Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.
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1. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Atrium Health reverses decision on parental access to children’s prescriptions
“Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition, told CJ in a telephone interview Thursday that while she is glad that Atrium changed course on its decision to allow parents access to their children’s prescription records, they haven’t changed their policy on allowing parents access to their children’s medical records. ‘I don’t believe the policy has been reversed on the medical records, and that would be my hope, that they will reverse their policy on medical records as well as prescription drugs,’ she said. Fitzgerald, who is also a lawyer, said the bigger issue is the statute, which has been in effect since the 1970s and allows children to consent to treatment for high-risk behaviors and needs to be repealed.”
2. CHAPELBORO: CHCCS Board of Ed Cites Discrimination, Rejects Language in New NC‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ Policy
“In Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, the board of education recently took its first reading of policy changes to comply with the new law – and ultimately suggested the district do things its own way.”
Also check out this response from Guilford County Schools.
3. AP DILLON: WCPSS solicits feedback on “Parental Involvement” Policy
“Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) wants feedback on its draft of Policy Code: 1310/4002, Parental Involvement.’ Here’s why the feedback the district is getting is problematic.”
Read more: https://apdillon.substack.com/p/wcpss-solicits-feedback-on-parental
4. THE HILL: House Republicans tee up another abortion fight
“Republicans are potentially heading toward another showdown over abortion, as lawmakers set up a vote on legislation to fund the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.”
Read more: https://thehill.com/newsletters/health-care/4310079-gop-tees-up-another-abortion-fight/
5. THE WASHINGTON TIMES: Federal appeals court hears case over reproductive care for minors without parental consent
“A federal appeals court appears poised to side with a father seeking to upend a federal rule barring medical providers from notifying parents when their minor daughters seek reproductive health care. A Texas father, Alexander Deanda, sued the Biden administration, arguing the Health and Human Service’s Title X of the Public Health Service Act runs afoul of his constitutional rights as a parent because it does not order consent from parents before minors are given reproductive health care treatment — including contraceptives.”
Read more: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/6/federal-appeals-court-hears-case-over-reproductive/
WEEKLY PRAYER: FREEDOM
LORD, you have blessed us with a spiritual liberty that is so wonderful and beyond description, that it can only be understood through experiencing a life-giving relationship with Christ. However, we also recognize that in your grace, you have blessed our country with a political liberty that enables us to openly proclaim the experience of a life lived in the freedom of the Gospel.
LORD, as individuals and as a nation, may we never take the inalienable right of religious freedom for granted. Right now our country has faced a rapid increase in the number of attacks made against this cherished right. We have seen groups across our public arena increase in boldness and frequency their smears against religious liberty. They claim it is bigotry, when we know it is the security of the greatest of all possible loves.
Be with your people and our country as it continues to protect the constitutional right protected by our nation’s Founders. Be with legislators and the Supreme Court, as they determine through their actions the protection of this particular and fundamental freedom.
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)
Amen
Tami & Team
NC Values
