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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Answers in Genesis wins lawsuit

By Gerald Harris, Georgia Christian Index PETERSBURG, Ky. — One year ago Answers in Genesis filed a lawsuit against the government of Kentucky for alleged discrimination in refusing to extend a sales tax rebate incentive program to the Ark Encounter theme park the apologetics ministry is building in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati. Baptist Press reported, “The state’s decision to deny the tax incentive based on AIG’s status as a religious organization is against the law and violates legal precedent, the lawsuit asserts.” AIG president Ken Ham said, “The state was so insistent on treating our religious entity as a second-class citizen that we were simply left with no alternative but to proceed to court. This is the latest example of increasing government hostility towards religion in America, and it’s certainly among the most blatant. Our organization spent many months attempting to reason with state officials so that this lawsuit would not be necessary.” On Jan. 25 AIG reported, “In a victory for religious freedom in America, a federal court today issued a preliminary injunction against the Commonwealth of Kentucky for unlawfully blocking efforts by the Ark Encounter theme park developer, Answers in Genesis (“AiG”), … [Read more...]

TOPS announcement turns state upside down, ignites firestorm

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards took to the airwaves Thursday night in an effort to convince citizens of the state additional revenue is needed to shore up what he says is a nearly $1 billion gap in the state budget or the outcome would be dire. If higher taxes and major cuts are not put into place, Edwards told voters, devastating consequences could occur such as closure of universities, elimination of health care services and even the possibility of no college football taking place in 2016. The state faces a $943 million shortfall this year and possibly a $2 billion deficit in the next fiscal cycle, according to Edwards’ staff. “To stabilize our state's budget we should not shy away from the fiscal right sizing that is needed,” Edwards said during his 12-minute speech that aired on television and radio stations throughout the state. “For me ‘right sizing’ requires that we get both the spending and revenue right. Focusing on one without the other would be irresponsible. “But, I want you to understand that, if left unresolved -- if the legislature does not choose a way to raise additional dollars to strengthen the budget -- very soon, we will face unimaginable cuts to vital … [Read more...]

Guest editorial: consultant spending spree continues in state government

By John Kennedy, State Treasurer BATON ROUGE – The state Division of Administration just released its 2014 - 2015 Annual Report on Professional, Personal, Consulting and Social Services Contracts. A copy can be found here. According to the report (page 4), "During the period 07/01/14 through 06/30/15, 4,017 contracts and amendments worth approximately $14.5 billion were approved by the OSP-PC [Office of State Procurement]." That's "b" as in billion, though the taxpayer money will be spent over several years. The following are a few of those consulting contracts: Louisiana families and Louisiana businesses are being asked to cut their budgets so Louisiana state government does not have to cut its budget. Before we enact the largest tax increase in the history of our state, we should review these 4,017 new consulting contracts and the other 19,000 that the state has with an eye towards saving money. Those contracts that are not as important as universities, public schools, roads, health care, coastal restoration and our other priorities should be eliminated. The remaining consultants should be asked for at least a 5 percent discount. These simple actions could save millions of dollars for Louisiana taxpayers. … [Read more...]

Texas governor says crosses on police cars show respect for peace officers

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The governor of Texas supports police putting cross images on their patrol cars, saying they are part of U.S. historical practices, and symbols of service, his office said last week. Governor Gregg Abbott, a Republican, offered his support for the crosses in a brief filed to the state's attorney general. He was responding to a sheriff's office in Brewster County that received a complaint about images of a Christian cross with a horizontal thin blue line displayed on its patrol vehicles. "In addition to its religious significance, the cross has a long history in America and elsewhere as a symbol of service and sacrifice," Abbott wrote, adding in his opinion, the display does not violate U.S. constitutional provisions preventing the establishment of religion. To read the rest of the story, click here. … [Read more...]

$20,000 worth of equipment stolen from disaster relief teams in Northshore Association

By Message Staff COVINGTON – Four months after suspected arson caused extensive damage to Bayou Baptist Church in Slidell, another facility in the Northshore Baptist Association has been victimized by criminals. At least $20,000 worth of disaster relief equipment from the chainsaw unit for Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond and the feeding unit for the association was stolen between Jan. 24 and Feb. 5, according to Director of Missions Lonnie Wascom. Stolen items include eight Stihl chainsaws, tools, tables, a commercial grade pneumatic can opener, compressors, stainless steel preparation tables, propane burners and the full range of feeding unit equipment. An investigation is ongoing to find those responsible for stealing the equipment. “The detective in charge and I have talked and he is asking people to keep an eye on social media for the posting of anything that looks or sounds like our stuff,” Wascom said. “They are processing the locks that were penetrated at the crime lab and he is asking for tips. The trailers were stored where they can be seen, thinking no one would want to break in to them being they were where everyone driving could see them. “We want it all back,” Wascom said. “We want to be up … [Read more...]

Kentucky printer’s victory is victory for all: Hands On Originals files brief on appeal after winning trial court decision that affirmed its freedom

By Alliance Defending Freedom staff LEXINGTON, Ky. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a Lexington printer have filed their brief with the Kentucky Court of Appeals after the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission appealed the printer’s expressive freedom victory at the trial court level. In addition, a number of groups with varying views on social issues have come together to file briefs defending not only this printer’s freedom, but also the freedom of other artistic and expressive professionals. The commission ruled in 2014 that Blaine Adamson of Hands On Originals must print messages that conflict with his faith on shirts that customers order from him. ADF attorneys appealed the ruling to the Fayette Circuit Court, which reversed the commission’s decision. The commission then appealed that decision to the Court of Appeals. “Protecting Blaine’s freedom affirms everyone’s freedom, no matter the nature of their beliefs or convictions,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jim Campbell. “The government shouldn’t be able to force citizens to create speech that conflicts with their deepest convictions, and the trial court’s decision rightly affirmed that.” The trial court concluded that Adamson did not … [Read more...]

NARAL blasts Doritos ad for ‘humanizing fetuses,’ gets mocked on Twitter

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner CHICAGO (Christian Examiner) – The abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America took to social media during the Super Bowl to blast a Doritos ad that showed an ultrasound – and then got plenty of pushback from viewers who were incredulous that anyone would have had a problem with the commercial. The humorous ad shows a pregnant woman receiving an ultrasound as her husband stands by her side, watching. "And there's your beautiful baby," the technician tells the mom, who is upset at her husband for munching on Doritos. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

Super Bowl winning QB Manning quotes former coach Tony Dungy on retirement

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Christian Examiner) – The entire sports world apparently believes Denver's Peyton Manning will retire, but the NFL legend didn't announce anything following his team's Super Bowl victory Sunday night and instead repeatedly referred to advice his former coach, Tony Dungy, gave him. Dungy coached Manning in Indianapolis when the two teamed up for the quarterback's first Super Bowl title. "I got some good advice from Tony Dungy, who's going into the Hall of Fame and my old coach and he said, 'Don't make an emotional decision'," Manning said. "This has been a very emotional week and emotional night." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

Wheaton professor who said Christians and Muslims worship same God to leave school

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A professor at an evangelical university near Chicago who got in trouble after saying Muslims and Christians worship the same God will leave the school, according to a joint statement released by Wheaton College on Saturday night. Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor, had been scheduled for a disciplinary hearing in five days to determine whether she would be allowed to remain at Wheaton. A joint statement said Hawkins and the college had "found a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation" and that the two sides "will part ways" after reaching a confidential agreement. To read the rest of the story, click here. … [Read more...]

Broad support for pharmacists’ freedom, near-unanimous opposition to extreme Washington state policy

By Alliance Defending Freedom staff WASHINGTON – Fourteen briefs have been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that encourage it to weigh in on Washington state rules that force pharmacy owners and pharmacists to stock and dispense drugs contrary to their religious beliefs instead of allowing them to refer customers to other pharmacies and pharmacists as they are allowed to do in all 49 other states. The state allows referrals for a variety of reasons but singles out religiously motivated referrals as prohibited. Among the briefs in support of the petition that a Washington state pharmacy and two pharmacists filed with the high court last month are ones signed by 43 members of Congress; 13 state attorneys general; 29 notable legal scholars; more than 4,600 individual health care professionals; and 38 professional pharmacy associations, including the nation’s largest, the American Pharmacists Association. “No one should be forced to choose between following their deepest religious beliefs and following an unjust, unneeded government mandate that targets only people of faith. The state of Washington allows referrals for nearly any reason but does not allow referrals motivated by faith. The briefs filed with the Supreme Court … [Read more...]