The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory.

Blocking the Born-Alive Bill in the House is unconscionable

On Tuesday, Representative Ann Wagner (R–Mo.) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R–La.) hosted a minority hearing on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to highlight the egregious fact that the bill has yet to receive a vote on the House floor. This ought to shock the conscience.

The bill seeks to protect children who survive an attempted abortion procedure and are born alive. If passed, the new law would require that abortion survivals be reported to law enforcement by the medical staff involved and that the surviving child be treated with the same level of medical care standard for any other child born prematurely. According to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Wagner, this legislation also takes the critical step to “give the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood.”

The debate this year in Washington over infanticide is rightly shocking to many because it tragically flows from the abortion industry’s advocacy for late-term abortion in states like New York and Virginia. Those events shed light on how this legislation is as needed as it is commonsense. And yet when the bill was up for a vote in the Senate in February with the leadership of Senator Ben Sasse (R–Neb.), the measure failed 53-44. Since that vote, pro-life members of the House began an effort to force a vote in their chamber as well.

This Week at the ERLC

• Dan Darling writes at Facts & Trends about why your church shouldn’t be a perfect fit for you.

• The ERLC hosted our Board of Trustees in the Nashville offices this week. 

• Chelsea Patterson Sobolik was interviewed by Baptist Press about a trip she and Elizabeth Graham took to the Southern Border.

What You Need to Know

• It’s hard to believe that 18 years have passed since the terror of 9/11. That September day has forever marked our country and her people. Josh Wester reflects on this historic, tragic event and what Christians must remember. Read his article here. 

It’s been 18 years since the twin towers fell on that unsuspecting September morning. Before that day, 9/11 was simply a date on the calendar. It came and went each year with little fanfare or deep reflection. But once the towers were destroyed, the Pentagon was hit, and the heroes of Flight 93 made their stand to prevent further loss of life, our nation made a solemn vow that we would never forget.

• Phillip Bethancourt gives us 7 updates on the Sexual Abuse Advisory Group’s efforts in his latest article. Find out more here. 

The SBC Sexual Abuse Advisory Group (SAAG) has continued to work diligently throughout the summer. As SBC President J.D. Greear said at the 2019 annual meeting, “Our efforts on abuse don’t end here in Birmingham. This is just the beginning of a long journey together.” In an effort to keep Southern Baptists up to speed on the Advisory Group’s efforts, here is a brief update on recent developments.

• Sadly, instances of anti-Semitism are on the rise in the U.S. and globally. Most recently, there has been a concentration of these horrible events in New York. Neal Hardin covers this news and calls Christians to act. Read his article here. 

A few months ago, the NYPD announced that from Jan. 1 through May 19, 2019, there have been 184 reported hate crimes, an 83% increase compared to the same time period last year. Of the hate crimes reported, 103 (59%) of them were anti-Semitic in nature, more than double the number of reported anti-Semitic hate crimes for the same period last year. This is despite a 6% reduction in overall crime.

News From Capitol Hill

Returning from summer travels and the Congressional August recess, Jeff Pickering, Steven Harris, Travis Wussow, and Chelsea Paterson Sobolik are back together at the Leland House around the Capitol Conversations table and to discuss the ERLC’s next policy priorities for the fall.

One item from earlier in the year that continues to be a priority is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This week, Republican members of the House hosted a hearing on this legislation and the moral insanity of leaving these vulnerable infants outside the protection of the law.  

Earlier this year, Jeff and Chelsea welcomed pro-life and adoption advocate Melissa Ohden, who was herself born-alive after a failed abortion attempt at seven months gestation, to the podcast to share her story. Her story is an awesome testament to God’s grace, the power of forgiveness, and the inherent dignity every person deserves no matter how small.

Listen to the conversation and interview here: ERLC Fall Look Ahead and Melissa Ohden on Surviving Abortion

Featured Podcasts

From The Public Square

On 9/11, Luck Meant Everything
Garrett M. Graff, The Atlantic

“When the terrorist attacks happened, trivial decisions spared people’s lives—or sealed their fate.”

A 74-year-old woman reportedly gave birth to twins, may be the oldest ever to give birth
Joshua Bote, USA TODAY

A 74-year-old woman from India became pregnant through IVF and recently gave birth to twins.

Congress graded on global religious freedom
Tom Strode, Baptist Press

“One-third of Congress again received ‘above average’ scores on global religious liberty, according to an analysis of the latest session.”

THE SACRIFICE
Matt Mencarini, Louisville Courier Journal

Rachael Denhollander revealed the secrets she hid in her journal to uncover the darkness of sexual abuse.