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: Human Life
Non-Discrimination Act (HB453) presented to Gov. Cooper this week and
now awaits his response
Earlier this week, the Human Life Non-Discrimination Act
(HB453) was presented to the Governor. The bill prohibits abortions
based on race and/or the prenatal diagnosis of Down
syndrome.
One of three scenarios are now possible:
- The Governor signs the bill and it becomes a
law.
- The Governor does nothing, and 10 days after the bill is
presented it becomes law.
- The Governor vetoes the bill, and it goes back to the
legislative body of origin for a potential veto override with a
three-fifths vote of the Senate and House.
If you haven't done so already, would you consider joining us
in praying that governor Cooper will have compassion on the unborn and
sign this bill into law, and that if he doesn’t, our legislators will
be encouraged to stand strong and override his
veto?
We also strongly encourage you to use this
click-to-contact tool to CONTACT GOVERNOR COOPER and ask him to sign
the bill into law.
CONTACT COOPER: https://www.ncvalues.org/life
2. DAILY SIGNAL: Unanimous
Supreme Court Gives Win to Religious Foster Care
Agency
"In a unanimous judgment
Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a faith-based foster
care agency, saying the city of Philadelphia could not disqualify it
because of its religious beliefs.
The high court noted that
Catholic Social Services has 'long been a point of light in the city’s
foster-care system' and that the agency simply wishes to be allowed to
'continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent
with its religious beliefs.'
Philadelphia officials had
canceled the contract of the Catholic foster care agency, a familiar
nonprofit in the city for more than 100 years, because it declined to
assign foster children to same-sex couples. 'The city’s actions have
burdened CSS’s religious exercise by putting it to the choice of
curtailing its mission or [acting] inconsistent with its beliefs,'
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his majority opinion."
Our
sister organization, the Institute for Faith and Family, filed an
amicus brief in the case (which you can read
here).
3. NC VALUES: Response to
misleading reports on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal's decision on
NC's 20-week ban.
ICYMI:
"'Because of this decision, North Carolina is a haven where patients
can access abortion even as politicians throughout the south pass
dozens of restrictions attacking fundamental rights,' said Nancy
Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a
statement."
You can read our response
here.
4. FOX NEWS : Virginia's Loudoun
County to appeal court decision reinstating teacher who spoke out
against gender policies
“Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) in Virginia said Friday
that it intended to appeal a judge's order that the district reinstate
Tanner Cross, the physical education teacher who was suspended after
making controversial comments about gender.”
5. GATEWAY PUNDIT: NC
Superintendent shut parents out of school board meeting using
emergency powers so she didn't have
"In Guilford County, North Carolina, the
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sharon L. Contreras, refuses to allow
the public to attend school board meetings according to local
activists fighting Critical Race Theory. Take Back Our Schools
founder says Contreras is using emergency powers to shut them
out."
WEEKLY PRAYER: LIBERTY
LORD, you have blessed us with a spiritual liberty that is so
wonderful and beyond description, that it can only be understood
through experiencing a life-giving relationship with Christ. However,
we also recognize that in your grace, you have blessed our country
with a political liberty that enables us to openly proclaim the
experience of a life lived in the freedom of the Gospel.
LORD, as individuals and as a nation, may we never take the
inalienable right of religious freedom for granted. Right now our
country has faced a rapid increase in the number of attacks made
against this cherished right. We have seen groups across our public
arena increase in boldness and frequency their smears against
religious liberty. They claim it is bigotry, when we know it is the
security of the greatest of all possible loves.
Be with your people and our country as it continues to protect
the constitutional right protected by our nation's Founders. Be with
legislators and the Supreme Court, as they determine through their
actions the protection of this particular and fundamental
freedom.
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore
keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
(Galatians 5:1)
"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not
turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love
serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)
"Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for
evil, but use it as bondslaves of God." (1 Peter 2:16)
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,
North Carolina Values Coalition
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