By Louisiana Family Forum BATON ROUGE — Today, Attorney General Jeff Landry issued this official opinion regarding Governor John Bel Edwards’ Executive Order and the Obama administration’s guidelines for schools that are being federally forced on individual states. Both orders deal with similar subject matter: sexual orientation and gender identity. The request for the opinion was made by 32 Louisiana Legislators. The Attorney General findings are that neither of these executive actions have the force of law and are only aspirational. Neither the state nor the federal executive branch have constitutional or legal authority to define a newly protected class – sexual orientation and gender identity. With regard to the guidelines issued by the Obama administration dealing with transgender access in public schools, the Attorney General declares these to be “non-binding policy” relative to our state. "As you are aware, executive agencies are not permitted to redefine a federal statute," the letter correctly reads. "Rather, legislative power is vested in the legislative branch. The Administration is clearly attempting to bypass the legislative process and ignore the original legislative intent, which did not afford claims of … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – While most of the students are gone for the summer, Louisiana College junior Lievin Manisha chose to remain behind to spend a week to help spruce up the campus. An international student from Burundi, Africa, Manisha is helping 29 members of the Louisiana Campers on Mission, who are making their annual stop on the LC campus this week, doing a variety of odd jobs. After having breakfast and a morning devotion together, Manisha and the other campers scatter throughout campus to tackle a list of jobs. Some of the jobs include: cleaning the fountain, painting curbs along the roadway and forming steps near a dormitory. Manisha, who became a Christian and learned about LC while an LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry missions team was in his community several years ago, said this is a way he can show his love for those who invested in his life. “Seeing these people inspires me a lot,” Manisha said. “They encourage me to help out and give back.” This is the final work project for the group before taking a break for the summer. They will reconvene in September. Since last fall, Campers on Mission have completed annual week-long assignments at Tall Timbers Conference Center and at the Baptist encampments around … [Read more...]

By David Stallings, Landmark Productions LEESVILLE – Grammy and Dove Award-winnning recording artist, Guy Penrod, will perform in concert at 7 pm on June 4 in the Leesville High School Auditorium. Guy Penrod was born July 2, 1963, in Abilene, Texas. He is a pastor’s kid who spent his growing up years in Texas and New Mexico. When it was time to go off to college, Guy moved to Lynchburg, Va., to attend college at Liberty University, where he studied music and vocal performance. In addition to his studies, Guy served as a representative of the University by traveling and singing on the weekends. After four years he had earned not only a Bachelor’s degree, but also a lot of valuable singing and ministry experience. He met a certain tall, athletic beauty named Angie Clark while attending Liberty University and the couple was married on the evening of Guy’s graduation day. They moved to Atlanta, Ga., where Guy worked as the music teacher at a Christian school, but after only a year he heard Nashville calling his name. In Nashville, Guy became a successful studios session singer during the early 1980s, backing up a star-studded line-up of country and gospel music’s best. He eventually became a regular performer on the weekly … [Read more...]

  By Message Staff BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee presented a hostile response to a bill that would have provided a simple protection for pastors -- prevent the state from forcing religious leaders to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies. Sponsored by state Rep. Mike Johnson, HB597, the Pastor Protection Act, narrowly focused on shielding pastors from the fallout of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, in which five justices overturned voter–approved marriage laws in 31 states, which had defined marriage as between one man and one woman. It did not contain any provisions relating to people of faith in business or government, just those who serve in official roles with a church in context of wedding ceremonies. The Louisiana House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this bill by an 80-18 vote April 19, but the measure failed 3-2 with the Judiciary B Committee, meaning the full Senate will not have a chance to consider the proposed legislation. Voting against the bill were Senators J.P. Morrell and Karen Carter Peterson, both from New Orleans, as well as Eric LaFleur of Ville Platte. All three are Democrats, and Peterson is chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party … [Read more...]