Religious organizations CAN get involved in government...because government is sure involved in religion!

Assembly Bill 569 or AB 569 - which the authors have duplicitously named “Discrimination: reproductive health” - would make it illegal for employers to require employment Codes of Conduct that prohibit abortion or contraception for its employees. The law is also intended to be used to outlaw Codes of Conduct prohibiting sex (cohabitation) outside of marriage.  And if history is any indication, this bill will not stop there! According to California Family Council, who is closely following this bill in Sacramento, the bill’s author  believes organizations, even religious ones, are “invading the privacy and personal lives of women.”

In short, if this bill is passed, it will outlaw private religious institutions such as universities and pro-life organizations from requiring codes of conduct based on their biblical values.  You can see where this bill targets Christianity and discriminates against a faith-based organization’s ability to be faithful to their religious beliefs, ministry and mission, when they prohibit any of their “reproductive choices,” including abortion or extramarital sex.

“Every organization that promotes a pro-life message must be able to require its employees to practice what they preach,” said California Family Council’s Johnathan Keller.

AB 569 will be heard in the State Senate Appropriations Committee when our state legislators return from their break on Monday, August 21.

Let's all make a difference! Let's all speak up! The best way to kill a bill is before it comes up for a vote to become law, so we are asking you to please take a moment to call the following State Senators that are on the Appropriations Committee, especially if you are in the District of one of these State Senators. (If you don’t know, you can click on the name to see District)

For strategic reasons, we are asking you to please urge the Republicans to vote NO and the Democrats to Abstain.

Ricardo Lara (D, Chair)    Please Abstain Sacramento: 916-651-4033 Local:  323-277-4560, 562-256-7912

Patricia Bates (R, Vice Chair) Please Vote NO Sacramento: 916-651-4036 Local: 949-598-5850, 760-642-0809

Jim Beall (D) Please Abstain Sacramento:  916-651-4015 Local: 408-558-1292

Steven Bradford (D) Please Abstain Sacramento: 916-651-4035 Local: 310-514-8573, 310-412-6120

Jerry Hill (D) Please Abstain Sacramento: 916-651-4013 Local: 650-212-3313

Jim Nielsen (R) Please Vote NO Sacramento:  916-651-4004 Local: 916-772-0571, 530-879-7424, 530-751-8657

Scott Wiener (D) Please Abstain Sacramento:  916-651-4011 Local: 415-557-1300

Please feel free to use your own words, but if it helps, below is a suggested call script you can use when calling.

Hello, my name is ____________________.  I am a member of (give name of church and city or better yet, region).  For pastors: I am the pastor of (give name of church and city or region) and I represent a congregation of (number).

I am calling to urge the Senator to Vote NO (Republicans) / ABSTAIN FROM VOTING (Democrats) on AB 569, the Reproductive Health Bill.

AB 569 prevents certain private Religious organizations from exercising their basic right under the Constitution to be faithful to their religious beliefs, ministry and mission.  Government should uphold religious liberty and not impede or make illegal anyone’s right to freely associate with those of shared beliefs and practices.

This is not a partisan issue, it is a Religious liberty issue and I am asking Senator _________________ to Vote NO (Republican) / ABSTAIN (Democrat). Thank you and God bless.

For a better chance of stopping this attack on private religious organizations, please share this email and encourage your pastors and other members of your congregations to call, as well.

Thank you all for participating in this important cause to protect and defend the religious liberties of Christian organizations in our state!

Advocates for Faith & Freedom would not be able to continue our ministry of defending religious liberty in and out of the courts without your prayers of support and tax deductible donations.

Baby Charlie's Tragic Tale of Government-Run Healthcare

Charlie Gard was born in the U.K. last August. Just weeks later, he was diagnosed with mitochondrial DNA  depletion syndrome. His diagnosis is that he will be unable to stand, walk, eat, talk and eventually breathe. Only the sixteenth known person in the world with the condition, Charlie’s doctors say he will die from his illness.

Now on life support, 11-month-old Charlie’s specialists at  The Great Ormond Street Hospital in London have decided the baby’s  life support should be turned off.

Under the U.K.'s government run health care system, Charlie’s  parents have been fighting for permission to send their son to the U.S. to undergo pioneering treatment lead by Dr.   Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York.

They previously lost their fight in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court after British healthcare specialists successfully argued that "some conditions cannot be cured or improved."

Charlie’s heartbroken mother appealed to the British Prime Minister and the ironically named European Court of Human Rights, but they both backed the healthcare system’s decision that Charlie was too sick to be brought home to die, let alone be moved to the U.S for treatment.

Desperate to save their baby’s life, Charlie’s parents also took to social media. Charlie’s story made international headlines and prompted public outcry over the U.K.’s healthcare system’s decision.

And while members of the local church community stood outside The Great Ormond Street Hospital with posters to offer hope to his family, baby Charlie’s heart-wrenching story captured the world’s attention, including Pope Francis who tweeted, “To defend human life, above all when it is wounded by illness, is a duty of love that God entrusts to all.”  President Trump even offered his support by tweeting, “If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.”

Possibly due to this publicity, in a new court development, the judge ruled to allow Dr. Hirano to examine Charlie with full access to his medical records and the hospital’s facilities! Dr. Hirano believes he can help save baby Charlie. The judge hopes to render his decision by July 25 and Charlie’s parents are feeling optimistic.

However, British healthcare officials have not changed their position. They maintain that every medical treatment option has already been explored and that any experimental treatment could not be justified. Clearly, financial consideration may be playing a part in the decisions made regarding baby Charlie’s life.

On their website, www.charliesfight.org, Charlie’s parents say, “Charlie should get a chance to try these medications. He literally has nothing to lose but potentially a healthier, happier life to gain.”

Please join Advocates for Faith & Freedom as we pray for comfort for baby Charlie and his parents’ freedom to pursue his potential life-saving medical treatment. And as we discuss healthcare in our own country, we seek God’s wisdom for our legislature and His continued blessings on America’s doctors and hospitals. We thank the Lord for the freedom to choose our own medical treatment without government intrusion.

So that Advocates for Faith & Freedom can continue the fight for life and religious liberties in our own courts, we thank you for your prayers and financial support.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and your donations! 

We Got Another Big Victory for Life & Free Speech!

You may recall we are representing the Scharpen Foundation in challenging AB775 the Reproductive FACT Act where we filed a lawsuit in both federal and state courts. The California statute requires pro-life pregnancy centers that are Christian-based in just about all cases, to provide women the contact information for where they can get free and low- cost abortions.

After arguing for three hours in the Superior Court in Riverside County on April 6, 2017, the California State Attorney General’s motion to dismiss our case was just denied this last week!

According to the judge, this law “forces the clinic to point the way to the abortion clinic.”

In her ruling, Judge Gloria Trask wrote that “the required notification is compelled speech which on its face violates freedom of speech protected by Article 1, Section 2 of the California Constitution.”

With funding raised by Advocates for Faith & Freedom, Tyler & Bursch’s lawyers strategically filed the lawsuit in state court because the California State Constitution is supposed to provide greater free speech protection than the First Amendment.

Ms. Nada Higuera, our staff attorney who argued the case, said that “Judge Trask explains that because free speech is involved under the State Constitution, the Court must strictly scrutinize whether the legislation is lawful. After scrutinizing the law, the judge agreed with our analysis that the law is an unconstitutional violation of free speech.”

Freedom of expression on public issues should be protected at the highest level.  Therefore, this law should be analyzed using strict scrutiny. The ruling warned that the state’s “ability to impress free citizens into State service in this political dispute cannot be absolute; it must be limited.”

In her ruling, the judge explained that this state-compelled speech “is not merely the transmittal of neutral information.” She agreed with our attorneys that this is not just calorie counting or a health hazard warning on smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol. This issue - which is “contentious and raises issues that are religious, cultural, political and legal” - is about the more than four decades-long dispute over abortion.

          The Reproductive FACT Act compels the clinic to “speak words with which it profoundly disagrees” and “places too heavy a burden upon the liberty of free thought.”         

Given the language in the ruling, Tyler & Bursch’s General Counsel Robert Tyler is confident that “while this ruling is not the final judgment, this interim ruling foreshadows what will be the judge’s final decision. She makes her opinion known that the law is unconstitutional.”

   Our next hearing is set for July 21, 2017, where the court will give direction on how our case should proceed - whether the case will actually have a trial or whether it should be simply decided by briefing.

Concurrently, we also represent Livingwell Medical Clinic in federal court. This statute was previously upheld in that case as not violating the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution before a three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit. That case is pending a determination from the U.S. Supreme Court as to whether the High Court will take up our case. Our two-front strategy gives us the ability to win in either federal or state court.

Although it appears that victory is at hand in state court, we would not be able to do any of this without the generous financial support from friends like you. Won’t you please consider donating just $25, $100, $200 or more so we can continue fighting for religious liberties in the courts?

While Advocates for Faith & Freedom depends on our supporters for the funds to fight these important cases, we first and foremost thank you for your continued prayers.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and your donations! 

Constitutional Common Sense Wins Over Political Correctness

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” ~ Thomas Paine

In his 1776 pamphlet, “Common Sense,” Thomas Paine challenges the authority of government and argues for American independence. His thoughts are said to have influenced the U. S. Constitution.

241 years later, government is still being challenged and the U. S. Supreme Court has confirmed that the First Amendment rights of the Constitution have authority over political correctness.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had deemed an Asian-American rock band’s name, "The Slants," to be racially disparaging and denied them a trademark.

Challenging government’s authority, the Asian-American band sued on the grounds that the federal trademark law violated their free speech rights.

After a lengthy and costly court battle, on June 19, 2017, the Supreme Court sided with the rock band and in a unanimous decision the court ruled that the law banning offensive names is, in fact, unconstitutional.

Thus, ensuring the protections of Free Speech against the tyranny of those who want to prohibit any and all speech they determine to be offensive.

We are hopeful that this firm 8–0 Supreme Court decision will bring back common sense to the politically correct lunacy that has permeated our society, our schools, our politics, and even some of our churches.

Christian businesses, students, pastors and citizens owe these rock-stars a big “thank you” for their courage to stand up for our uniquely American right to freedom of speech, even if another person – or the government – says they disagree.

We at Advocates for Faith & Freedom are engaged in legal battles for the free speech rights and religious liberties of courageous Christians and churches every day. Your prayers are greatly appreciated and we are grateful for your necessary donations that allow us to continue this important ministry.

          "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."  ~  Thomas Paine                                                                                                               

Thank you for your faithful prayers and your donations! 

How "We" Can Effect Change in Culture & Law

June 14 was Flag Day, the day Americans honor the adoption of our national flag and the freedom the stars and stripes represent. Christians in America are truly blessed that we are free to worship and are not subject to the dangerous threats and atrocious persecution that far too many Christians around the world are facing.  As a beacon of hope to the rest of the world, it should be our biblical duty to maintain those freedoms. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Cor. 3:17

Yet, true religious liberty in America should provide us the freedom to live consistently with our beliefs every day, from our churches and into the public square. However, the modern progressive movement in our government has produced legislation that creates confusion between “free exercise of religion” and “freedom of worship.”  Adoption agencies, bakers, florists, and schools that maintain what Americans have always believed about human sexuality, marriage and gender, now find themselves in danger of being in conflict with the law.

So, what can our Church Leaders and we as Christians do?

1.  Thomas Jefferson wrote that a well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy. On a local and state level, Advocates for Faith & Freedom would like to begin providing updates, information and analysis from organizations like California Family Council on some of the literally hundreds of anti-traditional-family and anti-religion bills and laws that pass through our state legislature every year.

To give you an idea, SB1146 would restrict the religious liberty rights of colleges and universities by preventing them from receiving state funding if they perform actions that California laws deem discriminatory on the basis of religion.

2.  An additional resource for learning about our religious liberties on a national basis and then staying informed about their ongoing battle to protect those rights is The Heritage Foundation.

3. As you know, last month, Advocates for Faith & Freedom had the privilege of supporting and joining Church United and over 150 CA pastors in Washington DC. They learned about America’s exceptional godly heritage. Church United’s goal is to create a movement in California to encourage and support all church leaders who share a biblical world view to take bold and courageous action in their churches and their preaching.  Our state desperately needs a change in cultural morality that only a church revival can deliver!  You will hear more about this in this month’s newsletter.

4. In order to effect moral change in our culture the body of Christ must provide persuasive moral influence in the public arena and must also engage in personal evangelism. Training for churches through Culture Impact Teams provides simple instruction for in-house leadership to arouse a congregational response to the moral and social issues that impact your community, state and nation.  Wherever we can, Advocates for Faith & Freedom will partner with church leaders to help facilitate Cultural Impact Teams.

The onslaught of legal challenges from organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation have bullied many Christian government officials and church leaders into believing they have no choice but to remain silent or face lawsuits resulting in financial ruin.

5.  Some of you may already know about and are already supporting Advocates for Faith & Freedom while they defend a number of these cases in our California courts today. Through the courage of Pastor Scott Sharpen and Go Mobile for Life, we are challenging AB775 on the basis of religious discrimination. This California law requires that pro-life clinics post the location and phone number of County facilities where an abortion can be obtained.

          Advocates for Faith and Freedom is also raising the funds for Tyler & Bursch attorneys, who have been hired to appeal the judge’s recent ruling that the Chino Valley Unified School District can no longer honor their long-standing tradition of invocations before their school board meetings.

We are confident that we will be successful in these legal challenges and will keep you updated.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated, first and foremost. However, we are also in need your generous and ongoing financial support in order to continue the costly work of protecting our God-given religious liberties in the California courts.

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." - Abraham Lincoln   

Thank you for your faithful prayers and your donations!

Where Are Our Church Leaders?

500 Christian churches in London have closed; 427 new mosques have been built, and many on the sites of shuttered Christian churches. The Brick Lane Mosque was constructed on a former Methodist church that was built in 1743. It was a Methodist chapel from 1819 until 1898 when it became the Great Synagogue for Jewish refugees from Russia and central Europe. In 1976 it became the London Great Mosque.

St. Peter's Church has been converted into the Madina Mosque. The trustees received several other offers, but the bid from the Muslim community was chosen.

The former Hyatt United Church, bought by the Egyptian Community Centre will be converted to a mosque and school. The church’s Rev. Richard Golden surprisingly said this, "I am delighted it will remain as a place of worship. I believe we only have one God… some see it as the Prophet Mohammed and others as Jesus.”

Today, there are over 1,700 mosques throughout Britain and only 2 are said to follow the modernist interpretation of Islam.  And this conversion of faith does not only correlate to buildings. The number of converts to Islam has doubled and like Khalid Masood, the Westminster Bridge terrorist, some have become radicalized.

Just a few days after the Manchester Arena terrorist attack and Pope Francis’ trip to Egypt - where he lacked the moral courage to address Islamic extremism and offered only a banal criticism of every form of hatred in the name of “religion” – the Islamic assault continued in the name of Allah.

This time, it was a bus full of Christian pilgrims headed to a monastery in Minya, Egypt.  Before the massacre they were asked to renounce their faith, but all of them refused – even the children. One by one, they were shot to death.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has sounded an emotional warning about the wide-spread persecution and outright annihilation of Christians and Christianity that is currently underway in the Middle East. In the past 3 years in Syria and Iraq, in the name of Allah, we have seen the horrific mass murders of Christian minorities along with dozens, maybe hundreds of places of Christian worship that Islamic fundamentalists have demolished.

How many times do we have to acknowledge, as President Trump did, that the “merciless slaughter of Christians tears at our hearts and grieves our souls.”? How many of our children have to become “martyrs” as Pope Francis has declared?

Not only has the population of British Muslims grown – now at 2.7 million -  almost half are under the age of 25, while it is estimated that almost a quarter of Christian church-goers are close to eighty. It is estimated that in just 20 years, there will be more British Muslims than active Christians.

According to one of Britain's leading judges, their courts must also be multicultural and no longer influenced by Christianity. There are up to 100 Sharia courts in the UK.  In this parallel judicial system, these new courts are based on the denial of human rights, and the values ​​of equality and freedom that are the foundation of English Common Law.

Lebanese born and controversial defender of Christianity Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai has said, “I have often heard from Muslims that their goal is to conquer Europe with two weapons; their faith and their birthrate…  So when they come to Europe and see the empty churches and find the unbelief of Europeans, they immediately think they will fill that void.”

This trend is happening throughout Western Europe. Do centuries of Christian teachings and values face a certain and permanent decline or even extinction? Where are the church leaders? Where is their courage?

The Bible is absolute. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” But, so far, the majority of Christian leaders can do no more than speak to relativism.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom is boldly defending religious liberties in the courts. For an update on some of our cases, please visit our website below. Through your sustained prayers and generous donations of support, we can continue to protect and preserve America's Godly heritage.

Saving Lives, One Abortion Clinic at a Time

Thirteen years ago, four Christians sat themselves around a wooden table seeking God’s direction on how to stop the scourge of abortion around the globe, especially at their local Planned Parenthood clinic in College Station, Texas. That single hour of prayer birthed a campaign they called 40 Days for Life. To their surprise a grassroots, door-to-door effort emerged with more than 25,000 households reached, resulting in a 28 percent drop in the local abortion rate and the eventual closure of that abortion clinic. The effort gained national headlines and, three years later, the movement was expanded across the country and beyond. A decade later the results—including 13,305 babies saved—clearly have God’s handprint all over them:

• 4,876 total campaigns
• 715 cities, 44 countries
• 750,000 individual participants
• 19,000 churches
• 154 abortion workers (including abortion doctors) quit their jobs
• 86 abortion facilities closed

“It’s a reflection of the momentum that we see in the pro-life movement,” Shawn Carney, president and co-founder, said in a video posted on the ministry’s website “This is a very important time in history as we see Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion  provider, on the brink of being defunded. We see record numbers of abortion facilities closing their doors around the country and around the world, and we see hearts and minds being changed on the issue of abortion.”

Another testimony to the power of this life-affirming movement is its redemptive power.  According to Carney, 25 percent of the local campaign leaders are women who have had abortions and who can personally attest to the devastating consequences of terminating a pregnancy.

    “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”  Proverbs 31:8

Casey expects this fall’s 40 Days for Life to be the largest ever, and applications to lead local campaigns are now being accepted through June 23 by clicking here.

Is there an abortion clinic near you? Will you join other pro-life individuals in your area and be part of 40 Days for Life’s peaceful prayer campaign? Your efforts can help bring the beginning of the end of abortion!

And please support Advocates for Faith & Freedom as we defend the religious liberties of pro-life clinics like Go Mobile for Life by donating today.  Thank you for your generosity and prayers.

National Day of Prayer – America’s Godly Heritage Endures

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 4 is National Day of Prayer in America; a day on which the people of the United States may “turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” (Public Law 105-225) Please join Advocates for Faith & Freedom and millions of Americans across the nation as we celebrate our religious liberties by recognizing our National Day of Prayer.

The acknowledgment of our Creator has always been a cornerstone in America’s sustained religious history. The United States of America was founded upon a tradition of faith and now, more than 200 years later, we still rely on God’s essential guidance.

In 1776, General George Washington recorded in his Orderly Book, “…The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger.  The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man will endeavour to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.”

The Supreme Court affirmed our religious roots in 1892 by declaring, “…no purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation state or national, because this is a religious people.  This is historically true.  From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation…we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth….this is a Christian nation.”

Many Christians are unaware that they live in a nation in which a law requires our President proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year. In 1952, President Harry Truman, declaring that “the American people should spend one day a year praying or meditating on their faith,” signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer. The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972.

During George W. Bush’s presidency, the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer was unsuccessfully challenged in court by the ever persistent Freedom From Religion Foundation after their first attempt was unanimously dismissed by a federal appellate court in April 2011.

It has recently been reported that President Trump is ready to sign a controversial religious liberty executive order, on tomorrow’s National Day of Prayer.  The “Religious Freedom Order” seeks to provide exemptions for religious people and organizations who object to same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, contraception and trans-identity. As expected, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is already gearing up for a court battle.

In the face of this and other tremendous challenges, prayer is a mighty force for peace, justice, freedom, and a more hopeful future. Let us all solemnly pray with grateful hearts for our nation, for those who lead us, and for those who keep us safe.

Scripture tells us again and again that our earnest prayers are effective; that God responds in powerful ways. Daniel 9:19, says, “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Timothy 2:1-2

As Advocates for Faith & Freedom boldly stands in the gap for our nation, won’t you join us and millions of Americans throughout our country by attending a National Day of Prayer event in your city or at your church?  May God's blessings of peace and prosperity be on our faithful and grateful nation.

Is Abortion Losing Public Support?

We’ve found yet another issue in our favor that the secular, main stream media does not want report: many more people are now in favor of seeing Roe V. Wade overruled. Previous polls from organizations such as Gallup have shown that as much as 70 percent of the American public support keeping the Roe v. Wade ruling in place. However, a recent article by the Human Family Research Center reports that the results were different when the poll's wording provided more details.

Considering a small margin of error, when one polling company survey explained to people that if Roe v. Wade was repealed, abortion wouldn’t be wiped out, but simply return jurisdiction to the individual states, the poll results were nearly a 50/50 split to see it overruled.

After 44 years, Roe v. Wade remains one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions and when the facts about the law are more clearly defined, the American public is almost evenly divided. But, we still have more work to do.

Please help us continue the fight to protect the unborn through the courts in our state and country by praying with us.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

And, if you are able, please click here to send your tax-deductable donation. No donation is too small and your support is greatly appreciated!

President Trump Keeps Pro-Life Promise

In his first major pro-life action in office, on January 23, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order barring federal funds from organizations that promote abortion around the world, including the 100 million taxpayer-dollar recipient International Planned Parenthood Federation. Additionally, in the first successful strike against the nation’s largest abortion network, VP Mike Pence cast the deciding vote to allow states to strip federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood.

According to Congressman Sean Duffy, Planned Parenthood PACs donate millions to the abortion friendly Democrat Party. So it’s no surprise that during Obama’s remaining months in office, he announced a new regulation that required state and local governments to distribute federal Title X funding for services related to family planning, regardless of whether they also perform abortions. Fortunately, according to the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress and a new president can overturn rules issued in the waning days of a previous administration, which is exactly what the Trump administration did. We have many hopes for our country as our new president and his administration settle into office.  As we continue to pray, we will keep a watchful eye on their progress.

Daniel 2:21 “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”