1. WRAL: New Florida law could make abortions harder to get in
North Carolina
"A new six-week abortion ban in Florida takes effect May 1. That is
expected to cause more women to travel to the Tar Heel State to seek
the procedure, leading to longer waiting lists at overloaded
providers."
"Tami Fitzgerald, the executive director of the NC Values
Coalition, doesn’t want North Carolina to become even more of a
destination state for abortion. She said the state is out of step with
the rest of the Southeast and thinks voters here would support a
six-week ban, too. 'There will be some pressure to move towards
protecting the life of unborn babies as early as possible,' Fitzgerald
told WRAL News."
Read more: https://www.wral.com/story/new-florida-law-could-make-abortions-harder-to-get-in-north-carolina/21369429/
2. ABC 11: Gubernatorial candidates Robinson and Stein respond to
Florida and Arizona pro-life rulings, and clarify positions on
abortion
"Meanwhile, the Republican candidate for Governor Mark Robinson is
weighing in, in a statement saying, 'Lt. Governor Mark Robinson is
pro-life because of the painful and difficult experience he and his
wife had, and his faith.' Robinson goes on to say he would sign a
heartbeat bill, which is typically as early as 6 weeks, with
exceptions for rape, incest, and danger to the life of the
mother."
"Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein weighed in,
saying: 'Republican extremists across the country are stripping women
of their reproductive freedoms and enacting total bans on abortion. As
Governor, I'll continue to defend women's freedoms because I trust
them to make their own health care decisions without politicians like
Mark Robinson telling them what to do.' Stein clarified his view on
where the limit should be set in North Carolina is the 'Roe v. Wade
framework,' which allowed legalized abortion up until 'viability'
which is usually around 24-28 weeks."
The positions between the two candidates couldn't be anymore stark.
At 28 weeks, the unborn baby is fully formed and in the third
trimester. The baby is about the size of an eggplant, and is also
around the time they begin practicing to breathe and preparing their
lungs for the world.
Read more: https://abc11.com/abortion-impact-nc-court-rulings-arizona-florida-post-roe-v-wade/14643389/
You can also check out our response to Stein's position
in this press statement we sent yesterday.
3. WASHINGTON TIMES: Most kids grow out of gender confusion,
long-term Dutch study indicates
"A landmark Dutch study found that most adolescents ultimately
outgrow their gender confusion, fueling the growing unease over the
advisability of treating those under 18 with gender-transition drugs
and surgeries."
"The findings reenergized the heated debate over treating patients
under the age of 18 with gender dysphoria with puberty blockers,
cross-sex hormones, and surgeries — treatments that are fueling a
booming sex-reassignment industry."
Read more: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/apr/8/most-kids-grow-out-gender-confusion-long-term-dutc/
4. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: UNC Board of Trustees preparing for
possible end of DEI
"The idea of preparing for an end to diversity, equity and
inclusion was discussed during committee meetings of the UNC Board of
Trustees held on March 27. The topic was first raised by Board of
Trustees (BOT) member Jim Blaine, the former senior adviser to Senate
Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden), who said 'it’s an elephant in the room'
that either the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) or the General Assembly
will 'follow Florida’s path' dismantling diversity, equity and
inclusion (DEI) on college campuses. 'I actually think that’s the
right decision,' Blaine said. 'DEI creates and exacerbates problems on
a college campus, it doesn’t solve them.'”
Read more: https://nsjonline.com/article/2024/04/unc-board-of-trustees-preparing-for-possible-end-of-dei/
NC Speaker
Moore was also quoted earlier this week by the News &
Observer as saying that "lawmakers have discussed the topic
of DEI, but 'there’s no big push to immediately do something.'"
5. THE HILL: Presidential race neck and neck in North Carolina
survey
“The race between President Biden and former President Trump in
North Carolina is neck and neck, according to a new poll released
Wednesday.The Quinnipiac University poll found Trump narrowly edged
out Biden with 48 percent of support among North Carolina voters
compared to Biden’s 46 percent. When independent and Green Party
candidates were included in the choices, 41 percent of voters backed
Trump and 38 percent backed Biden.”
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4586230-presidential-race-close-north-carolina-biden-trump/
Weekly Prayer: Family
LORD, we cry out to you as Father. You are a model of the love,
mercy, and authority of the perfect parent. We thank you for modeling
for us what every parent should strive for, and for creating this
wonderful institution called family.
LORD, we thank you for creating us with a basic nature designed
to not be alone. You made us to desire the intimacy of relationships,
and it is here where we experience joys indescribable: the joys of
marriage, the joys of having children; the joys of seeing our children
have children. What a blessing and mercy you gave us in the family! In
it we find our first teachers, our first guardians, and our first
authorities.
LORD, we recognize how deeply you love your children, and how
deeply it pains you when they go astray. Alongside our adoration and
thanksgiving, we pray in confession—as individuals and as members of
larger communities—over any sins we may have committed that undermine
your beloved institution. Forgive us when we endanger your institution
through selfishness and arrogance. Forgive our communities and nation
for attempting to redefine some of the most basic and deepest parts of
being human—being made male and female, having lifelong marriage vows
and responsibilities, and having parental rights over educating one's
children.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must
forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything
together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing
one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do,
in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17)
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.
Sincerely,
Tami & Team NC Values
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