Christianity, including his affiliation with Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as “Cru”, and a couple of religious-themed courses he teaches in his spare time. Several of those lawyers complained to Mikey Weinstein, who heads up a secular, anti-christian group called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, that Lorenzen was going to teach about religion. That allegation was false, but it didn’t matter. Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute said of the situation, “The Marine Corps bravely cancelled a speaker chosen to lead a discussion on the battlefield tactics and leadership lessons of Gettysburg based upon his expertise as a retired military officer and academy professor because that retired officer, in his speaker’s bio, confessed to be religious and associated with a religious organization.”

Dismemberment abortion ban upheld

Arkansas soon may be allowed to enforce a law to protect unborn babies from brutal dismemberment abortions after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the state Ariday. The AP reports the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously vacated lower federal court injunction blocking the dismemberment abortion ban and three other pro-life state laws. The 2017 laws include the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection from dismemberment abortion act, which protects nearly fully formed unborn babies from being brutally dismembered alive in the womb. These abortions typically are referred to as Dilation and Evacuation, or D&E, and are common in the second trimester when unborn babies are nearly fully developed. A second law, the Sex Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act, protects unborn babies from discriminatory sex-selection abortions. The other two laws involve requiring the remains of aborted babies to be buried or cremated and reporting evidence of the sexual abuse of young girls under 14 to authorities.

In today's News:

Order closing churches is challenged

Liberty Counsel filed the reply brief to the first Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Calvary Chapel of Bangor’s appeal in the lawsuit against Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ orders against churches. Under the governor’s challenged orders when the complaint was filed, no religious gatherings were permitted, including parking lot services. Under the orders, the church can hold secular but not religious meetings. The church can feed, shelter, and provide social services to an unlimited number of people, but religious services are severely limited in the same building where non-religious services can be held. Mills said that churches will only be allowed to meet in small numbers when she is satisfied with the “metrics,” and when that happens, she will require churches to apply to reopen. Approved churches would then need to display a “badge” at the front door signifying they are approved to open. However, Mills has no process in place to begin the approval process and no application for the churches. Even the notion that churches would have to apply to reopen and display a “badge” signifying approval is offensive to the first amendment.

Satanists call abortion a religious rite

The Satanic Temple admitted Wednesday that, in their belief system, killing an unborn baby in an abortion is a religious ritual similar to communion or baptism for Christians. According to The Friendly Atheist Blog, the satanists described their surgical abortion ritual in detail Wednesday. They said it involves two tenets of their religion involving bodily autonomy and adherence to what they call “best scientific practices.” They oppose laws that require abortion facilities to show mothers the ultrasounds of their unborn babies or have them listen to their unborn baby’s heartbeat. They oppose waiting periods that ensure mothers have time to consider informed consent information prior to going through with the abortion and they want to be exempted from laws that require abortion facilities to bury or cremate the remains of aborted babies.

Planned Parenthood targets minorities

Despite Planned Parenthood’s recent disavowal of racist founder Margaret Sanger and her philosophy of eugenics, last month Planned Parenthood North Central States opened a new abortion facility in the minority community of Brooklyn Park, Minn. Minnesota requires abortion facilities to report information about abortions, including detailed demographics. According to 2019 statistics published by the state, more than 30 percent of reported abortions were done on black women, while less than 6.2 percent of Minnesotans are black. Other racial minorities accounted for an additional 12 percent of abortions done in Minnesota last year. That means 42 percent of all abortions done in Minnesota last year involved racial minorities, while the state’s population is 84 percent white.

In today's News:

Pro-life supporters sue D.C. mayor

Pro-life activists plan to sue the mayor of Washington, D.C., after police arrested two students for chalking a pro-life message outside of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Students for Life will file a lawsuit against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser following the arrest of a student activist and staffer for writing "BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER" with sidewalk chalk outside of the clinic. In a letter from Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins the group outlined its upcoming lawsuit, which alleges Bowser violated the group's First Amendment rights. The activist group was met with six police cars and members were threatened with arrest before writing the message.

California seeks to expand abortion

Lawmakers in California are currently considering a bill that would ultimately expand abortion access so that certified nurse-midwives could commit abortions without doctor supervision. The bill seeks to remove physician oversight of certified nurse-midwives. Supporters of the bill say that it is designed to remove current restrictions on midwives so that they can provide care in rural areas where there are few OB/GYNs. However, because a 2013 law enabled non-physicians like nurses and midwives to commit abortions, this bill would ultimately mean that midwives could commit first-trimester surgical and medical abortions with no oversight. The bill has already cleared the senate. It is next slated to be discussed in a hearing before the assembly business and professions committee on Aug. 10.

Dismemberment abortion on the block

Yesterday, Nebraska lawmakers in a contentious vote, gave first-round approval to a ban on dilation and evacuation abortions, which pro-life lawmakers are hoping to pass before the end of legislative session. D&E abortions, commonly known as “dismemberment abortions,” are typically done in the second trimester of pregnancy and result in the dismemberment of an unborn child. Multiple senators attempted to filibuster the bill, but the bill earned the 33 votes necessary to break the filibuster.

Religious discrimination in Vermont is challenged

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit issued an order yesterday that halts Vermont’s discrimination against children based on the religious status of the high schools they attend. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent two students, their parents, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington challenged the discrimination in the state’s dual enrollment program. The program provides funding that allows Vermont high school juniors and seniors to dual-enroll in two free college courses before they graduate. Students at public, secular private, and home-schools are eligible, but the state categorically excluded students at private religious high schools, such as Rice Memorial High School, which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington owns and operates. The 2nd Circuit halted the discriminatory treatment while the lawsuit moves forward, explaining that “In light of the supreme court’s recent decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue…, [the students, parents, and diocese] have a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claims.” In May, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the Vermont case in support of the students, their parents, and the Diocese, arguing that they “have plausibly pled a first amendment claim.”