It’s Thursday, May 16th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Rising persecution of Latin America Christians

International Christian Concern reports that churches in Latin America are facing increasing levels of persecution. 

Thousands of Christians face attacks for their faith in countries like Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua. These attacks often come from communist regimes, drug cartels, and violent gangs.

For example, Cuba passed a law last year, putting restrictions on religious expression that criticizes the government. Pastors who speak out for religious freedom in Nicaragua face arrest. And Christians in Mexico and Haiti are facing more oppression with the rise of the drug cartels as well as gang violence.

British pro-lifers march against birthday abortions

Yesterday, hundreds of pro-lifers rallied outside Parliament in London.

Lawmakers are considering two pro-life amendments as well as two pro-abortion amendments. The latter two would allow abortion up to birth.

Lynda Rose, head of Voice for Justice UK, said, “A nation that indiscriminately and without cause seeks to kill its unborn up to birth is destroying itself. … With our callous disregard of the right to life, the United Kingdom is rapidly becoming a kingdom of death. For the future wellbeing of all, these evil amendments must be defeated.”

Pro-life protestors are imprisoned

In the United States, judges are handing out prison sentences for pro-lifers targeted by the Biden administration. 

On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced Lauren Handy to nearly five years in prison for peacefully blocking access to an abortion mill. Yesterday, the judge sentenced Jonathan Darnel to nearly three years in prison for his participation.

A total of five activists have faced trial for the 2020 blockade in Washington, D.C.

The pro-lifers’ defendants are fighting back. Steve Crampton with the Thomas More Society said, “We eagerly look forward to appealing for [their] freedom, so that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act can never again be weaponized by the Department of Justice against its ideological opponents.”

Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”

George teachers banned students from sharing Bible verses

Public school teachers in Georgia banned students from sharing Bible verses. Two nine-year-old students were planning on sharing Easter eggs that contained the verses earlier this year.

In response to the ban, the American Center for Law and Justice stepped in to defend the students. The Christian legal group reports they have now achieved victory for the students. They said, “The school has agreed to recognize our clients’ constitutional rights to distribute religious materials, such as Easter eggs, candy canes, and anything else – even Bible verses.”

Trump and Biden to debate on Thursday, June 27th

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to debate each other ahead of the presidential election this year.

Both agreed to a debate invitation from CNN for Thursday, June 27. They also agreed to an invitation from ABC for September 10th.

If Biden and Trump follow through on this debate in June, it will be the earliest debate between general election candidates on record.

Inflation down slightly

Inflation cooled down slightly last month.

Consumer prices rose 0.3% percent from March to April, down from 0.4% the previous month. Year-over-year, inflation fell from 3.5% to 3.4% last month, the first decline this year.

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said, “The fight against inflation is not yet over, but the worsening trend observed in the first quarter of 2024 may have ended.”

Drug overdose deaths dropped 3%

Preliminary data suggests that drug overdose deaths in the U.S. fell for the first time in five years in 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the data yesterday.  Nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses last year. That’s down about 3,500 deaths from 2022. 

The 3% drop follows a 30% increase in overdose deaths at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Massive solar flare

And finally, the sun produced a massive solar flare on Tuesday. 

It’s the largest flare in the current 11-year solar cycle and the largest since 2005.

This follows a week of significant solar flare activity which made the northern lights visible to people further south than usual. 

Such geomagnetic storms can even cause disruptions to power and communication systems on Earth. Thankfully, the latest flare emitted from a part of the sun facing away from our planet.

Psalm 8:3-4 asks, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, May 16th, in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.