CA abortion law before Supreme Court today: Teen Suicide Is Soaring...more

Can gov’t force pro-lifers to promote abortion? Key case at U.S. Supreme Court today ...At the heart of this case is “the unconstitutional California law which is compelling the staff and volunteers of pro-life pregnancy centers to violate their consciences and promote tax-funded abortions,” said David Bereit, former CEO of 40 Days for Life.

Pro-life advocates say the case is significant for the rights to freedom of speech, conscience, and religion of all citizens.

“What they’re trying to do is silence the ability of people who advocate for the pro-life position to be able to freely speak their message, and that’s what we’re debating in the Supreme Court of the United States,” said Michael Farris, CEO, President, General Counsel and of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in a recent video statement. The State of California is “not trying to do anything other than to facilitate people choosing abortion, and forcing pro-lifers to be the facilitators.”...

Freedom of speech includes the right to remain silent ...California tailored the law to target only crisis centers: It exempts from the compelled speech requirements all women’s health services providers that dispense abortifacients. The crisis centers are incorporated as religious organizations and their mission is dictated by the content of their beliefs. The pro-choice government is targeting the centers to exercise one-sided influence on some women’s choices. The Cato Institute’s Ilya Shapiro, author of an amicus brief supporting the crisis centers, says it is telling that California has no comparable law requiring abortion providers to post advertisements for adoption agencies or other alternatives to abortion...

Teen suicide is soaring. What’s to blame? ...A study of pediatric hospitals released last May found admissions of patients ages 5 to 17 for suicidal thoughts and actions more than doubled from 2008 to 2015. The group at highest risk for suicide are white males between 14 and 21.

Experts and teens cite myriad reasons, including spotty mental health screening, poor access to mental health services and resistance among young men and people of color to admit they have a problem and seek care. Then there's the host of well-documented and hard to solve societal issues, including opioid-addicted parents, a polarized political environment and poverty that persists in many areas despite a near-record-low unemployment rate.

And while some adults can tune out the constant scroll of depressing social media posts, it is the rare teen who even tries.

Then there's the simple fact they are teens...

Southern California town stands up to state, votes to reject sanctuary law ...Los Alamitos Council members voted 4-1 to opt out of a state law that limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents.

The law, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year and became effective on Jan. 1, includes prohibiting state and local police agencies from informing federal authorities in cases when illegal immigrants facing deportation are released from detention.

Los Alamitos’ adopted ordinance claims the new state law “may be in direct conflict with federal laws and the Constitution.” The council, therefore, “finds that it is impossible to honor our oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” if they do not opt out of it...

Albert Mohler on World Happiness Day (scroll down...)

and

Anne Kennedy's perspective...

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