Podcast appearances and mentions of Christian Concern

It's Monday, June 23rd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Christian persecution pervades Christian-majority nations in Africa & Latin America Many Christians across Africa and Latin America continue to suffer for their faith because of Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, and criminal cartel organizations, reports International Christian Concern. Large populations in Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Nigeria are predominantly Christian. Yet, many Christ followers in these nations are often brutally attacked for following Christ, and their governments are failing to protect them.  In Congo, Christians represent 95% of the nation's population, yet they are being slaughtered at alarming rates. Much of the killing is being done by Islamist groups like ISIS-DRC, also known as the Allied Democratic Forces. Likewise, in Mozambique, 62% of the population is composed of Christians, yet Islamic extremists still target them for their faith. According to Open Doors, these extremists have “target[ed] Christian places of worship, abducted religious leaders, and killed numerous believers.”  And in Cuba, the Catholic Church estimates that 60% of the population practices Catholicism. Cuban churches that publicly oppose the government's human rights abuses are targeted by authorities for harassment and intimidation. British House of Commons passes dangerous bill legalizing assisted suicide Members of the British House of Commons voted Friday to pass a dangerous bill to legalize assisted suicide, reports LifeNews.com. In a vote of 314 to 291, Members of Parliament put their stamp of approval on the bill that will likely result in pressuring disabled and elderly people to kill themselves. Isaiah 59:7 says, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” Tim Dieppe, Head of Policy at Christian Concern, was outraged. DIEPPE: “Once you legalize assisted suicide, you will put pressure on vulnerable people. Vulnerable people will feel like they're a burden to others. People will be suggesting assisted suicide. Doctors could suggest it. I mean, that's horrific. You know, my wife died of cancer three years ago. I can't imagine what it would be like if her consultant had suggested suicide.” Labour legislator Diane Abbott said she's concerned that for-profit companies will run assisted dying businesses that take advantage of killing people for money. Members of Parliament had only 10 hours to consider over 130 amendments to the bill, or less than 5 minutes per change. America bombed Iran's nuclear facilities On Saturday, the U.S. military bombed three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to decapitate the country's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict, reports the Associated Press. TRUMP: “A short time ago, the US military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.'” The decision to directly involve the U.S. in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that aimed to systematically eradicate the country's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. TRUMP: “I want to thank and congratulate [Israeli] Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.” (Learn more about the timeline that led up to America's bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.) Iran threatens to block Strait of Hormuz, blocking 20% of oil shipments In response, Iran is reportedly saying it will block the Strait of Hormuz and stop oil shipments for what amounts to 20% of the world's daily oil flow and up to $1 billion, which will send oil prices soaring globally, reports NewsMax. Needless to say, Iran has no legal authority to block traffic through Hormuz, and blockage would mean direct combat with U.S. naval assets, including the U.S. Fifth Fleet warships patrolling the region. Dear Lord, We pray for peace. Amen. The 30,000-pound bunker bomb that made the difference In a post on TruthSocial, Trump said, “There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” Indeed, America's 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground. Appearing on ABC News, Retired Lt. General Doug Lute explained. LUTE: “The original purpose of building this bomb was actually concern about the North Korean deeply buried nuclear related sites. So, this didn't originally have anything to do with Iran. But most recently, it's the only bomb in our inventory, or frankly, in the global inventory, that promises some prospect of actually penetrating the mountainside in which the crown jewel of the Iranian nuclear program, the Fordow site, is located. So, this is our best technological advantage in terms of trying to get to that site.” 90% of Trump Republicans say “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon” Appearing on Fox News Channel with Dana Perino, Chris Stirewalt summarized Trump's mindset about Iran. STIREWALT: “I think that Donald Trump has never wavered from the ultimate objective, which is that the Iranian nuclear program has to end. It has to be dismantled. It has to be destroyed. The only question has been whether it's done militarily or whether it's done voluntarily. “He gave them a 60-day deadline. They let the deadline pass, and so Israel began bombing on Day 61 and now he is basically holding out. ‘This is your last chance. The time for negotiation is over. There's not going to be any kind of deal.' “This is a question of whether Iran cries ‘amo,' which is Persian for ‘uncle,' and allows U.S. to come in and blow up Fordow from the inside, or we do it from without, from the skies above, with B2 bombers. But I think there is zero chance that the Fordow nuclear facility survives this encounter.” Stirewalt asserted that the Make America Great Again crowd is supportive of Trump's decision to bomb Iran. STIREWALT: “The idea that there's a schism in the Republican Party, or that the Trump Coalition is breaking up is completely absurd. The Reagan Institute is coming out with a new poll this weekend. 90% of self-described [Make America Great Again] Republicans say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. 80% say that Israel's security is vital to our security. 64% support Israel bombing the nuclear facilities. There is absolutely no daylight between Donald Trump and the  [Make America Great Again] movement. The MAGA movement is absolutely behind Donald Trump in getting rid of this nuclear program.” On Truth Social, President Trump posted, “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.” He concluded, “This is an historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world. Iran must now agree to end this war.” Texas answers  “What is a Woman?” in state law Last Friday, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the “What is a Woman Bill” also known as House Bill 229, reports Texas Values. Now, in Texas, men can no longer pretend to be women. The law accurately defines the terms “man”, “woman”, “boy”, and “girl” by scientific definitions and biological reality. The effect would be that biological  women will have their rights, opportunities, and privacy protected by law. Genesis 1:27 states,  “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” While Texas already has laws protecting women's sports, there have been many other threats to women's prisons, sororities, and private spaces like locker rooms.  Hockey player gives glory to God after winning Stanley Cup The Russian-born goaltender of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, Sergei Bobrovsky, gave glory to God upon his victory after his team won the famed Stanley Cup, the championship trophy in the NHL, for the second year in a row, reports LifeSiteNews.com. REPORTER: “What makes this one special?” BOBROVSKY: “I mean, it's amazing feeling, and I want to say glory to the father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. I want to thank him for everything I have, for my parents, for my family.” Worldview listener in California is grateful the whole family can listen I invited Worldview listeners to share what they enjoy about the newscast in 2-6 sentences by email.  You can share your thoughts — along with your full name, city and state — and send it to adam@TheWorldview.com Carri Andry in Morgan Hill, California wrote, “Hi Adam! My family really appreciates The Worldview in 5 Minutes. We discovered you through Kevin Swanson‘s Generations radio program and have enjoyed listening to what is going on in the world from an informative, Christian point of view. We're grateful for a newscast that the whole family can listen to. Keep up the great work!” 38 Worldview listeners gave $ 14,243.25 to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our $92,625 goal by this past weekend  to fund three-quarters of The Worldview newscast's annual budget for our 6-member team, 38 listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Felix, age 10, in Sexsmith, Alberta, Canada, who gave $2.25, Michelle in Lexington Park, Maryland who gave $20, Augustine in Auburn, California who gave $25, Cara in Mebane, North Carolina who gave $30, Ben in Eureka, California who gave $35, and Steve in Loveland, Colorado and Nathan in Cobleskill, New York – both of whom gave $50. We appreciate Kevin in North Bend, Oregon, James in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, Josiah in Tigard, Oregon, Trevor in Nikiski, Alaska, and David in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey – each of whom gave $100. We're grateful to God for Josie, age 16, in Sexsmith, Alberta, Canada who gave $146, Ursula in Great Falls, Montana who gave $150, Lorraine in Farmington, Maine and Joel and Heidi in Columbus, Nebraska – both of whom gave $200 as well as Kevin and Rachelle in Columbus, Nebraska who gave  $225 and Wade and Susan in Suffolk, Virginia who pledged $20/month for 12 months for a gift of $240. We appreciate the generosity of Todd in Davenport, Iowa and Joanne in Vasteras, Sweden – both of whom gave $250 as well as Sarah in Madera, California who gave $300, and Cathy in Fate, Texas, James in St Johns, Florida, and Stephen in Plainview, Texas – each of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of  $300 each. We were touched by the gifts of Nicki in Carthage, Missouri who pledged $35/month for 12 months for a gift of $420, Zephaniah in Lomax, Illinois and Jennifer in Abingdon, Virginia – both of whom gave $500, Heather in Brenham, Texas, John in DeMotte, Indiana, Tim in Huffman, Texas, Louise in Middletown, Delaware, Charles in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Jennifer in West Milford, New Jersey – each of whom pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600 each. And we're grateful for the sacrifice of Todd and Kim in Monument, Colorado who gave $650, Mary in  Midlothian, Virginia who gave $1,200, Jill in Hendersonville, Tennessee who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200 as well, and Scooter in Naples, Florida who will give $2,000. Those 38 Worldview listeners gave a total of $14,243.25 Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please.  (Drum roll sound effect) $62,573.25 (People clapping and cheering sound effect)  That is the most donors and the largest amount given thus far this entire month. Wow!  We are amazed at God's goodness. Even 10-year-old Felix in Canada gave $2.25 of his own money.  That's awesome! Toward this past weekend's goal of $92,625, we missed it by $30,051.75. Would you be one of 13 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200?  And another 25 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right.  Click on the recurring tab if you want to make it a monthly pledge. We're on the downhill slide to June 30th at which point we need to have raised $123,500 to fully fund our 6-member Worldview newscast team. What is the Lord asking you to do?  Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, June 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2025.  Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Recorded on 1 May 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Tim DieppeThe influence of Islam in the UK is growing rapidly and can be seen in politics, in finance, in fashion, in food, in restrictions on freedom of expression, and in many other areas. Islam is bold and assertive and openly pushing for greater influence across the nation. There can be no doubt that this poses a challenge to Christians in the UK. How will we respond? In this talk, Tim Dieppe will provide an overview of Islam's influence on British culture and how the church can respond.Tim Dieppe is Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, with a specialist interest in Islam. He regularly writes and comments in the media on Islamic affairs and is passionate about encouraging Christians to respond with confidence to the growing influence of Islam in the UK. Tim holds a degree from Oxford University, and an MA in theology from Westminster Theological Centre. He is the author of The Challenge of Islam: Understanding and Responding to Islam's Increasing Influence in the UK, (Wilberforce Publications, 2025).⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

All through Hebrews we have been hearing about the wonderful truths of the gospel - Christ the mediator of a new covenant, and so on. But the final chapter moves on to focus us on what difference these truths should make to our lives — especially on loving one another and honouring our leaders.The organisations I mentioned were Open Doors and Christian Concern.You can read more about my book, Confused by Grace (including about where to buy it), on the Understand the Bible website.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Richard Harris sits down with Andrea Williams, founder of Christian Concern, to discuss how the woke agenda harms individuals and fuels a culture of punishment. They expose the growing efforts to silence the Church, restrict free speech, and intimidate believers, emphasizing the need to stand firm in biblical truth without fear.   Join us in person at the Truth & Liberty Banquet, May 2nd:  https://www.truthandliberty.net/award  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.truthandliberty.net/subscribe   Get "Hope For The Future" here: https://info.truthandliberty.net/hope   Donate here: https://www.truthandliberty.net/donate   Original Air Date 04-16-25

Giles Fraser meets the Revd Canon Fr Phil Harris, of the Anglican Church in North America, to discuss defending Britain's Christian heritage.Christianity has been deployed as a tool by those who have been labelled as far-right by their opponents, or by people supporting far-right views. Is right-wing appropriation of the faith a problem that needs solving and what issues does this claim to Christianity pose? To explore Giles is joined by:Dr Maria Power, Senior Research Fellow in Human Dignity at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford and a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, and Co editor of The Church, the Far Right, and the Claim to Christianity.Dr. John Onwuchekwa, Sr. Director of Innovation at Redeemer City to City and former pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Atlanta which was part of the Southern Baptist Convention. Andrea Minichiello, Chief Executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre.Beyond Belief is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4.

Tim Dieppe, the head of public policy at Christian Concern, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 97th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, to discuss his new book, The Challenge of Islam. This book discusses the increasing influence of Islam in the UK and how non-Muslims might respond. Chapters include: “Is Islam a Religion of Peace?”, “Is Islam Antisemitic?”, “What's wrong with Multiculturalism?”, and “What's wrong with Islamic Finance?” The book concludes with some policy proposals that would make a difference. In their conversation, Mr Dieppe and Dr Ashenden also confront the theological question of whether Allah is the same as the God of the Bible.

In the UK today, an increasing number of our colleagues and neighbours come from Muslim backgrounds. Although there are issues arising from the clash of Islamic theology and Western values, how can we interact constructively and lovingly with Muslims we meet? Today on PEP Talk we look at the challenge of Islam and the opportunities for sharing the gospel with those who follow it.Tim Dieppe is Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern with a specialist interest in Islam. He regularly writes and comments in the media on Islamic affairs and is passionate about encouraging Christians to respond with confidence to the growing influence of Islam in the UK. Tim holds a degree from Oxford University and an MA in theology from Westminster Theological Centre. He co-authored Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends with Beth Peltola. He is also the author of The Challenge of Islam published this year by Wilberforce Publications, which seeks to equip and inform Christians how best to respond to the rise of Islam in Britain.

Christian ConcernText: Ephesians 6:21-24. (Cf Colossians 4:7-9)Here we have Paul's final words, in his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, as he brings his epistle to a close and in closing he brings them a word of consolation, a word of commendation, and a word of blessing. It is an expression of Christian fellowship and love.This sermon was recorded live at Ballymacashon, - please excuse the sound quality.Read the NOTES HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFzTop headlines for Tuesday, March 4, 2025In this episode, a judge has halted two executive orders by former President Donald Trump that sought to ban federal funding for trans surgeries and chemical castrations in young people, setting a significant legal precedent. Meanwhile, a new law in Wyoming offers protections to educators and state officials, exempting them from mandatory use of trans-identified pronouns, sparking debates on freedom of speech and identity rights. We also explore Idaho's bold move towards educational reform with Governor Brad Little's signing of a $50 million school choice program, aimed at expanding educational opportunities by covering tuition and various education-related expenses. Subscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsJudge blocks Trump ban on funding trans surgeries on kids | PoliticsMiddle school teacher arrested for child porn possession | U.S.Wyoming protects teachers from having to use preferred pronouns | PoliticsIdaho passes $50M school choice program to give families options | EducationMike Pence stokes backlash for calling Pope Francis 'Holy Father' | PoliticsSuicide law: Christian Concern launches Lent prayer campaign | WorldBrooklyn Tabernacle Choir releases album ‘I Will Not Be Moved' | Entertainment

"You must look at what the words actually mean, not how the reader may illegitimately receive it. "Now it falls on the employer to show that she wrecked their reputation. It falls on the employer to show that what she was doing was manifestly wrong. And that's a much better standard." Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, spoke with Trevor Phillips on Times Radio about Kristie Higgs' win at the Court of Appeal and what it means for Christian freedoms. Read more about Kristie's case: https://christianconcern.com/news/kristie-higgs-wins-as-court-of-appeal-rules-dismissal-for-free-speech-is-illegal/

Steve Beegoo, Head of Education at Christian Concern, was on Premier Christian Radio offering advice to parents on how to love and guide their children if they are being bullied in school. He shares about how parents can respond in a godly way if their children have been found to be bullying others, and how important it is for parents and children to share a heartfelt connection. Have a look at our new education website where you can find resources and updates: https://education.christianconcern.com/

Christian persecution is growing globally, and the biggest reasons are radical Islam, Communist regimes, and Secular forces in the West. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Jeff King, President of the watchdog non-profit International Christian Concern, delves into its most recent Global Persecution Index. One of the most dangerous places to be a Christian is Nigeria, where in the last 20 years nearly 100,000 Christians were murdered and about 3.5 million Christian farmers have had their land stolen by the extremist Muslim group Boko Haram. King says, "It's slow-motion genocide and stealth Jihad."  While in Communist China, face-recognition AI technology monitors more than a billion people for the purpose of assigning a social credit score determining where they can work or go to school. And going to Church or reading a Bible assigns a much lower score. But in the West persecution is happening as well where the legal system has been weaponized to malign or marginalize certain believers. In one state, conservative Christians weren't allowed on a jury because of their religious views. King says he has hope that the incoming Trump administration will turn the tide and strengthen religious freedom around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Dieppe, head of public policy at Christian Concern, was on Premier Christian Radio speaking about Gozen Soydag, a social media influencer and education behavioural specialist whose case will be heard at an employment tribunal this week. Gozen's social media accounts, which champion Biblical marriage and purity, were censored by St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls before she was sacked on her birthday and ordered to leave the school premises without pay. Read more about it: https://christianconcern.com/news/school-pastoral-manager-sacked-for-marriage-beliefs/

We are joined by lawyer, Clare Wills-Harrison (Telegram channel - https://t.me/lawyersoflight)(Substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/clarewillsharrison/p/the-levelling-up-and-regeneration?r=18q3db&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true) to discuss the forthcoming private member's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which will have its second reading on Friday 29th November. These bills seek to enable terminally ill adults to get help from doctors to kill themselves – known as assisted dying or assisted suicide. Iain MacArthur put forward a similar Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament in March, which is currently being examined by the "lead committee".Clare discusses the bill with our CEO, Dr Liz Evans, and the conversation delves a little deeper into the reality of the situation as opposed to the romantic vision of a pain-free passing assisted by a Doctor with specialist skills.The UK Medical Freedom Alliance have just launched a new campaign to oppose bills going through both Westminster and Holyrood. We understand that this is a highly emotive issue and respect those with deeply held views in support of Assisted Dying, often in the context of a personal experience of suffering for themselves or loved ones. However, having considered all the complex ethical and practical issues, the UK Medical Freedom Alliance will oppose any change in the law that would allow Assisted Dying or Euthanasia for the following reasons:These bills pose a very serious threat to the sanctity and dignity of every human life and to medical ethics which requires a doctor to “First do no Harm”.Doctor-assisted dying denies the intrinsic value of human life and normalises death as a valid treatment for suffering.It is impossible to build in “safeguards” to prevent a slippery slope. Eligibility criteria will inevitably widen under legal challenges under equality laws.Real world experience of Assisted Dying and Euthanasia legislation in Canada, Netherlands, Oregan and Belgium is horrifying.Legislating for the choice to die will lead to vulnerable people feeling a duty to die.Disability rights campaigners are some of the most vocal opponents of Assisted Dying.The incentive to improve and provide good palliative care for all would be gone.Most Palliative Care doctors are strongly opposed to assisted dying and instead want resources to be put into increased access and funding for high quality palliative care and hospices so that no one needs to die in pain.It is a myth that assisted dying is necessary to prevent a painful death.With the current broken NHS and social care system, introducing assisted dying would not be safe for the public – coercion and abuse would be a real and significant risk, especially for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.CALLS TO ACTIONWe are asking people to lobby their MPs to vote against the Leadbeater Bill, before the 29th November, when it has its second reading and vote.Links to “Calls to Action” and helpful resources from many other campaign groups are below in the titles, and is also on our campaign page.PROTEST - 29th November 9am-12pm outside Parliament. Organised by Christian Concern.EMAIL YOUR MP – using this Template Email on Right to Life websiteHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS – Sign Our Duty of Care Open Letter to PMONLINE DEBATE – Together Declaration “Assisted Dying Bill: The Big Debate” Wednesday 20 November 7pmPETITION – against Scottish Assisted Dying Bill at Care Not Killing website.It is VITAL that ordinary people make their voices heard before the November 29th deadline.Please follow us and subscribe on our YouTube and Rumble channels and please share our content on social media and with friends and family, to help us get the message out and increa

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen sit down with Christian Concern's and Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to talk about the British effect on the foundations of constitutional freedoms the world over. Episode Resources: Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/; Tim's Website: https://dieppe.co.uk/. Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government; CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro00:20 Opening00:41 Welcome01:52 Magna Carta & British Constitutionalism09:52 From Whence Do Our Liberties Come?18:15 Freedom vs. Rights 20:24 The Coronation Oath & the Obvious Christian Foundation of Great Britain25:10 Recovering a Christian Covenantal Foundation for Civil Authority in Britain and the West30:30 The Ghost of Our Christian Past34:10 The Prophetic Role of the Church in Politics & Culture37:41 Principle vs. Pragmatism in Politics41:30 Brexit: British Sovereignty & the European Union45:11 Criticism of English Constitutional Arrangements51:08 Faith is Essential for Freedom52:28 Who is Truly Sovereign?55:21 One Final Criticism: What's with the House of Lords?01:00:35 Wrap-up01:02:30 Upcoming Events01:04:07 Joe's Unabashed British Patriotism01:05:34 Conclusion01:05:59 Outro01:06:37 Rule Britannia! UPCOMING CONFERENCES:Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549; The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306. REFORMCON '25 | "Out of the Ashes" | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/ The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition; Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/; For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen sit down with Christian Concern's and Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe  to talk about the British effect on the foundations of constitutional freedoms the world over.  

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen sit down with Christian Concern's and Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to talk about the British effect on the foundations of constitutional freedoms the world over. Episode Resources: Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/; Tim's Website: https://dieppe.co.uk/. Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government; CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro00:20 Opening00:41 Welcome01:52 Magna Carta & British Constitutionalism09:52 From Whence Do Our Liberties Come?18:15 Freedom vs. Rights 20:24 The Coronation Oath & the Obvious Christian Foundation of Great Britain25:10 Recovering a Christian Covenantal Foundation for Civil Authority in Britain and the West30:30 The Ghost of Our Christian Past34:10 The Prophetic Role of the Church in Politics & Culture37:41 Principle vs. Pragmatism in Politics41:30 Brexit: British Sovereignty & the European Union45:11 Criticism of English Constitutional Arrangements51:08 Faith is Essential for Freedom52:28 Who is Truly Sovereign?55:21 One Final Criticism: What's with the House of Lords?01:00:35 Wrap-up01:02:30 Upcoming Events01:04:07 Joe's Unabashed British Patriotism01:05:34 Conclusion01:05:59 Outro01:06:37 Rule Britannia! UPCOMING CONFERENCES:Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549; The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306. REFORMCON '25 | "Out of the Ashes" | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/ The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition; Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/; For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen sit down with Christian Concern's and Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to talk about the British effect on the foundations of constitutional freedoms the world over. Episode Resources: Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/; Tim's Website: https://dieppe.co.uk/. Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government; CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro00:20 Opening00:41 Welcome01:52 Magna Carta & British Constitutionalism09:52 From Whence Do Our Liberties Come?18:15 Freedom vs. Rights 20:24 The Coronation Oath & the Obvious Christian Foundation of Great Britain25:10 Recovering a Christian Covenantal Foundation for Civil Authority in Britain and the West30:30 The Ghost of Our Christian Past34:10 The Prophetic Role of the Church in Politics & Culture37:41 Principle vs. Pragmatism in Politics41:30 Brexit: British Sovereignty & the European Union45:11 Criticism of English Constitutional Arrangements51:08 Faith is Essential for Freedom52:28 Who is Truly Sovereign?55:21 One Final Criticism: What's with the House of Lords?01:00:35 Wrap-up01:02:30 Upcoming Events01:04:07 Joe's Unabashed British Patriotism01:05:34 Conclusion01:05:59 Outro01:06:37 Rule Britannia! UPCOMING CONFERENCES:Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549; The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306. REFORMCON '25 | "Out of the Ashes" | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/ The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition; Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/; For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Church of England school chaplain Bernard gave a coherent, reasoned and measured sermon to the student body one day, giving them permission to disagree respectfully and lovingly with the recent Queer Theory they had been presented with. Five years later, having been removed from his post, and despite four secular safeguarding rulings vindicating him, the Church of England still considers him a safeguarding risk to children. His treatment has been mystifying and outrageous, but he remains gracious, steadfast and firm in the faith. You will repeatedly shake your head in disbelief, frustration and anger as you listen to his story, but I think it's an important one to engage with.Read the actual sermon which led to Randall's persecution: christianconcern.com/resource/a-school-sermon-by-bernard-randall-competing-ideologies/At the time of recording, the Bishop and/or Diocese of Derby had not responded, as I said in the interview. Subsequently I did receive a ‘No comment' from their offices.Do write to encourage Randall through us and we'll pass it on hello[@]greatlakesoutreach.org Do check out and support Christian Concern https://christianconcern.com and the Christian Legal Centre https://christianconcern.com/about/services/christian-legal-centre/---Support our work in Burundi: greatlakesoutreach.org/inspired ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Weekly episode WhatsApp link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/whatsappWeekly email notification: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/inspiredemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more from Simon, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠simonguillebaud.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Produced by Great Lakes Outreach - Transforming Burundi & Beyond: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre speaks to Martin Stanford live on LBC outside the Court of Appeal as Kristie Higgs prepares to enter for a precedent-setting challenge for the expression of Christian belief and free speech at large. The Court will determine whether it is lawful for an employer to punish employees for private social media posts expressing beliefs on religious, political and moral issues. The case will have significant ramifications for Christian freedom in the workplace and the freedom of any employee to express biblical principles on sexuality, marriage and family, without the fear of losing their livelihoods. The hearing is the culmination of a five-year legal battle. Find out more: https://christianconcern.com/comment/kristie-higgs-why-her-case-matters-for-christian-freedoms/ Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre have supported Kristie's case for five years. We need your help to keep supporting Kristie and other Christians like her. Could you help by making a donation today? https://mailchi.mp/christianconcern/stand-with-kristie-for-freedom

Guest: Jeff KingMinistry: International Christian ConcernPosition: PresidentBook: The Whisper: Lessons of Renewal Whispered from the Prisons of the PersecutedTopic: an explanation of the work of ICC and instances of Christian persecution making inroads in the U.S.Website: persecution.org 

Guest: Jeff KingMinistry: International Christian ConcernPosition: PresidentBook: The Whisper: Lessons of Renewal Whispered from the Prisons of the PersecutedTopic: an explanation of the work of ICC and instances of Christian persecution making inroads in the U.S.Website: persecution.org 

Continuing our series Conversations & Presuppositions, Drs. Boot and Thiessen are joined this week by Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to discuss the steady Islamization of the West.Episode Resources: Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends by Tim Dieppe: https://amzn.to/3Kc6Uig"Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" by Tim Dieppe | Christian Concern:https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/;"What’s wrong with Islamic finance?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/;"Is Islam Antisemitic?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-antisemitic/;"The Challenge of Islam in the UK"| Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/the-challenge-of-islam-in-the-uk/ Chapters:0:00 Cultural Leadership Academy AD1:17 Podcast Opening1:40 Intro & Show Set-up4:20 Ezra Events7:00 Topic Introduction & Palestinian Protest Footage10:03 What is Islam?14:00 Relationship of Islam & Sharia Law16:20 The Islamization of the West23:22 Islamic Finance & Sharia Entryism27:54 Jihad35:30 The Elitist's False View of Islam, the Weaponization of Multiculturalism & a How Radical Two Kingdoms View Helps the Destruction of the West40:45 Islam, Progressivism, and the Massive Rise of Antisemitism in the West50:28 What Can Christians Do About It?54:11 Outro56:55 Closing Credits For Ezra's many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute:https://www.ezrainstitute.com.Subscribe to Ezra's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Continuing our series Conversations & Presuppositions, Drs. Boot and Thiessen are joined this week by Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to discuss the steady Islamization of the West.Episode Resources: Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends by Tim Dieppe: https://amzn.to/3Kc6Uig"Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" by Tim Dieppe | Christian Concern:https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/;"What’s wrong with Islamic finance?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/;"Is Islam Antisemitic?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-antisemitic/;"The Challenge of Islam in the UK"| Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/the-challenge-of-islam-in-the-uk/ Chapters:0:00 Cultural Leadership Academy AD1:17 Podcast Opening1:40 Intro & Show Set-up4:20 Ezra Events7:00 Topic Introduction & Palestinian Protest Footage10:03 What is Islam?14:00 Relationship of Islam & Sharia Law16:20 The Islamization of the West23:22 Islamic Finance & Sharia Entryism27:54 Jihad35:30 The Elitist's False View of Islam, the Weaponization of Multiculturalism & a How Radical Two Kingdoms View Helps the Destruction of the West40:45 Islam, Progressivism, and the Massive Rise of Antisemitism in the West50:28 What Can Christians Do About It?54:11 Outro56:55 Closing Credits For Ezra's many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute:https://www.ezrainstitute.com.Subscribe to Ezra's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Continuing our series Conversations & Presuppositions, Drs. Boot and Thiessen are joined this week by Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to discuss the steady Islamization of the West.Episode Resources: Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends by Tim Dieppe: https://amzn.to/3Kc6Uig"Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" by Tim Dieppe | Christian Concern:https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/;"What’s wrong with Islamic finance?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/;"Is Islam Antisemitic?" | Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-antisemitic/;"The Challenge of Islam in the UK"| Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/resource/the-challenge-of-islam-in-the-uk/ Chapters:0:00 Cultural Leadership Academy AD1:17 Podcast Opening1:40 Intro & Show Set-up4:20 Ezra Events7:00 Topic Introduction & Palestinian Protest Footage10:03 What is Islam?14:00 Relationship of Islam & Sharia Law16:20 The Islamization of the West23:22 Islamic Finance & Sharia Entryism27:54 Jihad35:30 The Elitist's False View of Islam, the Weaponization of Multiculturalism & a How Radical Two Kingdoms View Helps the Destruction of the West40:45 Islam, Progressivism, and the Massive Rise of Antisemitism in the West50:28 What Can Christians Do About It?54:11 Outro56:55 Closing Credits For Ezra's many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute:https://www.ezrainstitute.com.Subscribe to Ezra's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.

Firebrand barrister Andrea couldn't just implement flawed laws, she had to challenge the whole system. Not for the faint-hearted, her courageous stands led to her starting Christian Concern, to fight for victims of injustice and help equip people to be effective ambassadors for Christ in today's antagonistic culture. Listen here: Check out www.christianconcern.com --- Support our computer Appeal: ⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/computers⁠⁠⁠ Check out Bike for Burundi at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/bike⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/inspired⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--- Weekly episode WhatsApp link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/whatsapp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Weekly email notification: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/inspiredemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more from Simon, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠simonguillebaud.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Produced by Great Lakes Outreach - Transforming Burundi & Beyond: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jeff King's life and career led him to an unexpected ministry - serving the world's persecuted for Christ and drawing attention to their plight through ICC-International Christian Concern. He has written a new devotional titled "WHISPER: LESSONS OF RENEWAL WHISPERED FROM THE PRISONS OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH." Also in this episode, a visit with NRB President Troy Miller and their pro-life stand.

Show notes and Transcript Lois McLatchie Miller is the senior legal communications officer for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK and is a regular media commentator.  She joins us to discuss the work of ADF who's tagline, “Protecting everyone's right to live & speak the Truth in the UK”, is needed more than ever.  Are Christian freedoms really under threat in the UK?  Lois discusses a number of issues which are off limits legally. Speaking up for the rights of the unborn. SIlent prayer on a public footpath. Common sense factual statements on gender and sexuality. Asking people if they want to talk about the sanctity of life. Criminalising thoughts that are the wrong emotion. So many views and actions have been attacked by this so called conservative government. And where is the church amidst this woke wave of censorship? Lois McLatchie serves as a senior legal communications officer for ADF UK . She works with journalists and press representatives to advocate for fundamental freedoms in the “court of public opinion”, both in written pieces and through public speaking. Before beginning her current role, Lois was a legal analyst on ADF International's UN Advocacy Team at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. There, she provided Member State representatives with key legal resources and amendatory language which promotes the inherent value of every person. She is an alumnus of ADF International's Veritas Scholarship, under which she she completed training on on international law, communications and argumentation. Lois also holds an LLM Human Rights Law with distinction from the University of Kent, and an MA (Hons) International Relations from the University of St Andrews. During her studies, she participated in Areté Academy and Blackstone Legal Fellowship, where she completed extensive research on bioethical issues, including surrogacy. Connect with Lois and ADF UK... X                      x.com/LoisMcLatch                          x.com/ADF_UK SUBSTACK      tradical.substack.com WEBSITE          adfinternational.org Interview recorded 5.4.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... WEBSITE            heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS        heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA  heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP                  heartsofoak.org/shop/ *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art https://theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com/ and follow him on X https://twitter.com/TheBoschFawstin?s=20  Transcript (Hearts of Oak) I'm delighted to be joined today by Lois McLatchie-Miller. Lois, thank you so much for your time today. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Great to have you on and followed you on Twitter, on your many, many different media outlets in the UK, GB News and Talk TV, Talk Radio. People can follow you. There is your Twitter handle and all the links are in the description. You're the Senior Legal Communications Officer for ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom. I followed ADF for many, many years. And it's ADF.UK, but everything is there. And I think the tagline on ADF on the Twitter is protecting everyone's right to live and speak the truth in the UK, which is under attack. And that's truth with a capital T. Maybe we'll touch on that as well. I said before, I've had the privilege of doing work with Paul Coleman, who's your executive director. Great to have you on and discuss this whole area, which I don't know if we've talked about for a long time on Christian freedoms. But maybe I'll ask you a simple question that the left trans say, of course it's not, and that is freedoms, specifically Christian freedoms. How are they actually under threat in the UK? Yeah, well, thanks for that question. Well, I think looking around us as Christians in the UK, we can sense that there is a changing culture, which is fine. Christians at the church have survived throughout thousands of generations of many different challenges. But the one that faces us today is one that's particularly sensorial. I say that because of a lot of the legislation that has been brought in recently in my home country in Scotland, most notably, but also across the UK, where the ability to speak truth. We're taught to speak in grace and truth is increasingly being reduced for the fear of offending somebody sometimes or because, more likely, different ideologies set to take precedence. I think, in Western countries, there has always been one belief or one ideolo​gy that is dominant. In and many years ago, that was the church. The church had in place blasphemy laws back in the 1600s. It was wrong to stop people from challenging or questioning the church or even having conversations about what different interpretations of the Bible might mean, of course. We should have allowed those conversations. It was wrong to always impose blasphemy laws with very harsh sentences. But what we're seeing today is in the West, in the UK and across different countries like Finland and across the European Union; we're seeing laws come in which actually just reverse that and we have situations where we can't speak out against what are considered to be the true dogmas or the the most popular narrative views of our day. Whenever we're in a situation like that uh that's a disadvantage to everyone because we don't get to have the conversations about important societal issues that we need and especially right now it is a disadvantage to Christians who are commanded and who love to be able to speak about their beliefs and share and exchange them with other people. And maybe you want to touch on the role of Alliance Defending Freedom. I know that you work here in the UK, but I initially saw it as as a U.S organization. I think it's expanded now to to many parts of the world. It's to my mind, it's probably the major Christian organization defending individuals' rights to speak truth in many areas in society. And the attacks are becoming wider and wider in every area. But maybe our viewers in the UK may not be so aware of ADF. Do you want to just let the viewers know what ADF is and what actually it does? Yeah, absolutely. Well, ADF stands for Alliance Defending Freedom. And the US reference that you mentioned, well, we as an organisation began in the US over 25 years ago. But, 10 years ago, we started up a new branch of ADF, called ADF International, which is headquartered in Vienna. We, as a new international organization, have an eye to keep the right to live and speak the truth free all over the world. So, we have an alliance of over 4,000 lawyers who we support. Whatever their challenges are in their own country, to the concept of being able to speak the truth. They can come to us and we can support them in being able to take these things through courts. And we also have in-house legal teams based in situations of political significance: at the European Union, at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, or we have a big office in Washington DC because of the Latin American jurisdictions there or the institutions there. Here in London, we have an office ADF UK, and we work in-house to be supporting these rights, to be serving serving those individuals who are dragged through courts unfairly because of their faith. Or to be promoting in the media and in politics, these foundational ideas that are core. For example, over here in the UK, freedom of speech has been a core value to the Brits for a long, long time, as well as supporting things like the right to life, again, which has been secured in our understanding of human rights law in the West for a long, long time. Although, we have an international presence in each location that we're based in, we work locally with a local team working on local issues with local laws. I think there's a big difference between stateside and over in Europe where in the States you wear your faith on your sleeve more. The conversations are, I think, more vocal and more public, where certainly in the UK, your faith is supposedly a private thing that you keep away from your public life. Is that one of the reasons why we've got to where we're going; Christians taking themselves out of the public sphere? I think probably these things are symbiotic aren't they. As laws and culture and this kind of concept of cancel culture increases it can put pressure on Christians and others of minority beliefs to stay quiet and then that can perpetuate the kind of myth that these views are outdated and don't really exist and therefore legislation comes in to make it even more difficult to express our faith and therefore this cycle kind of continues. And that's one of the reasons why it's so important for Christians to be standing up for their freedom of speech. Sometimes, this can be seen as kind of an icky thing to do to be engaging in our rights and we were supposed to, you know, we are called to be persecuted and some people feel awkward or difficult about speaking up for their rights but we're encouraged to do so, because Paul the apostle when he was under pressure for assessing his beliefs he called on the Roman Roman justice system and invoked his rights as a Roman citizen. And it wasn't because he was afraid of going to prison or afraid of suffering, but it was because, for many reasons, firstly, upholding justice in a country is important. Secondly, because this can be an opportunity to share our story with a wider group of people and to secure the right for them too, to be able to live and speak the truth, to share their faith. It's important to engage in the structures of society that we have around us. And of course, we know that the message of Christianity can have a phenomenal impact, not only in the lives of individuals and in us loving our neighbour to be able to share the truth like this, but also in societies. If you look to pre-Christian Rome, for example, the culture was more hedonistic and awful than today. They were engaging in child sacrifice in some instances. Women were treated as about the same worth as a loaf of bread. Babies were exposed on rubbish heaps if they weren't wanted simply because they were girls. Yet, Christianity came in with a transformative message and instituted this first concept that we ever had of having human rights, of having the equal dignity of each person just because they are human. That is a message that we still carry with us today, the equal dignity and worth of each person, no matter black, white, male, female, born, unborn, child, adult, all of these things. We believe that they have equal dignity and worth. We believe that no child has ever been born in the wrong body, for example. And these are values that can be positive and make a hugely positive impact on those around us. There are great reasons to be upholding this freedom, to be able to share our faith, to be able to share this perspective in society and help shape the laws around us to be the best that they can be for the flourishing of everybody. I've been surprised. I mean, I remember back when I was working at Christian Concern and engaging with churches. And you're kind of thinking, well, surely churches should be engaging in this fight. But it seems as though often, and maybe Americans may think, you've got to stay at church. You're in a wonderful position. Well, it's not necessarily so. And it seems that the church have retreated and left the fight to organizations like ADF. That's your job to speak truth and we'll quietly have a Bible study on a Wednesday evening and that's kind of our job ticked. I mean, how do you see that? Because, really it should be the church that are standing up for rights and freedoms and truth in the world. Yeah. So, the church has a commission, doesn't it, to be sharing the message and making disciples of those who believe. And I don't think that everybody in the church has the same necessarily frontline role in the politics that I do. I think that we all are called to have different parts of the body, but especially when we have state churches. But the church as an institution in society does have freedom to be able to speak into the societal issues of our day and to be sharing a perspective about how lives can be approved for everybody. And I think that church leaders have perhaps lost confidence in their ability to do that, that they do have a voice, that they can speak to politicians, they can speak to newspapers, to society and share their perspective and that it isn't wrong to do so. I wonder if there's been a little bit of a shyness over the last 50 years and speaking externally, but also internally about some issues that can be seen as controversial and maybe not having the language to articulate these things well. It is so important that we do so because we know, we believe the Bible as a church, not just because it's the Bible or because we're told to do so, but because we fundamentally do think it's true. We do think it holds valuable knowledge about how to best support everybody in society, best point them towards the way that they can be flourishing the most. If we truly believe that truth, then it is unfair, unjust and unkind of us to not be sharing that message, to not be speaking out. So, if we take our mission seriously, if we think that this is good for society, then we must be speaking about these issues in compassion and grace and holding out the wisdom that we've been taught. 100% Many of our viewers, not necessarily Christian viewers, may be non-Christian, but I think certainly the response we've got is many people looking for what truth is and looking for certainty in life, especially during the last four years of COVID chaos and trying to find that certainty. I want to talk to you about the the pro-life conversation and the Christian freedom conversation wider. I do need to ask you as a scoff of the the chaos that's north of the border. We've all read about uh it wasn't an April fool's joke it was actually the SNP going fully woke and restricting all conversation. As been reported on a lot, but maybe you want to just mention that, firstly, as an example of this wave against the right to speak what you believe. Sure. Well, like I mentioned earlier, it was 1697 that the last man in Scotland was condemned for blasphemy. He had, Thomas Aitkenhead, a 20-year-old Edinburgh student who had questioned the validity of the miracles of the Bible and made some jokes about Scripture. He was condemned for that, and that was absolutely wrong. That law went defunct for hundreds of years nobody used it in 2021 it was repealed finally, but on the same day that it was repealed a new blasphemy law was put into place. That came into action on the 1st of April this year. That law creates a new offense called stirring up of hate. I certainly don't like to be hated. I don't like anyone else to feel hated either and obviously we've talked about Christianity. Christians should never be called to be stirring up hate in any measure. The problem with this law is that we don't know exactly what kind of language can be seen to come under this. There's no definition of what it means to stir up hate and essentially it's been left wide open to abuse for the government to decide what speech they don't like and to ban that now JK Rowling very famously tested this law right in the morning that it came out. She tweeted, of course, some some fiery tweets about trans activists. She asked the police to come and arrest her if she had done anything wrong. The police investigated these tweets that had been reported as a hate crime. They found that they did not meet the threshold and that is good. It is really good that we've had that benchmark set for feminists that these particular tweets did not meet the threshold. However, we don't actually know, because there is no clear definition if different tweets were worded differently on a different day. And perhaps even might I add, coming from somebody who isn't as famous or on a big platform, or doesn't have the world's attention watching them. We don't know if the police will find a different reason as to prosecuting tweets as hate crimes and we don't know also about other topics that haven't been tested so JK Rowling talked about um trans activists and their link to criminality. We haven't tested this out when it comes to speaking about marriage we know one of the protected categories within law is obviously transgender identity and sexual orientation so we don't know about Christians who might speak out about marriage being between a man and a woman and if in different contexts. That could potentially meet the threshold. There's many Questions about this law that we have not been bottomed out. Police of Scotland had three years to clarify you know to a greater extent what this law was really going to mean for us and really all the best they came up with was a kind of campaign about a hate monster and watching out that the hate monster doesn't doesn't get you doesn't cause you to accidentally commit a hate crime I think it's very disappointing from our establishment that we're in this situation. I do see it as a new form of blasphemy law and that can essentially be used in the future to to criminalize people who are simply expressing their beliefs and it creates it's a culture I think of kind of you can't say that. You know, we'll chill conversations about important societal issues even in the home. This reaches into the family dinner table. Where it still applies, and if kids were to report their parents for their quote-unquote hateful beliefs if that's what they've been taught in school or hateful beliefs, then their parents could be ended up in trouble for what they've said there too. I think it's a very far-reaching law. It is something to be concerned about. And it's frightening that a government are trying to legislate feelings. Maybe the first government in the world to say a certain feeling or a certain emotion is wrong. I guess we'll be told what emotions are right and you must feel those emotions at certain times. And then it falls on the police and in some ways although it's the bobby on the beat that they will have to implement this. They're probably thinking this there are no guidelines this is not explained properly and it it's dangerous. We see it time and time again. Legislation coming in that's worded so badly, so widely, that actually it's up to any individual. And on a Monday someone could be arrested,  on a Tuesday they're not and that's frightening. I guess no safeguards and it's so subjective. Yeah, that's right. I mean we've seen this actually with hate speech laws across the world, so we kind of have a flavour of where this is going already. ADF International was supporting a case in Finland and still is a politician a parliamentarian of 20 years and a former Home Secretary, and a grandmother mother. Paivi Razanen, tweeted in 2019, she tweeted a Bible verse and she challenged her church leadership as to whether they should really have sponsored the Pride parade in Helsinki. She felt that that was perhaps an inappropriate thing for a church to be doing. She was charged for hate speech. She was dragged to the court. She's been acquitted twice at the district court and the court of appeal, and her case has been appealed a third time to the Supreme Court in Finland. The charge that she has been, or what she's been charged under carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison. We don't think that she would get the full sentence, but the fact that that hangs in the air is quite phenomenal. We've seen where this lands of grandmothers being dragged through courts for years for tweeting their beliefs. Again, in Mexico we've seen this with politicians out there who we've supported, who were convicted actually of gender gender-based political violence for having expressed their beliefs on biological reality. Their are cases being appealed to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, but there are two politicians whose careers have been severely jeopardised because they simply tweeted their well-founded beliefs about reality. They spoke the truth. We know where this goes. We know how the story ends. For Scotland and Ireland are now looking at putting in place their own hate speech law as well. It is concerning, but we're going to have to wait and see how this shakes out. Of course, like you say, it comes down often to an individual police decision on the day, and Police Scotland are now a centralised unit. There's no kind of peer review between different forces in Scotland. It really is down to just one hive mind making the decision on what could count as offensive in the future. The police recently in Scotland said that they were no longer going to be investigating over 24,000 crimes including some examples of theft, because they simply don't have the resources, but we're told that they are going to be investigating every single report of hate speech that comes in. And we've had over 4,000 so far. Bear in mind that this law has been enacted for four days. If you can compare the before and after the effect this is going to have on our resources of policing in the country when it comes into looking about who said what on Twitter. It's a phenomenally interesting place for a country to be, but we're going to see how it shakes out in the next few weeks, I imagine. It really is weird whenever politicians are more concerned of hurdy words than rape, because the rape convictions are, what, one and a half percent, I think, is a conviction from an allegation to conviction. And yet, it's falling over themselves to find a word that may cause someone offence somewhere and to go after that. It is unbelievable the waste of finance and police resources of going after something while you've got these massive problems in society and simply turning a blind eye to it. Yeah, no, absolutely. And you're right. Hate isn't a human emotion. It's a motion of the human heart. It'd be as well trying to ban greed or envy or lust. Hamza Yusuf. Justin Trudeau. Simon Harris. All of these guys can try to ban hate, but that's not essentially what it's going to make the difference in society. Do we have societal issues, societal tensions, of course we do, but resolving those conflicts is going to take more conversation not less. Telling people that that their views or that they are bad people for expressing beliefs is not going to be helpful in engaging those societal conversations. If we let bad speech go underground and be hidden, then it festers into even worse speech for the issues that the government is concerned about. Having conversations out in the open is really the best place for a democracy to be. We need to have these types of conversations and the marketplace of ideas will sort itself out. The ideas that need to be fleshed out can be done so with debate and discussion. I think that's the direction the West needs to be headed. It was certainly historically where we seem to be headed for a long time when we've taken this U-turn back to a kind of more authoritarian, censorial approach, which I think is going to not have the desired consequences of our government. I want to move on to life. Lots of conversation, probably in the UK more on what they call assisted dying or assisted suicide, which is assisting someone to end their life, so to murder. We've seen that, especially probably during COVID, it's becoming even a bigger conversation. I see a number of MPs just get rid of the older members of society and that fixes us, the survival of the fittest. It's a frightening. I guess,  where the conversation goes when you don't have any Christian ethos or belief of the value of life. But the value of life at the beginning as well; I mentioned to you before we went on we've had uh some great individuals: Scott Klusendorf and Seth Gruber, and Janique Stewart. It's always great to drop this in the conversation, because when you look at the other alternative media, I think this is a topic that people are afraid to go on and choice seems to trump life and the right to the individual. Maybe you want to touch on what the situation is in the U.K for me for U.S audience who aren't sure. What is the life abortion situation in the U.K? Legally speaking our uh our laws in effect allow abortion for any reason up till 24 weeks. Then after 24 weeks there's three reasons why it could go all the way up to birth. One is in cases of disability. For the child, one is if the mother's life is at risk, and one is if there's a risk of serious risk of physical or mental injury to her as a result of the pregnancy. That's as things stand now. We are are a bit of an outlier in Europe. Average kind of benchmark for European abortion caps between 12 and 15 weeks. At 24, we're almost double. We are much, much more liberal in our abortion law than others. But an amendment has been put forward as part of the criminal justice bill in our parliament by a politician who would like to see abortion decriminalised all the way up till birth in the UK for any reason. Whether you count yourself as pro-life, or pro-choice, or pro-abortion or whatever label you hold, this iteration of an abortion law is extremely dangerous and should be opposed. The reason is that it puts women's lives in danger. We have a scheme in the UK called Pills by Post. Since the pandemic and now permanently, a woman can call up an abortion provider, say that she is less than 10 weeks pregnant, and the abortion provider will be able to administer her by the post Misoprostol pills for her to perform her own abortion at home. The danger with this, of course, without saying obvious, is also that a woman can essentially acquire these medicines very easily, even after the 10-week mark all the way up to the 40-week mark. And this has happened in various instances. There was a case over the summer of a lady called Carla Foster who performed an abortion by obtaining pills in this way on, I think it was, between a 33 and 35 week old baby I believe. She had a very traumatic experience performing her own abortion in her bathroom at home and she talked she later named her baby who she had to give birth to of course, after having performed the abortion she named her baby Lily. She talks about the traumatic experience that was. Now, if we we take away laws which prevent women from doing this, because a small number of women have got around the system to do it. If we take away laws that prevent many more women from doing it, we'll have so many more women like Carla who obtain a very dangerous style of abortion at home like this. It would be an absolutely traumatic result for women. So, no matter what your ideological stance on abortion is, this is something to write to your MP and oppose, because no woman should be going through an abortion alone at home. We're told it was meant to be safe, legal and rare. There seems to be none of those things. Now, there's also been another amendment proposed to the same bill that MPs will have to pick between. The second amendment looks at this 24-week mark and says, well, hang on. This means that now that babies are surviving from 22 weeks outside the womb. We now have situations where in the same hospital; there can be a woman having a 23, 24 week baby aborted whilst the same age of baby is fighting for their lives and we're supporting them to survive. How can we just be discriminating against these two children simply because one is wanted and one is not. That doesn't seem just at all. They're taking the very they made the very modest and moderate proposal of simply lowering that limit on abortion from 24 down to 22 in line of the current state of viability in the UK. Now, of course this still makes us very much out of sync with Europe which is 12 to 15 weeks, but it is a step towards a more humane view of life. I think it's something that should be definitely supported by all MPs. Again, it's not even a defining ideological stance. It's not the Only pro-life. People should think this... It is just a reasonable measure to take to ensure that babies of all, at least at the same age, are treated equally. That no baby's life is being ended in the womb that could be surviving on the outside. My hope is that plenty of people in the U.K will see the sense in this, see the justice in this, and write to their MP and encourage them to support the amendment for 22 weeks and opposed the amendment for 40 weeks. Sorry, that was a lot of information in one go, but I hope that it came across okay. No, it did. And the changes in legislation are often incremental that you don't go for it straight away. It is a conversation and slowly you have to move people with you. But it's interesting, the state, the conversation in the legislation, acouple of states on the heartbeat legislation, and that goes around actually what is life? Can we define what life is? And I've been perplexed with conversations with those who are are absolute desperate for abortion. It's actually something that people are really fired up with, certainly in the left. And I remember touching on different issues, and it's fine, you touch on the issue of abortion, how dare you stop a woman taking the life of her child. But that conversation of life, and I don't see that as much in the UK, because the Harvard legislation, what is life? You feel the pulse, actually the heart's beating, and that makes sense. I would go down to conception, but hey, let's have a conversation. But no one seems to understand what life is and that seems to be the crux of the problem, I think. Yeah, and I think ideologically we're always put into this debate mould where we're told that we have to pick between a woman or her baby, you know, it's like pro-woman or pro-baby. Some people say that, you know, we should protect the woman at all costs and therefore if she doesn't want to have a pregnancy in her body at at all, then like it's absolutely her choice and the child gets no rights. There's not many people who go to the full extreme of saying that at any point up to birth, she should be able to make that choice or even after birth. Very few people would go to that extreme. But there are some. And on the other side, we have this kind of polar opposite opinion of only the child's life matters. And the woman doesn't matter at all. And forget about her. We just have to protect this baby's life. I personally never met anyone who said that, but I'm sure that there have been instances where that's come across. And that's obviously not right either. We're kind of locked into this strange polarization where actually very few people think on these extremes. And I think what most of us want to see is an option where we can protect both. Can we find solutions where we can protect both mother and baby? And I think that's what needs to come through far more in this debate into the mainstream and stop feeding this idea that we can now just have to pick a tribe and in fact look to solutions where we can support mothers and support babies far better. I know the U.S have a great network of pregnancy help centres, which I think do a great service to women, because many, you know, in one in five women in the U.K who have had abortions say that they didn't want to, they felt pressured or pushed into it. So, if we had better options of support, and I think we can all work towards situations where we can be doing more to support and encourage women to take the empowered step to choose motherhood, to choose life. In a culture where so often they're told that the only option is abortion and that they have no future apart from that. So, I'd love to see further changes in our culture towards supporting women. And I guess the danger is the organisations that provide abortion make money from it. BPAS are not going to provide a conversation with a mother saying, actually, these are your options. The option for them is one thing because that's their business. We don't seem to have a, mothers don't seem to be able to have a conversation, actually, of the options. And it seems to be if a mother is thinking of ending the life of her child, then she's kind of funnelled into one direction, and that is abortion. I think that probably needs to change. I guess that partially is the role of the church to have that conversation. Yeah, there's a lot more we can be doing for sure. I think we can all agree that women deserve far better than abortion. When we think about it no little girl ever grows up saying I would love to have an abortion when I'm older. It's never an ideal choice so, the fact that we are in a culture where one in three or one in four women are ending up having abortion is a great failure on society. It's a great failure in the rhetoric that, you know, my body my choice is so empowering when in fact it's really allowed men and family members and people that were meant to be rallying around women in crisis pregnancies to say, well, your body, your choice, your problem, I'm out. And the kind of abandoned woman to a responsibility that was always meant to be shared. So, I do think there's a lot more churches and charities and things to be doing, but we also, we do have great charities in the U.K who do volunteer support. Outside abortion facilities and have made a real life difference in the lives of many women who have chosen help and decided that they would like to continue their pregnancies if only they could have support. But unfortunately, we're seeing a clampdown on their work at a governmental level, which I think is the most anti-woman policy that this government has ever proposed. Completely. And you've written to Rishi Sunak. Have you got a reply back to your letter? I did not. You know it's so funny I I wrote that letter it wasn't an ADF initiative I would just write to my MP, but my MP is standing down and I knew that she wouldn't agree with me anyway on this. At the last minute I said, oh I'll write to Rishi, and I put it on on Twitter. So thank you for saying and noticing that, I'm glad I'm glad somebody did. Yes, no. I wrote to Rishi because I think that we've had a quote-unquote conservative government for 14 years in this country. But in the course of those years, we have seen the destruction of the family. We've seen no support for mothers. Our maternity policy, in essence, has really amounted to just cheaper childcare, which, of course, cheaper childcare is fine and good. But many women feel that they would love to be able to invest more in their families, in their children by staying home, by having tax rewards for being able to put those years into early motherhood. Yet we have very little support for the idea of a family other than getting women back into work as soon as possible. We've had an abortion rate that's only growing under the Conservative government. We've had pills by post implemented by this government and now potentially abortion up to birth under the the criminal justice bill amendment. So I think it's an absolute blight on any party that calls themselves conservative, who should be standing up for family, for freedom of speech, for life and for cherishing these values that are so important to so many of us in society. I felt frustrated that that had not been done. And so I wrote a letter. If only in the manifesto, all lives matter and both lives matter were two policies, I think, actually would have a very different society. You know, it's funny, in the Conservative manifesto; I checked in the 2019 manifesto and family is mentioned dozens of times as support for the family as this campaign was promised to us. But I personally have not seen any measures taken to support and uphold families. I've only seen the opposite. So I think that's a real miss by a government who could have done much better. Yeah, if only we could listen to Hungary and have the most family friendly policies in Europe, it could be quite different. I saw you, I think, recently, back in March, you'd been with, I think, Right to Life had been outside Parliament, highlighting what was happening. Just mention that because it's important for the public to come around initiatives and to try and let MPs know that there is vocal support for policies like this. Yeah, absolutely. I really encourage everybody in the U.K to be writing to their MP about this. The group right to life. I think it's https://righttolife.org.uk, have a tool on their website where you can very easily write to your MP. Put in your postcode and they'll let you know who it is and provide you with information that you can send on to your MP. It's very easy, just takes a couple of clicks and, yeah, even if you want to do it in a different matter you just get in touch. I think there's so many, I wasn't really aware until recently about the number of methods we do have available to us to engage in really important decisions that are made in Parliament. Writing to your MP can make a difference if they're on the fence, or at least letting them know that people in their constituency do care about this issue. It's something important to them and they of course are elected to represent you. There's also things like public consultations that frequently come up, and it's always worth just filling out that consultation and making your voice heard and engaging with these tools that we have before us, because other people do. And so if we're not voicing our own opinion in these measures where the government is looking for opinions, we won't be heard. I really encourage everyone to engage with those tools. Completely. And one MP who I saw you retweeted, a former guest of ours,  Andrew Bridgen. His tweet was there should not be double standards when it comes to free speech, yet repeatedly we see evidence that Christian expression is harshly censored while the right to voice more fashionable views is protected. This was a sign, someone holding up a sign if you want to talk you can talk, and this I think fits in with the buffer, so do you want to fill the audience in on that? Yeah, of course he was referring to the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt Livia has been volunteering to help women outside an abortion facility for quite a few years now. She's a retired medical scientist, and so she frequently has has held a sign that says here to talk if you want, or she's provided information about a helpline and just giving women that chance to talk over their options to hear about resources available to them, if they want, to consider keeping their child if it's if they're at an abortion, but they're not sure about whether they want to go ahead. It's a chance just to look at other options. I think you know pro-life or pro-choice,  especially if you're pro-choice, you should be pro having having these conversations, looking at all the true choices. However, Livia was recently charged and now faces trial because she held this sign near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, where there is a buffer zone, or a censorship zone, as we sometimes like to call them. Placed around the clinic. These buffer zones have been rolled out in five places across England and Wales so far, and under new legislation coming in soon, they will be rolled out across the country, and it makes it a crime to engage in influencing within 150 metres of a clinic. The law, the regulation that Livia was charged under prevents her from agreeing or engaging in disapproval or approval of abortion. So again, it's very, in both instances, it's very vague, ambiguous language and the authorities have deemed in Bournemouth that just by offering to talk. They're here to talk, if you want; that Livia has committed a crime. We're thrilled to be defending or to be supporting Livia's legal defence, because we believe that everybody should have the right to be engaged in these conversations. Nobody should be on trial just for having a belief about abortion or for offering to talk in any circumstance. The UK has public streets. We've always been able to express our views. We have a culture of democracy here and we can't understand why some issues are banned in certain places just because the government might not like what we have to say. So, that's one to watch out for. We're grateful that five politicians last week, as you alluded to, have spoken out for Libya. They've seen what happened in Bournemouth and they're aware that the new legislation coming in will roll this out across the U.K and we could see many more cases like Libya's. We've already seen a few. There was a priest, Father Sean Gough, who was arrested and put on trial, unfortunately vindicated, for holding a sign saying, praying for free speech. There was Isabel von Spruce, of course, most famously, also supported by ADF UK, who was arrested, actually twice, for a viral video for praying silently inside her head. So, this law has a very far-reaching consequence, even into the minds of individuals who are poor life. So something that whatever you think about abortion, we should be concerned about any form of censorship in our country and be able to keep those conversations open. Well, that, I mean, no one would have five years ago have said actually praying silently would be illegal in the UK. But in effect, that buffer zone legislation forced through by my MP, sadly to say, actually is, it means that prayer is now criminalised 150 yards from every abortion centre. That's how it's been acted on by the police. Well, we do have an opportunity to engage here for the better. So, the legislation that has been passed by the government bans influencing, like we talked about, very vague or unclear exactly what this means. Now, because it's so unclear the government are going to provide or the home office are going to provide guidance within the next few weeks to explain to police and prosecutors exactly how they should act outside of buffer zones and we know of course that freedom of thought is protected absolutely in human rights law as incorporated into the U.K law as well. It is wrong that Isabel was arrested for praying inside her head and the government have a chance to clarify here what the line is for being able to at least hold thoughts and conversations in public. Now, let's be clear for a second. We all disagree with harassment or intimidation or violence or anything like that. Nobody should be engaging in harassment of women in any situation. Of course, not here either. So, we're all comfortable with laws, which have already existed for a while, that ban that. But the government must clarify that while this legislation applies to harassment, It must not apply to silent prayer or simply peaceful prayer on the street or conversations like the one that Livia was trying to hold. A consensual conversation between two adults. So, that kindness is going to drop fairly soon. You know, there's still opportunities to engage with that. Again, you write to MP and encourage them to contact the Home Office about this and encourage them to do the right thing and clarify that we need freedom of thought and freedom of conversation. I mean, why not write to the Home Office as well and give your opinion? There is a chance still that we'll be able to preserve this and we'll have something to watch out for in the next few weeks. And just to finish, Lois, let me reiterate your comment about engage with MPs. You mentioned there was five and one of them, the awesome Carla Lockhart, DUP from Northern Ireland. And you realize there are voices, there are MPs who actually do have a belief. They are conviction politicians and they may be fewer of them than there used to be, but actually they are still there. And I think it's vital for us, whether you're watching it as Christians or not, whether you just believe in these fundamental rights that actually do engage with your MP, because you will you will find there are good MPs and you may be blessed by actually having a good MP different to Lois or myself that maybe don't have. Yeah Lois, there is, just want to reiterate that because there are good MPs and they will be fearless on speaking up on these issues. Yeah, yeah, absolutely I mean the the buffer zones debate in parliament before it was passed It was a very fiery debate and we were encouraged, although unfortunately the vote did not go in our favour when it came to the amendment. We were encouraged about the number who did stand up and in fact mentioned Isabel von Spruce by name in their speeches. So, we can see that these stories do have an impact. And hopefully because of the attention that has been shown to Isabel and the unjustifiable arrest that was made for the thoughts that she had inside her head. We hope this information will trickle through to MPs and government officials in places of power and we will be able to protect that freedom to pray silently at least. Lois, thank you so much for your time. It's great to have you on. As I said at the beginning, I followed ADF closely and people can find all the links. If they just go to your Twitter handle, they can find the links for ADF and find the links for your Substack and everything is there and it is in the description. So thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you so much. Thank you for all that you do.

Many Christians are naïve about the ways Islam has gained much ground within western society in recent years, influencing numerous spheres of culture, politics, and law. The vision of Islamic beliefs ruling all spheres of society (‘Islamism') may not be adopted by all western Muslims, but it is a belief entirely consistent with Islamic tradition. Where Muslims are often very bullish about defending their values and public symbols, Christians often happily give away such cultural ground, fearing the accusation of ‘Islamophobia'. What are the implications of allowing elements of Shariah Law to be imposed within western societies today? What can Christians draw upon to think through and respond to these challenges with love, confidence, and clarity? In this special episode in our mini-series on Islam, Andy and Aaron are joined by Tim Dieppe (Christian Concern), a regular media commentator on Christianity and Islam in British public life, to talk through these important issues. LOVE POD OF THE GAPS? PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING US ... Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: www.patreon.com/wkop RESOURCES: - Tim Dieppe, “What's Wrong With Islamic Finance?” (2018) https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/ - Christian Concern resources on Islam. https://christianconcern.com/ccissues/islam/ - Andy Bannister, “Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?” (2021) - Rodney Stark, “God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades” (2010) - Raymond Ibrahim, “Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam” (2022)

The Independent Republic of Mike Graham returns to provide a daily dose of common sense as Mike is joined by Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, Fox News Contributor Joe Concha, Daphne Barak who is a Confidante of Ghislaine Maxwell and many more! So tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour Party has adopted a wide-ranging definition of "Islamophobia", which it currently expects all of its councils to accept. If Labour wins the General Election, it is expected to introduce this draconian restriction on free speech as legislation, either on its own or as part of a Race Equality Bill. This is chilling. No religion should be above criticism. Criminalising anti-Muslim or anti-Jewish or anti-Christian hatred is one thing. But to criminalise criticism of the religion and ideology of Islam is another thing entirely. To discuss this we are joined by Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern and author of "Banning Islamophobia: Blasphemy Law by the Back Door" (a Free Speech Union Publication). You may download it here: https://freespeechunion.org/banning-islamophobia-blasphemy-law-by-the-backdoor/ --------------- SUBSCRIBE: If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe to our channel on YouTube (click the Subscribe Button underneath the video and then Click on the Bell icon next to it to make sure you Receive All Notifications) AUDIO: If you prefer Audio you can subscribe on iTunes or Soundcloud. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-923838732 itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/s... SUPPORT/DONATE: PAYPAL/ CARD PAYMENTS - ONE TIME & MONTHLY: You can donate in a variety of ways via our website: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk/#do... It is set up to accept one time and monthly donations. JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Web: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk F: https://www.facebook.com/NCultureForum/ Y: http://www.youtube.com/c/NewCultureForum T: http://www.twitter.com/NewCultureForum (@NewCultureForum)

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday , December 20th, 2023. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://thepostmillennial.com/kamala-harris-to-take-pro-abortion-reproductive-freedoms-tour-across-us?utm_campaign=64487 Kamala Harris launches 'Reproductive Freedoms' pro-abortion tour across US Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she plans to travel around the United States in what she calls a "Reproductive Freedoms" tour. Harris announced that these trips will be taken "to organize, build community, and fight back" against what she calls a "full-on attack on a woman's fundamental freedom to make decisions about her own body" across the nation. The pro-abortion tour will kick off in Wisconsin on Jan. 22, which marks the 51st anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade. The White House promises that "Vice President Harris will also hold extremists accountable for proposing a national abortion ban," although it does not specify what those consequences may be. https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/12/18/britain-bans-prayer-near-abortion-clinics/ Britain BANS PRAYER Near Abortion Clinics. England’s High Court has upheld a local government order establishing a so-called “buffer zone” against prayers being said near an abortion clinic. Livia Tossici-Bolt, who heads the pro-life group 40 Days for Life Bournemouth, and Christian Concern had attempted to overturn the ban, arguing it “criminalized prayer and reading from the Bible”. Judges determined on Friday that the banning order “lawfully followed the democratic and consultative procedures”. They said any infringements of freedom of religion, speech, and the right to protest were “justified by the legitimate aim of protecting the rights of women attending the clinic.” Christian Concern intends to appeal the decision. “Peaceful witness near abortion centers are helpful to many women in crisis pregnancies, offering genuine choice by providing support,” argued Christian Legal Centre chief executive Andrea Williams. British police are exceptionally rigid in enforcing “buffer zones” protecting abortionists. Lone Christians have in some cases been arrested or fined for praying silently inside their heads near clinics. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/border-officials-encounter-14-509-illegal-immigrants-new-record Biden border crisis shatters record with 14,509 illegal immigrants encountered in one day U.S. border officials encountered the highest number of illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday than any day, upending all other records that the Biden administration has set over the past three years. The Washington Examiner obtained internal U.S. Customs and Border Protection data Tuesday that revealed 14,509 immigrants were encountered by federal law enforcement at the southern border on Monday. The large majority of encounters were of immigrants who walked around the port of entry and crossed into the country illegally, while a small percentage tried to enter at the port of entry but were denied admission. The most recent record of 12,000 was set last week, according to Fox News. If yesterday's rate of 14,509 arrests per day continued for a month, it would translate to more than 435,000 immigrant arrests. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), whose district runs along 800 miles of the 2,000-mile border, described the situation in his region as "all very sad." Gonzales told the Washington Examiner in a text message Tuesday morning that he believes the situation in Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town where 2,500 immigrants were arrested on Sunday, will continue to decline but that the extent would depend on how the Biden administration responds. "Depends on how much pressure gets put on U.S. and Mexican officials," Gonzales wrote. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) reacted to the new one-day record on X, formerly Twitter. "Another Record: Over 14,500 illegal immigrants have been encountered while entering our country," Green wrote. "This has been the single worst 24 hours for our Southwest border in our nation’s history." Border officials in the Eagle Pass-Del Rio region encountered 3,100 illegal immigrants Monday, while officials in the Tucson region of Arizona encountered 3,089 people. Government numbers obtained Tuesday show 26,758 immigrants were in custody as of Tuesday morning, including 5,197 in Del Rio, Texas; 5,004 in Tucson, Arizona; 4,968 in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas; and 4,722 in El Paso, Texas. Existing Border Patrol stations in the Eagle Pass area are too small to accommodate more than several hundred people, so immigrants are being processed at a large tent facility outside town known as "Firefly" for the road that it is located on. The tent facility was set up last year with the intent of holding up to 1,000 immigrants, but as of Tuesday, more than 3,000 immigrants were at the site — putting the facility three times over the legal limit. Border Patrol is also busing immigrants to other regions for processing. One official at the tent facility told the Washington Examiner that it sends out 30 to 50 large buses of immigrants to other regions each day. Border Patrol highway checkpoints, including the only one north of Eagle Pass, were shuttered this week as agents were pulled to transport and process migrants. President Joe Biden has yet to react to the situation. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. https://www.dailyfetched.com/germany-begins-deploying-troops-for-first-time-since-world-war-ii/ Germany Begins Deploying Troops for First Time since World War II The announcement was made on Monday in Lithuania, where Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas met Boris Pistoriusto to outline a “Roadmap Action Plan” involving 4,800 permanently stationed German soldiers. The new move was described as “historical” for both nations and NATO. German troops will be stationed in the Lithuanian cities of Kaunas and Vilnius in early 2024, with the majority of troops being deployed in 2025 and 2026 and full-operation capability expected by 2027. Meanwhile, Lithuania committed to providing all necessary civilian and military infrastructure. “The German commitment of permanently stationing a brigade in Lithuania is a historical step for both Germany and Lithuania,” Anusauskas said Monday, according to a press release. “We are turning over to a page of even deeper strategic partnership. Pistorius noted the step as being positive for defense relations, considering the war between Ukraine and Russia, We will ensure reliable deterrence, and we will be ready to [defend] NATO. We are sending a clear signal with this step to those who present a threat to peace and security in Europe.” Newsweek reported that experts within the two defense ministries formulated the plan: “Most of the German troops will be stationed in the territory of Rūdninkai military training ground, while the rest will be deployed in the town of Rukla, where some 1,000 allied troops already reside.” Logistical hubs will cater to the new brigade, including three maneuver battalions and combat support and supply units formed by new and existing units.“ “The 203rd Panzer Battalion, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 122nd Armored Infantry Battalion, based in Bavaria, will be moved to Lithuania. Lithuania’s enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group will be transformed into a multinational battalion to become “an integral part of the brigade,” the release said. The head of the parliamentary National Security and Defense Committee, Laurynas Kasciunas, said the country would allocate 0.3 percent of its gross domestic product to help fund the deployment and to build housing. Earlier this year, Germany faced pressure from the US to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2023/12/18/americans-yawn-at-cdc-warnings-about-tripledemic-n4924835 Americans Yawn at CDC Warnings About 'Tripledemic' While America's public health officials issue one warning after another about this winter's "tripledemic" of COVID, flu, and RSV, the American public is responding with a collective yawn — if vaccination rates are anything to go by. The CDC's most recent weekly vaccination update says that "receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine is low across all socio-demographic subgroups and has consistently varied by age, race and ethnicity, poverty status, health insurance status, and urbanicity." As of December 2, fewer than 18% of adults reported getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine since Sept. 14, and about another 15% of adults said they would "definitely" get vaccinated. RSV — respiratory syncytial virus infection — is another one of those bugs that poses its most serious risk to the 60-and-over crowd. Although a serious RSV infection might require hospitalization, the uptake rate among the eligible 60-plus cohort is just 16%. Vaccinations for the ordinary flu are down a bit, too. "Adult vaccination rates for influenza reached their peak for the 2020-2021 cycle," the Washington Examiner reported on Monday, "with 50.2% of those over 18 getting vaccinated. For the 2022-2023 season, however, only 46.9% of the same population obtained their shot." Rates are expected to be about the same or lower for the current 2023-2024 flu season. The drop isn't huge but the trendline is clear: Americans don't seem to be all that worried about the flu — and aren't concerned at all about COVID or RSV. That's not for any lack of effort on the part of our public health system. The CDC began its big vaccination push more than two months ago, with this tragically hip tweet from CDC director Mandy Cohen. Chicago health officials took a more traditional (and much less wince-inducing) approach on Monday, with Dr. Colleen Nash, associate professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Rush University Medical Center, warning, "We’ve now been lucky enough to kind of live with COVID but still enjoy normal life and activities and things. And that is directly attributable, at least in part, to vaccinations. So I would really encourage people to do that if they haven’t already." While reports show that Illinois' hospitalization rate for COVID is "ticking up," the actual numbers aren't anything like 2020, with an additional 1,251 COVID hospital admissions this week statewide. And yet according to the Chicago Tribune, only about 11% of city residents are fully up to date on their COVID vaccinations. The CDC tried on Twitter/X again on Saturday, reminding readers, "‘Tis the season for joy and family. Now is the time to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu before you see your loved ones again." "Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccines near you." The ratio, as the kids like to say, is epic. While the replies were all over the place in tone, this one reasonable-sounding tweet captured the general sentiment. When vaccination rates are down even for the innocuous (and generally trusted) flu shot, it's clear that the CDC no longer enjoys the clout it used to with the American public.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday , December 20th, 2023. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://thepostmillennial.com/kamala-harris-to-take-pro-abortion-reproductive-freedoms-tour-across-us?utm_campaign=64487 Kamala Harris launches 'Reproductive Freedoms' pro-abortion tour across US Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she plans to travel around the United States in what she calls a "Reproductive Freedoms" tour. Harris announced that these trips will be taken "to organize, build community, and fight back" against what she calls a "full-on attack on a woman's fundamental freedom to make decisions about her own body" across the nation. The pro-abortion tour will kick off in Wisconsin on Jan. 22, which marks the 51st anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade. The White House promises that "Vice President Harris will also hold extremists accountable for proposing a national abortion ban," although it does not specify what those consequences may be. https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/12/18/britain-bans-prayer-near-abortion-clinics/ Britain BANS PRAYER Near Abortion Clinics. England’s High Court has upheld a local government order establishing a so-called “buffer zone” against prayers being said near an abortion clinic. Livia Tossici-Bolt, who heads the pro-life group 40 Days for Life Bournemouth, and Christian Concern had attempted to overturn the ban, arguing it “criminalized prayer and reading from the Bible”. Judges determined on Friday that the banning order “lawfully followed the democratic and consultative procedures”. They said any infringements of freedom of religion, speech, and the right to protest were “justified by the legitimate aim of protecting the rights of women attending the clinic.” Christian Concern intends to appeal the decision. “Peaceful witness near abortion centers are helpful to many women in crisis pregnancies, offering genuine choice by providing support,” argued Christian Legal Centre chief executive Andrea Williams. British police are exceptionally rigid in enforcing “buffer zones” protecting abortionists. Lone Christians have in some cases been arrested or fined for praying silently inside their heads near clinics. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/border-officials-encounter-14-509-illegal-immigrants-new-record Biden border crisis shatters record with 14,509 illegal immigrants encountered in one day U.S. border officials encountered the highest number of illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday than any day, upending all other records that the Biden administration has set over the past three years. The Washington Examiner obtained internal U.S. Customs and Border Protection data Tuesday that revealed 14,509 immigrants were encountered by federal law enforcement at the southern border on Monday. The large majority of encounters were of immigrants who walked around the port of entry and crossed into the country illegally, while a small percentage tried to enter at the port of entry but were denied admission. The most recent record of 12,000 was set last week, according to Fox News. If yesterday's rate of 14,509 arrests per day continued for a month, it would translate to more than 435,000 immigrant arrests. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), whose district runs along 800 miles of the 2,000-mile border, described the situation in his region as "all very sad." Gonzales told the Washington Examiner in a text message Tuesday morning that he believes the situation in Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town where 2,500 immigrants were arrested on Sunday, will continue to decline but that the extent would depend on how the Biden administration responds. "Depends on how much pressure gets put on U.S. and Mexican officials," Gonzales wrote. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) reacted to the new one-day record on X, formerly Twitter. "Another Record: Over 14,500 illegal immigrants have been encountered while entering our country," Green wrote. "This has been the single worst 24 hours for our Southwest border in our nation’s history." Border officials in the Eagle Pass-Del Rio region encountered 3,100 illegal immigrants Monday, while officials in the Tucson region of Arizona encountered 3,089 people. Government numbers obtained Tuesday show 26,758 immigrants were in custody as of Tuesday morning, including 5,197 in Del Rio, Texas; 5,004 in Tucson, Arizona; 4,968 in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas; and 4,722 in El Paso, Texas. Existing Border Patrol stations in the Eagle Pass area are too small to accommodate more than several hundred people, so immigrants are being processed at a large tent facility outside town known as "Firefly" for the road that it is located on. The tent facility was set up last year with the intent of holding up to 1,000 immigrants, but as of Tuesday, more than 3,000 immigrants were at the site — putting the facility three times over the legal limit. Border Patrol is also busing immigrants to other regions for processing. One official at the tent facility told the Washington Examiner that it sends out 30 to 50 large buses of immigrants to other regions each day. Border Patrol highway checkpoints, including the only one north of Eagle Pass, were shuttered this week as agents were pulled to transport and process migrants. President Joe Biden has yet to react to the situation. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. https://www.dailyfetched.com/germany-begins-deploying-troops-for-first-time-since-world-war-ii/ Germany Begins Deploying Troops for First Time since World War II The announcement was made on Monday in Lithuania, where Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas met Boris Pistoriusto to outline a “Roadmap Action Plan” involving 4,800 permanently stationed German soldiers. The new move was described as “historical” for both nations and NATO. German troops will be stationed in the Lithuanian cities of Kaunas and Vilnius in early 2024, with the majority of troops being deployed in 2025 and 2026 and full-operation capability expected by 2027. Meanwhile, Lithuania committed to providing all necessary civilian and military infrastructure. “The German commitment of permanently stationing a brigade in Lithuania is a historical step for both Germany and Lithuania,” Anusauskas said Monday, according to a press release. “We are turning over to a page of even deeper strategic partnership. Pistorius noted the step as being positive for defense relations, considering the war between Ukraine and Russia, We will ensure reliable deterrence, and we will be ready to [defend] NATO. We are sending a clear signal with this step to those who present a threat to peace and security in Europe.” Newsweek reported that experts within the two defense ministries formulated the plan: “Most of the German troops will be stationed in the territory of Rūdninkai military training ground, while the rest will be deployed in the town of Rukla, where some 1,000 allied troops already reside.” Logistical hubs will cater to the new brigade, including three maneuver battalions and combat support and supply units formed by new and existing units.“ “The 203rd Panzer Battalion, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 122nd Armored Infantry Battalion, based in Bavaria, will be moved to Lithuania. Lithuania’s enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group will be transformed into a multinational battalion to become “an integral part of the brigade,” the release said. The head of the parliamentary National Security and Defense Committee, Laurynas Kasciunas, said the country would allocate 0.3 percent of its gross domestic product to help fund the deployment and to build housing. Earlier this year, Germany faced pressure from the US to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2023/12/18/americans-yawn-at-cdc-warnings-about-tripledemic-n4924835 Americans Yawn at CDC Warnings About 'Tripledemic' While America's public health officials issue one warning after another about this winter's "tripledemic" of COVID, flu, and RSV, the American public is responding with a collective yawn — if vaccination rates are anything to go by. The CDC's most recent weekly vaccination update says that "receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine is low across all socio-demographic subgroups and has consistently varied by age, race and ethnicity, poverty status, health insurance status, and urbanicity." As of December 2, fewer than 18% of adults reported getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine since Sept. 14, and about another 15% of adults said they would "definitely" get vaccinated. RSV — respiratory syncytial virus infection — is another one of those bugs that poses its most serious risk to the 60-and-over crowd. Although a serious RSV infection might require hospitalization, the uptake rate among the eligible 60-plus cohort is just 16%. Vaccinations for the ordinary flu are down a bit, too. "Adult vaccination rates for influenza reached their peak for the 2020-2021 cycle," the Washington Examiner reported on Monday, "with 50.2% of those over 18 getting vaccinated. For the 2022-2023 season, however, only 46.9% of the same population obtained their shot." Rates are expected to be about the same or lower for the current 2023-2024 flu season. The drop isn't huge but the trendline is clear: Americans don't seem to be all that worried about the flu — and aren't concerned at all about COVID or RSV. That's not for any lack of effort on the part of our public health system. The CDC began its big vaccination push more than two months ago, with this tragically hip tweet from CDC director Mandy Cohen. Chicago health officials took a more traditional (and much less wince-inducing) approach on Monday, with Dr. Colleen Nash, associate professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Rush University Medical Center, warning, "We’ve now been lucky enough to kind of live with COVID but still enjoy normal life and activities and things. And that is directly attributable, at least in part, to vaccinations. So I would really encourage people to do that if they haven’t already." While reports show that Illinois' hospitalization rate for COVID is "ticking up," the actual numbers aren't anything like 2020, with an additional 1,251 COVID hospital admissions this week statewide. And yet according to the Chicago Tribune, only about 11% of city residents are fully up to date on their COVID vaccinations. The CDC tried on Twitter/X again on Saturday, reminding readers, "‘Tis the season for joy and family. Now is the time to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu before you see your loved ones again." "Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccines near you." The ratio, as the kids like to say, is epic. While the replies were all over the place in tone, this one reasonable-sounding tweet captured the general sentiment. When vaccination rates are down even for the innocuous (and generally trusted) flu shot, it's clear that the CDC no longer enjoys the clout it used to with the American public.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuessday, November 14th, 2023. Fight Laugh Feast Magazine Our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine is a quarterly issue that packs a punch like a 21 year Balvenie, no ice. We don’t water down our scotch, why would we water down our theology? Order a yearly subscription for yourself and then send a couple yearly subscriptions to your friends who have been drinking luke-warm evangelical cool-aid. Every quarter we promise quality food for the soul, wine for the heart, and some Red Bull for turning over tables. Our magazine will include cultural commentary, a Psalm of the quarter, recipes for feasting, laughter sprinkled through out the glossy pages, and more. Sign up today, at fightlaughfeast.com. https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2023/11/12/us-news-outlets-must-answer-if-they-knew-about-hamas-terror-attacks-on-israel-before-october-7-n4923834 Media in Panic Mode Over Questions About Whether They Knew in Advance About Hamas Attack on Israel On October 7, four photojournalists who provide reporting and photos for the likes of the Associated Press (AP), CNN, the New York Times, Reuters, and other outlets were allegedly at the Israeli border with Hamas terrorists who committed acts of atrocities against innocent Israeli civilians that shocked the world. Since an Israel-supporting news watchdog website reported the claim, everyone wants to know if these Gaza-based reporters knew in advance about the attack and, more importantly, if they could have saved lives by alerting the world about it. The question arises: Did the AP, CNN, the New York Times, and Reuters know about the Hamas terror attack in advance? The allegations have sent major media into panic mode and generated even more mistrust in the corporate press. The website HonestReporting, which chronicles coverage of Israel by an increasingly one-sided press to contrast the "Pallywood" and crisis actor coverage by Hamas and its agents, asks: "Is it conceivable to assume that 'journalists' just happened to appear early in the morning at the border without prior coordination with the terrorists? Or were they part of the plan?" Hamas terrorists paraglided and drove into the civilian populations that day and committed acts of horrific brutality. They wanted their murders and acts of terror chronicled for the world, which is why they wore GoPro cameras and apparently arranged for these traditional media photographers to go in with them. HonestReporting reported that "four names appear on AP’s photo credits from the Israel-Gaza border area on October 7: Hassan Eslaiah, Yousef Masoud, Ali Mahmud, and Hatem Ali." The news watchdog took a close look at Elsaiah, a "freelancer who also works for CNN, crossed into Israel, took photos of a burning Israeli tank, and then captured infiltrators entering Kibbutz Kfar Azza." Elsaiah "did not wear a press vest or a helmet," the website reported. He posted a video of himself on Twitter/X saying that “everyone who were inside this tank were kidnapped, everyone who were inside the tank were kidnapped a short while ago by al-Qassam Brigades [Hamas’ armed wing], as we have seen with our own eyes.” The website later featured an older photo of Elsaiah with the Hamas leader who planned the attack. In war reporting, journalists are often given a heads-up and allowed to chronicle American troops heading into battle, for example. But this wasn't an act of war -- it was terror. It was murder for murder's sake. There hadn't been an Israeli offensive to which the Gaza terror organization was responding. Indeed, if Hamas had been wearing uniforms and acting as an "army" they would be accused of war crimes. As it is, they're accused of crimes against humanity. https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-infant-indi-gregory-dies-legal-battle-british-government-treatment-options UK infant Indi Gregory dies amid legal battle with British government over treatment options A terminally ill baby in the United Kingdom, who was the focus of a legal battle involving her parents, British health officials and the Italian government over treatment options, died Monday morning in hospice care. Christian Concern, a group supporting the family, said 8-month-old Indi Gregory died after her life support was withdrawn on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The infant had suffered brain damage because of a rare condition known as mitochondrial disease. The child's doctors said her life support should be removed to allow her to die at a hospital or in hospice, but her parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, continued to fight for her to remain on life support, hoping that experimental treatments may extend her life. The Italian government had solicited permission for her to be treated at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome. Italian officials even granted citizenship to the baby amid the legal battle over her health care. Doctors claimed that Indi was not aware of her surroundings and was suffering as they argued she should be allowed to die peacefully. Legal challenges supported by Christian Concern were rejected by British judges. Indi's case is the latest in a series of legal battles in the United Kingdom between parents and doctors over treatment for children with terminal illnesses. British judges have repeatedly taken the side of doctors in cases about the best interests of the child, despite parental objections to a proposed treatment option. Court of Appeal Justice Peter Jackson said on Friday that doctors treating Gregory and other critically ill children were put in an "extremely challenging" position by the legal battle. He also criticized "manipulative litigation tactics" that attempt to frustrate orders made by judges after careful consideration. https://www.dailyfetched.com/over-70-of-americans-unwilling-to-be-drafted-if-ww3-breaks-out-poll/ Over 70% of Americans Unwilling to Be Drafted If WW3 Breaks Out, Poll A new poll has found that 72 percent of Americans would be unwilling to volunteer to serve their country if WW3 breaks out, compared to just 21 percent who said they would. As the US becomes deeply embedded in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war, the Echelon Insights findings suggest most Americans hold a more ‘America First’ view of foreign policy than the political establishment. Since 1987, the US military has shrunk by 39 percent, and the Army and Air Force missed their recruitment targets in 2023 by 10,000. Meanwhile, the Navy missed its target by 6,000. The lack of troops could pose a big problem for America’s war readiness. While infantry soldiers are relatively easy to train in a crisis, pilots and naval specialists require years of instruction. As The National Pulse noted, the traditionally conservative-leaning young people the military has often relied on for manpower may also have been deterred by its intolerant attitude towards unvaccinated Americans in recent years and senior officers’ promotion of far-left interests such as drag and “white rage.” Meanwhile, with the prospect of WW3 is becoming more likely, Americans may not have to worry about being drafted as nuclear weapons would destroy most countries. Last week, President Donald Trump warned that Mexico could be at risk of nuclear destruction in the Event of WW3 breaking out from the war in the Middle East. Trump said the potential ramifications of another nuclear war could involve the total destruction of Mexico. “The biggest threat is nuclear weapons,” Trump said. https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/12/former-national-champion-texas-head-coach-jimbo-fischer-fired-poor-performance/ Former National Champion Head Coach Jimbo Fischer Fired For Poor Performance Texas A&M has fired head football coach Jimbo Fischer, bringing his six-year tenure with the Aggies to a close while netting himself $76 million. The firing comes on the heels of a 51-10 victory of Mississippi State, moving Texas A&M to 6-4 on the season, according to CBS Sports. Fisher took the Texas A&M head coaching position in 2018, coming off a successful tenure at Florida State, where he won a national championship in 2014, per the outlet. While the Aggies did manage to go 9-4 in 2018, Texas A&M has struggled over the past two seasons, barely cracking eight wins in 2021 and going 5-7 in 2022, per the outlet. When Fischer became head coach of the Aggies, he signed a 10-year, $75-million contract, which was later extended through 2031. The contract also came with a massive buyout clause worth $76 million, which he is now owed by Texas A&M, per the outlet. “After very careful analysis of all the components related to Texas A&M football, I recommended to President Welsh and then Chancellor Sharp that a change in the leadership of the program was necessary in order for Aggie football to reach our full potential and they accepted my decision. We appreciate Coach Fisher’s time here at Texas A&M and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Texas A&M athletics director Ross Bjork said in a statement. The Aggies will finish off their regular season with Abilene Christian University and top-25 LSU.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuessday, November 14th, 2023. Fight Laugh Feast Magazine Our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine is a quarterly issue that packs a punch like a 21 year Balvenie, no ice. We don’t water down our scotch, why would we water down our theology? Order a yearly subscription for yourself and then send a couple yearly subscriptions to your friends who have been drinking luke-warm evangelical cool-aid. Every quarter we promise quality food for the soul, wine for the heart, and some Red Bull for turning over tables. Our magazine will include cultural commentary, a Psalm of the quarter, recipes for feasting, laughter sprinkled through out the glossy pages, and more. Sign up today, at fightlaughfeast.com. https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2023/11/12/us-news-outlets-must-answer-if-they-knew-about-hamas-terror-attacks-on-israel-before-october-7-n4923834 Media in Panic Mode Over Questions About Whether They Knew in Advance About Hamas Attack on Israel On October 7, four photojournalists who provide reporting and photos for the likes of the Associated Press (AP), CNN, the New York Times, Reuters, and other outlets were allegedly at the Israeli border with Hamas terrorists who committed acts of atrocities against innocent Israeli civilians that shocked the world. Since an Israel-supporting news watchdog website reported the claim, everyone wants to know if these Gaza-based reporters knew in advance about the attack and, more importantly, if they could have saved lives by alerting the world about it. The question arises: Did the AP, CNN, the New York Times, and Reuters know about the Hamas terror attack in advance? The allegations have sent major media into panic mode and generated even more mistrust in the corporate press. The website HonestReporting, which chronicles coverage of Israel by an increasingly one-sided press to contrast the "Pallywood" and crisis actor coverage by Hamas and its agents, asks: "Is it conceivable to assume that 'journalists' just happened to appear early in the morning at the border without prior coordination with the terrorists? Or were they part of the plan?" Hamas terrorists paraglided and drove into the civilian populations that day and committed acts of horrific brutality. They wanted their murders and acts of terror chronicled for the world, which is why they wore GoPro cameras and apparently arranged for these traditional media photographers to go in with them. HonestReporting reported that "four names appear on AP’s photo credits from the Israel-Gaza border area on October 7: Hassan Eslaiah, Yousef Masoud, Ali Mahmud, and Hatem Ali." The news watchdog took a close look at Elsaiah, a "freelancer who also works for CNN, crossed into Israel, took photos of a burning Israeli tank, and then captured infiltrators entering Kibbutz Kfar Azza." Elsaiah "did not wear a press vest or a helmet," the website reported. He posted a video of himself on Twitter/X saying that “everyone who were inside this tank were kidnapped, everyone who were inside the tank were kidnapped a short while ago by al-Qassam Brigades [Hamas’ armed wing], as we have seen with our own eyes.” The website later featured an older photo of Elsaiah with the Hamas leader who planned the attack. In war reporting, journalists are often given a heads-up and allowed to chronicle American troops heading into battle, for example. But this wasn't an act of war -- it was terror. It was murder for murder's sake. There hadn't been an Israeli offensive to which the Gaza terror organization was responding. Indeed, if Hamas had been wearing uniforms and acting as an "army" they would be accused of war crimes. As it is, they're accused of crimes against humanity. https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-infant-indi-gregory-dies-legal-battle-british-government-treatment-options UK infant Indi Gregory dies amid legal battle with British government over treatment options A terminally ill baby in the United Kingdom, who was the focus of a legal battle involving her parents, British health officials and the Italian government over treatment options, died Monday morning in hospice care. Christian Concern, a group supporting the family, said 8-month-old Indi Gregory died after her life support was withdrawn on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The infant had suffered brain damage because of a rare condition known as mitochondrial disease. The child's doctors said her life support should be removed to allow her to die at a hospital or in hospice, but her parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, continued to fight for her to remain on life support, hoping that experimental treatments may extend her life. The Italian government had solicited permission for her to be treated at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome. Italian officials even granted citizenship to the baby amid the legal battle over her health care. Doctors claimed that Indi was not aware of her surroundings and was suffering as they argued she should be allowed to die peacefully. Legal challenges supported by Christian Concern were rejected by British judges. Indi's case is the latest in a series of legal battles in the United Kingdom between parents and doctors over treatment for children with terminal illnesses. British judges have repeatedly taken the side of doctors in cases about the best interests of the child, despite parental objections to a proposed treatment option. Court of Appeal Justice Peter Jackson said on Friday that doctors treating Gregory and other critically ill children were put in an "extremely challenging" position by the legal battle. He also criticized "manipulative litigation tactics" that attempt to frustrate orders made by judges after careful consideration. https://www.dailyfetched.com/over-70-of-americans-unwilling-to-be-drafted-if-ww3-breaks-out-poll/ Over 70% of Americans Unwilling to Be Drafted If WW3 Breaks Out, Poll A new poll has found that 72 percent of Americans would be unwilling to volunteer to serve their country if WW3 breaks out, compared to just 21 percent who said they would. As the US becomes deeply embedded in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war, the Echelon Insights findings suggest most Americans hold a more ‘America First’ view of foreign policy than the political establishment. Since 1987, the US military has shrunk by 39 percent, and the Army and Air Force missed their recruitment targets in 2023 by 10,000. Meanwhile, the Navy missed its target by 6,000. The lack of troops could pose a big problem for America’s war readiness. While infantry soldiers are relatively easy to train in a crisis, pilots and naval specialists require years of instruction. As The National Pulse noted, the traditionally conservative-leaning young people the military has often relied on for manpower may also have been deterred by its intolerant attitude towards unvaccinated Americans in recent years and senior officers’ promotion of far-left interests such as drag and “white rage.” Meanwhile, with the prospect of WW3 is becoming more likely, Americans may not have to worry about being drafted as nuclear weapons would destroy most countries. Last week, President Donald Trump warned that Mexico could be at risk of nuclear destruction in the Event of WW3 breaking out from the war in the Middle East. Trump said the potential ramifications of another nuclear war could involve the total destruction of Mexico. “The biggest threat is nuclear weapons,” Trump said. https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/12/former-national-champion-texas-head-coach-jimbo-fischer-fired-poor-performance/ Former National Champion Head Coach Jimbo Fischer Fired For Poor Performance Texas A&M has fired head football coach Jimbo Fischer, bringing his six-year tenure with the Aggies to a close while netting himself $76 million. The firing comes on the heels of a 51-10 victory of Mississippi State, moving Texas A&M to 6-4 on the season, according to CBS Sports. Fisher took the Texas A&M head coaching position in 2018, coming off a successful tenure at Florida State, where he won a national championship in 2014, per the outlet. While the Aggies did manage to go 9-4 in 2018, Texas A&M has struggled over the past two seasons, barely cracking eight wins in 2021 and going 5-7 in 2022, per the outlet. When Fischer became head coach of the Aggies, he signed a 10-year, $75-million contract, which was later extended through 2031. The contract also came with a massive buyout clause worth $76 million, which he is now owed by Texas A&M, per the outlet. “After very careful analysis of all the components related to Texas A&M football, I recommended to President Welsh and then Chancellor Sharp that a change in the leadership of the program was necessary in order for Aggie football to reach our full potential and they accepted my decision. We appreciate Coach Fisher’s time here at Texas A&M and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Texas A&M athletics director Ross Bjork said in a statement. The Aggies will finish off their regular season with Abilene Christian University and top-25 LSU.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Indi Gregory died overnight on Monday after her life support was removed over the weekend following a UK court order. The terminally ill 8-month-old died in her mother's arms in a hospice at 1:45 am on November 13, according to British advocacy group Christian Concern. The process to remove Gregory's life support began on November 11, with extubation of her breathing tube and transfer to a hospice, where remaining life supporting measures were withdrawn. Born in February and baptized in September, Gregory suffered from a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease. After England's high court ruled that it was in the child's “best interests” to be taken off life support against her parents' wishes, the Italian government granted the critically ill child Italian citizenship on November 6 and agreed to cover the cost of her medical treatment at the Vatican's pediatric hospital, Bambino Gesù. A November 11 Vatican statement said Pope Francis was praying for Gregory and her family. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255991/indi-gregory-dies-after-removal-of-life-support The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis has relieved Bishop Joseph Strickland from his duties in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, and appointed an apostolic administrator to replace him. Strickland's removal on November 11 comes after the Texas bishop refused a Vatican request for him to submit his resignation two days prior, according to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston. The Vatican Dicastery for Bishops completed a formal investigation in the Diocese of Tyler earlier this year called an apostolic visitation, which, according to a source, looked into the bishop's social media use and questions related to diocesan management. Strickland, 65, served as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler since 2012. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255986/breaking-pope-francis-relieves-strickland-of-his-duties-as-bishop-of-tyler https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255990/strickland-saga-ousted-bishop-s-interview-vatican-removed Today, the Church celebrates Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian missionary who spent much of her life working with Italian immigrants in the United States. Mother Cabrini, who had a deathly fear of water and drowning, crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 30 times in service of the Church and the people she was serving. Eventually, Saint Frances became a naturalized US citizen. She died in 1917 and was canonized in 1946, just before a new wave of immigrants began to arrive in the US. ​​https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frances-cabrini-654

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, November 8th, 2023. Dropwave Do you have a podcast, or thinking about starting one? Does your church have a podcast feed for sermons? Then Dropwave.io is for you. Cancel culture is like walking on a thin glass bridge over the Grand Canyon. Every step you take could get you killed, I mean canceled. Since the beginning CrossPolitic has been working on being antifragile, so no matter what happens, our content can still be delivered to your tv and to your podcast. This past year, the Waterboy and his friend Jeremi, have been working on building a podcast hosting solution for rowdy platforms like CrossPolitic, so that you can be confident your podcast will never fall through that glass bridge. Dropwave offers seamless onboarding for shows that have been around for years to easy to use solutions for starting your own podcast. Dropwave will track all your show’s downloads by city, state, and country, and it offers network and enterprise packages for solutions like the Fight Laugh Feast Network. Free to speak, Free to podcast, free to start your journey now at www.Dropwave.io. https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/11/07/bloomberg-u-s-debt-interest-bill-soars-past-1-trillion-a-year/ Bloomberg: U.S. Debt Interest Bill Soars Past $1 Trillion a Year The combination of high levels of debt and higher interest rates has pushed the annualized interest cost of government debt past $1 trillion, an analysis from Bloomberg showed Tuesday. This amounts to a doubling of interest costs over the past 19 months, according to Bloomberg. It is the equivalent of 15.9 percent of the Federal budget for fiscal year 2022. The worsening metrics may reignite debate about the US fiscal path amid heavy borrowing from Washington. That dynamic has already helped drive up bond yields, threatened the return of the so-called bond vigilantes and led Fitch Ratings to downgrade US government debt in August. “There will be further increases to Treasury coupon auctions and T-bills outstanding going forward,” Bloomberg Intelligence strategists Ira Jersey and Will Hoffman wrote in a research note. “Besides deficits of over $2 trillion in the foreseeable future, climbing maturities following the increase of issuance from March 2020 will also need to be refinanced.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cumulative deficit for the 2024–2033 period will total $20.2 trillion, or 6.1 percent of GDP. Deficits are expected to be at least 5.5 percent of GDP every year for the coming decade. Since 1973, the federal government budget deficit has averaged 3.6 percent of GDP. https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/07/van-jones-biden-retire-2024-election-drop-out/ ‘It’s Time’: CNN’s Van Jones Says Biden Needs To Consider Retiring CNN’s Van Jones said Tuesday that President Joe Biden needs to consider retiring following a poll from The New York Times/Siena College. The Sunday poll found president Donald Trump leading Biden by a substantial margin in five out of six key swing states. Biden holds a slight edge within the margin of error over Trump in Wisconsin. Jones argued Biden is in a tough position. Video Plays Several pundits have questioned whether Biden should drop out of the race, with CNN’s David Axelrod saying the president needs to decide whether staying in the race is “in his best interest or the country’s.” Director of Defending Democracy Together Bill Kristol posted on X that Biden needs to make an act of “personal sacrifice.” “It’s time. President Biden has served our country well. I’m confident he’ll do so for the next year. But it’s time for an act of personal sacrifice and public spirit. It’s time to pass the torch to the next generation. It’s time for Biden to announce he won’t run in 2024,” Kristol wrote. https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/2023/11/07/future-darwin-award-winner-tried-to-target-jewish-children-in-americas-midwest-n590580 Future Darwin Award Winner Tried to Target Jewish Children in America's Midwest A woman in Indiana plowed her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school. The police describe her as a terrorist and she was arrested at the scene. Not only was her intention to hurt or kill Jewish school children in their school in Indianapolis but she was completely mistaken about her target. The 34-year-old terrorist woman, allegedly backed her vehicle into a building associated with Black Hebrew Israelites on Friday. She admitted to the police that she specifically targeted the building because she was offended by a Hebrew Israelite symbol in front. This psycho thought she was entitled to try to harm children because she was offended by a symbol in front of the building, apparently. There were several adults and children in the building at the time. However, they were not who the woman thought they were. She said, “Yes. I did it on purpose.” She kept describing the building as the “Israel school” and she spoke about “her people back in Palestine.” According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is a sect of the Black Hebrew Israelites. It is an extremist group that is anti-Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center (I know) has designated them as a hate group. So, ironically, the unhinged and offended the woman plowed into the building used by a group who hate Israel as she does. She is Darwin Award material. An investigation is underway. There may be additional charges brought against her. The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis said Safe Indiana, a Jewish community security program, is working with cops to probe the incident. “Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance, and we are more secure and prepared than ever before,” the federation said in a statement. “Although a Jewish facility was not targeted, solely due to ironic misidentification, this is yet another reminder to maintain security protocols, remain vigilant of suspicious activity and to (report promptly) to the appropriate authorities.” These random acts of terror seem to be increasing. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently warned of lone wolf attacks. Wray said Hamas inspired terrorists pose a threat not seen since the days of ISIS. She confessed that she was motivated to do the attack after watching news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. She is originally from Amman, Jordan. Wray said that while Hamas is assessed to have no capabilities inside the US, other actors – possible radicalized individuals or small groups – could take inspiration from the terror group in a way similar to ISIS. Speaking to the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee, he said: “We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration, the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago. “In just the past few weeks, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West.” He said: “Here in the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists – individuals or small groups – will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives.” She was charged with a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness. Her first court appearance is scheduled for today, November 8. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255928/vatican-hospital-offers-to-treat-critically-ill-baby-denied-life-support-in-britain Vatican hospital offers to treat critically ill baby denied life support in Britain The Vatican’s pediatric hospital has offered to treat 8-month-old baby Indi Gregory after a British court ruled that she be removed from life support against her parents’ wishes. Gregory, who was born in February, suffers from a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease and has been receiving life-sustaining treatment on a ventilator at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, England. After England’s high court ruled that it was in the child’s “best interests” to be taken off life support, Gregory’s parents appealed to take her to Rome for treatment, an appeal that was denied by a British judge over the weekend. The Italian government decided in an emergency meeting on Monday to grant the critically ill child Italian citizenship and to cover the cost of her medical treatment at the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù (jay-zoo) hospital. “They say there isn’t much hope for little Indi, but until the very end, I’ll do what I can to defend her life,” Italian President Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media on Nov. 6. “And to defend the right of her mamma and papa to do all that they can for her.” The Bambino Gesù hospital has previously offered medical treatment to other critically ill children, including Alfie Evans in 2018 and Charlie Gard in 2017, both of whom were ultimately denied the chance to travel to Italy by U.K. courts and died days after being removed from life support. Christian Concern has published a letter from the president of the Bambino Gesù hospital outlining “a detailed treatment plan” for the child, which includes “life-sustaining treatment and palliative care to ensure Indi’s survival and comfort while the treatments take effect.” Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre supporting the Gregorys’ case, has noted that this is believed to be the first time that a parent’s appeal against an order to withdraw life-sustaining treatment has been rejected by the Court of Appeal without a hearing. “The law is there to protect life and the most vulnerable in our society. What is happening in this case sets a very worrying precedent with regard to that principle,” Williams said. “It is very concerning that a child can be held against the parents’ wishes when they have alternative treatment available.” With the newly granted Italian citizenship, the child’s parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, can appeal to the Italian consulate in Britain to request that their daughter be airlifted to Italy for treatment, according to Reuters. Simone Pillon (pee-lone), an Italian lawyer assisting the Gregory family, wrote on Nov. 7: “We are working to find an agreement between the two countries to satisfy the family’s request and treat Indi in Rome.” In response to the Italian government’s decision, Dean Gregory, Indi’s father, said: “My heart fills up with joy that the Italians have given Claire and I hope and faith back in humanity. The Italians have shown us care and loving support and I wish the U.K. authorities were the same.” https://nypost.com/2023/11/06/news/texas-southern-tuba-player-punches-heckler-in-the-stands-video/ Marching Band turns into Marching Hands? Texas Southern band member punches heckler in the stands, continues playing - He didn’t miss a beat. A Texas Southern University tuba player swiftly knocked out an obnoxious heckler during a football game Saturday before carrying on playing his instrument. Video taken from the stands during Saturday’s game between Texas Southern and Jackson State shows the college band’s tuba player bouncing along to the music while a fan starts yelling at him. A Jackson State fan can be seen in the footage aggressively yelling at the tuba player, who is attempting to continue playing with the band. Seeming to have had enough of the outburst, the Texas Southern tuba player says something to the man before swiftly punching him four times in the face. The Texas Southern band member then returns to his instrument as if the altercation never happened. In one recording of the incident, the band member can be heard telling the aggressive fan, “F–k off, b—h.” It’s unclear whether the heckler, who stumbled back several feet in the stands, sustained any injuries from the scuffle. It’s also unclear whether police responded to the incident or if any action was taken against the band member. Texas Southern University ended up losing to Jackson State, 21-19. https://www.outkick.com/field-hockey-teammate-issues-bold-statement-against-miaa-for-allowing-male-players-to-compete-against-women/ FIELD HOCKEY CAPTAIN SLAMS MASSACHUSETTS LAW ALLOWING BOYS ON GIRLS TEAMS AFTER BRUTAL INJURY TO HER TEAMMATE Men competing against women in sports spawned another tragic story on Thursday when a female field hockey player suffered significant injuries to her face after taking a shot from a male opponent. The female high schooler played on Dighton-Rehoboth High School’s team, and now the co-captain / teammate of her squad is speaking up and calling for policy change to prohibit men from competing against women to avoid further incidents. Kelsey Bain, who plays on Dighton-Rehoboth and is the co-captain of the field hockey team, posted a letter on X, directed at the MIAA to change the association’s policy that allows men to compete against women. “This is a letter I sent to the MIAA in response to the recent Swampscott vs. Dighton-Rehoboth field hockey incident,” Kelsey Bain posted on X, including the three-page notice. Women’s rights activist and OutKick host Riley Gaines shared Bain’s statement on social media. The man played for Swampscott High School, who played Dighton-Rehoboth in a playoff field hockey contest on Thursday. Under the MIAA’s ruling — the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association — men can compete against women if a sport does not offer their gender’s league. The man’s shot knocked several of the girl’s teeth out and caused serious facial injuries. Video of the hit shows the girl writhing in pain and screaming. To prevent these incidents from continuing, Kelsey Bain is stepping into the discourse, understanding that the association will not budge on the issue unless they are challenged. Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey put out a statement, identifying that the opponent was indeed a man and relaying the horror of the team personnel after one of their own suffered a brutal injury. Runey said, “Last night, a female field hockey player for the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School girls’ field hockey team sustained significant facial and dental injuries when she was struck in the face by a shot in the third quarter versus Swampscott in an MIAA state playoff contest. “The shot was taken by a male member of the Swampscott girls field hockey team. This injury required hospitalization. The player, her family, teammates, and coaches remain in my prayers.”

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Wednesday, November 8th, 2023. Dropwave Do you have a podcast, or thinking about starting one? Does your church have a podcast feed for sermons? Then Dropwave.io is for you. Cancel culture is like walking on a thin glass bridge over the Grand Canyon. Every step you take could get you killed, I mean canceled. Since the beginning CrossPolitic has been working on being antifragile, so no matter what happens, our content can still be delivered to your tv and to your podcast. This past year, the Waterboy and his friend Jeremi, have been working on building a podcast hosting solution for rowdy platforms like CrossPolitic, so that you can be confident your podcast will never fall through that glass bridge. Dropwave offers seamless onboarding for shows that have been around for years to easy to use solutions for starting your own podcast. Dropwave will track all your show’s downloads by city, state, and country, and it offers network and enterprise packages for solutions like the Fight Laugh Feast Network. Free to speak, Free to podcast, free to start your journey now at www.Dropwave.io. https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/11/07/bloomberg-u-s-debt-interest-bill-soars-past-1-trillion-a-year/ Bloomberg: U.S. Debt Interest Bill Soars Past $1 Trillion a Year The combination of high levels of debt and higher interest rates has pushed the annualized interest cost of government debt past $1 trillion, an analysis from Bloomberg showed Tuesday. This amounts to a doubling of interest costs over the past 19 months, according to Bloomberg. It is the equivalent of 15.9 percent of the Federal budget for fiscal year 2022. The worsening metrics may reignite debate about the US fiscal path amid heavy borrowing from Washington. That dynamic has already helped drive up bond yields, threatened the return of the so-called bond vigilantes and led Fitch Ratings to downgrade US government debt in August. “There will be further increases to Treasury coupon auctions and T-bills outstanding going forward,” Bloomberg Intelligence strategists Ira Jersey and Will Hoffman wrote in a research note. “Besides deficits of over $2 trillion in the foreseeable future, climbing maturities following the increase of issuance from March 2020 will also need to be refinanced.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cumulative deficit for the 2024–2033 period will total $20.2 trillion, or 6.1 percent of GDP. Deficits are expected to be at least 5.5 percent of GDP every year for the coming decade. Since 1973, the federal government budget deficit has averaged 3.6 percent of GDP. https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/07/van-jones-biden-retire-2024-election-drop-out/ ‘It’s Time’: CNN’s Van Jones Says Biden Needs To Consider Retiring CNN’s Van Jones said Tuesday that President Joe Biden needs to consider retiring following a poll from The New York Times/Siena College. The Sunday poll found president Donald Trump leading Biden by a substantial margin in five out of six key swing states. Biden holds a slight edge within the margin of error over Trump in Wisconsin. Jones argued Biden is in a tough position. Video Plays Several pundits have questioned whether Biden should drop out of the race, with CNN’s David Axelrod saying the president needs to decide whether staying in the race is “in his best interest or the country’s.” Director of Defending Democracy Together Bill Kristol posted on X that Biden needs to make an act of “personal sacrifice.” “It’s time. President Biden has served our country well. I’m confident he’ll do so for the next year. But it’s time for an act of personal sacrifice and public spirit. It’s time to pass the torch to the next generation. It’s time for Biden to announce he won’t run in 2024,” Kristol wrote. https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/2023/11/07/future-darwin-award-winner-tried-to-target-jewish-children-in-americas-midwest-n590580 Future Darwin Award Winner Tried to Target Jewish Children in America's Midwest A woman in Indiana plowed her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school. The police describe her as a terrorist and she was arrested at the scene. Not only was her intention to hurt or kill Jewish school children in their school in Indianapolis but she was completely mistaken about her target. The 34-year-old terrorist woman, allegedly backed her vehicle into a building associated with Black Hebrew Israelites on Friday. She admitted to the police that she specifically targeted the building because she was offended by a Hebrew Israelite symbol in front. This psycho thought she was entitled to try to harm children because she was offended by a symbol in front of the building, apparently. There were several adults and children in the building at the time. However, they were not who the woman thought they were. She said, “Yes. I did it on purpose.” She kept describing the building as the “Israel school” and she spoke about “her people back in Palestine.” According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is a sect of the Black Hebrew Israelites. It is an extremist group that is anti-Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center (I know) has designated them as a hate group. So, ironically, the unhinged and offended the woman plowed into the building used by a group who hate Israel as she does. She is Darwin Award material. An investigation is underway. There may be additional charges brought against her. The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis said Safe Indiana, a Jewish community security program, is working with cops to probe the incident. “Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance, and we are more secure and prepared than ever before,” the federation said in a statement. “Although a Jewish facility was not targeted, solely due to ironic misidentification, this is yet another reminder to maintain security protocols, remain vigilant of suspicious activity and to (report promptly) to the appropriate authorities.” These random acts of terror seem to be increasing. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently warned of lone wolf attacks. Wray said Hamas inspired terrorists pose a threat not seen since the days of ISIS. She confessed that she was motivated to do the attack after watching news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. She is originally from Amman, Jordan. Wray said that while Hamas is assessed to have no capabilities inside the US, other actors – possible radicalized individuals or small groups – could take inspiration from the terror group in a way similar to ISIS. Speaking to the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee, he said: “We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration, the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago. “In just the past few weeks, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West.” He said: “Here in the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists – individuals or small groups – will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives.” She was charged with a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness. Her first court appearance is scheduled for today, November 8. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255928/vatican-hospital-offers-to-treat-critically-ill-baby-denied-life-support-in-britain Vatican hospital offers to treat critically ill baby denied life support in Britain The Vatican’s pediatric hospital has offered to treat 8-month-old baby Indi Gregory after a British court ruled that she be removed from life support against her parents’ wishes. Gregory, who was born in February, suffers from a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease and has been receiving life-sustaining treatment on a ventilator at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, England. After England’s high court ruled that it was in the child’s “best interests” to be taken off life support, Gregory’s parents appealed to take her to Rome for treatment, an appeal that was denied by a British judge over the weekend. The Italian government decided in an emergency meeting on Monday to grant the critically ill child Italian citizenship and to cover the cost of her medical treatment at the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù (jay-zoo) hospital. “They say there isn’t much hope for little Indi, but until the very end, I’ll do what I can to defend her life,” Italian President Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media on Nov. 6. “And to defend the right of her mamma and papa to do all that they can for her.” The Bambino Gesù hospital has previously offered medical treatment to other critically ill children, including Alfie Evans in 2018 and Charlie Gard in 2017, both of whom were ultimately denied the chance to travel to Italy by U.K. courts and died days after being removed from life support. Christian Concern has published a letter from the president of the Bambino Gesù hospital outlining “a detailed treatment plan” for the child, which includes “life-sustaining treatment and palliative care to ensure Indi’s survival and comfort while the treatments take effect.” Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre supporting the Gregorys’ case, has noted that this is believed to be the first time that a parent’s appeal against an order to withdraw life-sustaining treatment has been rejected by the Court of Appeal without a hearing. “The law is there to protect life and the most vulnerable in our society. What is happening in this case sets a very worrying precedent with regard to that principle,” Williams said. “It is very concerning that a child can be held against the parents’ wishes when they have alternative treatment available.” With the newly granted Italian citizenship, the child’s parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, can appeal to the Italian consulate in Britain to request that their daughter be airlifted to Italy for treatment, according to Reuters. Simone Pillon (pee-lone), an Italian lawyer assisting the Gregory family, wrote on Nov. 7: “We are working to find an agreement between the two countries to satisfy the family’s request and treat Indi in Rome.” In response to the Italian government’s decision, Dean Gregory, Indi’s father, said: “My heart fills up with joy that the Italians have given Claire and I hope and faith back in humanity. The Italians have shown us care and loving support and I wish the U.K. authorities were the same.” https://nypost.com/2023/11/06/news/texas-southern-tuba-player-punches-heckler-in-the-stands-video/ Marching Band turns into Marching Hands? Texas Southern band member punches heckler in the stands, continues playing - He didn’t miss a beat. A Texas Southern University tuba player swiftly knocked out an obnoxious heckler during a football game Saturday before carrying on playing his instrument. Video taken from the stands during Saturday’s game between Texas Southern and Jackson State shows the college band’s tuba player bouncing along to the music while a fan starts yelling at him. A Jackson State fan can be seen in the footage aggressively yelling at the tuba player, who is attempting to continue playing with the band. Seeming to have had enough of the outburst, the Texas Southern tuba player says something to the man before swiftly punching him four times in the face. The Texas Southern band member then returns to his instrument as if the altercation never happened. In one recording of the incident, the band member can be heard telling the aggressive fan, “F–k off, b—h.” It’s unclear whether the heckler, who stumbled back several feet in the stands, sustained any injuries from the scuffle. It’s also unclear whether police responded to the incident or if any action was taken against the band member. Texas Southern University ended up losing to Jackson State, 21-19. https://www.outkick.com/field-hockey-teammate-issues-bold-statement-against-miaa-for-allowing-male-players-to-compete-against-women/ FIELD HOCKEY CAPTAIN SLAMS MASSACHUSETTS LAW ALLOWING BOYS ON GIRLS TEAMS AFTER BRUTAL INJURY TO HER TEAMMATE Men competing against women in sports spawned another tragic story on Thursday when a female field hockey player suffered significant injuries to her face after taking a shot from a male opponent. The female high schooler played on Dighton-Rehoboth High School’s team, and now the co-captain / teammate of her squad is speaking up and calling for policy change to prohibit men from competing against women to avoid further incidents. Kelsey Bain, who plays on Dighton-Rehoboth and is the co-captain of the field hockey team, posted a letter on X, directed at the MIAA to change the association’s policy that allows men to compete against women. “This is a letter I sent to the MIAA in response to the recent Swampscott vs. Dighton-Rehoboth field hockey incident,” Kelsey Bain posted on X, including the three-page notice. Women’s rights activist and OutKick host Riley Gaines shared Bain’s statement on social media. The man played for Swampscott High School, who played Dighton-Rehoboth in a playoff field hockey contest on Thursday. Under the MIAA’s ruling — the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association — men can compete against women if a sport does not offer their gender’s league. The man’s shot knocked several of the girl’s teeth out and caused serious facial injuries. Video of the hit shows the girl writhing in pain and screaming. To prevent these incidents from continuing, Kelsey Bain is stepping into the discourse, understanding that the association will not budge on the issue unless they are challenged. Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey put out a statement, identifying that the opponent was indeed a man and relaying the horror of the team personnel after one of their own suffered a brutal injury. Runey said, “Last night, a female field hockey player for the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School girls’ field hockey team sustained significant facial and dental injuries when she was struck in the face by a shot in the third quarter versus Swampscott in an MIAA state playoff contest. “The shot was taken by a male member of the Swampscott girls field hockey team. This injury required hospitalization. The player, her family, teammates, and coaches remain in my prayers.”

Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern, highlighted the "2023 Persecutor of the Year Awards," released in correlation with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and discussed what is occurring in some specific countries regarding the persecution of Christians. You can learn more about the organization at persecution.org. 

Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern, highlighted the "2023 Persecutor of the Year Awards," released in correlation with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and discussed what is occurring in some specific countries regarding the persecution of Christians. You can learn more about the organization at persecution.org. 

In the 61st episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, Dr Gavin Ashenden talks to Tim Dieppe about challenge of Islam to Western democracies and the values that underpin them following mass migration and radicalisation triggered by war. Mr Dieppe is head of public policy at Christian Concern, which he joined in 2016, and has a special interest in Islamic affairs. He co-authored the book Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends with Beth Peltola and also contributed two chapters to Beyond the Odds: Providence in Britain's Wars of the 20th Century by John Scriven.

The Canadian government’s passage of legislation such as Bills C-11, C-18, and C-36 is beginning to bear fruit, in the form of increasingly invasive censorship policies levied on content platforms. All civilizations practice censorship, making decisions for the type of material that is suitable for public viewing; the difference is in the standard of judging and how it is applied. We should not be afraid of truth, even when it offends our own sensibilities. Rather, the testing of our opinions and assumptions against competing claims is a primary means for us to grow in knowledge and understanding. UK and European friends, join us and Christian Concern for the Mission of God UK conference, on November 4 in Daventry. North Americans, please join us in either Windsor or Calgary for the Mission of God Canada, on December 2 and 9.

Our guest on this week's Whittle is Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern and author of an upcoming publication on free speech & Islamophobia. Tim & Peter discuss "Islamophobia Revisited" (https://www.civitas.org.uk/publicatio... ), a new report by Civitas' Hardeep Singh. Tim reveals the disturbing ways in which criticism of Islam is being silenced. All Parliamentary political parties except for the Conservative Party have adopted a broad and "problematic" definition of Islamophobia which links it with racism and makes any legitimate criticism of the religion "Islamophobic". In Islamophobia Revisited, Hardeep Singh conducts a thorough investigation into how Islamophobia is defined by local authorities describing a ‘panoply' of different approaches and definitions. In response to a large-scale Freedom of Information exercise, Singh discovers that one in seven (15.6 per cent) local authorities in England have adopted a definition of ‘Islamophobia' described by the government as ‘not fit for purpose'. Singh finds 22.7 per cent of Welsh local authorities and 25 per cent of Scottish local authorities have adopted this disputed definition. The adoption of a disputed definition of Islamophobia has ‘taken on a life of its own' according to Singh, who raises concerns over conflating race with religion and claims that ‘Islamophobia is a type of racism.' Singh raises concerns over an officially recognised definition of Islamophobia, something he says ‘conflates race with religion' across local authorities. Singh provides compelling evidence that not enough due diligence or scrutiny has been conducted by local authorities over their approach to defining Islamophobia as a form of racism, with concerns over free speech ‘largely dismissed.' Singh claims the adoption of a disputed definition of Islamophobia prevents ‘an honest conversation about public policies relating to faith or religion, or basic historical truths', and recommends that local councils do more to protect free speech and avoid critics of religion or religious practice being described as ‘racist' and potential prosecution under hate speech laws. You may read "Islamophobia Revisited" here: https://www.civitas.org.uk/publications/islamophobia-revisited/ --------------- SUBSCRIBE: If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe to our channel on YouTube (click the Subscribe Button underneath the video and then Click on the Bell icon next to it to make sure you Receive All Notifications) AUDIO: If you prefer Audio you can subscribe on iTunes or Soundcloud. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-923838732 itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/s... SUPPORT/DONATE: PAYPAL/ CARD PAYMENTS - ONE TIME & MONTHLY: You can donate in a variety of ways via our website: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk/#do... It is set up to accept one time and monthly donations. JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Web: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk F: https://www.facebook.com/NCultureForum/ Y: http://www.youtube.com/c/NewCultureForum T: http://www.twitter.com/NewCultureForum (@NewCultureForum)

Dear All,Thank you for listening to Into the Pray.I'll allow the podcast to explain itself but, suffice to say, if you are distressed at the contradictory condition in which we are as the Church as a whole, (and especially what is recognised as the word of the LORD), I pray this episode is a comfort to you/yours. When magazines from the biggest para-church organisations in the country (ie Christian Concern) come through our doors, we must exercise discernment. I've personally warned Andrea Williams about this but she wouldn't listen.You can watch this week's two videos here: 1) Dealing with a "call to repentance" that I view as false. 2) Dealing with the distress of this that impacts all who long to be true. The Glorious Few book info/sales are here and its hard-hitting promo film is here.  (Please share).You can support this work here.Please also spend time watching this important message:The Children, The Deception & The Dishonour. If you have any testimonials, please reach out, make contact across the 'digital divide', and let us know!Order our new gospel tract for your parish here. Let's smash this fake gospel up.Our flagship content:

Connor talks to Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, Tim Dieppe, for an overview of the moral, political, and legal issues besetting Britain, and how to correct the omission of Christian convictions from public life.

Ben talks about the mounting pressures facing Christians, his stand in the Church of England, and his involvement preparing the emerging generation “for such a time as this” with Christian Concern and their Wilberforce Academy.- https://christianconcern.com- https://wilberforceacademy.org.ukYouTube Version: www.youtube.com/RadicalLifestyle- Radical Lifestyle Instagram Click Here- Telegram channel and discussion: Click HereYou can also follow Andrew and Daphne on their social media platforms:Andrew Kirk: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | ParlerDaphne Kirk: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | ParlerTo support the channel: Click Here- UK only Donations here: Click Here

It's Wednesday, January 18th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Muslims bombed Congo church service, killing 17 and injuring 39 A bomb went off on Sunday during a church service at an Evangelical church in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Forces allied with the Islamic State took responsibility for the attack which killed at least 17 people and wounded 39 more. Churches in the central African nation face extreme pressure from Islamic groups. Militants are known to raid villages, destroy church buildings, and kill hundreds of Christians. Last week, Voice of the Martyrs added the Congo to its list of most dangerous countries for Christians in its 2023 Global Prayer Guide. China's bleak economic future because of previous one-child policy China's population officially dropped for the first time since 1961, according to new figures released yesterday. Compared to 2021, the number of people in the country dropped by 850,000 last year, and over a million fewer babies were born. China's death rate was up to 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people, the highest it's been since the Cultural Revolution in 1974. The effects of China's former one-child policy and 400 million aborted babies are expected to continue such population decline. The fast-aging population also indicates a bleak economic outlook for China. Proverbs 1:31 says of those who reject the fear of God, “they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.” British teacher's union targets Christian math teacher The U.K.'s Teaching Regulation Agency is seeking to remove a Christian math teacher from his profession. In 2017, the Cherwell School in Oxford dismissed Joshua Sutcliffe for allegedly “misgendering” a student. In other words, the teacher referred to the student by their biological sex. The school took further offense at Sutcliffe's opposition to faux homosexual marriage. The Evangelical teacher was also running a voluntary Bible club attended by over one hundred students which Cherwell shut down. Sutcliffe told Christian Concern the school publicly shamed him for his actions. SUTCLIFFE: “I've been sat in detention now for six days. And it's like solitude. It's like I'm being publicly shamed.  I'm seeing my students that I see every day. I'm thinking, ‘Well, what am I supposed to do? I've been asked to sit here. I listened to the instructions of the head. What am I supposed to do?' I'm just sat in the office.” 11 Reps. and 2 Senators in U.S. Congress are homosexual or bisexual A new study by the Pew Research Center found the 118th U.S. Congress has a record number of members who openly identify with sexually perverted lifestyles. Two senators and 11 House representatives now say they are “lesbian, gay, or bisexual” up from only one Congress member nearly forty years ago. Eleven of the openly homosexual members are Democrat; two are Independent, and one is Republican. 64th city declares itself Sanctuary City foe the Unborn Last Thursday, the City Council of Little River-Academy in Texas unanimously approved a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance. It's the 64th city in the nation to do so. The ordinance bans abortions and abortion drugs within city limits. The measure also prohibits killing unborn babies that are residents of the city regardless of where the abortion would take place. Texas abortions have dropped by 99% Meanwhile, abortions in the Lone Star State have dropped by 99% since the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. New Texas health data show the state had 2,596 abortions in June, 68 in July, and only three in August. Inflation eased up slightly The U.S. government reports inflation eased up slightly last month. December's Consumer Price Index decreased to 6.5% compared with a year before. It marks the sixth straight month of inflation decline. The falling cost of gasoline made up the largest decline in the price index. U.S. cancer deaths down 33% A new study from the American Cancer Society found that cancer deaths in the U.S. are down 33% over the last 30 years. The study estimated this has meant 3.8 million fewer deaths. Cancer mortality rates peaked in the 1990s. Since then, the rates have been coming down with better cancer detection and treatment. McManus interview of Eric Metaxas on Letter to the American Church On today's edition of Generations Radio, I guest host for Kevin Swanson to interview Eric Metaxas, the author of a new book entitled Letter to the American Church. Listen to his comparison between the German church in the Nazi era and the American church today. METAXAS: “The parallels are astonishing! And it's why I had to write this book because I said, ‘Knowing what I know, having written the book on Bonhoeffer, being familiar with what happened in Germany in the 30s, I see such clear parallels with the American church today.' I said, ‘I've absolutely got to write this book. “First of all, you have a Christian nation that is secure in its cultural Christianity, that cannot even begin to imagine the evil that lies ahead, and is therefore absolutely slow in seeing what is happening, and where the silence of the church is leading. In other words, the German church could see bad things, but they thought, ‘You know what? It's not our role to speak up. We're not supposed to be political, Romans 13.' “They had all exactly the same excuses that American Christian leaders have today in being quiet and saying that ‘that's not our lane.'  What followed, because of their silence, is one of the most unimaginable horrors in history!” Take a listen to the whole interview at Generations.org/radio. 40 Indiana prisoners came to Christ and got baptized And finally, a sheriff's department in Indiana celebrated the baptisms of over 40 incarcerated men and women at the end of last year. A post from the Decatur County Sheriff's Department said, “Chaplain Dave Burnett . . . baptized nearly 40 men and women after a personal, public profession of Jesus Christ in their lives. Over the past four years, nearly 300 men and women have given their lives to Jesus Christ while incarcerated at the Decatur County Detention Center. All glory to GOD!” Jesus said in Luke 15:17, “I tell you, there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, January 18th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Friday, December 30th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. By Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Environmentalists hurting Azerbaijan people On Monday, December 12th, environmental activists in Azerbaijan setup tents blocking the only road connecting Karabakh to the outside world, reports international Christian Concern. Azerbaijan is located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In addition, they shut down the gas lines for four days which caused schools to temporarily close and the heat to be shut off in homes. Russia launched largest aerial assault on Thursday Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv were urged to head to air raid shelters early on Friday as sirens wailed across the city, a day after Russia carried out the biggest aerial assault since it started the war in February, reports Reuters. In a video address on Thursday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said air commands in central, southern, eastern and western Ukraine repelled 54 Russian missiles and 11 drones. More than 18 residential buildings and 10 critical infrastructure installations were destroyed in the latest attacks. Waves of Russian air strikes in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure, have left millions without power and heating in often freezing temperatures. Epoch Times uncovers voting issues in Houston and Dallas Texas Secretary of State John Scott's office has released the final phase of its 2020 general election audit of Collin, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties, reports The Epoch Times. The audit released on Monday showed the most serious issues occurred in two Democrat areas, Harris County -- including Houston, followed by Dallas, both of which featured “phantom voters.” By contrast, the two largest Republican-controlled counties, Tarrant County administered a “quality, transparent election” with minor findings, and Collin County “proved to be the model of how to run elections in Texas.” (pdf) Massachusetts mom gets city to fly “nuclear family” flag for a week When it comes to the concept of “inclusivity,” the sexual perversion movement is ruthlessly hypocritical: only their message may be included. But now conservative Christians are pushing back. In early November 2022, Jessica Jacobson – a mother in Fitchburg, Massachusetts – wanted to discuss how to deal with the sexual perversion indoctrination in the schools, reports MassResistance. Jessica noticed that every year the city flies the LHBT rainbow “pride” flag in a city park for a week. She reasoned that it would only be fair that they also fly a “nuclear family” flag, celebrating heterosexuality, for a week. So, Jessica spoke with Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DeNatale. She explained to him that the non-discrimination laws required both sides of an issue to be allowed. She also reminded the mayor that his oath of office requires him to be “impartial” toward the citizens of Fitchburg. There is also the recent 9-0 US Supreme Court decision, Shurtleff v. City of Boston, requiring Boston to be impartial in allowing flags. Thus, the nuclear family flag – celebrating heterosexuality -- should also be allowed to fly for a week in the same location in Fitchburg. Surprisingly, the Mayor was very supportive of the idea. He agreed that if one group in the community was represented, other members of the community should also be represented. It was determined that the nuclear family flag would be raised in the city's Riverfront Park on Dec. 21 and fly there until Dec. 28. To his credit, Mayor DeNatale participated in the nuclear family flag-raising ceremony as you can see in his tweet. Take a moment to thank him by email through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com or by calling 978-829-1801. Not surprisingly, the sexual perversion activists were livid, reports Boston 25 News. Jessica composed a one-page statement entitled, “Equality is what this flag raising is all about.” It describes what support for the nuclear family means, the demands for equal representation, and how churches are encouraged to pray for nuclear families in these troubled times. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” 6 notables Christians who died in 2022 The Christian Post reports that there were six notable Christians who died in 2022. They include: Ray Bentley, an author, radio broadcaster and pastor, who helped to found the Maranatha Chapel of California, an influential Evangelical megachurch, who died of complications from COVID-19 at age 64. Abune Antonios, the former leader of the Orthodox Church in Eritrea, Africa, died after spending 15 years in detention as a prisoner of conscience for resisting the Eritrean government's interference in church affairs. He was 94. Dede Robertson, the wife of televangelist Pat Robertson, who was involved in the leadership of both Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network. She died at age 94. Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) a Presbyterian theologian, public speaker, minister, World War II veteran and author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, died at the age of 96. Gordon Fee, a theologian, distinguished professor, Bible translator, and bestselling author who was considered an expert on the study of the Holy Spirit, died at age 88. Canadian Pastor Leon Fontaine, who led the multisite Springs Church of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and gained recent attention for his opposition to COVID-19 lockdown orders, died at age 59 following a brief battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Ohio Worldview listener gets Kirk Cameron's kids' book in library And finally, Stephanie Burns, a Worldview listener in Sandusky, Ohio emailed me a praise report earlier this week. She said, “I have had success in requesting Kirk Cameron's new children's book, As You Grow, to be purchased at my local public library.  “I will pray for those who are not met with the same reception and kindness to have wisdom to say the right words in those difficult conversations, shining the light of Christ in truth and love, trusting God's Spirit to work through it in some way. “Thank you for The Worldview broadcast!” In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Watch a CBN interview with Kirk Cameron about how 50 “Drag Queen Story Hour” libraries either rejected Cameron's request to read his book there or ignored it altogether.  When threatened with a possible lawsuit, two libraries saw the light. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, December 30th in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Wednesday, September 28th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Hong Kong Bishop on trial for pro-democracy protests A 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong went on trial Monday for his support of pro-democracy protests in 2019. Cardinal Joseph Zen is known for speaking out against China's Communist Party which has asserted control over Hong Kong. Police originally arrested the bishop in May. Shortly after China introduced its National Security Law for Hong Kong in 2020, Cardinal Zen said he was ready to face trial and imprisonment.  Cubans voted for faux homosexual marriage & homosexual adoption The whirlwind of sexually perverted lifestyles has been let loose on Cuba. On Sunday, Cubans voted in favor of a new family code that legalizes faux homosexual marriage as well as adoption for homosexual couples. Sixty-six percent of voters supported the referendum while 33% opposed it. Meanwhile, a different storm made landfall in Cuba this week. Hurricane Ian slammed into the island on Tuesday. The Category 3 storm caused mass evacuations, power outages, and flooding. Britain's Nat'l Health Service reluctantly allows doctor to pray On Monday, England's National Health Service agreed to a settlement with a Christian doctor facing disciplinary measures for offering to pray with his patients.  The NHS investigated Dr. Richard Scott for years based on hearsay complaints. The regulatory body even threatened to remove him from the NHS Practitioners List unless he took a nearly $2,000 “professional boundaries” course at his own expense. The recent settlement says Dr. Scott is allowed to offer to pray with his patients.   Dr. Scott told Christian Concern in a video that the next generation of doctors in England live in fear of expressing their faith. SCOTT: “We now have generation of young doctors who are so scared to open their mouth for Jesus in case the National Secular Society, the General Medical Council, NHS England or anybody else, the British Humanist Association, complains. And would rather they didn't get a complaint because it can be very stressful.” Southern Baptist denomination kicks out pro-homosexual church The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention decided to disfellowship a congregation last week over its open affirmation of homosexuality. Texas pastor Jared Wellman, who serves as the Southern Baptist Executive Committee chairman, told Baptist Press the congregation was “outside the bounds of fellowship with Southern Baptists.”  College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina was founded in 1906. Its website states it is a “Welcoming, LGBTQIA Affirming Baptist Church.”  That's quite an alphabet soup there. James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Two anti-abortion laws in Arizona Two anti-abortion laws took effect in Arizona last week. On Friday, a county judge reinstated an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions. The law has not been in effect since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. However, the judge reinstated the law in light of the court's reversal of Roe this year.  A second Arizona law also took effect Saturday, banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Planned Parenthood Arizona is suspending abortions in response to the laws. Pro-life canvasser shot in back On September 20th, a short, 83-year-old pro-life Michigan woman was going door to door in Odessa Township, volunteering her time to urge voters to vote against Proposal 3, a pro-abortion constitutional amendment on the November ballot, reports Channel 8 News. Anna Visser, director of Communication and Education for Michigan Right to Life, summarized what happened when she came to the home of Richard and Sharon Harvey. VISSER: “From her account, the lady, [Sharon Harvey], that answered the door, was upset with her, started screaming at her. And then, as she was walking away, a man, [Richard Harvey], from the house whom she wasn't originally talking to, he came out, and shot her in the back as she was walking away.” The volunteer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, drove herself to the Lake Odessa Police Department and was then treated and released from the hospital. Richard Harvey claims he shot her by accident. The 83-year-old pro-lifer is a long-time volunteer and has had no complaints about how she has discussed the abortion issue at the doorstep of people's homes. According to a Michigan Right to Life press release, the out-of-control rhetoric of President Joe Biden and Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer must end with the shooting of a pro-life volunteer. Visser said, “She is recovering well and is in good spirits.” Americans confused about whether we are a Christian nation The University of Maryland's Critical Issues Poll found 70% of Americans think the U.S. Constitution would not allow the U.S. government to declare the United States a Christian nation. Sixty-two percent of Americans also oppose the United States officially declaring itself to be a Christian nation.  John Jay, the  First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, wrote, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their ruler, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Not surprisingly, a majority of Republicans (at 61%) are in favor of the U.S. declaring itself a Christian nation.  Psalm 9:17, 20 says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. … Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” Tennessee Governor's acknowledgement of God's sovereignty And finally, Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Lee  signed a proclamation declaring Friday, September 30 a day of prayer, humility, and fasting. The proclamation declared, “We acknowledge God's sovereignty and the need for God's grace over our state and our nation. …. We seek forgiveness for our many transgressions so that our hearts and our minds may be renewed.  … Scripture tells us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the Lord gives wisdom freely to those who ask for it. … The people of Tennessee acknowledge our rich blessings, our deep transgressions, the complex challenges ahead, and the need to pause, to humble ourselves and to seek God's guidance for the days ahead.” Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, September 28th, in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

If we never speak up, we'll never find out what could happen...  After nearly 10 years of hosting its annual “Wilberforce week,” an Oxford college abruptly disinvited British group Christian Concern this March. Apparently, a handful of students accused the group of “hateful and invalidating” language.   In response, Christian Concern approached Worcester College and asked them to substantiate those accusations. The college was unable to do so and was instead reminded of a prior statement issued by its provost, that “the free expression and exchange of different views …  goes straight to the heart of our democracy and is a vital part of higher education.”  In the end, the college walked back the cancellation of Christian Concern and issued an apology.  Thank God for small victories like this, and for Christians willing to live out Peter's command to respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak against us “may be put to shame.”  But this also requires Christians who, like the Apostle Peter, are willing to speak truth in the first place ... which takes courage, but who knows what God will do?