How Does the UN Spell Relief? A-B-O-R-T-I-O-N
Even for leaders who are used to dealing with the U.N.’s ideological sideshow, the thought of wasting precious humanitarian aid on more global abortion promotion was nauseating.
The truly desperate ones hang red and white clothes outside their windows, a cry — people have come to recognize — for help. Hungry parents, out of work, scramble for boxes of rice, vegetables, and sugar across Latin America where even children are on a waiting list for meals. “We are going to starve from this disease,” one emotional Haitian dad told a reporter. In Kenya, the situation is so dire that people from the slums died in stampedes just trying to get their hands on some flour and oil. Like everyone else, the U.N. is watching in horror as clouds of locusts ravage India’s crops and looting starts in South Africa. And what kind of “relief” are they trying to send to countries? Abortion.
Even for leaders who are used to dealing with the U.N.‘s ideological sideshow, the thought of wasting precious humanitarian aid on more global abortion promotion was nauseating. While countries like the U.S. desperately try to ship ventilators and medical supplies to nations worse off than America, the last thing anyone needs is to lobby for more death. And yet, Acting USAID Director John Barsa insists, that is exactly what the United Nations has done in its multi-billion-dollar humanitarian response plan. And to countries like ours, who are funneling tens of millions of our own dollars to the effort, that’s absolutely unacceptable.
Barsa, in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, tried to make that clear — pointing out that when the United States agrees to fight COVID, it shouldn’t have to specify that killing unborn children isn’t part of the plan. “The U.N. should not use this crisis as an opportunity to advance access to abortion as an 'essential service,’” Barsa added. “Unfortunately, the Global [Humanitarian Response Plan] does just this, by cynically placing the provision of ‘sexual and reproductive health services’ on the same level of importance as food-insecurity, essential health care, malnutrition, shelter, and sanitation.”
There are so many critical needs in the world right now, John explained on “Washington Watch,” and the idea that this relief effort would be hijacked by radical politics was just mind-blowing. “[At USAID],” he said, “we’re pretty much the point of the spear for American generosity in the history of the planet. There are no people as generous as the people of the United States of America.” And the idea that that generosity would be exploited — especially when the U.N. knows the administration’s position on life — is, quite frankly, insulting. “As the greatest donor to the United Nations and these programs, we wanted nothing of [their abortion crusade]. It was absolute perfect time to send the letter because this nonsense just had to stop.”
Reiterating the president’s speech to the General Assembly last year, Barsa reminded Guterres that the U.S. will “never tire of defending innocent life.” And if the U.N. wants the administration’s support, it’ll have to prove it by dropping every reference to “sexual and reproductive health” from its coronavirus response. That’s a completely reasonable request, since our country is by far the biggest contributor to the organization’s budget. If our taxpayers pour that much money into the United Nations, then it’s only fair that America’s values flow with those American dollars.
And honestly, as John pointed out, the real mission here ought to be obvious. In a battle for human lives, the last thing we should be doing is making it easier to destroy others’. “The delivery of essential health care is the first priority around the globe during this time,” along with, he wrote, “severe food shortages…” The U.N. needs to stay focused on those needs, not its deeply divisive agenda.
For now, USAID still hasn’t heard back from the secretary-general. But Barsa isn’t deterred. From his new perch, he’s set out to build the international coalition on life. Bold stands like this certainly help. “Our position cannot be more clear under the leadership of President Trump and Vice President Pence,” he insisted. “We are rock solid and fighting the fight.” And Americans everywhere are grateful for it.
Originally published here.
The Ultimate Authority on Church Reopenings: God
We’ve heard from health experts, the CDC, governors, and mayors. But when it comes to reopening our churches, have we stopped to hear from God? California Pastor Ron Hill says there’s only one person who can give him the green light to have services. And He doesn’t come with proclamations and rollout plans — He just speaks, in a still small voice.
The Love and Unity Fellowship Church in Compton, California is just as anxious to get back in the swing of things as everyone. With 3,000 people in the congregation, Pastor Ron knows there are people who would really benefit from being in the pews during such a difficult time. But, as far as he’s concerned, too many pastors are rushing ahead “making decisions based on peer pressure or the government.” That’s a mistake, he warns. “As a Christian pastor and a Christian at large, we must allow the Holy Spirit to have the final say. And unfortunately, we’ve gotten away from that.” Now, as a result, churches are being “pushed into a corner with [certain leaders] telling us when and how to have services.”
“Quite frankly,” Pastor Ron told me on “Washington Watch,” “I’m offended by that.” Like most churches, he plans to put key safety measures in place — temperature taking, masks, hand sanitizers, and social distancing. “But at the end of the day,” he argued, “we ought to have the freedom to worship the way the Holy Spirit leads us. That’s what the First Amendment affords us — and I believe it’s a slippery slope when we allow the government to come and get to dictate to you when and how you’re going to have services, because once you start going down that road, when are you going to stop?”
He told me about the beginning of the pandemic, and how he didn’t feel right closing the church in the first couple of weeks. “I believe in prayer, and I believe that that you should discipline your life with fasting and expose yourself to the Word of God daily. And I was in the process of doing that when the order came down.” He didn’t sense the Holy Spirit telling them to shut their doors. And, in the process of that, Pastor Ron said, they had more than 70 people, mostly young people, come to Christ. After that, he had a sudden peace about the decision and closed.
Now, two months later, Pastor Ron is waiting on that same certainty. “I’ve got too much time walking with God — I’m not about to be intimidated by anyone…” Of course, like most every other minister, he wants to be a law-abiding citizen. “I went to Vietnam twice so that we [could] have the kind of freedom that we have in this country. But at the same time, I must obey the Holy Spirit… I must allow the [Him] to have the final say in my life.”
With so many voices speaking into this crisis, Ron’s testimony is a powerful reminder that as pastors and people of God, the most important thing we can do is be prayerful about every step we take. Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit matters — not just so that we maintain the church’s reputation, but also so that we don’t sacrifice our freedom out of a misguided fear of man. Thank you, Pastor Ron, for the encouragement to stop looking around for answers and start looking upfor them!
Originally published here.
‘Poor’ Planned Parenthood? Hardly.
With billions in the bank, America’s abortion giant isn’t exactly the picture of a suffering small business. So when the country’s biggest abortion network grabbed $80 billion dollars in coronavirus loans, it’s no wonder the country was outraged. Can they be prosecuted for it? Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) thinks so. Find out what he and more than 120 other congressmen are doing to get the money back — now.
Originally published here.
This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.
