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The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory.

Explainer: What you should know about fetal heartbeat legislation

What just happened?

Last week, the Ohio legislature passed a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Gov. Mike DeWine has indicated he’d sign the ban into law. The legislature had approved similar measures twice before but both were vetoed by DeWine’s predecessor, Gov. John Kasich.

A similar bill was passed in Georgia House earlier this month, and will soon be considered by the Senate. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign the bill.

What is "fetal heartbeat" legislation?

Fetal heartbeat bills ban abortions within a state after the point where the heartbeat can be detected. By use of an ultrasound, the heartbeat of a child in the womb can routinely be detected as early as 6-7 weeks after conception.

This Week at the ERLC

How does technology both help and hinder the flourishing of our society? Jason Thacker joined The Good Community podcast to discuss emerging technology and the common good. Check out the discussion here.

Pastors can play an important role in recovering a vision of human dignity, as Dan Darling shares this week on the Preaching and Preachers podcast with Jason Keith Allen. Tune in here.

What You Need to Know

As the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, the ERLC engages a number of elected officials across the country. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is one of those leaders the ERLC has been privileged to work with over the years. Recently, Russell Moore sat down with Governor Haslam to talk about leadership, service, and the current nature of our political climate. Check out their discussion here.

The temptation is to use God instead of being used by God. So, it comes back to that sense of being called. I [try to] remember, if we are called, we are not called to be about ourselves; even the Son of Man came not be served but to give his life as a ransom for many. That is the foundation below the call and why the call exists to begin with.

Much of the Midwest is still recovering from the aftermath of the bomb cyclone that brought heavy wind, snow, and rain to the region early last week. Michael Natelli shares several ways Christians can help after this natural disaster. Read his explainer here.

The temptation when disaster hits (especially when it does not affect us personally) is to read, learn, feel a moment of grief, and then move on. But while the news cycle will fade, the devastation will be felt many months from now. We honor the imago dei when we treat victims as people, not merely characters in a news story.

In an age of information overload, how can Christian parents raise their kids with wisdom? Brittany Salmon shares some practical advice in her piece, "How should we parent as Christians in America?”

We all want what’s best for our children, but it is important to remember that we shouldn’t let the things of this world motivate our parenting. Our goal isn’t for our children to grow up in a certain social circle or with particular socioeconomic privileges. Our goal is to raise children who see Jesus as greater than anything else on this earth.

News From Capitol Hill

Born Alive in the U.S. House of Representatives

The ERLC will continue its work to ensure legal protection for innocent lives as well as win hearts and minds to caring for the vulnerable.

Featured Podcasts

Matthew J. Franck joins Andrew Walker and Mike Harder on the Countermoves podcast this week to discuss religion, public reason, and liberal democracy. Check out their discussion here.

How can clean water change lives? Lifewater International CEO Justin Narducci joins Dan Darling on The Way Home podcast to share about the mission of Lifewater and the importance of clean water and sanitation. Listen here.

From The Public Square

Religious Freedom Isn’t Just for Christians
Ted Olsen, Christianity Today

A Supreme Court cruelty reveals how we can love our neighbors.

Secular Democrats Are the New Normal
Peter Beinart, The Atlantic

Instead of invoking God, O’Rourke and most other Democratic contenders identify religion as a source of division.

More states sue Trump for defunding abortion
Harvest Prude, WORLD

A coalition of 21 states is suing the Trump administration for new rules preventing Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from receiving some taxpayer dollars.

When It Comes to the Link Between Religion and Well-Being, Participation Matters Most
Alysse ElHage, Institute for Family Studies

The well-established connection between religion and human flourishing should encourage us to more clearly acknowledge, promote, and protect the gifts that shared religious activities bestow on personal and community well-being.