It’s Thursday, January 19th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Open Doors documents persecution of Christians in new list
Open Doors US released its 2023 World Watch List on Tuesday.
The document ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous for Christians.
North Korea is back on top of the list after Afghanistan took the spot in the 2022 report. The other top 10 persecuting countries are Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Sudan.
Open Doors estimates 360 million Christians faced high levels of persecution last year. Over 5,600 Christians were murdered, over 2,000 churches were attacked, and over 4,500 Christians were detained.
According to Open Doors, Islamic violence is a driving factor which has led to the unprecedented numbers of Christians who have suffered.
NARRATOR: “Right now, more Christians suffer higher levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith than at any time since the World Watch List began.
“Over the last 30 years, Islamic oppression has grown and become more violent. Christian communities are severely attacked by a variety of jihadist groups. Converts pay a high price, and it’s often their own families who carry out the so-called honor killings.”
Church of England greenlights blessings of homosexual couples
On Wednesday, the Church of England said it will not offer marriage ceremonies for people living in vile passions with the same sex.
However, the organization plans to offer blessing services instead to homosexual couples.
Bishops also plan on making an apology to people living sexually perverted lifestyles for any “rejection” they may have felt in churches.
Proverbs 25:26 says, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
Transgender treatments for kids: Easier to get in U.S.
A new study by Do No Harm found it is easier for children to get so-called “transgender treatments” in the U.S. than in Europe.
Countries like the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, and France have been closing down gender clinics or urging caution with the use of puberty blockers. Meanwhile, children in the U.S. have easier access to such things — even without parental consent.
Dr. William Malone, a board-certified endocrinologist, told Fox News, “Transgender medicine is big business, and youth who are transitioning today will be medical patients for life . . . Mental health among youth is at an all-time low, making them particularly vulnerable to solutions that suggest an ‘easy fix.’”
Iowan Catholic Diocese affirms biological sex
Thankfully, not everyone is following the transgender trend.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa implemented 17 new polices on Monday in support of biological sex.
The policies affect 17 schools and 80 parishes.
The diocese now requires students to use restrooms, wear uniforms, and play on sports teams that correspond to their biological sex. The policies also ban puberty blockers and so-called “preferred” pronouns.
The diocese stated, “Our biological sex, expressed by our body, is a gift from God and is unchangeable.”
New York COVID-shot mandate for health care workers struck down
Last Friday, a New York state Supreme Court judge, Gerard Neri, struck down a COVID-shot mandate for healthcare workers.
The state enacted the shot mandate in August 2021. Within months, tens of thousands of healthcare employees were terminated for not complying with the mandate, including many seeking religious exemptions. In June of last year, New York made the shot requirement permanent.
Plaintiffs welcomed the recent ruling. Mary Holland with Children’s Health Defense said, “We hope that this decision will continue the trend towards lifting these dangerous and unwarranted . . . mandates throughout the country.”
More tech layoffs
Tech layoffs show no sign of stopping in the new year.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced it would be cutting 10,000 jobs.
So far this year, companies are laying off about 1,600 tech workers a day.
Tech layoffs in the first two weeks of 2023 amount to 15% of such layoffs in the whole of 2022.
22 Attorneys General oppose FDA on Kill Pill
And finally, Attorneys General from 22 states are challenging the Federal Drug Administration’s decision to increase access to the abortion Kill Pill.
New FDA rules allow women to get the kill pills over the counter.
The Attorneys General wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf calling for him to reverse the decision.
The letter stated, “Though the FDA has abdicated its responsibility to protect women’s health, we have not. To be crystal clear, you have not negated any of our laws that forbid the remote prescription, administration, and use of abortion-inducing drugs. The health and safety of our citizens—women and children included—is of paramount concern.”
Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, January 19th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.