NationBuilder

Dear Friend,

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.

We would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25, or $10 today towards our work producing these Friday Fives and fighting for your values on the public square!

1. NC VALUES: NC's New Year Resolution: Block Porn

I’m sure many of you are making New Years’ resolutions, but here’s one you won’t need—“Protect my children from pornography on the internet.” Thanks to a new law that went into effect January 1, 2024, pornographic websites now have to verify that users in North Carolina are over the age of 18 before they allow access to their sites.

Pornhub, one of the world’s leading free porn sites, and several other porn sites have blocked access to their sites for all North Carolina users as a result of this new law! According to Politico, Pornhub has more users than Netflix or Amazon, making it “the YouTube of pornography.” Pornhub made the announcement in a statement on its website which said, “Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in North Carolina.” Users of all ages will now be cut off from several pornographic websites, and users under the age of 18 will be completely cut off.

2. DAILY SIGNAL: Pornhub’s Year in Review: Sex Trafficking, Abuse, Age Verification

"One of the world’s largest pornography websites admits that it profits from sex trafficking. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Pornhub’s parent company admitted in federal court that it profits from sex trafficking and agreed to pay a fine of over $1.8 million and submit to a three-year monitor as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. Formerly known as MindGeek, Aylo Holdings S.A.R.L. was arraigned on a charge of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions involving proceeds from sex trafficking."

3. DAILY SIGNAL: Federal Appeals Court Foils Another Biden Abortion Scheme

"The Biden administration will stop at nothing to push abortion on the country, but a federal court put a stop Tuesday to another of its illegal schemes. . . . according to federal guidance, EMTALA mandates whatever a physician decides is necessary to stabilize whatever medical condition he observes, regardless of what state law may say. The state of Texas and two pro-life medical associations challenged this guidance, arguing that it amounts to a substantive policy change that EMTALA does not support and, in any event, requires a formal rulemaking process rather than a mere guidance letter. The U.S. District Court, and now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, agreed."

Our sister 501(c)(3) organization, the Institute for Faith and Family (IFFNC), filed an important pro-life amicus brief in the Supreme Court’s State of Idaho v. United States of America case. The brief sides with Idaho’s ability to rightly exercise its post-Dobbs newly recognized regulatory authority over abortion, which it did in 2023 by enacting a state statute.

From the Supreme Court, to the 5th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, we have filed 18 amicus briefs over the years on a number of major cases impacting your pro-life, pro-family, and pro-religious freedom values.

4. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Hearing set Jan. 17 on motion to dismiss NC abortion pill lawsuit

"A federal judge has set a Jan. 17 hearing in Greensboro for a lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s abortion pill restrictions. The court will consider state legislative leaders’ motion to dismiss the suit. The hearing later this month marks the first activity in the case, Bryant v. Stein, since the case was reassigned to a new judge. Chief District Judge Catherine Eagles took over the case on Dec. 21. It had been assigned to District Judge William Osteen."

5. LIFE SITE: Detransitioner Chloe Cole slams Ohio governor for vetoing ban on ‘sex changes’ for children

“Well-known ‘destransitioner’ Chloe Cole over the weekend blasted Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine after he vetoed a bill that would shield gender-confused children from destructive transgender drugs and surgeries and protect girls’ sports. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday vetoed HB 68, the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, designed to protect children and teenagers from transgender procedures and safeguard girls’ sports from the incursions of males claiming to be “transgender,” LifeSiteNews previously reported. The measure had been passed by both chambers of the state legislature by wide margins, and lawmakers are expected to override the veto.

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

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Sincerely,

Tami & Team
NC Values