Explainer: Texas authorizes citizens to enforce new abortion law

Texas recently passed a new law that would allow citizens, rather than government officials, to enforce a new law that prohibits abortion as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.

“The Texas Heartbeat Act is novel in approach, allowing for citizens to hold abortionists accountable through private lawsuits,” says Rebecca Parma, a senior legislative associate with Texas Right to Life. “No heartbeat law passed by another state has taken this strategy. Additionally, the bill does not punish women who obtain abortions.” 

Here is what you should know about this new pro-life legislation.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in a 7-3 decision that churches’ supervision of clergy, not only hiring and firing, is encompassed by the “ministerial exception” legal doctrine. This rule, created by the Supreme Court in 2012, allows for the hiring and firing decisions of churches and other religious institutions to be made according to their beliefs.

The Seventh Circuit case involved the firing of a Chicago-area Catholic church music director after he married his male partner; the music director, in turn, sued the church for discriminatory firing and a hostile work environment. After a Seventh Circuit panel ruled in favor of the music director last August, the ERLC, in tandem with other faith-based organizations, filed a friend-of-the-court brief calling on the court to rehear the case. The court’s decision last week is a win for advocates of religious liberty, as well as churches and religious institutions. 

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, the ERLC's acting director of policy, praised the ruling:

“Church affairs are no place for secular governing authorities to exert influence. It is imperative that courts continue to affirm the ministerial exception because, to do otherwise, would render the separation of church and state meaningless.” 

From The Public Square

What You Need to Read

Andrew Bertodatti with What life is like in the U.S. for an immigrant

Forced displacement is a growing and urgent global crisis. A multitude of conditions, including religious persecution, force people from their homes to pursue safety and the well-being of their families. As the worldwide refugee crisis becomes increasingly dire, churches have an opportunity to profoundly affect displaced people by extending compassion, hospitality, and advocacy. 

Jordan Wootten with How remembering our mortality helps us live today

Death remains our enemy, this much is certain. But what Satan meant for evil, in his whisperings to Eve and in Christ’s agonized cries from the cross, God has turned for our good. The crucified and resurrected one has crushed the head of the serpent, and because “he went first,” our resurrection will soon follow. Death has been defeated, and that’s worth remembering in a way that transforms our lives today. 

Heather Rice-Minus with A new documentary sheds light on reentry after prison

Each person is made in the image of God, and no life is beyond his reach. Followers of Christ are called to share the grace and truth of the gospel with all people and to minister to those who are marginalized or oppressed. The act of serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families in the name of Jesus is not only a ministry but also a means of worship and spiritual growth. Recognizing the basic, God-given dignity of each individual, we should create a culture that celebrates formerly incarcerated people’s worth and potential, regardless of their past.

This Week at the ERLC

• Daniel Patterson praised the settlement reached between Capitol Hill Baptist Church and Washington, D.C. He also expressed gratitude for the U.S. Senate passing the Uyghur Forced Labor Act, a bill the ERLC strongly supported.
   
• Chelsea Patterson Sobolik talked to Baptist Press about an important court ruling protecting the ministerial exception.
   
• Jason Thacker discussed the danger of deepfake videos in an interview with The Alabama Baptist.

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