Facebook and Google ban pro-life ads, California usurps parental control, legalized sports gambling, Oklahoma protects Christian agencies

Ireland’s Choices Limited. Ireland has long had constitutional protections for the unborn. However, on May 25, the Irish will vote to keep or repeal the Eighth Amendment to the country’s constitution. That amendment protects the unborn with the right to life. In a controversial move, both Google and Facebook have banned ads targeting voters. Pro-lifers claim these bans give an advantage to the repeal forces. Facebook released a statement saying, “Our goal is simple: to help ensure a free, fair, and transparent vote on this important issue.” Those wanting to ban Amendment 8 (to legalize abortion) are leading in the polls, but those leads have been slipping in recent weeks. Jor-El Godsey, president of the pro-life group Heartbeat International, called the actions by Google and Facebook “unfortunate” and “a bit Orwellian.” California Dreamin’ a Nightmare. Parents in California may not be able to opt their children out of classes that promote anti-Christian views of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. The National Catholic Register said, “That position is spelled out in a legal opinion given March 29 to the Orange County Board of Education by the county education department’s attorney.” William May, president of the California-based group Catholics for the Common Good, said, “Things have been headed in this direction for years. It’s totally out of hand.” He said the promotion of homosexuality, transgenderism, and other progressive ideologies is “being integrated into other courses, not just sex education; but…into history and literature in the classroom. It’s essentially getting to the point where parents will have to opt out of public education.” Legalized Sports Gambling. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said a law prohibiting sports gambling was unconstitutional. According to WORLD, “the American Gaming Association estimates that Americans illegally bet about $150 billion on sports each year, and one research firm estimated before the ruling that if the Supreme Court were to strike down the law, 32 states would likely offer sports gambling within five years.” Boston Herald columnist Joe Fitzgerald called the decision “devastating” and said it will have the effect of the “government enabling gamblers.” Oklahoma Protects Christian Adoption Agencies. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill that helps protect rights of conscience for adoption and foster care agencies. She signed the law over the weekend, and it will prevent the government from forcing Christian adoption agencies to place children in same-sex or transgender households. Oklahoma becomes the seventh state to pass such a law. In a signing statement, Fallin said, “Under Senate Bill 1140, the state will not be in any way restricting current practice allowing LGBTQ individuals and couples fostering or adopting. It does not ban same-sex adoption or foster care in Oklahoma. Instead, the bill will help continue Oklahoma’s successful placement of children with a broad array of loving families and basically maintain the status quo by setting forth in statute practices which have successfully worked for the best interest of Oklahoma children. I also note that the bill mirrors very similar legislation in Virginia, which has been on the books since 2012 without any court challenges. Since then, five additional states have passed similar legislation. Kansas also has a similar bill before its governor.”

05/15/18