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Washington Stand: Led by Trump, 2024 GOP Platform Slashes Decades of Pro-Life Priorities |
Via Washington Stand
Most delegates had no idea what they were walking into Monday morning when the Republican platform committee finally got underway in Milwaukee. Heading into this week, the atmosphere was already emotionally charged, especially after weeks of speculation that the Trump team was planning to hijack the process and radically revamp the 60 pages of principles the party had ratified eight years before — all behind closed doors. “I’ve been involved in this nearly 20 years,” Family Research Council Action Chairman Tony Perkins said. And the amount of secrecy is “unprecedented.”
Unlike past years, when the media was welcome in the proceedings, “there’s kind of this cone of silence,” Perkins warned. Not only were the 112 delegates ordered to leave their cell phones outside the room, but none of the participants had access to the proposed platform language in advance. “That’s not the way conservatives do business,” FRC’s president insisted in an interview beforehand. “We like sunlight. We want the American people to see what we’re doing and what we have to offer.
That’s very concerning to me.” The whole point of this, he argued, is to “reflect where the conservative movement, the Republican Party is at. … But it needs to be open. … The American people should be able to see the deliberation, the debate that formulates the vision of the [GOP].”
As one delegate told Politico anonymously, “The RNC is doing this process behind closed doors because they know that the Republican grassroots would never go for this establishment RINO bull****.” |
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True North Legal in Court this Week Regarding Unjust Cancellation of Christian Rehabilitation Program at Minnesota Prison |
The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) and co-counsel True North Legal (TNL) filed a lawsuit earlier this year challenging Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) officials’ abrupt cancellation of a Christian rehabilitation program at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud. The program, led by plaintiff Anthony Schmitt and his colleagues, has been an instrumental tool in facilitating successful transitions to the community for male prison inmates over the past decade.
The voluntary program, designed to instill principles of authentic manhood as per Christian teachings, saw remarkable success. More than a thousand inmates completed the program, reporting restored families, healed resentments, and transformative experiences. However, in July 2023, Schmitt received an email from DOC Assistant Commissioner and Defendant Jolene Rebertus, announcing the cancellation of the program, citing alleged conflicts with diversity and inclusion values.
Commissioner Rebertus’ email stated that the program “directly conflicts with the diversity, equity, and inclusivity values of the DOC by defining manhood, or the study of masculinity, through a biblical lens of what a ‘real man looks like.’” Like a substantial number of professing Christians and Catholics in the United States, Schmitt simply believes what the Bible says about men and women and human sexuality. Schmitt vehemently disagrees with the DOC’s characterization of his views as discriminatory or biased, emphasizing instead the positive impact the program has had on rehabilitation.
This case draws parallels to Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, where the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that the City of Philadelphia’s refusal to refer foster parents to a Catholic agency violated the First Amendment. The Court noted that such actions, driven by discrimination against religious beliefs, could not survive strict scrutiny.
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Washington Stand: House Votes to Overturn Biden's Transgender Title IX Rewrite |
Via Washington Stand A controversial Biden administration rule that would force schools and universities to let men into women’s showers, restrooms, and college dorms hit a procedural speedbump from a conservative Republican determined to defend “our daughters’ rights.”
The House of Representatives voted to repeal the Biden administration’s efforts to insert sexual orientation and gender identity into civil rights legislation intended to protect women on Thursday morning, adopting House Joint Resolution 165 by a 210-205 vote along party lines. (10 Republicans and eight Democrats did not vote.) The landmark Title IX bill, signed by President Richard Nixon in 1972, prohibited discrimination against women and created whole categories of women’s sports. The Biden administration’s Department of Education issued a controversial federal regulation on April 29 that would require any school or university receiving taxpayer funds to allow men who identify as women to enter female spaces, including dorm rooms, or lose federal funding.
“Joe Biden and the Democrats are intent on pushing their radical social agenda on American families, who are horrified at the prospect of men entering girls’ athletics and private spaces,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), told The Washington Stand exclusively. “Our daughters and granddaughters have trained for years to compete for scholarships only to have their rightful titles stripped away by biological men. I will not sit idly by while the Left tramples over our daughters’ rights and endangers them.”
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What Bills Passed During Legislative Session? |
Introducing Minnesota Family Council’s 2024 bill tracker. In addition to our email updates and action alerts, bookmarking this page will keep you informed on the issues that faced the Minnesota Legislature this year to do with life, family, and religious freedom. |
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Upcoming Event: Till Kingdom Come Conference--Political Engagement in Light of the Lordship of Christ |
In an age that seems to have lost its political mind, how should Christians respond? Join Christ Bible Church and Riverview Baptist Church as we apply the lordship of Christ to our present political madness. Dates: Friday, September 20 — 6:30 - 9:00 PM Saturday, September 21 — 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Lunch Provided) |
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Our Legislative Scorecard: LIVE NOW
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After the controversial legislative session last year, we received many questions about how legislators voted. A common theme was, "How can I find out how my legislators voted on the issues that matter most to me?"
We're thrilled to be able to answer that question, with Minnesota Family Council's 2023 Legislative Scorecard.
Please use the button below to download your free, printable PDF of the scorecard. Please share it with friends, family, and pro-life Minnesotans. For this free resource to be valuable, it needs to reach as many people as possible! |
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Church Ambassador Network: Bring LIGHT to the Capitol! |
The Church Ambassador Network brings the gospel to the Capitol to encourage those hoping in Christ and confront those rejecting His lordship. You have the opportunity to ensure that this ministry continues and the light of the gospel shines in St. Paul.
Will you consider supporting the Church Ambassador Network with your church's missions budget? Watch the video below to learn more about the difference you can make by partnering with us. |
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True North Legal is an initiative of Minnesota Family Institute, fighting to protect life, family, and religious freedom in our legal system. Learn more about True North Legal and its crucial work at truenorthlegal.org. |
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Get the Parent Resource Guide
Responding to the transgender trend with truth and compassion starts with the Parent Resource Guide. Get your copy HERE today and invite a friend to do the same! Click to order your copy today: |
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Thank you for sharing Minnesota Family Council’s vision for strong families, communities, and culture through Christ. In this season of unprecedented challenges to life, family, and religious freedom, please consider giving us your support so that we can continue to be YOUR voice. Click here to give now.
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Moses Bratrud, Director of Strategy
Minnesota Family Council and Institute |
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Two Ways to Give
Support our grassroots policy and elections efforts through Minnesota Family Council (MFC). Support our education and outreach efforts with a tax-deductible contribution to Minnesota Family Institute (MFI). |
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