Pro-life lament greets California abortion law
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)—Pro-life advocates lamented California’s barrier-breaking enactment of a law requiring its public colleges and universities to provide non-surgical abortions to students. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Oct. 11 that mandates student health centers of the University of California and California State University systems offer what are known as medical or chemical abortions—reportedly making...
Oklahoma Baptist DR blesses Beaumont, Tex. after floods
BEAUMONT, Tex.—When Tropical Storm Imelda hit recently, during a period of two days that led to some 40 inches of rainfall in Southeast Texas, areas of the state experienced devastating flooding. Among the most impacted communities was Beaumont, Texas. Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) was asked to serve in the wake of flooding, according to Don Williams, state director of Oklahoma Baptist DR. “We were assigned to Calvary Baptist...
Court debates gay, transgender protections
WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court deliberated for two hours Tuesday, Oct. 8 on whether longstanding, non-discrimination federal workplace law provides protection based on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” and at least some justices appeared persuaded it does. The high court heard oral arguments in two consolidated cases addressing “sexual orientation,” followed by arguments in an...
Explainer: The NBA, China and Hong Kong
NASHVILLE (BP)—A tweet from an executive with the Houston Rockets has touched off an international controversy and brought attention to an ongoing dispute between Hong Kong and China. On Friday, Oct. 4, Daryl Morey, general manager of the Texas-based NBA franchise, posted an image on Twitter with the words: “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” In response, multiple Chinese organizations including the Chinese...
Religion in public schools focus of Pew study
WASHINGTON (BP)—As courts deliberate the legality of religious activity including prayer and Bible study in public schools, many teenagers participate in or witness religious activity on campus, according to the Pew Research Center. “While several previous surveys have examined the religious lives of teenagers,” Pew said in a press release, “this is the first large-scale, nationally representative survey asking teens...
Survivors share stories at ‘Caring Well’
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)—Survivors of sexual abuse shared their painful stories and urged churches to care for the survivors in their midst at a Southern Baptist-sponsored national conference Oct. 3-5. The survivors’ personal stories came during “Caring Well: Equipping the Church to Confront the Abuse Crisis,” a conference hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) in partnership with the SBC Sexual...
