| Welcome to the Family Beacon, your source for news and commentary on life, family, and religious freedom in Minnesota and beyond! This week: One quick note: If you have friends and family who want to get pro-life, pro-family Minnesota news every week, here's a shareable link so they can sign up. |
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| SCOTUS Strikes Down Biden Administration Vaccine Mandate |
|  | The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for businesses. The vaccine mandate for healthcare workers at federally funded facilities has been left to go into effect. In striking down the OSHA mandate for businesses, the Supreme Court recognized that the mandate was an instance of government overreach. In a statement, Renee Carlson, General Counsel of Minnesota Family Council’s True North Legal initiative said, The Court correctly decided that OSHA engaged in significant government overreach, with an unprecedented broad general public health regulation, to the detriment of millions of Americans. Indeed, the Court correctly opined there is a “crucial distinction” between “occupational risk” and general risk we all face in our daily lives. And it is not for OSHA to assert itself beyond its authority as it did in this mandate. In the ruling, the Court stated, “Permitting OSHA to regulate the hazards of daily life — simply because most Americans have jobs and face those same risks while on the clock — would significantly expand OSHA’s regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization.” It is not OSHA’s job to legislate the healthcare decisions of American citizens, nor do they have the authority to do so. The Court went on to say, Although Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not given that agency the power to regulate public health more broadly. Requiring the vaccination of 84 million Americans, selected simply because they work for employers with more than 100 employees, certainly falls in the latter category. |
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| We Debunk More of the "Best" Pro-Abortion Arguments - Season 1, Episode 23 |
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| Abortion Pills are the Next Front in the Fight for Life |
|  | The FDA finished out the year by permanently lifting safety restrictions on the abortion pill regimen, an unsafe abortion procedure that is made more dangerous by the removal of in-person requirements. For over two decades, the abortion pill regimen was regulated under the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program. In that time, thousands of women who have undergone chemical abortions have experienced adverse effects and 24 have died, and there is evidence that abortion pill complications are significantly underreported. Under the FDA’s new rules, “DIY” at-home abortions can be distributed by mail after a telehealth visit without so much as meeting the prescribing provider face-to-face. Recent data from the CDC revealed that chemical abortions made up 44% of reported abortions in 2019. CDC data for 2020 has not yet been made available, but the influence of lockdowns and temporary lifting of REMS protocols likely contributed to an even further increase in chemical abortions, as was seen here in Minnesota. This is the next front in the fight for life. For decades, pro-life sidewalk counselors and pregnancy resource centers have done incredible work offering hope to abortion-minded women. While the need for their work will continue, increasingly, women who feel like abortion is their only option will be making that decision without even leaving their home or dorm room. The pro-life movement needs to reach these women, as well, and help them see that abortion is not the answer. Abortionists and their allies are actively pushing for increased use of abortion pills, embracing “self-managed” abortions in a sudden pivot from one of their favorite talking points. Plan C Pills, a group that describes itself as a “resource” for at-home abortions and has received glowing media coverage encourages women in states that maintain safety restrictions on chemical abortions to consider getting abortion pills online from international pharmacies, saying “No prescription is needed. No medical screening or advice is given. Receive the pills by mail. Take the pills at home.” Even with REMS safety requirements lifted, the abortion pill is still a prescription drug, and buying and selling prescription drugs online without a prescription is illegal and potentially dangerous. |
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| LEAD Registration is Open - Sign Your Teen Up for Our Leadership Camp (July 24-29, 2022) |
|  | | LEAD Registration is NOW OPEN! Who: Highschool students ages 13–19. What: A hands-on leadership and worldview camp designed to equip the next generation of Christian leaders to engage the culture. When: July 24-29, 2022 Why: LEAD equips the next generation by providing students with an opportunity to strengthen their worldview, develop leadership skills, and learn the legislative process! LEAD is designed to equip students for a lifetime of culture-shaping impact! At the beginning of the week, students are sworn in as members of the Minnesota House and Senate. As they take on the responsibilities of lawmakers, they get to learn the legislative process in a memorable, hands-on way while working with real bills that have been proposed here in our state! Throughout the week, students also study biblical worldview and think about how the gospel shapes our response to tough cultural issues, hear from renowned speakers on topics like the sanctity of life, and grow in leadership skills as they work with their caucus to pass their legislation. We hope to see your teen at LEAD next summer! Click here to learn more and register. Watch the LEAD 2022 video now. |
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| Promoted: Equipped for Life: A fresh approach to conversations about abortion |
|  | Saturday, February 5th - University of St. Thomas Equipped for Life: A Fresh Approach to Conversations About Abortion Don't be at a loss for words or lose your cool when a pro-choice advocate throws out an argument. We'll equip you to respond in truth and love with skills that actually change hearts and minds! This indispensable and life-changing day of training, provided by National Pro-Life Leader Emily Albrecht through the Equal Rights Institute, will equip you with: - A large successfully tested set of practical tools to use in future conversations.
- Practice conversations to be confidently prepared to engage any pro-choice advocate who defends abortion with arguments based in:
- difficult circumstances
- biology
- personhood
- bodily autonomy
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| Promoted: In His Image with Laura Perry from Agape First Ministries |
|  | From Agape First Ministries: On Sunday, January 16, 2022, we will be hosting a viewing of the movie In His Image at Plymouth Covenant Church. The event begins at 6:30pm. In His Image is a critical and urgent message designed to equip the church to answer culturally controversial questions about gender and sexuality from a biblical perspective. Every church in America is filled with hurting people asking these tough questions: Can you be gay and be a Christian? What if someone genuinely feels trapped in the wrong body? Did God make me this way? Is change even possible? This feature-length documentary presents much-needed truth with compassion and clarity through powerful personal testimonies, careful Bible teaching, and scientific evidence. AND, one of the featured testimonies, Laura Perry, will be with us to answer questions and talk about her experience filming the movie.Laura was transgendered for over 10 years until Jesus invaded her life. She has become a dear friend of mine and I can't wait for you to meet her. You can read her full testimony HERE. A free will offering will be taking at the event. |
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|  | Did you know that when you shop with Amazon Smile, Amazon makes a donation to Minnesota Family Institute at no cost to you? You can support LIFE, FAMILY, and RELIGIOUS FREEDOM while you shop by clicking here (smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1439560) or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to Minnesota Family Institute. Bookmark Amazon Smile in your browser so that Amazon will donate every time you make a purchase! |
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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. As we rise to meet challenges at the state and federal level, we need your support now more than ever. Click here to give now. We are grateful for your partnership with us through prayer and financial support. For life, family, and religious freedom, |
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| John Helmberger, CEO Minnesota Family Council and Institute |
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| | Minnesota Family Council
2855 Anthony Lane S, Suite 150 | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418-3265
612-789-8811 | [email protected] |
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