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Read this and other attacks on faith from Weekly Prayer Update 7/10-7/17
“So our freedom as citizens has always been inextricably linked with our religious freedom as a people. It has protected both the freedom to worship and the freedom not to believe as well… this Department of Justice will never allow this secular government of ours to demand that sincere religious beliefs be abandoned. We will not require American citizens to give intellectual assent to doctrines that are contrary to their religious beliefs. And they must be allowed to exercise those beliefs as the First Amendment guarantees.” Read more.
Congressman Scalise is back in out of ICU, but the doctors are still trying to manage the infection. Please continue to pray for a complete and quick recovery.
Lawyers Ask Supreme Court To Hear Second Freedom Of Conscience Case
“Less than one month after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would review the case of a Colorado baker who declined to make a cake for a gay couple’s wedding celebration because of his religious beliefs about marriage, lawyers asked the high court to combine it with a similar case involving a florist from Washington state, The Daily Signal has learned.”
For anyone who thinks religious discrimination is non-existent in America, the attorneys at First Liberty Institute have a different story. First Liberty announced the release of Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America (2016). It is available online here, free of charge.
Algeria: Jailed Christian Receives Partial Presidential Pardon
“A Christian imprisoned for three years for “insulting Islam and the prophet Muhammad” in his social media posts has received a partial presidential pardon.”
India: President Trump Encouraged To End Widespread Persecution
“A Kansas pastor has urged President Trump to hold the country of India accountable for the widespread persecution taking place there against Christians and other religious minorities.”
Religious Liberty Legislation
Continue praying consistently and fervently for the successful passage of legislation that effectively protects our Judeo-Christian heritage and religious liberty. Also, pray that bills and resolutions that undermine our First Amendment Rights will be unsuccessful.
AR: Movie Studio Donates Towards Ten Commandments
“The Ten Commandments monument that was knocked down less than 24 hours after it was erected on the grounds of the Arkansas state Capitol is going back up. Pure Flix — the Christian entertainment studio…has pledged $25,000 toward the cost of rebuilding it. The money will go to the American History and Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit behind the original stonework.”
FL: City Commissioners Not Planning To Stop Scripture Readings
“Commissioner Alcantara received a letter from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, claiming Bible-reading by a public official violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Alcantara tells OneNewsNow that’s a false statement.”
KY: Printer Asks High Court To Leave In Place Decision Affirming Expressive Freedom
“Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a Lexington printer asked the Kentucky Supreme Court Tuesday to leave in place an appeals court ruling that affirms his freedom to decline orders with messages that violate his religious beliefs.”
“A small-town farmer in St. Johns, Michigan, got creative in his fight against East Lansing city officials, who banned another farmer’s family from selling produce at the city’s farmers market because they refuse to host same-sex weddings on their farm. Watch the video to learn how one farmer, Kyle Barnhart, is countering officials who he claims are discriminating against farmers such as Steve and Bridget Tennes and their religious beliefs.”
NC: Appeals Court Rules Against Politician-led Prayer At Public Meetings
“The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday against a North Carolina county board of commissioners that opens its meetings with prayer and invites audience members to join in. The court declared the Rowan County commissioners’ practice ‘unconstitutionally coercive.’ ‘The prayer practice served to identify the government with Christianity and risked conveying to citizens of minority faiths a message of exclusion,’ Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote in the majority opinion joined by nine other judges. Five judges joined a dissenting opinion accusing the majority of attempting to purge prayer from government assemblies. A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit ruled in favor of the county, as long as the commissioners didn’t pressure audience members to participate. The plaintiffs, two non-Christian Rowan County residents, asked for a full, en banc hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled in favor of clergy-led public prayer at government meetings, but the Rowan County case raises the issue of prayer offered by public servants. Only the commissioners in Rowan County lead pre-meeting prayers. The county’s attorneys have not said whether they intend to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
NY: Court Rules In Support Of Ministerial Exemption
“A Catholic school gets to decide if its principal is Catholic enough, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week.The ruling upheld a lower-court finding that Joanne Fratello had no right to sue for discrimination when the Archdiocese of New York declined to renew her contract as principal of St. Anthony School in 2011. At issue was the ‘ministerial exception,’ which allows religious institutions to discriminate on the basis of religion — that is, to require those with religious-leadership roles to effectively advance the relevant faith.'”
Prayer for the Congressional Prayer Caucus, Their Families, and Staff
Congressional Prayer: Each week Congress is in session, members of Congressional Prayer Caucus meet before votes to pray in Room 219 of the U.S. Capitol. Learn more.
There are nearly 100 Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus, that is spearheading a strategic movement of national, state and local leaders and citizens who are working together to promote prayer, protect religious freedom and restore, upgrade and popularize America’s founding spirit and the principles related to faith and morality that shaped this Great Republic. Please commit to praying daily for them, their families, and staff.
Pray for our President and all Those in Authority
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Tim. 2, Psalm 91
Include: Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Military, Faith Leaders, First Responders, Etc.
PrayUSA – Government Leaders Calling The Nation to Prayer
In 2015, government leaders spearheaded an effort to call America back to God and prayer. Be part of the Movement — If you are a government leader, church or organization, you can add your name to the list of leaders who are committed to this Call to Prayer for America. Churches and Organizations can contact CPCF to be added to the list. Government Leaders will be automatically added when you sign the Proclamation (document or online). Sign the Proclamation or host a PrayUSA Sunday.
Join the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation Prayer Team!
Sign up here to join the CPCF Prayer Team! Upon joining you will receive insider prayer requests about once a month, and invitations to weekly prayer calls.
There are many organizations on the front lines that need our prayers.
Alliance Defending Freedom, ACLJ, Becket Law, Liberty Counsel, First Liberty, Family Research Council, The Heritage Foundation, Chaplain Alliance For Religious Liberty and any others that come to mind.
Freedom From Religion Foundation
ACLU
AHA
Secular Coalition for America
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. No funds are used for political or campaign activities.
