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Good afternoon! It's Tuesday, November 22, and today's headlines include four pro-life activists who have been sentenced to 45 days in jail in Michigan, a report on an increase in trans-identified individuals seeking bigential anatomy, the State Department's warning for Americans in Qatar for the World Cup, and how "The Chosen" is impacting Generation Z.
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The Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising has announced that Lauren Handy, its director of activism, was among four pro-life activists sentenced to a month and a half at the Genesee County Jail in Flint, Mich. The sentencing came as a result of a 2019 "Red Rose Rescue" event at an abortion facility in Flint, with the organization describing a "Red Rose Rescue" as a "direct action in which activists enter abortion businesses, hand out life-affirming literature, red roses and offer hope and financial resources to the patients at risk of exploitation by the Abortion Industrial Complex." Handy and her co-defendants—William Goodman, Patrice Woodworth and Matthew Connolly—were charged with the felony offense of obstructing a police officer and the
misdemeanor offense of trespassing and disturbing the peace. The activists went "limp" during their arrest, which PAAU describes as "a decision often made by nonviolent social activists who refuse to assist in their own unjust arrest." Following their sentencing, the defendants were "immediately taken into custody."
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Supporters affiliated with PAAU gathered outside the jail Friday to demand the release of all four activists. PAAU Founder and Executive Director Terrisa Bukovinac stated, "We are living in the midst of a genocide and it's no surprise that the institutions which allow for the exploitation and murder of thousands of unborn children in this state are inflicting further oppression onto those like Lauren, who dare to challenge their agenda." Continue reading.
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P.S. Did you hear? CP has launched Freedom Post, a free, twice-weekly newsletter highlighting breaking news and headlines on key issues ranging from freedom to religious liberty. Sign-up today to get Freedom Post delivered to your inbox every Monday and Thursday. Check out these headlines from our latest issue of Freedom Post:
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A recent report published by VICE has shed light on people who call themselves "Salmacians," a term for those seeking bigenital anatomy. While people who trans identify typically undergo surgery or take drugs to resemble the opposite gender, the article details the process of "nonbinary bottom surgeries" for people looking to achieve bigenital anatomy. The Heritage Foundation's Jay W. Richards believes such surgeries are a "matter of course from the logic of gender
ideology." In a statement to The Christian Post, Richards noted, "Many casual observers think gender ideology claims merely that biological males can have a female gender identity, and vice versa ... That claim is a puzzler on its own. But gender ideology denies the meaning, even the reality, of biological sex." Richards further cautioned that the concept of gender identity being defined without reference to sex has no "limiting principle." Read more.
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The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is officially underway, and the U.S. State Department has warned any Americans traveling to Qatar to abide by several laws in the Islamic country that could result in jail time. Officials reminded citizens that the "First Amendment protections of the U.S. Constitution do not apply to U.S. citizens outside of the United States" and cautioned Americans against engaging in any form of assembly or protest. Qatar is a primarily Sunni Muslim nation whose laws and customs are rooted in the Quran and the Hadith, and the State Department has warned that "religious proselytizing or advocacy of atheism, and speech critical of the government of Qatar or the religion of Islam" may be criminally prosecuted. Even wearing a cross necklace "might be perceived
as an attempt of sharing the Gospel," explained Addison Parker of the U.S.-based watchdog group International Christian Concern. Read more.
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The United Methodist Church's North Carolina Conference approved the disaffiliation votes of 249 congregations during a special session held last week. The departures, which represent 32% of the regional body's member churches and approximately 22% of its membership, come amid the denomination's ongoing debate over homosexuality. Although the denomination's official stance in its Book of Discipline labels homosexuality as "incompatible" with Christian teaching, many progressive leaders have refused to enforce the rules against blessing same-sex unions or ordaining noncelibate homosexuals. The disaffiliation will be effective Dec. 31 for churches that completed all parts of the disaffiliation agreement. Read more.
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Author and cultural commentator Larry Tomczak highlights 10 blessings for which believers can thank God. Among the bunch: Jesus Christ dying the death we deserved, the freedom upon which America was founded, and today's medical technology and the personnel who keep us healthy. Read more.
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Dr. Michael Brown addresses a Christianity Today op-ed in which Carl H. Esbeck, R. B. Price Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Missouri, expresses support for the Respect for Marriage Act. While Esbeck asserts that the RMA "shows that religious liberty champions and LGBT advocates can work together for the common good," Brown points out it does not protect for-profit Christian wedding vendors and challenges Esbeck's belief that the bill is a good idea, asking, "The fact that it doesn’t do further harm to individuals who, in conscience, cannot affirm same-sex 'marriage' is a positive?" Brown also points to a Nov. 15 article in The Daily Signal that quotes various religious leaders expressing serious concerns about the bill, including Project Genesis founder Rabbi Yaakov Menken cautioning, "Here you have a piece of legislation that exposes every traditional Jewish practitioner of anything to potential litigation." Read more.
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Think of Giving Tuesday as an extension of that moment around the Thanksgiving table when everyone shares what they’re grateful to God for — a day to count our blessings, and to pass them on to those in need!
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That’s because thanks to a generous donation from celebrity ambassador Patricia Heaton and David Hunt, any gift given to the World Vision Fund on Giving Tuesday will be MATCHED* — empowering even more kids and families to create change that lasts.
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What's going on with faith and politics? A new Lifeway Research survey reveals how politics and churches intersect, finding an increasing number of Protestants want their churches to be politically homogenous. CP reporter Samantha Kamman breaks down the findings on this week's episode of "The Inside Story" podcast. Listen now.
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The cast and crew of the series "The Chosen" shared during the teal carpet premiere of season three at the Fox Theater in Atlanta that the show has offered Gen Z the opportunity to ask questions and have challenging conversations that will have a lifelong impact on them. "‘The Chosen’ asks a lot of really difficult questions, like, ‘Why am I not being healed, but other people are?’ And I think that that resonates," explained Jordan Walker Ross, who plays the role of Little James, one of Jesus’ apostles. "The Chosen" co-founder Derral Eves told CP that many young people have reached out to him to share how the show has impacted them. "With Gen Z, I see one of the most amazing generations that ever walked the face of the Earth. They just need to identify, they
need to know where they identify. And my heart is that they are able to see that what they're craving is something authentic, something true, and very disruptive. And that's what Jesus taught," he said. The first two episodes of season three hit the big screen on Friday, kicking off a five-day theatrical release in more than 2,000 theaters worldwide. Its release finished domestically at No. 3 with $8.75 million in sales on opening weekend. Read more.
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Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors
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