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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Supreme Court flunks Biology 101

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a stunning 6-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which included “yes” votes by so-called conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, homosexuality and transgenderism were each declared to be a “sex” and so included in that protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County -- a combination of three cases involving the firing of a funeral home worker who chose a transgender identity and the firings of two homosexuals who came out as gay to their employers (a county government and a sky diving business) -- the Court conceded that the law protected “any individual … because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” Furthermore, the same justices admitted that “the term ‘sex' in 1964 referred to biological distinctions between male and female.” Then the six supporters made the tortuous argument about what “because of” meant and gave undue emphasis on “disparate treatment” to disregard the original meaning of “sex” (biological differences between a man and woman) in order to declare that homosexuality and transgenderism are … [Read more...]

No Phase Three, churches still restricted to 50 percent capacity

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana will remain in Phase Two of reopening the state’s economy, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. During a news conference, Edwards said that he had hoped to move into Phase Three on Friday, which would have eased additional restrictions. The state has been under the current order since June 5. Under the order, churches will continue to be restricted to 50 percent capacity, and, a 250 person indoor maximum was added. Edwards said the decision was based upon data from the Louisiana Department of Health showing that new novel coronavirus related cases and hospitalizations have increased statewide. He said the state has seen an increase of hospitalizations in three regions, and ranks seventh out of 23 states across the nation experiencing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases. He added that Louisiana surpassed 50,000 positive cases and 3,000 deaths on Monday. The state’s population, according to the U.S. Census, is estimated to be around 4.6 million. “We have to continue to work to flatten the curve, to keep it flattened and make sure that we are moving in the right direction as it relates to case growth and to hospitalizations,” Edwards said. “I am convinced we … [Read more...]