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Current events and Religion in the News from Signs of the Times® View in web browser Doctors’ religious freedom One challenge religious physicians face is how to relate to a patient’s request for a procedure that violates the doctor’s religious convictions. The policy of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Canada (CPSO) states that when for religious or moral reasons a doctor cannot render services such as euthanasia, the doctor must refer the patient to another practitioner who can perform the service. However, some religious physicians also have a problem with the requirement to refer, because they understand it to be the moral equivalent of providing the treatment itself. Five doctors have launched a constitutional challenge to the CPSO policy, and they are supported by the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, the Christian Legal Fellowship, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.—Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Texas bans child marriages Texas has had the distinction of having the highest rate of child marriage­s in the United States for girls under the age of 18—about 2,000 a year, with nearly 40,000 between 2000 and 2014. Most states technically don’t allow child marriage­s, but legal loopholes allow minors to marry rather easily. However, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, Texas slammed these loopholes shut with Governor Greg Abbott’s signature on a bill banning child marriage in the state. Prior to the new law, 16- and 17-year-olds could get married with parental consent. Now they can’t. Texas is the second state in the country to forbid child marriages. Virginia enacted similar legislation in 2016.—Huffington Post 2017 marks the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther – A Man For His Time highlights the life and ministry of Martin Luther. Drawn from The Great Controversy, this BRAND NEW Signs Special Edition capitalizes on the attention being given to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It’s designed to help believers share their faith andtheir unique commitment to the entire Word of God. It’s just 32 pages long and measures 5.25” x 7.75” – perfect for sharing. Each piece includes a Discover Bible Study offer from the Voice of Prophecy.   Sharing ideas: Zip Code mailing (order form) Bible studies New Believers Interests Church lobby Outreach meetings Fair booths Distribute it when your church has a booth at the Fair. Tuck it into food baskets. Keep it on hand to share with co-workers. Order online: Adventist Book Center Order by phone: 1-800-765-6955 Reluctant judge  In 1941 a cross was erecte­d in Pensacola, Florida’s, Bayview Park. It remained there until 1969, when the Pensacola Jaycees replaced it with a 34-foot, white “Latin cross.” But now it, too, is about to come down. Why? Because the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Humanist Association are demanding it. However, the judge who ordered the cross removed wished he hadn’t had to. In handing down his ruling, US District Judge Roger Vinson said, “The historical record indicates that the Founding Fathers did not intend for the Establishment Clause [of the First Amendment to the US Constitution] to ban crosses and religious symbols from public property. Indeed, ‘the enlightened patriots who framed our constitution’ . . . would have most likely found this lawsuit absurd. And if I were deciding this case on a blank slate, I would agree and grant the plaintiffs no relief. But, alas, that is not what we have here.”—Fox News Zuckerberg prayer On Thursday, May 25, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, told the Harvard University graduating class that he sings the following prayer to his daughter when he tucks her in bed at night: “May the source of strength who blessed the ones before us help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing. I hope you find the courage to make your life a blessing.”—Washington Post AS QUOTED “Our deal is that if there’s another family there, we can be there.” David Eubank, an American who has moved into Mosul, Iraq, with his wife, Karen. He works at a medic station in the city. She homeschools their three children. The family considers their work a calling from God.—Washington Post What the Bible Says About the Sabbath This colorful booklet on the Sabbath is perfect for sharing. - inexpensive - readable, magazine style format - short practical articles - a variety of writers - 32 pages - four-color And it travels well. Just place it in your church lobby or use it at outreach meetings and fair booths. Works anywhere you meet people. Order online: Adventist Book Center Order by phone: 1-800-765-6955 Church wins Supreme Court case Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri, operates a preschool that has a playground. The State of Missouri provides public schools with grants to replace hard-surface playgrounds with rubber paving made from recycled tires. However, the state refused to provide the grant to Trinity Lutheran’s preschool because the Missouri Constitution states that government funds cannot be used to aid any church or sect. The church sued, and two federal courts supported the state’s refusal to grant the money to a church. However, on June 26, the United States Supreme Court ruled 7–2 in the church’s favor. Chief Justice John Roberts said that the state wrongly denied the church “an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status.” On the other hand, Justice Sonya Sotomayer said that the decision “weakens this country’s longstanding commitment to a separation of church and state.”—Christian Headlines Who prays before their meals? All Americans             48% Rural Americans         51% Suburban Americans  45% Republicans                62% Democrats                  43% Independents              41% Protestants                  60% Catholics                     52% Source: Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation Copyright © 2015 | Pacific Press® Publishing Association | All rights reserved. You're receiving this promotion because of your relationship with Pacific Press. Edited by Scott Cady.         Add us to your address book Our mailing address is: Pacific Press® Publishing Association 1350 N. Kings Rd. Nampa, ID 83687

[Gregory Matthews]

Child Brides:  In the 70s I was asked to perform the marriage of a female who was about 14 years old (I do not remember exactly, but this was close.) and who had given birth to a child.  She had the husband to-be had with them a license which had been issued on the order of a judge.  

In my conversation I found it of interest that the male did all of the talking and the woman said not a word.  So, I addressed her and I asked her why she intended to spend the rest of her life with this man.   At that point she responded:   She did not intend to spend the rest of her life with him.  In fact later that day she was flying home to her mother.  She had the air line ticked in her purse at that time.   As soon as she got home she was going to file for divorce.  She would rather be as divorced woman with a child than an in-married woman with a child.

I declined to perform the marriage.

By the way,  as a SDA pastor I  once lived in an area where women often became grandmothers at the age of 30!