Read this and other attacks on faith from Weekly Prayer Update 2/7-2/13
“First Liberty Institute announces they reached a settlement agreement between the State of Georgia and First Liberty’s client, Dr. Eric Walsh. The State of Georgia agreed to pay $225,000 to settle Dr. Walsh’s religious discrimination lawsuit.” Read more here.
National Prayer Points and Praise Reports
ADF: President Trump Can Make A Real Difference For Religious Freedom. Find Out What You Can Do To
“You’ve heard the stories. Faith-based foster-care and adoption agencies being forced to stop their ministry to children simply because they operate according to their religious beliefs about marriage. And the government forcing a religiously run home for the elderly and faith-based universities to violate their beliefs by providing abortion-inducing drugs in their insurance plans. But now there is an opportunity to ACT and MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE!
President Trump can sign a much-needed executive order that will protect the religious freedom of these organizations and their vital work. Exercise your free speech rights and encourage him to do just that.”
Undeniable: The Survey Of Hostility To Religion In America
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.
State Prayer Points and Praise Reports
Religious Liberty Legislation
Continue praying consistently and fervently for the successful passage of legislation that effectively protects our Judeo-Christian heritage and religious liberty.
CA: Supreme Wants To Hear More On Religious Counseling Case
“The U.S. Supreme Court may be closer to accepting review of a case with far-reaching implications for churches, religious counselors, and religious freedom.
This week, the Court directed the State of California to respond to a Petition for Certiorari filed by Pacific Justice Institute on behalf of Christian counselors. Each year, the Supreme Court grants review to about 1% of the thousands of petitions and other requests it receives for review. When the Court orders an opposing party to file a responsive brief, it does not necessarily mean the Court will ultimately take the case, but the odds increase significantly.”
CO: Anti-Faith Group Upset At Air Force Football Coach’s Tweets
“The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) had demanded that the Air Force sanction tight ends coach Steed Lobotzke for sharing Bible verses on his Twitter account. The group’s representative, Mikey Weinstein, called the tweets ‘Christian evangelizing via twitter’ which he claims ‘blatantly’ defies Air Force regulations, according to The Gazette.”
MI: Court Says City Can’t Leave Church Out In The Cold
“A federal court ruled Wednesday that the city of Lansing’s Housing Commission cannot bar a Michigan church from community meeting space available to other groups. An ADF-allied attorney represents the church in a lawsuit filed in 2015. The court issued a preliminary injunction against the city last year; the new court order makes that injunction permanent.”
“Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant argued forcefully in favor of the state’s law protecting Mississippians against government discrimination in a brief filed late Friday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. In the brief, Bryant and his attorney team, which includes attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom, answered arguments against the law levied by those who filed suit to leave citizens without its protections. Bryant filed his opening brief with the 5th Circuit in October of last year…The Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, HB 1523, protects citizens, public servants, businesses, and religious institutions from government reprisal for operating publicly according to their belief that marriage is reserved for one man and one woman, that sexual activity is intended only for married couples, and that one’s biological sex cannot change. Bryant signed the overwhelmingly popular bill into law in April 2016, but a federal district court granted a request to block it shortly thereafter.”
NC: Legislative Prayer
“The Fourth Circuit issued an order granting a rehearing en banc in Lund v. Rowan County. In September, a three-judge panel issued a decision upholding the county’s prayer practice, but plaintiffs filed a petition for rehearing, which was granted. The case is tentatively scheduled for oral argument during January 24-26. As amici, the brief filed on behalf of the Members of Congress will be refiled with the court at this stage.”
NM: Protecting Freedom Of Conscience For Doctors
“Legislators in 15 U.S. states are considering proposals to legalize assisted suicide, with a leading patients’ rights group flagging bills in New Mexico and Hawaii as particularly concerning.”
NM: Town Considers Appeal Of 10th Circuit Ruling Against 10 Commandments Monument
“The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit’s order Monday in Felix v. City of Bloomfield denying the city’s request to review a lower court’s decision to uproot a Ten Commandments monument from the lawn of City Hall…”
TN: Atheist Group Challenges Prayer For Injured Player
“A school district is under attack by atheists after an anti-Christian group filed a virulent complaint against a Tennessee school system because its staff bowed their heads while a youth pastor prayed for a seriously injured high school football player down on the field.”
National Prayer Opportunities
Congressional Prayer Caucus
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.
There are over 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 for them, their families, and staff daily.
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.
David’s Tent
Join people from across the nation for 24/7 Worship in Washington DC. They welcome worship teams from every tribe, tongue, nation, denomination, and all 50 U.S. states. Learn more here
Prayer for Religious Freedom Internationally
UN Committee Refuses To Accredit Religious Freedom Group
“Britain says it will seek to overturn a U.N. committee’s decision to deny accreditation to the organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide which promotes religious freedom in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.”
Prayer for The CPCF, Our Team, and Initiatives
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
American Prayer Caucus Network
In God We Trust. Put It Up!
PrayUSA: Government Leaders Calling The Nation To Prayer
Prayer for Others on the Religious Liberty Front
There are many organizations on the front lines that need our prayers.
Alliance Defending Freedom, ACLJ, Becket Fund, Liberty Counsel, Liberty Institute, Family Research Council, The Heritage Foundation, Chaplain Alliance For Religious Liberty and any others that come to mind.
Prayer for Those That Oppose Us
Freedom From Religion Foundation
ACLU
AHA
Secular Coalition for America
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
For more information about this prayer initiative, contact Summer Ingram, National Director of Prayer and Mobilization for the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation.
www.CPCFoundation.com