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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

First Liberty Institute praises new exemptions to contraceptive mandate, DOJ guidance on religious liberty

By First Liberty Institute communications PLANO, Texas—The Trump administration has announced two significant policy positions that will protect the religious liberty of all Americans—critical protections that will immediately benefit First Liberty Institute’s clients and aid many others. Because of a new interim final rule announced Oct. 6 by the Trump administration, clients of First Liberty are now exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate, which forced businesses, ministries, and other non-profit organizations to reject their religious beliefs and moral convictions or violate the law. Deputy General Counsel for First Liberty Jeremy Dys issued the following statement regarding the HHS interim final rule: “The new rule is a huge win for business and ministry leaders who, since 2013, have been fighting the government’s disregard for their religious beliefs and moral convictions. Now, they can lead their organizations in good conscience without choosing between their convictions and obeying law.” In July, First Liberty attorneys held an in-person, on-the-record meeting with officials from the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Labor, and Health and Human Services— agencies tasked with … [Read more...]

LC enrollment continues to climb

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) – For two years running, Louisiana College’s upward trend in enrollment continues, with a 24 percent increase in 2017's freshman class. Last year’s saw a 14 percent increase, reversing a five-year downward spiral that began in 2010 under previous school leadership. Louisiana College began its fall semester welcoming 310 freshmen and a 9 percent overall enrollment increase. Since becoming president in April 2015, LC President Rick Brewer is continually "pressing on," as his team often hears him say. He immediately began revitalizing the school's standing in the community to ensure its future, by creating the Louisiana College 2020 Vision with a primary goal of raising enrollment to 1,500 students. "When our Board of Trustees unanimously elected Brewer as president, we did so in the confidence that his previous 28 years of leadership success in Christian higher education would continue at Louisiana College," said Dr. Randy Harper, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "We believe it has because the significant increase in enrollment is directly due to Dr. Brewer and his leadership team who has implemented his vision." Professor of English and Coordinator of Academic Advising … [Read more...]

Kennedy: We need to rebuild the middle class

By U.S. Sen. John Kennedy It doesn’t take an expert to see that something is stalling the American economy. Last year, for the 11th year in a row, America failed to achieve 3 percent annual growth. We’re not achieving that average benchmark, much less the growth that Americans truly deserve. Times are especially hard in Louisiana. Good-paying jobs are too scarce. They were scarce before the energy market downturn and the BP oil spill. If you’re a middle-aged man with a wife and two kids in Louisiana, you’re probably wondering how your parents were able to raise four kids on a single salary. Sure, they didn’t drive a Cadillac and they ate a lot of tuna casserole, but they sent those kids to college and retired at a decent age. The sobering truth is that government is regulating and taxing people half to death. We’re chasing our ideas, our jobs and our investors into the open, waiting arms of foreign countries. In the process, we’re killing our middle class, which is the primary vehicle for economic growth. I like to speak my mind so I’ll be blunt. Ordinary people need a tax cut. Too many undeserving people at the top are getting bailouts. Too many undeserving people at the bottom are getting … [Read more...]

Leading Louisiana’s congressional delegation, Johnson, Abraham vote to protect the Sanctity of Life

By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five of Louisiana’s six members of the U.S. House of Representatives have voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act, which prohibits any person from performing or attempting an abortion after the 20-week period. During a vote Oct. 3, H.R. 36 passed by a vote of 237 to 189, largely along party lines. Voting in favor of the bill were Louisiana Republicans Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves, Clay Higgins, Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise. The lone no vote from the state’s delegation to the House of Representatives was Cedric Richmond, a Democrat from New Orleans. The piece of legislation now goes before the Senate for consideration. President Donald Trump has already voiced his support of the bill. Following the vote, several members of Congress from Louisiana released statements including two Louisiana Baptists, Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church and a medical doctor, and  Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City. “As a doctor, I believe in defending life at all stages. I've heard a child's heart beat at six weeks old,” Abraham said in a written statement. “Babies can feel pain at 20 weeks; to abort them is a cruel practice that must end. The … [Read more...]