New study finds chemical abortion leads to higher rate of ER visits
The rate of abortion-related emergency room visits following chemical abortions increased over 500% from 2002 through 2015, according to a new study. During that 13-year period, chemical abortions increased from 4.4% to 34.1% of total abortions.
A Message From Our Friends at Prison Fellowship
God calls us to seek justice. But how should Christians respond?
Outrageous Justice, a free small-group study from experts at Prison Fellowship, offers Christians a place to start. Explore the criminal justice system through a biblical lens and discover hands-on ways to pursue justice, hope, and restoration in your community.
Click the button below to get your free copy of Outrageous Justice, featuring a study guide, videos, and a companion book today!
This Week in Washington, D.C.
On Nov 18, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the rescission of waivers issued by the Trump Administration that protect the religious freedom and consciences of millions of Americans. Notably, HHS is rescinding waivers given to South Carolina, Texas, and Michigan, including child welfare agencies in those states.
This action is deeply troubling for faith-based organizations and people who serve in the public square according to their religious beliefs. The waivers granted to these states protect the religious freedom of faith-based groups serving vulnerable children.
“Every elected official must recognize that religious freedom is a cornerstone of the Constitution. Our government, therefore, has a duty to protect the rights of those who enter the public square with sincerely-held religious beliefs, not assail them. We have communicated our concerns about these moves to the White House and we will continue advocating on behalf of the faith community on this important matter.”
— ERLC Acting President Brent Leatherwood
For further reading: Explainer: HHS rescinds waivers that protect religious freedom
A Message From Our Friends at The Good Book Company
The Adventure of Christmas
These simple 10-minute family devotions for Advent, with graphic-novel-style illustrations, explore the Gospel accounts of the first Christmas in an engaging way, and will help families keep Christ at the heart of their celebrations. An accompanying Advent Calendar is also available.
From The Public Square
What to Expect in the Supreme Court Oral Argument in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Americans United for Life
On a sound understanding of the Constitution, the answer to the question presented in this case is clear and the path to that answer is straight. Under the Constitution, may a State prohibit elective abortions before viability? Yes. Why? Because nothing in constitutional text, structure, history, or tradition supports a right to abortion.
Public Health Threat: Chemical Abortion Leads to Significantly Higher Rate of ER Visits
Charlotte Lozier Institute
As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works toward a December 16 decision on chemical abortion safeguards, a groundbreaking new study from Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) shows that increased access to abortion pills creates a significant public health risk.
Abortion law in Texas causing 'total disruption' at clinics across America
ABC News
"What we’re talking about is a total disruption of the abortion care network," said Elizabeth Nash, interim associate director of state issues at the Guttmacher institute. "And if the Texas ban stays in effect and other states are able to follow suit, then we will continue to see a real disruption among abortion clinics across the country."
Money Is Not the Main Reason Why Americans Who Desire Marriage Remain Single
Institute for for Family Studies
The top two reasons for not marrying have little to do with money, according to both lower-income and higher-income adults on the marriage market today.
What You Need to Read
Rick Morton with 4 ways the church can approach National Adoption Month: Why it’s important to embrace both the beautiful and hard parts of adoption
In short, adoption is beautiful, but it is also hard, and both aspects can be embraced without fear or anxiety. As Christians, we can accept truths in tension in large part because of the gospel. As we think about God’s adoption of us through Christ’s work, the gospel is a story that is filled with both great glory and real grief. God provided for our redemption and demonstrated Jesus’ sovereignty over life and death, but our redemption cost Jesus his life.
Jessica Burke with 5 reasons for Christians to show hospitality
We have long had a family saying: “People are more important than things.” This is easy to say but hard to actually believe in our hearts because of our selfish flesh. The things we own are temporary, but people have eternal souls and bear God’s image. When we have people in our home, we try to remember the significance of our stuff pales in comparison to the significance of our guests (Luke 12:15; Matt. 625-34).
Sarah Rice with Are we enthralled by Jesus at Christmas? An advent guide to help your family see God’s glory this season
Jesus is the connecting thread who binds each individual story and book of the Bible together to reveal something greater. So, when we disjoin his nativity from the larger narrative, it loses its luster, so to speak. In fact, the birth of Christ really makes no sense when removed from the context of the larger story. When we read it and teach it to our children as an isolated event, we fail to realize the personal and cosmic significance — the sheer glory — of Christ coming to earth and taking on human flesh. Without the whole story, we don’t understand why we needed him to come in the first place.
This Week at the ERLC
- Chelsea Sobolik talked to Baptist Press about the U.S. State Department’s removal of Nigeria from its list of the world’s worst persecutors and religious liberty concerns with the Build Back Better Act. She was also featured on the Women & Work podcast and at Lifeway Voices.
- Jason Thacker contributed an article on facial recognition technology and Christian ethics to Gordon Conwell's Africanus Journal. He also presented a paper on Christian ethics and misinformation/conspiracy theories at ETS 2021.
- Alex Ward was featured in Christianity Today discussing John Leland and the Baptist legacy of freedom of conscience.
Featured Podcasts
On the Digital Public Square podcast, Jason Thacker talks to Dr. Alan Noble, professor and author of the recent book, You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World about false promises of contemporary life and how the gospel reorients our pursuit of identity in the digital age.
On Capitol Conversations, Chelsea Sobolik sits down with Herbie Newell of Lifeline Children’s Services to discuss National Adoption Month, how the church can care for vulnerable children, and how we can prepare for a post-Roe world.
