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Good morning,

Two places in Jerusalem vie for recognition as the location where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died, and buried. To end the week, I reflect on what they have in common.

This is the Texas Minute for Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

NOTE: In observance of Easter, the Texas Minute will resume on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

House Leadership Retreats From Honoring Planned Parenthood President A resolution to honor Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, was pulled from the Texas House floor Thursday following fierce backlash from a coalition of conservative lawmakers and grassroots activists. Brandon Waltens has the story [[link removed]].

Richards led Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018, during which time the organization performed millions of abortions nationwide.

The resolution honoring her had been placed on the House’s memorial calendar by the Local and Consent Calendars Committee, chaired by State Rep. Jared Patterson (R–Frisco). Included in the bundle alongside Richards were resolutions honoring conservative grassroots leader Jill Glover and Corey Comperatore, a firefighter killed while shielding his family during an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.

But instead of quietly passing with the rest of the slate, the Richards resolution became a flashpoint. Facing growing resistance and an impending record vote, State Rep. Charlie Geren (R–Fort Worth) eventually withdrew the calendar and sent it back to Patterson's committee—effectively killing the resolution for now.

"Texas will never honor those who mass murder our unborn children! We will speak for the 63.6 million babies that have been murdered by the Abortion Industrial Complex!" – State Rep. Nate Schatzline [[link removed]] (R–Fort Worth) Paxton Sues Dallas for Banning Guns on Public Property Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the City of Dallas for banning licensed handgun owners from carrying into Fair Park’s Music Hall and the Majestic Theatre. Sydnie Henry has the details [[link removed]].

Dallas leases both event centers to outside groups, and has not stopped those groups from prohibiting licensed handgun holders from carrying in the facilities. Under Texas Government Code § 411.209, state agencies and political subdivisions—including cities—may not prohibit a license holder from carrying a handgun on property owned or leased by the government unless the license holder is prohibited from carrying by another law.

"The law is clear. Cities like Dallas have no authority to override state statutes that enable license holders to lawfully carry their handguns and protect themselves from potential threats." – Ken Paxton [[link removed]] TAMU Law Application Emphasizes ‘Racial,’ ‘Gender Identity’ Grievances In its application for prospective students, the Texas A&M School of Law is soliciting “racial,” “ethnic,” and “gender identity” grievances. Robert Montoya reports [[link removed]] that applicants are asked to address how they have been shaped by “racial and ethnic identity,” “sexual orientation,” or “gender identity.”

While answering the question is optional, its inclusion on the application suggests it will be used to determine an applicant’s merit. This has raised concerns among individuals, who tipped Texas Scorecard to the situation. Neither Texas A&M School of Law nor its parent organization, the Texas A&M University System, replied to a request for comment before publication.

The law school is a recent addition to the Aggie system. In August 2013, Texas A&M purchased the Fort Worth-based Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and renamed it the Texas A&M School of Law. In 2024, the school was ranked 26th among American law schools by U.S. News & World Report. Stratford ISD Confirms Educator Misconduct ‘Rumors’ Two employees of the Stratford Independent School District are under criminal investigation for alleged misconduct with students. As Erin Anderson reports [[link removed]], district officials finally addressed "rumors" swirling in the community.

In a statement, the superintendent wrote of being notified on April 7 that one employee “may have communicated with a District student in an unauthorized manner.” He went on to explain he had received a report of a “second rumor” on April 11 that another employee, who police have identified as a teacher, “may have been involved in a romantic relationship with a student.”

What the superintendent is describing as a “romantic relationship” is actually a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. Such criminal misconduct also violates the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics and could cost teachers and administrators their state certification.

Reportedly, the Stratford Police Department has turned over that case to the Texas Rangers “due to a conflict of interest.” OTHER EDUCATION NEWS Tomball ISD Seeks Voter Approval of $429 Million Bond Package [[link removed]]

Tomball Independent School District is asking voters to consider a $429 million bond package in the upcoming May election. The proposal, split into four separate propositions, spends millions on infrastructure, technology, athletics, and activity centers.

This Sunday on REAL TEXANS YASMIN BHATIA [[link removed]]

In this Sunday's edition of REAL TEXANS, Daniel Greer visits with Yasmin Bhatia, the CEO of Uplife Academy. Their conversation covers the difference between charter schools and traditional public schools, why parents are so hungry for new options, and what the state can be doing to better ensure resources reach those making a big impact for the next generation.

Meet REAL TEXANS [[link removed]] each Sunday!

The Texas Minute will resume on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Friday Reflection

Two Places, No Body [[link removed]]

by Michael Quinn Sullivan

Two competing sites in Israel testify to the most pivotal event in human history. Both are empty.

These sites in Jerusalem vie for recognition as the location where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died, and buried. One is the historic Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a shrine of Christianity since the fourth century. The other is the more recently uncovered (in 1867) Garden Tomb, where the hillside looks like a skull as described in the gospels and ancient tombs have been uncovered.

Of course, only one can be the actual place where Jesus was crucified, died, and buried—if, indeed, it is either of them. But both feel right.

At the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, you can stand with a long line of pilgrims dating back two millennia to Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. The emotion and the spiritual weight of the place are palpable.

Yet the Garden Tomb is orderly and controlled; an almost supernatural silence grips the place as your hands touch the outline of tombs hewn from rock. It is refreshing and uplifting.

After numerous visits, my mind—perhaps irrationally—has made the two places into one. They are, after all, less than a mile from each other. I am content with the assumption that the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is where it happened. I am equally convinced the Garden Tomb is what it was like when it happened.

In His wisdom, God did not leave us an eternally lit neon sign. He knows the propensity of our fallen hearts to worship idols and things rather than Him.

Here is the undeniable truth. If you go to either the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or the Garden Tomb looking for Jesus, you’ll be disappointed.

The most uncomfortable truth is this: whichever place was the place is an intellectually fascinating discussion, but is ultimately unfulfilling because it misses the most important point.

We are talking about an empty tomb.

As Mary Magdalene was told that first Easter morning, “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”

One either believes that to be factually true or one does not. He either stayed dead or was resurrected. It cannot be partially true. It cannot be true for one person and not for another. There can be no middle ground.

As C.S. Lewis famously posited, Jesus’ claims mean He was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. Jesus’ various claims about Himself meant He could not be taken seriously as a “good human teacher.” He was either lying about His divinity or was crazy.

Was Jesus a liar? Was Jesus a lunatic? Or, is He the Lord? There is no body, just an empty tomb. These two places testify to one fact: there is a single answer, and how you answer it matters for eternity.

Quote-Unquote

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song."

– Karol Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II

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