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World Views

Reflection on Abortion

 

                                                                                                                                  

Was I conceived in love, lust or violence? No matter, I am here. I have been blessed by the creator and have been given the gift of life, made in the image of God. I rejoice in the Creator, for he knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb. He knows all the days of my life, and he loved me first. My inner voice and soul where created the instant I came into being.

I am content and I am growing every day. I move my arms, legs and I found my mouth, my thumb is a perfect fit for it! One morning, perfectly content , I sensed an alien presence. I am frightened. I was being poked and prodded, it hurt. All of a sudden a searing pain, made me scream in agony, but no one could hear me. I saw my leg being torn off, the pain was too much and I lost consciousness and then nothing. I felt my soul leave my body. Hovering above the room I saw my remains being tossed into the trash. I am safe now in Jesus's arms. There are many like me here, and we all ask the same question, WHY?

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart..." Isaiah (40:11)                                        

 

Posted by Art Flickinger

Supreme Court Upholds Texas Abortion Law

The Supreme Court did not act to block a Texas law which bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, essentially after the six week mark of a pregnancy. The law went into effect on September 1st.,Texas abortion providers where open until midnight August 31st., to squeeze in every abortion they could before the law went into effect. The court's nighttime order rejected an emergency request by abortion providers and advocates. Justice Alito, who oversees the district which includes Texas denied the stay. While not a final ruling on the constitutionality of the law, the court's action at least temporarily upholds a crafty attempt by Texas legislators to shield anti abortion legislation from court challenges. Ordinarily the way it works, abortion-rights advocates challenge these restrictions by suing the government officials in charge of enforcing the law, however Texas lawmakers shifted enforcement from the state to private parties. Under the law, private parties can file civil lawsuits against any person who allegedly performs an abortion or aids, or intends to do so after the six week limitation. A successful suit entitles the plaintiff to collect $ 10,000 in damages per abortion challenged. Abortion clinics and doctors can still challenge the constitutionality of the law if sued, but that could put them in financial jeopardy.

The political response to the ruling was predictable. President Biden issued the following statement, "This extreme Texas law blatantly violates the constitutional right established under Roe v. Wade and upheld as precedent for nearly half of a century." Biden, if you recall has recently supported the abolition of the Hyde Amendment, which denied federal funding for abortions, and has indicated he would support extended abortion rights up to and including the moment of birth. This is exactly like the state laws that currently exist in New York and Connecticut. 

Twenty four hours after the issuing the denial of the stay, the court issued a single majority opinion upholding the Texas law and four dissents. Chief Justice Roberts joined the 3 liberal justices' in the (5-4) opinion. What does this mean for abortion in America ? In my opinion it is one more baby step forward toward abolishing Roe, elections matter and precedents are only precedent until they are defeated.

Posted by Art Flickinger

The House Excludes the Hyde and Helms Amendments From Appropriation Bills and Biden Nominates A Lesbian Rabbi to Religious Freedom Commission.

 

                                                                                                       

We are reminded once again that elections have consequences. The House Appropriations Committee has succeeded in eliminating both the Hyde and Helms amendments from spending bills, by a partisan vote of 217-208. Not a single Democrat voted to retain either of them. When the bill goes into reconciliation, the Vice President can vote to break the tie. The Minority party can not use the filibuster which would take 60 votes to overturn. What does this mean for us as Christians? Simply stated, we will be funding through our tax dollars abortions here in the U.S. via Medicaid and also for abortions abroad. Hopefully there will be a Democrat or two that will break the tie in the Senate if everyone else votes along party lines. Pray for some Democrats to cross over and vote NO to this outrage. Speaker Pelosi has crowed about this in public stating her kudos of having five children in six years and being a devout Catholic which gives her the bona fides to weigh in. To her this is about equity in women's healthcare and it ensures that all women, regardless of income will have access to abort their children on the taxpayer dime. Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco has a different opinion of what constitutes a devout Catholic. "No Catholic in good conscience can favor abortion" and furthermore he said," Our land is soaked with the blood of the innocent, and it must stop." Joe Biden who supported the Hyde and Helms amendments for 45 years in the Senate did a flip flop on  the eve before his nomination in order to secure it, also claims to be a devout Catholic. 

President Biden nominated Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to the International Religious Freedom Commission. The Rabbi is married to Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Besides being a lesbian I wonder if the fact that she is married to the president of the AFT who was also in the mix to be nominated by Biden for the Secretary of Education, had anything to do with the rabbi's nomination? Biden also nominated two Muslims for religious freedom posts. Rashad Hussein is his nominee for ambassador-at-large for international freedom and Khizr Khan. Khan spoke at the 2016 Democratic Nomination about his son  an Army Captain who died in Iraq in 2004. You may remember that he accused Trump of never making a sacrifice for his country and for never reading the Constitution. Tony Perkins a Marine, former policeman, Christian Minister and President of the Family Research Council is still serving  on the Commission until 2022. Nominated by Mitch McConnell, he has been smeared by the left as a homophobe, transphobe, a white supremacist and the leader of a hate group. (that would be the Family Research Council) What kind of representation will these new nominees bring to the table for God fearing Americans? Plenty if you are  "devout" like Nancy and Joe. 

 

Posted by Art Flickinger

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