KFUO Radio News Break

In today's News:

The Supreme Court is asked to intervene

Southern California’s South Bay Pentecostal Church, represented by a law firm doing pro bono work in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., as the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, joined by the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to intervene and issue an emergency injunction against California Governor Gavin Newsom. The attorneys are asking the high court to command him to cease and desist his shutdown of religious worship in California, in violation of the First Amendment’s constitutional guarantee that citizens may freely exercise their religious faith. So far, the South Bay United Pentecostal Church and its senior pastor, Bishop Arthur Hodges III, have failed to prevail in their lawsuit before both San Diego’s Federal District Court and the 9th Circuit U.S. Court Of Appeals. In the 9th Circuit the church lost an emergency appeal, 2-1 before a three-judge panel. Judge Daniel Collins sided with the church, filing a powerful 15-page dissent that declared the church deserves the relief it seeks. The South Bay United Pentecostal Church is asking to hold in-person worship services, fully subject to social distancing and other contagion-mitigation steps.

Physicians recognize the importance of spirituality

Four medical school educators have said that fully to address a patient’s needs, physicians should begin asking questions about the patient’s spirituality and religion. A May 19 opinion piece in the Annals of Internal Medicine was written by a group of medical educators: Doctors Kristin Collier, Cornelius James, Sanjay Saint, and Joel Howell. “is it time to more fully address teaching religion and spirituality in medicine?” assessing a patient's religious beliefs is important to understanding fully the person. They also highlighted the significance of spirituality in America.

A governor attempts to stop a pro-life petition drive

Colorado is one of only seven states in the U.S. that allows abortion until the day of birth with no restrictions whatsoever. Volunteers across the state are aiming to change that as they collect signatures to get a measure on the 2020 ballot. These volunteers must collect 10,000 additional valid signatures by May 29th after turning in over 114,000 valid ones on March 4th. The state’s governor, Jared Polis, in the middle of the night, handed down an executive order changing the signature collection process for ballot measures. He explained that citizens ought to be able to participate in democracy and keep their constitutional rights while still being able to preserve their health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Polis has declared that Colorado remains under a state of emergency through early June. Despite the governor’s stated intention to preserve rights and health at the same time, he ended his order with a single exception: Directive K. Directive K ordered that none of the changes he was making would apply to the pro-life campaign currently collecting signatures in-person. At a press conference a few days after Polis handed down his executive order changing the signature collection process, he claimed it would be “next to impossible” to collect signatures in person. And yet, despite this belief, he is forcing one campaign to do it anyway: the campaign to ban late-term abortions in Colorado.

In today's News:

Memorial Day approaches

Next Monday is Memorial Day, an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the civil war and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe memorial day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season. LCMS chaplains have served in the military since the Civil War. Nearly 200 are serving today.

A church is arsoned for holding Easter Services

A Mississippi church that is suing to stay open during the coronavirus shutdowns was destroyed by arson Wednesday, according to local officials. Fox News reports someone also spray-painted graffiti on the First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs, including a message that read, “I bet you stay home now you hypokrits [sic].” Local authorities said there was an explosion in the front of the church, and the building caught fire sometime between 2 and 4 a.m. Wednesday. Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Major Kelly Mcmillian told the local news that the fire is being investigated as a criminal act of arson. It appears the church was targeted because it continued to hold services during the coronavirus shutdowns. Lawyers with the pro-life Thomas More Society are representing the church in court after Pastor Jerry Waldrop was cited by local authorities for holding services on Easter.

Two new members of Congress support the Born Alive Act

The newest members of Congress, Representative Mike Garcia of California and Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, both signed the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Tuesday, just hours after being sworn into office. The petition is intended to force a vote on the bill which would end infanticide and protect infants born alive during abortions. With the two additional signatures, the petition now has 205 of the 218 signatures it needs to force a floor vote. Originally sponsored by Representative Ann Wagner Of Missouri, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires that infants who survive an abortion attempt receive immediate medical attention. The petition effort arose after a Senate version of the bill failed to receive the 60-vote majority threshold it needed to pass. If this petition succeeds, it would force a full-floor vote on the issue. The petition expires at the end of the 116th Congress session in January 2021.

Carillon series returns to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

The annual summer carillon series, part of the 2019-20 Concordia Seminary concert series, will be held at 7 p.m. Each Tuesday in June. All recitals are free and open to the public. Following St. Louis County guidelines, guests must observe safe physical distancing from others while on campus. The carillon at Concordia Seminary is one of only 170 such instruments in North America. The 49 bells have been played atop Luther Tower since 1971, and are dedicated to all pastors who have served the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It is housed in Luther Tower, the 120-foot structure designed by architect Charles Klauder and dedicated in 1966. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets to campus and sit outdoors to enjoy the music. All guests must observe physical distancing guidelines as noted on signage placed around the campus.

In today's News:

LCMS President Harrison has a recorded statement

LCMS President The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison has recorded a statement to the church regarding the changing situations as states and communities face reopening. This follows a letter Harrison submitted to U.S.. Attorney General Barr asking him to safeguard religious liberty. Harrison's address may be viewed on line at Vimeo, YouTube or lcms.org/freetobefaithful.

 

Minnesota Lutherans and Catholics will defy the governor

The heads of Minnesota’s Lutheran and Catholic churches say they will defy Governor Tim Walz’s executive order and reopen on May 26 — without adhering to the requirement of no more than 10 worshipers at a given service. Becket Fund law firm released a statement early yesterday evening on behalf of the the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Minnesota and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, citing the perceived hypocrisy of allowing retail stores, casinos, bars and restaurants to have a 50 percent capacity as a major reason to not follow the governor’s order. Both denominations say they plan to reopen with only about a third of their congregation inside during services, and they will follow social distancing guidelines.

The Justice Department warns California about its church restrictions

The U.S. Department of Justice has warned California Governor Gavin Newsom that his plan to reopen the state discriminates against churches and that “the Constitution calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship and that the governor places an “unfair burden” on them that violates civil rights protections through “unequal treatment of faith communities.” In a letter to the governor, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, pointed out that Newsom’s plan allows a variety of businesses to reopen in “stage 2,” but does not allow churches and other houses of worship to reopen until “stage 3.” Dreiband stated that Newsom should allow some in-person worship under the current second phase of his four-part reopening plan. Currently, restaurants and other secular businesses are being allowed to reopen under social distancing guidelines but not churches, which are limited to online and similar services. A coalition of about 3,000 California pastors are committed to beginning in-person services on Pentecost, which is on May 31. Pentecost is the seventh sunday after Easter, and it marks the birth of the Christian church when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and followers of Jesus.

Two senators are demanding Planned Parenthood return $80 million

Lawmakers and pro-lifers slammed Planned Parenthood following a report from Fox News saying that the nation’s largest abortion provider applied for and received over $80 million in coronavirus funding. Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight reported Tuesday evening that 37 Planned Parenthood affiliates applied for and received a total of $80 million in coronavirus funding loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. Senators. Marco Rubio of Florida and Josh Hawley of Missouri both called for Planned Parenthood to immediately return the funds in statements following the Tuesday night report.

In today's News:

LCMS President Harrison asks the Attorney General to protect religious liberty

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison wrote a letter to the U.S. Attorney general in defense of religious liberties. This letter is in concert with the work of several LCMS district presidents who have addressed officials concerning the role of government and the church. The district presidents of Illinois wrote a letter to their governor regarding recent plans for reopening, which they believe are unnecessarily restrictive on church-affiliated bodies. The LCMS has 500 congregations and 115 schools in Illinois.

A Maine congregation wants meeting restrictions lifted

Calvary Chapel of Bangor, Maine, filed an emergency injunction to the First Circuit Court of Appeals pending an appeal regarding the lawsuit against Governor Janet Mills’ orders that discriminate against churches and prohibit in-person and drive-in worship services. Under the governor’s orders, no religious gatherings are permitted, including parking lot services. 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 re-open. Approved churches will then need to display a “badge” at the front door signifying they are approved to open. However, Mills has no process in place now to begin the approval process and no application for the churches.

Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia is commended

First Liberty Institute commended United States Department Of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia for issuing a directive and new guidance that protects religious liberty for faith-based organizations that partner with the federal government. The secretary’s actions reflect principles implemented by president Trump’s executive order 13798, “promoting free speech and religious liberty.” Religious organizations, like their secular counterparts, provide essential services desirable to federal agencies through government contracts.

$80 million in relief funds went to Planned Parenthood

According to a Fox News report, $80 million in stimulus funds intended to help small businesses struggling through coronavirus economic hardship have gone instead to Planned Parenthood, the multi-billion dollar abortion business. Under the Cares Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, Congress allocated $349 billion in federal funds to provide assistance to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. In August 2019, Planned Parenthood rejected Title X federal funding after the Tump administration’s rules required abortion facilities to fiscally and physically separate family planning services from abortion, organizations like Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are ineligible to receive the PPP relief funds under affiliation rules established by the Small Business Administration.

In today's News:

The US wants cover-19 aid not fund abortions internationally

The US government’s foreign aid agency on Monday warned the United Nations to stop “promoting abortion” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic — invoking billions of dollars in US donations. US Agency for International Development Acting Administrator John Barsa noted his agency gave the UN $3.5 billion in 2019 and demanded that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres revise wording in its covid-19 global humanitarian response plan. Barsa’s letter comes after President Trump last month ended roughly $400 million in annual aid to the UN’s World Health Organization. Trump last month ended US contributions to the WHO, a UN entity, alleging the agency failed to prevent the coronavirus pandemic by negligently accepting as true Chinese assertions about the scope of the initial outbreak.

A woman is injured during an abortion

A woman choked on her own vomit during a surgical abortion at the Cherry Hill Women’s Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and required emergency transport to the Cooper Medical Center for suspected aspiration pneumonia. This occurred on May 2 during a serious COVID-19 outbreak when elective surgeries were banned due to a strain on medical resources. Abortions in New Jersey were exempted from the ban. After the vomiting episode during the abortion, the 35-year old woman suffered a drop in her oxygen levels. Once the abortion was completed, she was placed in a recovery room where her oxygen levels failed to fully recover. She was not provided supplemental oxygen at the abortion facility. Pro-life witnesses at the scene recorded the woman being removed from the abortion facility on a gurney. The ambulance had lights flashing, but ran without sirens.

Some Ohio college students want to defund a pro-life group

Some Ohio students were not happy with the fact that a pro-life group on campus was treated fairly, so they demanded, and achieved, a referendum vote on the matter. Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, recently held an undergraduate student government vote to allocate university funds to student organizations on campus, including Students for Life. In response, a group of pro-abortion students decided to petition against the vote, hoping for a referendum vote on Students for Life's status. The referendum was sent to undergraduate students on May 4. To recall the decision of the USG, there must be a simple majority with at least 20 percent of the undergraduate student body voting, according to the USG constitution. The results of the referendum for another two weeks” after the vote.

A federal judge reopens North Carolina churches

A federal judge in North Carolina granted a statewide temporary restraining order on Saturday to block Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order that criminalizes churchgoers for attending indoor worship services of more than 10 people. In his ruling, Judge James C. Dever III wrote, “there is no pandemic exception to the Constitution of the United States or the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.”

In today's News:

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast is asked to be seminary president

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis has extended a call to Doctor. Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, to serve as the 11th president in the school’s 181-year history. The call was extended Saturday after a unanimous vote on the first ballot by the electors, including unanimous support from the seminary’s board of regents, and following interviews with the final slate of six candidates. Rast, who would assume the presidency July 1 upon formal acceptance of the call, was elected to succeed Doctor Dale A. Meyer, who retires June 30 after serving 15 years as president. Rast has 15 days to deliberate the call. Rast is the chairman of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Commission on Theology and Church Relations, on which he has served since 2006. He also serves as president and member of the board of directors for the journal, Lutheran Quarterly. He and his wife, Amy, have three children: Lawrence III, Karl and Joanna.

The House-passed 'Heroes Act' would fund abortion

Planned Parenthood is celebrating after Nancy Pelosi’s “Heroes Act” passed the House of Representatives, potentially clearing the way for abortion facilities across the country to receive more taxpayer funding. The $3-trillion bill passed the house largely along party lines, with only one Republican voting in favor of the bill. Twelve Democrats also broke with party lines to vote against it. The bill, if passed, would provide another round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans, as well as aid to local and state governments. Pelosi claimed its passage was crucial to fighting the covid-19 pandemic. The bill was named the “Heroes Act” by Democrats because it will allegedly aid workers on the front lines of emergency health care. However, while the bill contains the paycheck protection program, it removes safeguards preventing abortion facilities from applying to receive funds. The aid local and state governments receive from the federal government can be used to aid abortion facilities.

Twenty Congressmen ask the Defense Secretary to defend religious freedom

Representative Doug Collins, joined by 19 Republican colleagues in the house, wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Thursday morning complaining of, "multiple, unfounded complaints ... Preying on military chaplains." The Georgia representative and others, call on Esper to "follow federal law in protecting their religious liberties and ensure that the ongoing pandemic is not exploited by nefarious organizations bent on removing faith from the U.S. Military." In April, U.S. Army Colonel Moon H. Kim, garrison chaplain at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, sent an email to his chaplain colleagues with a pdf of Christian author John Piper's book, "Coronavirus and Christ." It explained the book helped him refocus his calling and that he hopes it helps the chaplains as well. Military Religious Freedom Foundation President and Founder, Mikey Weinstein demanded in an April 29 letter to Esper that Kim "be officially, swiftly, aggressively, and visibly investigated and disciplined in punishment for his deplorable actions."

In today's News:

Groups appeal to the Defense Secretary to protect chaplains

First Liberty Institute yesterday sent a letter to Secretary Of Defense Mark Esper to express concern over recent incidents within the U.S. Army that have resulted in unlawful religious discrimination against service members, and to urge the secretary to issue guidance that strongly protects religious freedom within the Department of Defense. First Liberty is joined on the letter by the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty and the Restore Military Religious Freedom Coalition. Recently, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an atheist organization, publicly demanded immediate adverse action against several Army chaplains for carrying out their constitutionally-mandated mission. At Fort Drum, New York, chaplains assigned to the Army’s 10th Mountain Division published a series of videos to a social media site inviting viewers to pray in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. At Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, another Army chaplain also published a video to social media in which he sought to encourage viewers with a message of hope during difficult times. At Camp Humphreys, South Korea, yet another Army chaplain who sought to offer encouragement and hope sent an email to his fellow Christian chaplains commending to them a christian book he recently read. In each case, the atheist organization demanded the Army censor or discipline the chaplains and the Army complied with the demands. The letter further points out that the Army’s actions in each incident are unlawful. The atheists' demands are based on the flawed notion that military chaplains may not carry out their official duties outside of a religious ceremony that occurs within the four walls of a chapel.

Concordia Seminary St. Louis receives 15 awards

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis recently received a total of 15 awards from the Associated Church Press and the Evangelical Press Association during the organizations’ recent award ceremonies. The ACP, the nation’s oldest interdenominational religious press association, presented its awards March 19 during an online broadcast in place of its annual banquet. The awards were given in recognition of exceptional content produced in 2019. In addition to the ACP awards, the Seminary was recognized by the EPA, a professional organization of christian publications including magazines, newspapers, newsletters and content-rich websites. Its awards, which were given in recognition of exceptional content produced in 2019, were presented live online April 21.

An 18th abortion facility opens in Illinois

In Illinois, Planned Parenthood just opened its 18th facility, which will offer abortions. The facility is located in Waukegan, and was originally supposed to open in March. Though the opening was pushed back temporarily due to covid-19, they’re now accepting appointments, and appear eager to get the word out. While 4,000 people in Illinois have died from covid-19, causing politicians to close businesses, the abortion industry is allowed to remain open.

In today's News:

The Center For Medical Progress sues California politicians

David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress filed a lawsuit yesterday against some of California’s most powerful politicians for prosecuting him for exposing Planned Parenthood’s aborted baby body parts harvesting practices. The lawsuit accuses U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, planned parenthood and others of conspiracy to violate first and 14th amendment civil rights. The lawsuit says Harris, the former attorney general, and Becerra used state video-recording laws as a “political weapon” to silence speech with which they disagree. Currently, the California attorney general’s office is pursuing felony charges against Daleiden and fellow undercover investigator Sandra Merritt, claiming they broke the law by filming conversations with abortionists and others without their consent. Daleiden and Merritt are facing possible jail time and fines if convicted. Becerra and Harris both are pro-abortion democrats who have received campaign donations from planned parenthood.

A appeals court rules a church can challenge mandated abortion insurance

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled yesterday that a San Diego–area church properly challenged the state’s abortion-coverage mandate and that a lower district court was wrong to dismiss the church’s claims. The 9th Circuit recognized that Skyline Church suffered an injury when the state issued its August 2014 letters mandating that church healthcare plans cover elective abortions. In those letters, the California Department of Managed Health Care rescinded existing religious accommodations and mandated immediate coverage of all legal abortions, regardless of existing plan language. As a result, the church’s plan was rewritten to include coverage for elective abortion. The church filed suit after the department refused to back down from its application of the law. Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa believes it has a religious obligation to care for its employees, and, because of that belief, it offers them a generous health insurance plan. Skyline also believes that all life is valuable and deserving of protection and that abortion is incompatible with that belief. The church only employs people who share its beliefs.

California's governor is sued for keeping churches closed indefinitely

A Christian congregation in Chula Vista, California, and its pastor are suing Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials for stay-at-home orders and actions during the coronavirus pandemic. After weeks of mandatory isolation to stop the spread of covid-19, Governor Newsom has begun a four-stage plan to “reopen” California’s economy. Retail and supporting manufacturing are now resuming business; and shopping malls, car washes, pet grooming, dine-in restaurants, and schools will be allowed to reopen within a few weeks. Despite claiming that 70 percent of California businesses are available to reopen, the governor continues to shutter places of worship indefinitely with no timeline for reopening.

In today's News:

Lutherans in Russia keep in touch

Disaster equipment is donated to Lutheran Church Charities

Religious institutions ask Congress for protection

The gender-confused man at the heart of a legal case dies

In today's News:

ADF attorneys want a judge removed for forbidding the term 'men'

Supreme Court justices appear split on a ministerial exception decision

California is considering public funding of transgender treatments

A pro-abortion institute says 15 states may be close to limiting abortion