Join us for episode six of Prophetic Wisdom LIVE FROM AMERICA! 🇺🇸"We pray for the internet in California." - James HughesPlay Video

[A note from our Managing Editor: Tim Shorey, pastor and author, is one of our Gospel-Centered Discipleship staff writers. Tim is also currently battling stage 4 prostate cancer. On Facebook and CaringBridge, he’s writing about his journey. We’re including some of his posts in a series on our website called “The Potter’s Clay: Faith Reflections from a Cancer Oven.” To preserve the feel of a daily journal rather than a published work, we have chosen not to submit these reflections to a rigorous editing process.]*     *     *Dear Journal,Just the other day, we made our move into a new home. Just about everything we own is now tucked cozily and beautifully inside of our 650-700 square foot patch of ground on planet earth—and we love it!But the process was exhausting, which is not at all abnormal for me. I live exhausted. Case in point, I’ve been so depleted by my cancer, its treatments, and my various other conditions that the vast majority of our contracted work and move was planned and carried out by my wife, Gayline. She was our Project Manager from start to finish, a role she jumped into with energy, skill, and joy. That was so, even though mid-way through the process, she had some major surgery and recovery of her own. If she wasn’t packing and preparing, she was recovering from surgery and coordinating help for our move. But as for me, I was just exhausted. I’m not talking about normal aging fatigue. I’ve experienced normal aging fatigue, and I am now experiencing cancer treatment fatigue. If there’s one thing I know, it is that that is not this. Yes, I am still able to drive, do a few dishes, take out the garbage, and accomplish a few other small tasks along the way, but physical exertion of any sort leaves both my body and mind feeling as limp as a wet dishrag. Add in stress, and I’m a mess.Locked OutIt didn’t help the other day that, in getting used to our various new locks and keys (with a head fogged with fatigue and pain), I started the day by locking the keys to both our house and our car inside the house when we stepped out into the cold morning air. There we stood in our driveway, unable to get into either house or car. All I could foresee for the day was a very long delay, a negating of all our plans, much disruption of Gayline’s hard work, a very expensive locksmith bill, and literally nowhere to sit (which always means almost instant screaming  pain for my ailing back). I can tell you that in my already guilt-filled shame (as a weakened man ashamed over not being able to help much with our move) I was crushed. In my fatigue and pain-filled state, with my blood pressure issues, with my concern for anything that adds stress to my dear Gayline, with my med-induced exhaustion and brain-fuzziness, with my aversion to standing out in the cold, and with my complete lack of any place to sit, I was beside myself with exhaustion, grief, and emotional self-flagellation for my own stupidity. I should say that if memory serves, that is the first time I have called out anyone's “stupidity” in about 50 years. Some may think it silly, but in my mind, and I think our Lord’s mind, too, such degrading insults are taboo (Matt. 5:21–23). But the fact that I would use a degrading word, intentionally long-banned from my vocabulary, in yesterday’s self-flagellation says something about how low I felt. It was my lowest point in the nearly four years since I was diagnosed with cancer. In fact, it was one of maybe two moments in my whole life when I felt like I was going to totally lose it and melt into a puddle of self-perceived uselessness. Not only was I of little help in our move, but I had now also created a barrier to getting it done. I was distraught over my incompetence, and would have wept almost inconsolably had circumstances allowed.Some might suggest that I should have chilled. But that’s the point. I didn’t chill. After all, there I was, standing and staring at a dead bolt-locked door, frustrated by a mere two inches of wood sealed shut by a little bar in a lock that stood between home and me. And as I stood in motionless despair, that door looked and felt as impregnable as a twenty-foot-thick fortress wall, forbidding entrance to all. Masada and the famous wall of China came to mind. I stood and stared, while calling myself names.I’m still not over the trauma, and won’t be for a while. In part, that’s because it is pretty much a lock (pun fully intended) that yesterday’s trauma is going to recur. The whole episode reminds me that my meds cause, along with extreme fatigue, consistent brain fog, distracting hot flashes, and everyday cognitive and concentration challenges.There is some minimal help in that reminder. It tells me that many of my limitations are not all matters of personal incompetence. So I can blame it on the meds. The meds made me do it. Stupid meds. But still, it’s all kind of scary for the long haul, since, unless God intervenes and heals, I’m pegged to take these meds for the rest of my life in order to battle my allegedly incurable cancer for the rest of my life. I may not like it, but so it is. Putting it bluntly, I don’t like it. But to put at ease friends and family who might worry over my state of mind, I want you to know that I still stand by the old hymn:“Whate’er my God ordains is right: His holy will abideth; I will be still whate’er He doth, and follow where He guideth. He is my God; though dark my road, He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so, to Him I leave it all.“Whate’er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, yet am I not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.”Welcomed InThere is a happy ending to this debacle. It wasn’t long before we saw a neighbor as we stood rather aimlessly in the driveway. Thankfully, she invited us in to get warm, figure out next steps, and settle in for the long wait. What a God-send she was!But Providence wasn’t finished. By a further stroke of amazing divine intervention, we were able to make quick contact with our son, who knows a locksmith, who literally dropped what he was doing to come to our home (nearly an hour from where he was). Once he arrived, he had our lock picked in minutes and let us in! Shockingly, what looked like it would be a few-hour ordeal was over in around 75 minutes. But even more amazing was that the wait in our new neighbor’s home gave us time to truly get introduced to them. Through an hour-plus of sitting and talking in their nice warm house, they learned of our faith and we of hers. We met her husband, who has been ill. She found out about my ministry past, and got a glimpse of Gayline’s and my love under stress (which she even mentioned). Plus, she and her husband saw us ask for and receive their aid, which can have the helpful effect of disarming people who think that Christians are know-it-alls. By asking for their help and humbly receiving it, we showed that we need them like they need us—even if in different ways.One might say that this turned into a first foray of explorative missional reconnaissance and discovery in our new neighborhood mission field. God got more done in our relationship-building with neighbors in 75 minutes than we’d have been able to achieve in six months.Now make no mistake: I still feel like an idiot. But at least God can make something good come out of that idiocy, which is what he’s been doing for millennia. And that, O my soul, has the power to comfort and console. So rise up with hope to face another day, no matter what it brings.* You can read all the posts in this series here.

(LifeSiteNews) — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended a new bill placing severe limits on who can get euthanasia, after being hounded by legacy media about the law, saying she does not want “anyone to be counseled to end their life prematurely.” Recently, during a press conference, a legacy media reporter asked Smith why her government does not “trust that Albertans and practitioners can make the right decision for themselves” when it comes to so-called “MAiD” (Medical Assistance in Dying). “When we read stories about a young man repeatedly refused MAiD for his mental health condition in Ontario, able to fly across the country to BC and find an amenable doctor for it, we’re concerned about that,” Smith said in reply. “When we hear of Veterans Affairs officials saying, counseling and encouraging people with PTSD to consider MAiD, these are things we want to stop.” Smith added that she does not want “anyone to be counseled to end their life prematurely if they do not have a terminal illness.” “And if we have to make that clear in law, we’ll make it clear in law. And I think it’s because of those stories that we keep reading about that we think it is time for government to act.” READ: Pierre Poilievre had a golden opportunity to condemn assisted suicide. He failed to take it As reported by LifeSiteNews, last week, Smith’s United Conservative Party (UCP) government, in a Canadian first, introduced a bill that would severely limit who can get euthanasia and ban it for minors. The UCP said that the bill is to “strengthen protections for vulnerable Albertans” as well as allow doctors and hospitals to refuse to offer assisted suicide. The Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, or Bill 18, said Smith “strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities.” Bill 18, once it becomes law, will limit assisted suicide or so-called “MAiD” (Medical Assistance in Dying”) eligibility to those whose “natural death is reasonably foreseeable and prohibit MAiD where a natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, also known as Track 2 MAiD.” The bill will also ban assisted suicide in Alberta for those under 18 and for those “whose sole condition is a mental illness.” It would also let all physicians and health care facilities “refuse to assess or provide MAiD” as well as ban “physicians from making referrals for individuals to receive MAiD outside of Alberta.” The new law will also restrict health care professionals from “initiating conversations about MAiD with a patient” and will mandate that euthanasia “providers” meet “education and training requirements and introduce sanctions for MAiD assessors and providers not complying with the law.” While current federal assisted suicide rules already ban most of these conditions, there is a strong possibility that this will not remain the case in the future. Because assisted suicide is federally legal, provinces can regulate the procedure but can’t ban it outright. In February 2024, the federal government delayed the mental illness expansion until 2027 after pushback from pro-life, medical, and mental health groups, as well as most of Canada’s provinces. The Liberal government under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and now Mark Carney, however, has worked to expand euthanasia 13-fold since it was legalized in 2016. Canada now has the fastest-growing assisted-suicide program in the world. Meanwhile, Health Canada released a series of studies on advanced requests for assisted suicide. Euthanasia is now the sixth-highest cause of death in Canada, after it was not listed in Statistics Canada’s top 10 leading causes of death from 2019 to 2022.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10

Patience is not my strong suit. Nope, not at all. How about you? The longer something takes to come about, the more I think I need to help it along. I’m sure you can imagine some of the ways this has bitten me through the years, especially with cooking. I can cook... but my lack of patience and occasional distractedness do not make for a good result. Like that time I put the garlic toast in late. Everything else was ready. Surely it would be okay to turn up the broiler over the bread in the oven while I set the table. Oh, and got the drinks. And served the plates. What’s that smell? You guessed it! I burned the bread. Or when I didn’t have much time on my lunch break, so I turned the burner up under the pot of chili. I really was going to stand right there and watch. But I needed to water my plants. As I put them in the sink to drain, I could hear something ding in my inbox. I’ll just take care of that quickly. What’s that smell? Scorched chili. My lack of patience, I’m sure, has many times brought a scorched stench up to the nostrils of God. As He matures the fruit of the Spirit in me, I’m confident that patience will be among them and produce a beautiful fragrance of worship. I’m inspired when I consider the patient worship and waiting on the Lord of Simeon: Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (Luke 2:25-26 NIV) When I think of Simeon, I’m inspired by his waiting for the Lord’s promise. There was nothing he could have done to speed it along. Yet, he believed. He got older, and older. Yet, he believed and waited patiently for the Lord’s promised outcome. Patience like that is worship. And then, he held the Messiah in his arms. I desire that kind of patient and confident waiting for the Lord, and that His promises would characterize my walk with Him. I long for the day that I can move when God says “move,” but when He says “not yet,” then I can be still. Until then, I’m grateful for God’s mercy over my missteps and His grace when I try to help His promise along because I think He’s taking too long. What are you waiting patiently for? Or perhaps, are you are seeking the Lord about a matter and struggling to be patient? Be encouraged. The Lord keeps every promise. Thank You, Lord, that You are faithful to keep Your promises. Please grow the fruit of Your Spirit in us, so we can patiently await Your action when You’ve called us to be still. Help us to not “help You” by acting when You have not called us to act. We declare our trust in You and Your timing. May our patient trust in You be a fragrant offering of worship, as incense. In Jesus’ name, amen. ~ Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) — A new Liberal bill that could open the door to the criminalization of religious expression and belief when quoting certain parts of the Bible has passed the report stage and will soon head to Canada’s Senate. On Monday, Bill C-9, known as the “Combatting Hate Act,” sailed through the report stage in the House of Commons. All that is stopping it now from heading to the Senate, which mostly rubber stamps laws into place, is the law passing third reading, which will take place soon. At a press conference on Monday, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton warned that Bill C-9, as it reads, “will erode long-standing religious protections for speech, and religious freedom in general.” “This is not a government that has a track record of upholding constitutional rights, which is why faith communities are raising very real concerns,” said Lawton. “We are listening to those, and giving the Liberals one final opportunity this week to do the right thing.” Conservative MPs have also warned that Bill C-9 is a direct “attack” on religious freedom and would allow the “prosecution” of those who simply read certain passages of Scripture in “good faith.” They have been battling the bill in committee. Bill C-9 is a Liberal Party censorship bill that has attracted a massive backlash from religious Canadians of many faiths. Once it becomes law, certain protections for sincerely held religious beliefs, particularly regarding LGBT issues, could be removed. As reported by LifeSiteNews, earlier this month, the Liberals shut down all debate on the bill in the committee stage. Conservative MPs have been demanding that a recently passed amendment to the bill, which removes a religious exemption, be rescinded immediately. As reported by LifeSiteNews, Bill C-9 has been blasted by constitutional experts as allowing empowered police and the government to go after those it deems to have violated a person’s “feelings” in a “hateful” way. The bill was introduced by Justice Minister Sean Fraser last year. The removal of the religious exemption prompted condemnation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who issued an open letter criticizing the proposed amendment and calling for its repeal. Recently, the Democracy Fund (TDF) alerted Canadians that Bill C-9 will expand the “legal definition of hatred and removes key free expression safeguards in the Criminal Code.” Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) campaigns manager David Cooke has previously told LifeSiteNews that Bill C-9 would result in the “prosecution of Canadian Christians” when quoting the Bible on issues of life and family. The third reading on Bill C-9 could come as early as sometime this week.

(LifeSiteNews) — A blasphemous sketch that aired on a taxpayer-funded Belgian television channel is garnering international attention for showing people smashing statues of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary to pieces. EWTN International Correspondent Colm Flynn appeared at a recent media event in Latvia called Radiodays Europe where he confronted Eva De Roo, Dries Lenaerts, and Sam De Bruyn about the segment, which reportedly aired several months ago. The channel that broadcast the footage, Studio Brussels, had shared a video of persons hitting the statues with what appeared to be iron rods. The stunt was part of a “rage room” stun where participants could destroy objects of their liking in order to supposedly make themselves feel better. The initiative was part of “Blue Monday,” a day that is recognized for drawing attention to people feeling sad or depressed. Flynn asked the trio about why the statues were allowed to be destroyed given their religious character. “It might offend people,” one man replied. But “we’re not a very religious country.” “We all come from the Christian tradition ourselves,” Eva De Roo added. “So it’s more laughing with ourselves.” Belgium’s publicly funded youth radio station, Studio Brussel (VRT), featured a sketch in which its breakfast presenters smashed various items on air, including a statue of Our Lady and Jesus. I asked if they were concerned it would cause offence, and if they would do the same to… pic.twitter.com/jYjJqM1FO3 — Colm Flynn (@colmflynnire) March 23, 2026 To his credit, Flynn did not let the matter go. He pressed them to further explain the reasoning behind the sketch. “The statue [of Jesus] was turned, faced towards the back of the room so you wouldn’t see the face,” one man said, attempting to deflect from the obvious sacrilegious nature of the program. “I would have been more careful in another country. In Belgium, it is not a big issue.” Flynn then asked if they would air footage of someone destroying a statue of Mohamed or a six-pointed Star of David. That is a “very dangerous” question, one man replied. “That would be inappropriate,” De Roo interjected. “In Belgium there are many…” at which put she caught herself before saying there are many Muslims in the country. After stuttering for a moment, she admitted that, “I know there are Christians” in Belgium. Seemingly recognizing the hypocrisy of their comments, the trio tried to justify themselves before eventually admitting it was wrong. “We have all been raised Catholic so that gives us a little more credit to do this, but it’s harder if you do it from a religion that you know nothing about,” one of them said. “[I] would not do this on every station” but Studio Brussels is “very alternative” and its viewers “are not very religious in any way.” De Roo was the first to express regret over the situation. “Now [that] we [are] having this conversation, I’m so sorry Colm, we shouldn’t have done it because we didn’t think that much about it,” she confessed. “We’re just smashing all kinds of stuff and it happens to be an old Jesus [statue] and we smashed it.” “We do some things out of the silliness and someone lets us know this was really inappropriate and that becomes a topic for us to sort this out and to be able to say, ‘oh yeah, we never thought about this, actually. That’s pretty stupid,’” one of the men commented. It is a good thing that they admitted the footage was indefensible. No one has the right to destroy religious art. Religious symbols and icons reflect sacred things. They are to be revered, unlike ordinary objects such as paintings of waterfalls or old lamps. To destroy them, even if they are already cracking or are irreparable, in the way in which they were smashed on Studio Brussels is not only offensive but sacrilegious. Fortunately, De Roo and Lenaerts issued an apology. So did Studio Brussels, which admitted in a statement that “today, we would make different choices.” “Eva and Dries apologize. The video was intended as a humorous act, and they underestimated how sensitive religious symbols can be. They understand that this was hurtful to some people and would make different choices today,” the company said in a statement. Following our interview yesterday, Belgium’s national broadcaster, VRT, has issued an official apology for the breakfast show sketch in which the hosts smashed statues of Jesus and Mary: “Studio Brussel misjudged the ‘Blue Monday’ sketch. Today, we would make different choices.”… — Colm Flynn (@colmflynnire) March 24, 2026 Kudos to Colm Flynn for putting their feet to the fire and for defending the sacred nature of statues that depict Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. If nothing else, this minor victory is worth celebrating in a world that all too often only doubles down on attacking that which is holy.

A viral video and a deadly crackdown followed by a dramatic escape. That's what happened to Ali Rezaei Majd, an Iranian fitness trainer turned protester. Now, after escaping from Iranian authorities, he's speaking exclusively to CBN News. More than six feet tall with 224 pounds of muscle, tattoos etched across his body, and long, thick hair. He's a presence that's hard to ignore. Ali Rezaei looks like a fighter. And in many ways, he is. "From the moment I was born, and came to this world, I was always feeling like I'm living in a prison," he said. He comes from Iran's Lorestan province, a region known for its fiercely independent people. For generations, they've carried a reputation: warriors, rebels, and survivors. Before everything changed, Ali owned a business in the city of Doroud as a fitness trainer, running a small gym, building strength in others. He built a loyal following on Instagram, posting workout routines, discipline, and transformation. But behind the strength, a different struggle was building. "We want to live free, brother, we want to live free," he said. January 5th, Doroud Ali joined hundreds in the streets, protesting Iran's Islamic regime, demanding freedom and change. What happened next would change his life forever. Ali watched as Iran's Revolutionary Guard gunned down his friends. "The sound of shooting and killing people from the Basij (morality police) and IRGC forces, this is what happened. People were asking for freedom and the government forces killing them so easily." The next day, January 6th, Ali picked up his phone and recorded a message in English. "I was born in the land of poetry and history, but today I am growing up in darkness. Our voices are silenced, our dreams are being destroyed and our people are suffering." Point of No Return Ali says he posted the videos to push back against what he calls the regime's false narrative about the West. "We can be good friends, good allies for each other, but they're trying to show a face from us that we hate America, all big lies. George, you said you were in Iran. Do you think we Iranians are like that? Do you think we hate America? Do you think we hate Israel? This is a big lie. So, all of them are the reason that we try to fight against them. They are destroying everything about us." Then came the massive response: Nearly two million views in English, and almost 10 million in Farsi. He knew without a shadow of doubt that when he posted that video, in the middle of the protests, he was signing up for trouble. "Yes, I always knew that, and I was ready for everything," he said. Fleeing for His Life That same day, Iranian authorities came looking for him. Friends warned him just in time, so he ran. "So, I just packed a bag, running out, going through cities, and changing my location every day." Soon, he had to make a decision to leave everything behind. Ali fled toward the Iraqi border, all the while documenting his arduous journey. Until finally crossing illegally into Iraq with the help of friends. He was sad to leave, but he didn't have much choice. "I love my home. I love my home. I love my people," he said. His journey wasn't only physical. For ten years in Iran, Ali says he secretly practiced Christianity, hiding his faith. Then, on March 7th, in a small house church in Iraq, he made a decision he says he could never safely make at home. He was baptized in a tiny bathtub. Today, Ali, who also goes by Michael, is still fighting. But with a different purpose. Using his platform, he continues to speak out, calling on the world to help take down the regime in his homeland. "I need a free Iran, brother, not the Iran that is kidnapped by some jihadis. I don't want that. I want to do everything to free my country for the other people." He's joined a Kurdish military group here in Iraq that's training for a potential ground incursion into western Iran. "As a Christian, I forgive all IRGC. I will pray for them every day. But, you know, I think I am like (a) sheep dog for the Lord. So, sheep dog sometimes must protect the sheep. So, I think this is, this is what I should do."

LISBON, Portugal (LifeSiteNews) — A leftist agitator threw a Molotov cocktail at pro-lifers during the Portuguese capital’s first annual March for Life (Marcha pela Vida) last weekend, but it was diffused before it could go off. During the closing ceremony of the March 21 Portugal March for Life in front of the Portuguese parliament, where many families with young children and babies were gathered, an unidentified 39-year-old man threw a Molotov cocktail (a bottle filled with petrol or gasoline) onto the stage. The man was quickly stopped by march participants before the police arrived, and the fuse was detached from the bottle without igniting. While several children and their parents were drenched with gas, no one was hurt. The otherwise peaceful first annual March for Life Lisbon had drawn a whopping 4,000 pro-lifers who witnessed to the unborn. Lisbon police examine explosive device thrown at pro-lifers (Credit: March for Life Lisbon) “We had no prior warning or knowledge of any threats leading up to the March,” Nuno Marques Afonso, the general coordinator of the March, told LifeSiteNews. “This event was meant to be a peaceful revival of a movement that had been losing its strength and seeing dwindling numbers for years.” The suspect had been spotted with a few other protestors earlier in the day. Police believe these same individuals were also involved in committing vandalism during a December protest of labor laws. Afonso told LifeSite the March for Life strongly believes these individuals are also tied to Antifa. Group of leftists that suspect was with prior to attack (Credit: March for Life Lisbon) “All previous pro-life demonstrations were peaceful and were not violently disturbed. We hope they remain as such in the future,” the coordinator added. WATCH: Leftists scream at Catholics praying rosary in front of notorious abortion center Despite the incident, Portugal’s first March for Life, a rebrand from the country’s annual “Walk for Life” (“Caminhada pela Vida“), was a major success, with about 4,000 pro-lifers from across the country participating. Pro-lifers hold sign during March for Life Credit: March for Life Lisbon In Portugal, abortion is currently legal up to 10 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, or so-called “risk to women’s health” and “severe fetal abnormality.” It should be noted that abortion, the murder of an unborn child, is never medically justified or necessary. Credit: March for Life Lisbon Credit: March for Life Lisbon Afonso encouraged pro-life activists not to be afraid of leftist agitators, such as those present in Lisbon this weekend, but to have the courage necessary to stand up for the unborn. “We are now seeing that social intimidation is escalating into actual physical violence, like this horrific Molotov attack. They want to scare us off the streets,” he said. “I know it is incredibly hard to stand up in the face of this, but true change only comes through courage.” “I know that when just one person is brave enough to raise their voice against injustice, three more voices also find the courage to join them,” he added. “Do not let fear win. Be the light of the world, and let your courage be the example that empowers others to do the same.” Archbishop Rui Rui Valério, the Patriarch of Lisbon, in a statement to the Pillar, underscored that Saturday’s attack and similar acts of violence are “gravely unacceptable.” “(V)iolence is never the way. It does not build up, it does not dignify, it does not serve the truth,” the archbishop said. “And it is all the more painful when it threatens the more fragile among us, especially children, who should always be a sign of hope, and not exposed to fear.” “The March for Life is born precisely from the belief that all human life is an inviolable gift, from conception to natural death,” he added. “Therefore, any act of violence, especially against a peaceful demonstration, must be firmly condemned.” In recent months, pro-lifers and Christians have been viciously attacked by leftists across Europe. In February, a young Catholic activist named Quentin was murdered by members of Antifa during a violent protest outside a political conference in Lyon, France. In March, participants at a German pro-life campaign rally were viciously attacked by pro-abortion extremists, with one pro-lifer even suffering a “traumatic brain injury.” READ: Pro-lifer suffers ‘traumatic brain injury’ after brutal attack by leftists in Germany

By CP StaffTuesday, March 24, 2026Washington school officials disciplined a girl for distributing Gospel tracts to students.Incident occurred on or about Feb. 18 in a Washington state public school.Attorneys demand the school allow the student to share her faith during non-instructional time.An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor.iStock/StockPlanetsAttorneys representing a middle school student in Washington state say a school administrator reprimanded her for distributing Gospel tracts. The alleged incident occurred on or about Feb. 18 at a middle school in an unnamed Washington state public school district, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal advocacy group representing the girl, who is a minor. In response to her handing out Gospel tracts, the school’s vice principal allegedly entered the classroom, removed the student and informed her that she was not permitted to distribute religious tracts at school. The student, who obtains the tracts in batches from the Gospel House Tract Society and distributes them during breaks and lunch while asking for consent first, reportedly responded by asking why other students are allowed to express their viewpoints while she is not.According to the ACLJ's account in a March 20 demand letter, the vice principal replied: "Students may share opinions, but they may not share religious beliefs."Attorneys say the vice principal then cited the school's practice of allowing students to leave campus during school hours to participate in protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an example of permissible expression, while maintaining that the distribution of religious literature is not permitted.During the same encounter, attorneys say the student asked whether she could start a Christian student club but was told by the vice principal that the club would be required to have a teacher sponsor — a statement the ACLJ says “misrepresents the applicable legal and policy framework.”“The prohibition against the mere discussion of God or the giving of an item displaying a religious reference to a friend and classmate blatantly interferes with [her] First Amendment rights as a student,” wrote ACLJ attorneys Nathan Moelker and Christina Compagnone. In the demand letter, the attorneys cited longstanding Supreme Court precedent, including Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), in which the Court held that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” Religious speech, said Moelker and Compagnone, is protected and cannot be subjected to disparate treatment compared to secular or political speech.“The school has opened a forum for student expression during non-instructional time and has selectively excluded a religious viewpoint from that forum,” the attorneys wrote. “The First Amendment precludes any government effort to single out and censor or otherwise burden the speech of private parties solely because that speech is religious.”According to the ACLJ, this is not the first issue involving the student and the district. In 2019, when the student was a second grader at an elementary school in the same district, officials conducted daily backpack searches at the school entrance to confiscate Christian tracts, treating them as contraband.The ACLJ intervened at that time, sending a demand letter that led to a formal written agreement in 2022, signed by a district official. The agreement affirmed the government's neutrality toward religion, avoidance of discrimination against religious viewpoints, and the student's right to distribute materials at school, including religious materials.The ACLJ asserts that the current actions breach that prior agreement and is demanding a written response by Friday that gives the student permission to share her faith and distribute tracts to willing classmates during non-instructional time without further interference, as well as allowing her to form and operate a Christian student club on the same terms and conditions as other student groups.

Children attending the Child Ambassadors Camp organized by The Alliance for Uganda Without Orphans (AUWA) and its partners in early 2023. Courtesy of World Without Orphans Kenya’s National Treasury is planning a Sh2 billion ($15 million) Child Welfare Fund aimed at helping thousands of minors transition from institutional care into family-based environments, according to reports by Kenyan media. The fund, expected to be included in the 2026–27 national budget, would support children currently living in residential care institutions such as orphanages and children’s homes. Officials say the goal is to help reunite them with relatives, place them in foster families, or support independent living arrangements for older youth leaving care. The proposal forms part of Kenya’s broader effort to reform its child welfare system and gradually reduce reliance on institutional care. Government data shows that more than 44,000 children currently live in registered children’s homes across the country. While such institutions have historically been viewed as safe havens for orphaned children, research over the past two decades has increasingly shown that institutional settings can hinder emotional and social development. Child welfare experts say many children living in orphanages are not actually orphans. UNICEF reports that most children in residential care still have at least one living parent and are often placed in institutions because families are struggling with poverty, disability or other challenges. The Kenyan government’s new strategy seeks to address those underlying problems. Under the proposed Child Welfare Fund, money would be directed toward family-strengthening programs, counselling services, tracing relatives and reintegrating children into communities.  The initiative would also support foster care systems and programs designed to help teenagers transition into adulthood. Officials say the goal is to ensure children grow up in stable family environments whenever possible. Kenya’s plan reflects a broader international movement that is drifting away from orphanages to family-based care. Organizations such as UNICEF and global child welfare networks have for years advocated for “deinstitutionalization,” arguing that children generally thrive best in family settings. Studies have linked long-term institutional care to developmental delays, attachment disorders and mental health challenges later in life. Research including the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, the first randomized trial comparing foster care and institutional care, found significantly higher rates of developmental and attachment problems among children raised in institutions. As a result, many countries are gradually replacing orphanages with foster care systems, kinship care arrangements or community-based support programs. The government’s National Care Reform Strategy outlines plans to transition children out of residential institutions by 2032 while strengthening systems that support families. The shift is likely to affect churches and Christian charities that have historically played a major role in supporting orphanages across Africa. In recent years, however, a growing number of faith-based organizations have begun rethinking the traditional orphanage model. Research by the Faith to Action Initiative has urged churches and ministries to shift their efforts from supporting children in orphanages toward strengthening families and family-based care. Groups involved in child welfare advocacy have increasingly encouraged churches to focus on keeping families together whenever possible, rather than relying primarily on institutional care. Faith-based networks such as the Faith to Action Initiative and the Better Care Network have promoted approaches that emphasize family preservation, foster care and community support. These organizations argue that churches are uniquely positioned to help struggling families by offering mentorship, financial assistance and community support systems that prevent children from entering institutions in the first place. In Kenya, many churches already run community programs that provide food support, school fees assistance and counselling to families in crisis. Children’s homes have long filled gaps in Kenya’s social support systems, particularly in areas where poverty levels remain high. Moving thousands of children into family environments will require strong oversight, well-trained social workers and adequate funding for foster care and family support services. The government’s proposed fund is intended to help address some of those needs. As Kenya moves forward with its proposed Child Welfare Fund, the challenge will be ensuring that the transition away from institutional care results in safer, more stable homes for the country’s most vulnerable children.

Ishtiaq Saleem awaits a verdict in a blasphemy case that could carry the death penalty. Christian Daily International-Morning Star News courtesy of family Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are facing renewed criticism as a Christian charged in a high-profile case awaits a verdict that could carry the death penalty. The case against Ishtiaq Saleem underscores growing concerns about false blasphemy accusations by organized networks and the risks to religious minorities, according to ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy group supporting the accused’s defense through allied lawyers in Pakistan. “Blasphemy laws create a culture of violence and discrimination and must be repealed,” said Tehmina Arora, director of advocacy for Asia at ADF International, in a press statement. “Ishtiaq must be freed, and Pakistan must move toward a culture that respects and protects religious freedom for all.” Saleem, a 34-year-old Christian sanitation worker and father from Islamabad, was arrested in November 2022 after being accused of sharing allegedly blasphemous material on social media, which he denies. His trial has concluded, but a verdict is pending as proceedings continue against a Muslim accused in the same case, Muhammad Umair. Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime unit arrested Saleem after allegedly blasphemous images of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad appeared in a social media group on his phone. Authorities registered a case under multiple provisions of Pakistan’s penal code, including Section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death penalty for insulting Muhammad. Saleem and his family maintain that he neither created nor shared the content. His father, Saleem Masih, said in a previous interview that his son was unaware of the images, which he believes were posted by another member of a social media group and automatically downloaded to his device. “My son is a sensible man and has never indulged in such acts,” Masih told Morning Star News in 2023. “He didn’t even know the images were there until his arrest.” Despite repeated bail applications, Saleem remains in custody. Lower courts as well as the Supreme Court have rejected his petitions, though the apex court directed the trial court to expedite proceedings. The case is now before a special court in Islamabad. In its statement, ADF International also raised concerns about the integrity of the prosecution, pointing to alleged links between the lead prosecutor and a “blasphemy business group,” a network accused of fabricating allegations to entrap individuals for blackmail and extortion. A report by Pakistan’s National Commission on Human Rights has documented more than 450 cases believed to be linked to such schemes, contributing to a rise in blasphemy accusations in recent years, the organization noted. “Organized groups that exploit blasphemy accusations to target innocent people undermine the rule of law and put Christians and other vulnerable communities at grave risk,” Arora said, urging the international community to monitor such cases and push for accountability. ADF International and its legal partners said they remain hopeful that weaknesses in the prosecution’s case will result in Saleem’s acquittal, allowing him to return to his family. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have long been criticized by human rights organizations for their broad scope and vulnerability to abuse. Allegations based on unverified claims or personal disputes have triggered mob violence and, in some cases, killings before courts could reach a verdict. A rights watchdog recorded 344 new blasphemy cases in Pakistan in 2024, reflecting an escalating misuse of the laws. According to the annual report by the Center for Social Justice, about 70 percent of the accused were Muslims, 6 percent Christians, 9 percent Hindus and 14 percent Ahmadis. “The blatant weaponization of blasphemy laws continued to enable persecution, religious intolerance and widespread human rights violations,” the report stated. The same report documented at least 2,793 people accused of blasphemy between 1987 and 2024, with at least 104 killed extrajudicially following such allegations between 1994 and 2024. In a June 2025 report titled, “A Conspiracy to Grab the Land: Exploiting Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws for Blackmail and Profit,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the laws are frequently used to target religious minorities, settle personal grievances, and, in some cases, seize property. The report warned that blasphemy accusations can incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities and foster a climate of fear, particularly among minority groups. Although courts have occasionally acquitted defendants or granted bail where evidence is found lacking, such outcomes remain relatively rare given the highly sensitive nature of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan. International advocacy groups continue to rank Pakistan among the countries where religious minorities face significant challenges. In its 2026 World Watch List, Open Doors ranked Pakistan eighth among the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

(LifeSiteNews) — Contrary to one of the abortion lobby’s most persistent talking points, maternal deaths in pregnancy have actually decreased since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In June 2022’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the nation’s highest court ruled 5-4 that Roe, which forced all 50 states to allow most abortions, was “egregiously wrong from the start,” and that nothing in the U.S. Constitution established a “right” to abortion, freeing states to directly set their own abortion laws for the first time in almost half a century. The abortion lobby, which has long insisted that legal abortion protects women from medical dangers, predicted that maternal mortality would rise as a result of Dobbs, but CDC data so far indicates precisely the opposite. On March 13, Live Action published an article by prominent pro-life researcher Professor Michael New of the Catholic University of America and Charlotte Lozier Institute, refuting pro-abortion writer Jessica Valenti’s recent claims that pro-life laws were harming women. Among them, he noted that the U.S. maternal mortality rate has fallen by 19.7 percent since 2022, the year Dobbs was handed down, from 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births that year to 17.9 per 100,000 in 2024. “Supporters of legal abortion are entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts,” New said. “Data from the CDC and other sources show that many public health metrics have improved since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.” Valenti issued a profanity-laden response faulting New for focusing on national data when she supposedly was referring specifically to pro-life states, prompting New to follow up on March 17. In her original appearance at issue, however, Valenti “never differentiated between ‘anti-abortion’ states and other states; she simply claimed, ‘the infant mortality rate is going up, the maternal mortality rate is going up,’” New responded. “That aside, Valenti is still incorrect when she claims public health outcomes have worsened in states that have enacted pro-life laws,” noting that she drew unfounded leaps from what her own sources actually said. By contrast, he wrote, a “2024 Journal of the American Medical Association study analyzed trends in infant mortality rates. In 2023, the study found that states with abortion bans actually had larger declines in the infant mortality rate than states without abortion bans. Overall, only one of the 14 states that enacted an abortion ban experienced a statistically significant increase in the infant mortality rate. There was no large, widespread increase in infant mortality in pro-life states post-Dobbs.”  Abortion has long been known to be far more dangerous than the industry’s apologists present it as. Abortion facilities across the country are regularly flagged for harming women through botched procedures, unsanitary tools and environments, and lack of regulatory protections, such as requirements for staff to secure admitting privileges at nearby hospitals in the event of complications. With the rise of abortion pills dispensed by mail in violation of federal law, chemical abortions self-administered completely without medical oversight are certain to increase those harms further still. Furthermore, even when carried out according to medical protocols, abortion carries grave risks to the health of the mother, not to mention the child being destroyed. According to the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), which represents 7,000 medical professionals who reject the anti-life stance of the medical establishment, “[w]omen face a 35% increased risk of preterm birth in a future pregnancy after one surgical abortion and an almost 90% increase in preterm birth risk after two abortions. The increased risk of future preterm birth for women after they have an abortion represents a clear long-term health risk. Mothers who deliver preterm babies are at a higher risk of medical complications later in life, including cardiovascular disease and stroke.” “From 1993 to 2018, there are at least 75 studies examining the link between abortion and mental health,” the group continues. “Two-thirds of those studies showed a correlation between abortion and adverse mental health outcomes. Studies show abortion significantly increases the risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior, when compared to women with unintended pregnancies who choose to carry the baby to birth. A study from Finland found a 7x higher suicide rate after abortion compared to when women gave birth.”

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, March 24, 2026Shattered windows and dead plants sitting inside Kermit Gosnell's Women's Medical Society abortion clinic in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 19, 2013. | Screenshot/NBC-10 PhiladelphiaInfamous late-term abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell has died, prompting pro-life activists to reflect on his crimes and the state of the pro-life movement. Gosnell, an abortionist who served more than a decade in prison for killing babies who survived botched abortions, died earlier this month at age 85. In a Substack post published Monday, filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney announced that Gosnell had died in prison as they reflected on the 2018 film they created about his late-term abortion clinic, “Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer.” Prison officials confirmed his death to The Associated Press.Kermit Gosnell | Screengrab/Fox-29 PhiladelphiaAt the time of his death, Gosnell was serving three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, handed down in 2013. He later received another 30-year prison sentence on separate charges. Gosnell’s prison sentence followed first-degree murder convictions in connection with the deaths of three infants who were born alive during late-term abortions at his Philadelphia clinic and killed by having their spinal cords severed with scissors. Gosnell was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, who died after staff at his clinic administered a lethal dose of anesthesia. “In Gosnell’s 30 years of running his filthy abortion clinic in Philadelphia, it is thought that he murdered thousands of babies born alive,” McAleer and McElhinney wrote. “The grand jury which investigated his case wanted to charge him with 200 recent murders, but the move was stymied and reduced to just seven after pressure from senior political and law enforcement officials.”An investigation into Gosnell’s clinic began after the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office became aware of his side business of selling illegal opioid prescriptions. It revealed an unsanitary facility where the remains of nearly four dozen aborted babies were discovered in a freezer, unlicensed staff performed abortions and “flea-infested cats” roamed the “blood-splattered floors and chairs” while soaking blankets in urine and feces. “Gosnell is gone, but we should take time to think of the thousands of innocent babies who were his victims. They lived for a short period of time but must not be forgotten,” McElhinney said in a statement. “They achieved some measure of justice with Gosnell’s prosecution and incarceration.” Jim Wood, the police officer who uncovered the conditions at Gosnell’s clinic, also reacted to the abortionist’s death, saying "there may be no mercy for him, like there was no mercy for the babies."Statements poured in from pro-life leaders after news of Gosnell’s death broke.“Kermit Gosnell is not an outlier among abortionists; he is only one of the few to be brought to some measure of justice for black-letter crimes,” stated Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser, adding that "Gosnell’s legacy of awakening the public to the true horrors of abortion cannot be dismissed or ignored."“The ripple effects of Gosnell’s slaughter of innocent Americans continue today. His actions represent profound evil, yet like many politicians he justified them as service to the poor and held himself in esteem. And he didn’t operate in a silo. His crimes spanned 30 years because people and organizations turned a blind eye."National Right to Life President Carol Tobias said that Gosnell's crimes "underscore a reality our nation continues to ignore.""Each abortion — no matter how it is performed — deliberately and brutally takes at least one innocent human life," Tobias stated. "Every day, unborn children — including those at late gestational ages — are intentionally killed in an abortion. Women continue to be harmed, and sometimes die, from abortion procedures.” 

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Tuesday, March 24, 2026Bill McAdams stars in "God's Here" | Screenshot/YouTube/God's HereNASHVILLE, Tennessee — For filmmaker Bill McAdams Jr., “God’s Here” is a deeply personal story born out of tragedy, faith and the difficult, often painful path toward forgiveness and healing.Now available on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, the faith-driven drama follows Jack Gilmore, a Texas firefighter whose life is shattered when his wife and son are killed in a hit-and-run accident just weeks before Christmas. As grief consumes him, the story takes an unexpected turn: the culprit is revealed to be a teenage girl connected to the family of the detective investigating the case, forcing Jack to confront questions of justice, mercy and redemption.In a sit-down interview with The Christian Post, McAdams, who wrote, directed and stars in the film alongside Kevin Sorbo and Sarah Elizabeth Reeves, shared how the story mirrors his own life and faith journey. The idea for the film first began forming after his brother was killed in a distracted-driving accident in 2012.“I started writing it probably six years into his death … and you write a draft, and then you walk away from it, or it gets too personal,” he shared. “It was the hardest movie I had to make, because you’re working through all these emotions that are real that you can’t just turn off.”The tension of confronting grief and avoiding it defined the project for years, according to McAdams, who said the script evolved slowly, shaped by his own journey through loss, anger and, ultimately, faith. The film’s central theme of forgiveness is drawn directly from his family’s experience. In the aftermath of his brother’s death, McAdams said his mother made a decision that would forever shape his understanding of grace.“She forgave the driver 10 days later and invited her and her mom and dad to the funeral,” he said. “That’s the ultimate forgiveness.”That kind of unthinkable forgiveness is highlighted in “God’s Here." Throughout the film, Jack wrestles not only with grief but with the question of whether redemption is possible for the person responsible for his suffering.Much like his character in the movie, McAdams, who was nominated for a 2026 ICVM Crown Award in the Best Actor category for the film at the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention, said that arriving at that place of forgiveness personally was not easy. Healing, he said, ultimately came through faith and intentional surrender.“I hated everything for about a year,” he said. “Anger and hate can just … eat you up, and it’s not productive. I learned … to let the anger go so you can work through the forgiveness and find the peace.”Though faith is woven throughout the film with a distinctly Christian worldview centered on the redemptive power of Christ, McAdams emphasized that his goal was never to create a film that feels heavy-handed or preachy. Though not gratuitous, the film does grapple with heavy subject matter, including a crash scene and themes of mental health as Jack battles despair and even contemplates suicide before finding hope."My films are not preachy," he said. "They're rough, they're heavy-handed and sometimes too much for people, but I don't want to sugarcoat and I don't want to drop Christianity into a movie just because I'm going to put it in this box and sell it."“You don’t set out to make a preaching movie,” he added. “You let the faith come out through the characters’ humanity.”McAdams said the project also brought unexpected light into his life: during production, he met his now-wife, Sarah, a singer/songwriter who also stars in the film, and found renewed joy and purpose after a difficult season.“Finding hope and redemption … and just remembering what it’s like to laugh and be happy,” he said. Today, he credits his daily faith practices, including reading Scripture, with sustaining him both personally and professionally.“There’s just something to be said about living in His Word,” he said.In a way, he said, making “God’s Here” was cathartic, as it forced him to revisit wounds he realized had not fully healed. And as audiences watch Jack’s journey unfold, McAdams hopes those who are grieving will find both comfort and perspective.“You don’t get over the death of a loved one,” he said. “You have to find understanding. You have to understand that He does have a plan. Bring that pain to God.”“I have peace now that I didn’t have before. And when you work for God, He can help share the message when you follow His Word,” McAdams added. “This movie has a great message. I think people can take the idea of hope, and know that through Christ, you can find joy.”Watch the trailer for "God's Here" below: