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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - DECEMBER 13, 2023
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Texas Woman Leaves State for Abortion Amid Legal Battle Over Medical Exemption
“A Texas woman is traveling out-of-state to receive an abortion after the Texas Supreme Court halted a lower court’s decision granting her an exemption from the state’s abortion ban. Kate Cox is 20 weeks pregnant with a fetus diagnosed with Edwards’ syndrome, a genetic defect that results in the fetus not surviving the full term at least 95% of the time. Cox filed a lawsuit last week seeking an emergency abortion, stating that doctors had informed her that carrying the fetus to term would put her future fertility and life at risk. A judge ruled in her favor, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the case and asked the state Supreme Court to rule on the issue. The state Supreme Court paused the lower court’s decision on Friday night. Now, Cox is reportedly leaving Texas to seek the procedure in another state.” read more at All Sides
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- Cox delivered her two previous children by caesarian and said doctors warned that another C-section would threaten her ability to carry another child. She went to court after learning of her baby’s diagnosis at 18 weeks, seeking approval for an immediate abortion. “I do not want to continue the pain and suffering that has plagued this pregnancy or continue to put my body or my mental health through the risks of continuing this pregnancy,” she wrote in an editorial for the Dallas Morning News. “I do not want my baby to arrive in this world only to watch her suffer.” Texas law only allows abortions when the pregnancy puts the woman at risk of death or major physical injury. While Cox’s physician says she does face increased risk of certain medical complications, the only actual diagnosis mentioned in the original court filing is the one her baby received.
- Does length of life determine your value? While no more than 10 percent of babies with Edwards’ syndrome (or trisomy 18) who make it through birth live past their first birthday, it may surprise you to know that sometimes people with this condition survive for years, even decades. The daughter of former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has trisomy 18 and celebrated her 15th birthday this year. And in 2020, the oldest known trisomy 18 survivor in the United States turned 40. My sweet friend Allie blogged extensively about her daughter’s same diagnosis, birth, and short life that has since gone viral. Jules’ life is a powerful testimony of God’s goodness amidst suffering.
- There will be political ramifications from this story. But let’s not forget what’s really at stake: a God-created life. Abby Johnson sums it up well stating, “While I sympathize with Kate as a mother who wants to do what is best for her baby, it is unfathomable to understand why a mother would choose a procedure that will literally tear her baby apart instead of delivering the child and spending precious moments with that baby before it leaves this world, being held by its mother. It is frightening to think of living in a society that believes we have the right to eliminate the lives of those we don't deem 'fit' to be among us. This is exactly the eugenics mindset Margaret Sanger held when she started Planned Parenthood. All lives matter, even those who have a terminal illness and who society deems it better they die before ever being born into the arms of those who love them."
PRAY.
Pray for the Cox family; that there will be a change of heart and mind. Pray for parents to know that there is hope when facing difficult fetal diagnoses, that there are life-affirming options rather than abortion. Pray for an understanding that God can redeem even the most heartbreaking circumstances for His glory.
ACT.
There is an incredible faith-based organization established for cases just like this…to walk with families who are carrying a child with a life-limiting diagnosis. Learn more about the powerful work of Abel Speaks and consider supporting their life-affirming ministry. Then grab a tissue and read through some of the touching stories of the children whose lives are honored.
More Than 70 Lawmakers Call on Harvard, MIT, UPenn to Fire Presidents Following Testimony
“A group of 74 lawmakers across the political spectrum have called on the governing boards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University to remove their presidents following testimony they gave this week addressing antisemitism on college campuses. Led by New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the group highlighted a rise in reported antisemitism on campus, citing data from the Anti-Defamation league and Hillel International, claiming that ‘73% of Jewish college students surveyed have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism on campus since the beginning of the school year.’” read more at Just the News
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- After pressure from donors, the University of Pennsylvania’s President Liz Magill resigned last week. Harvard President Claudine Gay will not be asked to resign, the governing board announced. However, the education committee for the U.S. House of Representatives will begin a formal investigation into the three schools.
- The presidents refused to state that calls for the genocide of Jews violates school policies on bullying and harassment. They defended themselves by claiming they were preoccupied with upholding the First Amendment right to free speech. Their answers may have been compliant with the law but exposed their hypocrisy and favoritism. Why is Harvard University supposedly concerned about free speech now, when they tell students that simply using the wrong pronouns may be a form of "abuse" and could violate its Title IX policies?
- The "moral rot" in many of our universities reminds us that knowledge alone does not make a country civilized. After all, Nazi Germany was a highly educated nation. The fear of the Lord brings morality, as the psalmist said, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation…. Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:99,104 ESV)
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, help me to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9) In this moment of moral confusion, let Your church bring clarity and be a beacon of truth that draws others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ACT.
Turning Point USA is countering the moral rot in our universities by supporting student groups that spread truth and counter lies. My Faith Votes will have a booth at their AmericaFest conference, December 16-19, which draws thousands of people, many of them students. Please pray for our efforts to equip faith-based voters and spread awareness of our mission. If you are attending AmericaFest, please come say hi to our amazing staff!
Whitmire’s Lopsided Win in the Houston Mayoral Runoff Came Amid Low Turnout
“The number of people voting in the Houston mayor’s runoff dropped by more than 50,000 from last month’s general election as state Sen. John Whitmire rolled to victory over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. The low turnout in the runoff election – only 17 percent of Houston voters in Harris County cast ballots – continues a distressing trend in local elections. Year after year, few Houstonians turn out to vote. When some of the most important contests produce December runoffs, even fewer people show up. This year, the dropoff was 20 percent.” read more at the Houston Landing
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- Houston is the fourth-largest city by population in the U.S., yet only 17% of registered voters cast a ballot.
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee lost the mayoral runoff to state Sen. John Whitmire, 65 percent to 35 percent. She finished second behind Whitmire in an 18-candidate election in November, but no one won a majority which set up Saturday’s runoff election. On Monday, Jackson Lee filed for reelection to the U.S. House, setting up a competitive March 5 primary against a fellow Democrat who was once her intern, Amanda Edwards. The fifteen-term Democrat won reelection in 2022 with more than 70 percent of the vote after being unopposed in the Democratic primary.
- In other House of Representatives news, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced he would step down from his seat in Congress at the end of this year. The 58-year-old, nine-term Republican will not serve out the remainder of his time, which would have extended into January 2025. Just a day before McCarthy’s announcement, a close ally of the former speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), also announced he would not pursue reelection, though he pledged to serve out the rest of his term. McCarthy and McHenry’s announcements now make 32 House representatives who aren’t pursuing reelection. One more former member, George Santos of New York, has been expelled and cannot serve in Congress again. Six senators have also announced plans to retire. The number of vacancies may add uncertainty to the 2024 election season, but it should serve as a reminder that our vote is critical to the direction of Congress.
PRAY.
Father, I pray that we will elect righteous leaders who love mercy and justice and will honor and obey You. We pray that elected officials will recognize that they are first accountable to God, then to the citizens they represent. In Jesus name, Amen.
ACT.
I wonder how many eligible voters didn’t vote in Houston’s runoff election because they simply did not know there was an election happening (we hear this sentiment a lot!). Make sure you know when an election is taking place in your area. We’ve got a simple tool that will email or text you election alerts, so you never miss an election–whether it’s a presidential election or a local school board election. Get your reminders here.
Republican's Blockade of Military Promotions Ends as Pentagon's Abortion Travel Policy Continues
“A monthslong blockade of President Joe Biden's military appointments has come to an end as the U.S. senator who led the effort remains committed to continuing holds on the most high-ranking promotions unless the Biden administration agrees to abandon its effort to fund abortion travel across state lines for service members.” read more at the Christian Post
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- In a statement, Tuberville's office said that he narrowed the holds to four-star generals and released the others for promotion because a bipartisan group of senators threatened to change the rules and circumvent his blockade. "I hated to drop the holds, but I didn't want them to change the rules in the Senate," he said. "You can only fight for so long and when you've basically run out of options, it's time to change your game plan. So, now my game plan will be to work on it for the budget next year, and also try to get President Trump elected because he will change it back." Tuberville also mentioned that a lawsuit might be filed against the Pentagon’s “illegal use of taxpayer money for abortion.”
- In a disappointing turn of events late last week, lawmakers dropped pro-life language from the National Defense Authorization Act that would have ended taxpayer-funded abortion travel through the Pentagon’s abortion travel reimbursement policy that Tuberville was fighting. Many pro-life lawmakers have called on their like-minded colleagues to vote against the defense authorization bill in protest of the latest compromise.
- “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8 NIV) Tuberville’s nine-month stand drew attention to the Pentagon’s denial of pre-born babies’ right to life. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, responded to the news saying, “We’re proud of the stand that Sen. Tuberville took on behalf of the preborn. Every day he stood firm was a message sent to Washington that the lives of America’s preborn are worth defending, even if Joe Biden and his Pentagon don’t think so.”
PRAY.
Lord, thank You for leaders who do what is right, even when opposed. Continue to give them courage and wisdom in this difficult battlefield. Let their example inspire each of us to stand for life in our areas of influence.
ACT.
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened,” said the late Reverend Billy Graham. Send a message to your members of Congress, state legislators, and governor, urging them to stand for life and letting them know you pay attention to your candidates’ stances on this issue. We’ve made it easy for you with this simple tool.
My Faith Votes— is a ministry that motivates, equips, and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. An estimated 25 million Christians who are registered to vote, fail to vote in presidential elections. My Faith Votes is on a mission to change this statistic by helping Christians act on their faith and vote in every election. When we pray unceasingly for our nation, think biblically about the issues, and vote consistently in every election the impact of Christians taking action from the local to the state and federal level will be unprecedented.
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