Editor's Note:

With the news of the President and First Lady testing positive for COVID-19 early this morning, we echo the words of ERLC President Russell Moore: "Let’s all take a moment to pray for the President and First Lady this morning. This is a frightening time for our country." Join us in praying for a full and speedy recovery for all of those affected by this virus.

Jason Thacker, Editor

5 facts about global hunger in a time of pandemic

In a little over a week, many churches will observe Global Hunger Sunday (Oct. 11) and join with others across the globe to recognize World Food Day (Oct. 16), a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding, and informed, year‐around action to alleviate hunger.

Here are 5 things you should know about global hunger and how to respond:

This Week at the ERLC

The ERLC placed another ultrasound machine in a crisis pregnancy resource center in Tallahassee, Florida.

Russell Moore was featured on the Deep Talks podcast where he discussed theology, ethics, and superheroes and on the Bold Love podcast. He will also be speaking at a virtual event on Sunday at Frisco First Baptist about how Christians can navigate this political climate well. Register here.

Jason Thacker was on Moody Radio discussing his article about social media on The Gospel Coalition.

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik had a comment in The New York Times about Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination.

What You Need to Read

A few days ago, I started hearing buzz around the documentary, “The Social Dilemma.” It is a documentary on Netflix that exposes how addiction and targeted ads and videos aren’t accidental side effects of social media use, but they are planned features to keep the user coming back. Although its original design was intended for good, many of the former tech executives in the documentary say that social media apps are now monetizing this addiction and have the potential to shape beliefs and behaviors in negative ways.

President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to ensure that “infants born alive, no matter the circumstances of his or her birth, have the same dignity and the same rights as every other individual and are entitled to the same protections under Federal law.” The “Executive Order on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children” clarifies several existing laws, including the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA), Section 504 of the Rehab Act and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act to ensure born-alive babies in American hospitals are entitled to non-discriminatory access to medical care,with the consent of a parent or guardian, when they present at hospitals receiving Federal funds.

Digital authoritarianism, also known as techno-authoritarianism, is the way that many leaders around the world wield the power of the internet and technology to gain or solidify control over their people. Authoritarianism is not a new concept, but in recent years there seems to be a growing trend of leaders using technology in order to strengthen their ruling power and attain growing influence around the world.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, new COVID-19 guidance issued by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak went into effect raising the state’s limit on most gatherings, including churches, from 50 to 250 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less, but continues to give special treatment to casinos. Russell Moore commented last night, “I urge Governor Sisolak to stop singling out houses of worship, and instead to partner with churches, as is happening in communities all over the country, to combat this virus. This is a time when we need trust and cooperation from every sector of society. These arbitrary and capricious treatments of churches undermine the ability to do that. Churches are eager to serve their communities safely, and should be allowed to do so.”

News From Capitol Hill

One of the key policies the ERLC is advocating for right now in Washington is the Adoptee Citizenship Act. Last week on Wednesday, with a broad coalition of adoption advocates, we called on Congress to pass this critical legislation.

Then on Saturday, President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett, an adoptive mother, to the Supreme Court, after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Judge Barrett’s incredible biography and inspiring career is rightly generating headlines and profiles of her and her family in which two of their seven children are international adoptees who were born in Haiti.

The ERLC affirms adoption as a central theological theme in the Bible and in a world full of children in need, inter-country adoption is essential.

The Adoptee Citizenship Act is needed today because the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 left many adoptees of U.S. citizens without citizenship themselves. The bill in 2000 smoothed out the international administrative burdens but only granted automatic citizenship to adoptees below the age of 18 when the law took effect. Without citizenship, thousands of adoptees have endured a myriad of hardships. The Adoptee Citizenship Act closes that loophole. It enjoys wide bipartisan and bicameral support and Congress should quickly act and help the thousands of affected adoptees left in the gap of uncertainty.

Learn more about this critical bill in this explainer and policy brief from our Policy Staff, and this article from Russell Moore, Adoption and the Integrity of the Family.

Featured Podcasts

On this episode of Signposts, Russell Moore is joined by pastor Ray Ortlund to talk about ministry, integrity, and transition points in life. Ortlund was ordained into the Christian ministry in 1975. He taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His primary ministry for 28 years has been as a pastor. And in addition to numerous essays and articles, Ortlund has published eight books. He is also the president of Renewal Ministries. Ortlund and his wife Jani have been married for 45 years, and have four children and 13 grandchildren.

This week’s episode of Capitol Conversations features a discussion about the passing of Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the high court vacancy. The ERLC team circled up after the nomination to talk about Judge Barrett’s incredible biography and inspiring career before turning to Chelsea Patterson Sobolik and Jeff Pickering’s interview with McLane Layton about the Adoptee Citizenship Act.

From The Public Square

Voting while God is watching – does having churches as polling stations sway the ballot?
Jordan LaBouff, The Conversation

Social scientists have long understood that physical and social context shapes the way people think, feel and behave. Without even realizing it, most of us are likely to speak more quietly when talking about the possibility of visiting a library than when discussing plans to dine at an exclusive restaurant.

Eritrea Frees Evangelical Prisoners Due to COVID-19
Julia Bicknell, World Watch Monitor

Dozens of persecuted believers released on bail. But hundreds reportedly remain imprisoned in the “North Korea of Africa.”

DoD Issues Revised Policy On Religious Liberty In Military Services
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

On Sept. 1, the Department of Defense issued a revised version of DoD Instruction 1300.17, Religious Liberty in the Military Services.

Sex ed mandate sparks bitter Washington state ballot fight
Sally Ho, Associated Press

Under the wide-ranging bill, kindergartners would be taught how to manage feelings and make friends, while older kids will learn about consent and how to respond to violence. The curriculum must also address issues faced by LGBTQ students.