Washington Florist Stays True to Faith Convictions, Risks Financial Ruin

A news roundup on the issues that matter most.

• “How Many Kids Grow Up With Their Married Mom and Dad?”: Less than half, according to a new report by the Family Research Council. It finds 54 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds do not live in a home with their married mother and father.

• The story of Pastor Lee-Jon-rak and his baby box – the topic of Focus’ upcoming film, “The Drop Box” – has earned a lot of media attention since the original article in the L.A. Times ran back in 2011. I want to share some of that coverage with you, both older articles and newer pieces that highlight the film and its national release on March 3, 4, and 5.
  • Religion News Service: “This filmmaker set out to win Sundance and got ‘saved’ instead”
  • Reuters: “A ‘baby box’ and a home for unwanted infants in South Korea”
  • Boundless Blog: “Five Questions With ‘The Drop Box’ Director Brian Ivie”
  • The Daily Signal: “South Korean Pastor’s ‘Drop Box’ Saves Hundreds of Unwanted, But ‘Perfect’ Lives”
  • The Christian Post: “Film Radiates Christian Love From Dark Subject of Abandoned Babies”

• With the average mobile phone user checking the device about 150 times a day, a study suggests “Your iPhone Is Making You Depressed.” The constant attention many of us give our phones may be an attempt at “mood repair.” Not only that, but giving our devices constant attention negatively impacts our parenting, which is why I challenge parents to moderate their usage.

• “Doctors said baby was ‘non-viable’ and recommended abortion – now Jett’s celebrating this first birthday.” This U.K. mom is rejoicing in her miracle baby’s first year of life. She fears other mothers who face intense pressure to abort a high-risk pregnancy, as she did, will miss out on a tremendous gift.

• The encroachment of Christian merchants’ religious liberties continues: “Florist Who Refused to Serve Gay Couple Rejects Settlement.” What the headline doesn’t tell you is one member of the homosexual couple was Barronelle Stutzman’s long-term client, who she gladly served for years before gently declining participation in his same-sex wedding ceremony due to her religious beliefs. Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are representing this soft-spoken grandma who is risking financial ruin.
  •  The settlement Stutzman rejected included an agreement to participate in same-sex weddings. In her eloquent response to the Washington state attorney, she writes, “You are asking me to walk in the way of a well-known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver. That is something I will not do.”
  •  Denny Burk for CNN: “A florist loses religious freedom, and much more”

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, news, pro-life, religious liberty February 24, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura