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Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families. <[link removed]>



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1. NCVALUES:Astepintherightdirection.















Yesterday, the NC General Assembly passed historic legislation in response to Roe v. Wade being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last year! The "Care for Women, Children, and Families Act," is a much-anticipated pro-life bill designed to save at least 4,000 unborn precious babies each year from the atrocity of abortion, and likely thousands more. After months of negotiation, legislators agreed on a bill to move the 20-week abortion limit back to 12 weeks, and greatly restrict chemical abortions that are administered by taking two pills.



We believe that life begins at conception, and that every human being, born or unborn, has a God-given right to “LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This bill is a step in the right direction, and we are grateful more babies will be protected by moving the limit from 20 weeks back to 12 weeks. We will continue to fight to save the lives of unborn babies in North Carolina, to advance pro-life laws, to help elect pro-life public officials, and to argue for life in court until we have a culture in North Carolina that values every life, born and unborn.



We are also thankful for a number of provisions that go a long way towards halting North Carolina's status as the abortion destination of the South. There are provisions in the bill that protect the health and safety of women and prevent the brutal, painful practice of late-term abortion. The legislation also bans partial birth abortion; it requires abortion clinics to meet the same health standards of other ambulatory surgical facilities; it stipulates physicians attending surgical abortions must administer life-saving care for babies who survive botched abortions or pay a $250,000 fine; it prohibits eugenic abortions for race, sex and Down Syndrome and it contains a number of other provisions focused on protecting and honoring human life.



Read more:  <[link removed]>[link removed]





Watch: NC Values team members Tami Fitzgerald <[link removed]> (Executive Director, Courtney Geels <[link removed]> (Grassroots Director), and Sebastian King <[link removed]> (Director of Government Affairs), all gave legislative committee testimony in support of the bill.



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2. NATIONAL REVIEW: Veto-Proof North Carolina Republicans Pass 12-Week Abortion Ban















“We are grateful more babies will be protected,” Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition, told the New York Times <[link removed]>. The bill “marks the end of North Carolina as a destination for abortion and is a historic step forward for unborn babies and their mothers.”



Readmore: <[link removed]>[link removed]



Read our press release: [link removed]



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3. WNCT:NCHouseOKsbanontransgenderyouthsurgeries, moves to the Senate



"The proposed measure, which would take effect Oct. 1, also bans using state funds to perform any gender-affirming procedure on a patient younger than 18, which could also restrict access to some hormone treatments and other medications.”



The Carolina Journal <[link removed]> has conducted an excellent interview with NC teen Prisha Mosley about her story and the detrans movement that demonstrates why we need a “Youth Health Protection Act.” For more, check out Prisha <[link removed]>, Cat <[link removed]>, and Chloe’s <[link removed]> stories on our site.



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Read our press release: [link removed]







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4. CAROLINAJOURNAL:OpportunityScholarshipexpansionmovesforwardinNCHouse



"BillstoexpandtheOpportunityScholarshipPrograminNorthCarolinaarenowonthemoveinbothchambersoftheGeneralAssembly,aftertheHouseEducation CommitteeapprovedameasureonTuesday."



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Read our press release: [link removed]















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5.CBS17:NCHousepanelOKsMedicalEthicsDefenseAct



"TamiFitzgerald,executivedirectoroftheNorthCarolinaValuesCoalition,spokeinfavorofthebill,arguingtheprotectionsitincludeswouldkeepsomeprovidersfrom leavingtheprofession. 'Thisbillensuresthatadoctorornursecannotbefired,demotedorotherwisediscriminatedagainstbytheiremployerforexercisingarightofconscience,'shesaid.



'Healthcareprovidersandpharmacistshavebeenasked,andinsomecasesforced,toprovidedrugsandserviceswhichruncountertotheirdeeplyheldreligiousbeliefs.'”



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Read our press release: [link removed]





















Weekly Prayer: Life



LORD, we recognize that you are Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust, and in your mercy, you crowned creation with man and woman made in your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this blessing and responsibility!



LORD, may we not take this blessing for granted. We pray that this great responsibility and dignity may motivate us to love You, our neighbors, and our families more. LORD, may we as a culture truly see and believe that children are a blessing from the LORD—born or unborn; able or disabled. All children should have an opportunity to experience the liberty of life. LORD, make us your vehicle to change our culture into one that cherishes and protects life. Keep at the forefront of our minds our responsibilities to respect, cherish, and serve the youngest and oldest in our society.



"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.'" (Matthew 18:1-6)



Amen













Will you chip in $100, $50, $25, or even $10 to help the NC Values Coalition continue to fight for your rights? You can donate by clicking here. <[link removed]> <[link removed]>



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Sincerely,





Tami & Team

NC Values



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NC Values Coalition - 9650 Strickland Rd, Suite 103-226, Raleigh, NC 27615-1902, United States

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