| Kansas voters defeat pro-life amendment | Curated for you byCP Editors | Good afternoon! It's Wednesday, August 3, and today's headlines include Kansas voters rejecting a pro-life amendment to the state constitution, the DOJ's lawsuit against Idaho, and Candace Cameron Bure's response to recent criticism on social media. | On Tuesday, Kansas voters rejected a pro-life amendment to the state constitution. The "Value Them Both" amendment was rejected by 58.8% of voters, while 41.2% supported the proposal. The amendment would have allowed the state legislature to impose restrictions on abortion or possibly ban the procedure. It had more support from rural voters, while more densely populated counties largely opposed the amendment. Despite the amendment failing, there are still restrictions on abortion in the state. The right to an abortion is limited after 22 weeks of gestation to circumstances when a mother's life is in danger or if a "major bodily function" is at risk. Mothers are also required to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion can be conducted. | The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports that more than 7,800 abortions were performed in the state in 2021, a 4.1% increase from 2020. The figure represents both medical and surgical abortions. Lila Rose, a pro-life activist and founder of Live Action, called the results a "tragic setback for Kansas," but said that it "will do nothing to stop the pro-life movement’s momentum to pass unprecedented legal protections for preborn children across the nation." Read more. | P.S. Looking for a way to close out your week? Stay in the know with In Case You Missed It, a Friday-only newsletter that features a roundup of the top stories of the week and a selection of faith-based highlights. Subscribe here. | | Listen to the CP Daily Podcast |
| | Mass. establishes constitutional rights to abortion, 'gender-affirming' care | Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has signed Bill H.4930 into law, a measure that establishes abortion and "gender-affirming care" as constitutional rights. The bill passed in a vote of 136-17 in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on June 29. The Senate subsequently approved H.4930 in a unanimous vote of 40-0 on July 25. The bill declares that "[a]ccess to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming health care services is recognized and declared to be a right secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth" and cautions that "[i]nterference with this right, whether or not under the color of law, is against the public policy of the commonwealth." Massachusetts Family Institute, a social conservative advocacy group, has argued the legislation will turn the state into an "abortion sanctuary." Read more. | Also of Interest... | States that promote giving kids puberty blockers, trans hormones have higher suicide rates: study Massachusetts House overrides governor's veto of abortion bill | DOJ takes aim at Idaho's abortion law | The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Idaho, claiming that the state law banning almost all abortions violates federal law regulating public access to emergency services. The DOJ announced the complaint against Idaho Code § 18-622 on Tuesday. The law, which the department describes as a "near-total ban on abortion," is set to go into effect on Aug. 25. This marks the first time the Biden administration has taken legal action against a state abortion restriction since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in late June. Read more. | SPLC faces scrutiny over book that sexualizes children, claims kids can trans identify at 2 | The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing allegations that it is promoting a book for elementary school students that normalizes sexual behavior among children. Several conservative Christian groups are speaking out following news website Breitbart publishing a report about the SPLC's "Learning for Justice" project, which includes an "LGBTQ Library" with a list of recommended books and practices that are controversial. Focus on the Family's Jeff Johnston denounced the guide as promoting "false ideologies and damaging behaviors for children of all ages," telling The Christian Post that the guide, which promotes "a variety of 'gender identities' ... encourages schools to violate privacy and safety in restrooms, locker rooms and showers by allowing students who 'identify' as the opposite sex into those spaces. And it urges schools to use curriculums that are radical and sexualized." Family Research Council's Meg Kilgannon also called out the guide, telling CP that SPLC "has been in the business of sexualizing children in the name of 'diversity' for years." One of the books in the guide, Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, features an illustration of a girl having an orgasm, with its author being quoted as wanting "a world with no normative pressures around sex." The text is aimed at younger readers. Elsewhere, the guide claims children as young as 2 can "'truly know' their gender identity or sexual orientation." Read more. |
| | Want to reach Gen Z? Start with mental health. | Josh Packard and Jeff Neel write about the high rates of loneliness and depression experienced among Gen Zers and why it's important to address mental health in order to reach this younger demographic. Packard, the executive director of Springtide Research Institute, and Neel, the executive director of North Colorado Youth for Christ, discuss the importance of receiving training for mental health issues to reach this generation where they are and building lasting relationships that promote faith and belonging. Read more. | Can we hold the center? | In this follow-up to a previous editorial on the subject, Wallace B. Henley addresses the question: Can we hold to the center? "In this turbulent age, the very foundations are trembling, and it seems many cannot hold to the center of that Kingdom, and the primary institutions whereby its attributes are ministered in the world: the Family, Church, and Education," Henley writes. Read more. |
| | Will The Meta Verse End The Megachurch? | Don’t Miss This! Volume 2 of The Christian Post Magazine | The Christian Post Magazine is a digital magazine published quarterly with feature stories from the award-winning CP Newsroom. | Each issue includes 10+ feature stories along with graphics and designs by CP’s design studio. | The CP Magazine is currently offered for free to subscribers who have an account on christianpost.com. If you are not sure whether you have an account, create a free account here. | |
| | Candance Cameron Bure: The Lord is my defender | Hollywood actress and outspoken Christian Candace Cameron Bure has faced criticism from others in the entertainment industry on social media in recent weeks following artist Jojo Siwa's claim that Bure is the "rudest celebrity" she's ever met. Bure responded with kindness and forgiveness. The husband of actress Hillary Duff, indie rocker Matthew Koma, also slammed the "Fuller House" actress for a patriotic Fourth of July video she posted. "The Lord is my salvation. I will trust Him and not be afraid for He alone is my strength and my defender," Bure subsequently shared on Instagram while reading Isaiah 12:2. Watch her Instagram story here. | | | | Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors |
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