Current

A weekly collection of current news and issues in the church, country, and world.

Here are some stories related to Ukraine you may not have heard, plus a link to the latest news there:

Ukraine Names Baptist Pastor as Acting President – Timothy Morgan (CT)

The Ukrainian Church Is Not Silent – SEND Missionary Blog

Ukraine Crisis – BBC News

Also an update on the Romeike family:

German Homeschoolers, Romeike Family, Will Not Be Deported, DHS Says – Christian Post

Passion Ethics

Here are some updates on some important current religious freedom issues:

Saeed Abedini, American pastor jailed in Iran, denied medication, family says – Fox News Iranian jailers have denied crucial medication to Pastor Saeed Abedini, the American citizen imprisoned there for his faith, according to the Idaho resident’s family and legal team.
Here are some ways you can help.

Home School Legal Defense Association Files Romeike v. Holder with U.S. Supreme Court – CrossMap
HSLDA Chairman and principal author of the petition, Michael Farris, said that the Court should intervene for the sake of justice.  “The United States should be a place of asylum for those who are persecuted because of their decision to follow their core religious beliefs,” he said.  “Parents, not the government, decide first how children are educated. Germany’s notorious persecution of families who homeschool violates their own obligations to uphold human rights standards and must end.”
Farris has called for a day of prayer on November 17 in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s November 26 decision on whether to hear this case as well as Hobby Lobby’s case.

Hobby Lobby asks US Supreme Court to take up case over federal birth-control coverage mandate – Fox News
Lawyers for the Oklahoma City-based craft store chain and its sister company, Mardel Christian bookstore, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case because of what they say are conflicting decisions by other courts regarding religious freedom.
And in related cases, Freshway Foods wins its initial lawsuit, and Cornerstone University – one of the schools I attended – adds its own lawsuit.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, Cornerstone University joins Dordt College in filing a federal lawsuit against the Obama administration unconstitutional mandate that employers – including religious ones – provide insurance coverage that facilitates access to drugs that can induce abortions. – See more at: http://www.cornerstone.edu/details.aspx?p=19E2931D85131112&ppid=56597&naid=EBD15E2C1F34E07C#sthash.h04UvDbg.dpuf

Passion News: Homeschooling

The German Romeike family seeking asylum in the U.S.  from persecution in Germany related to homeschooling lost their case this week before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals:

German Family Denied Asylum, HSLDA Appeals – HSLDA

German Homeschool Case May Impact U.S. Homeschool Freedom – Michael Farris (HSLDA)

Do Christian Parents Have a Fundamental Right to Homeschool? – Joe Carter (Gospel Coalition)