Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, has thwarted a student group’s attempt to hold a first-trimester abortion demonstration on campus.

Organized by the New York-based Reproductive Health Access Project, the “Papaya Workshop” features an abortionist who shows students an example of how vacuum aspiration abortions are performed by using a papaya as a uterus model in which the inner pulp and seeds are suctioned out by a suction machine.

The event was originally planned to be held at Georgetown’s Intercultural Center. However, University officials intervened and compelled the campus student group hosting the RHAP abortion workshop to move it off campus.

The university said in a statement that the abortion workshop wouldn’t be allowed on campus because it conflicts with the academic institution’s religious identity.

“Consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit identity, Georgetown University does not support or allow for the demonstration or training of abortion procedures in any classroom or reservable space on our campus,” Georgetown administration said, according to The College Fix.

“The student organizers of this event were notified that the Papaya Workshop is not permitted to take place in reservable campus spaces.”

The liberal student group H*yas for Choice, which was organizing the RHAP abortion workshop, denounced the university’s decision as a “violation of Georgetown’s Free Speech Policy and their recent timing as a deliberate action to prevent us from providing information about reproductive health to the student body.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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The family of abducted Nigerian Christian teenager Leah Sharibu has spoken out after reports published over the weekend suggested that their daughter has given birth to the son of a Boko Haram commander and that she was forced to accept Islam. 

A source close to the Borno-based Islamic extremist group told Sahara Reporters that Sharibu has given birth to a baby boy after she was forced to accept Islam and forcefully married to an unnamed Boko Haram commander.

Dr. Gloria Puldu, a spokesperson for the family and a lecturer at the University of Jos, considered the reports to be nothing more than rumors.

“I have seen reports that Leah had a baby boy. That is just a rumor as far as we are concerned,” Puldu told The Punch. “What we even desire is to see a proof-of-life so that we see Leah by ourselves. If they are able to have Leah safe, we will understand.”

Sharibu was kidnapped along with over 110 other schoolgirls taken from a school in Dapchi in February 2018. Although about girls five died and all others were eventually released, Sharibu continues to be held by Boko Haram, which is known for its kidnappings and killings across the Lake Chad region.

Sharibu was reportedly held back by the terrorist group because she refused to renounce her faith in Christ.

Puldu stressed that the most important thing to the Sharibu family is to have their daughter back alive — with or without the rumored child.

“And if she is alive, we will praise God for that,” Puldu said. “They should release her, despite whatever condition she is in. That is all. It doesn’t matter whether she is pregnant or with a baby. Is it not better to have your child alive? So it doesn’t matter; all we are interested in is her life and safety.”

Puldu spoke with one woman who escaped from Boko Haram captivity last week.

“I was able to speak with her one-on-one and she told us that she did not see Leah in captivity, but she was with Alison Gada, who informed her that Leah was alive, healthy and not dead,” Puldu said.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Samuel Smith

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I could hardly believe the news this weekend: Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers basketball superstar, had died in a helicopter accident near Los Angeles. Eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, also perished in the crash.

How could a champion like Kobe, so vibrant and full of life, suddenly leave us?

Kobe Bryant was among the very best to play in the NBA. He played 20 seasons with the LA Lakers, won 5 championship rings and finished with 33,643 career points. At 41 years old, he was a living and breathing legend that even other NBA stars were star-struck by.

He even picked his own nickname, “Black Mamba,” after the fastest lethal snake in the world — and passed it on to his daughter Gianna, a budding basketball star, whom he called “Mambacita.”

The truth is, the vast majority of us didn’t know Kobe personally. Maybe we went to one of his games, but that was the extent of our relationship with him. Yet his death somehow has touched millions of Americans deeply. I believe it’s because it suddenly jolted us to the reality that life is not fair.

Why are people like Kobe and his daughter and the other passengers aboard that fateful flight taken while others will wake up tomorrow to face a new day?

There are no easy explanations, but here are three things we should keep in mind as we reflect on Kobe’s passing:

1.  Life Is Precious

I have a smartwatch. Periodically, I will get a message on it that simply says, “Breathe.” Funny thing is, I was breathing already, but it’s reminding me of something that I should never take for granted.

Every day is a gift. Every single heartbeat and every breath you take is a blessing. Don’t take it for granted. And don’t take your health or your family for granted either.

The Bible reminds us, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT).

Kobe was a very successful man with many beautiful things, but I am certain he would have traded it all for one more precious day of life. He was not given that choice.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Greg Laurie

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Christian musician TobyMac performed at Universal Studios’ annual concert series Rock The Universe Saturday where he spoke about the loss of his son, Truett Foster McKeehan, who died from an overdose last October.

“Maybe some of you know, but my family and I have been facing the toughest couple months of our lives. For those people that don’t know, my first-born son passed away a couple of months ago and it’s been hard,” TobyMac said ahead of his performance on the main stage.

His son, an aspiring rapper, died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and amphetamines on Oct. 23, 2019, a representative confirmed with People magazine last week. Since the tragic news broke, TobyMac said he and his family have received a flood of support from friends and supporters.

“I appreciate the prayers. I appreciate the encouragement posts, social media, we’re grateful to you. Thank you so much for surrounding us in love,” he said Saturday night.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Jeannie Law

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Evangelist Franklin Graham released a statement Monday after an entertainment venue in the United Kingdom canceled his event due to objections over his views.

Graham rejected the claim that he was “coming to the UK to bring hateful speech to your community.”

“This is just not true. I am coming to share the Gospel, which is the Good News that God loves the people of the UK, and that Jesus Christ came to this earth to save us from our sins,” he stated.

“The rub, I think, comes in whether God defines homosexuality as sin. The answer is yes. But God goes even further than that, to say that we are all sinners—myself included.”

The ACC Liverpool Group, based in Liverpool, announced last Friday that they were no longer going to hold the Graham Tour UK event as previously planned.

“Over the past few days we have been made aware of a number of statements which we consider to be incompatible with our values,” stated the venue.

“In light of this we can no longer reconcile the balance between freedom of speech and the divisive impact this event is having in our city. We have informed the organisers of the event that the booking will no longer be fulfilled.”

The venue went on to claim that they “are proud to represent all communities and will continue to move forward with our aim as a business to drive profile, major events and economic impact for Liverpool City Region.”

Objections to Graham’s tour appear to come from British LGBT activists and individuals.

In his response, Graham invited “everyone in the LGBTQ community to come and hear for yourselves the Gospel messages that I will be bringing from God’s Word, the Bible.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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An American evangelical preacher has hit back after a venue on his UK tour decided to cancel his show following a string of complaints from the LGBT community.

Franklin Graham was due to visit Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and London later this year.

But the ACC Liverpool conference centre has decided to cancel the 67-year-old’s show after branding his views ‘incompatible’ with their values.

Graham, who is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, has previously described gay marriage as a ‘sin’ and has advocated against bids to ban ‘gay conversion therapy’.

Members of the LGBT community in several of the cities he was due to visit petitioned venues and local political leaders to stop him from speaking.

But in an open letter to the ‘UK LGBTQ community’, Graham has said ‘we are all sinners’ and denied he was bringing hate speech to Britain.

He wrote on Facebook yesterday: ‘A letter to the LGBTQ community in the UK –

‘It is said by some that I coming to the UK to bring hateful speech to your community. This is just not true.

‘I am coming to share the Gospel, which is the Good News that God loves the people of the UK, and that Jesus Christ came to this earth to save us from our sins.’

He continued by saying he thinks the ‘rub’ is over ‘whether God defines homosexuality as a sin’.

The preacher continued: ‘The answer is yes. But God goes even further than that, to say that we are all sinners, myself included.

‘The Bible says that every human being is guilty of sin and in need of forgiveness and cleansing.’

He later added: ‘My message to all people is that they can be forgiven and they can have a right relationship with God.’

‘The Gospel is inclusive. I’m not coming out of hate. I’m coming out of love.’

The preacher than invited all members of the community to attend his tour dates.

Graham is currently on a tour of Florida, which has attracted protests from thousands of other Christians.

He also reportedly described Islam an ‘evil and very wicked religion’ during political rallies in the US last year and is a prominent ally of Donald Trump.

Graham was due to visit Liverpool Exhibition Centre on June 12 as part of his tour.

The ACC Liverpool said it had been made aware of a ‘number of statements’ which Graham has made which they ‘consider to be incompatible’ with their ethical values.

A venue spokesman said: ‘The Graham Tour UK event which was originally planned to take place at ACC Liverpool in June 2020 will no longer be going ahead.

‘Over the past few days we have been made aware of a number of statements which we consider to be incompatible with our values.

‘In light of this we can no longer reconcile the balance between freedom of speech and the divisive impact this event is having in our city.

‘We have informed the organisers of the event that the booking will no longer be fulfilled.

‘We are proud to represent all communities and will continue to move forward with our aim as a business to drive profile, major events and economic impact for Liverpool City Region.’

The decision to cancel the show came after a petition was started by the Liverpool Labour LGBT Network.

It read: ‘We are writing for support from our locally elected council representatives in response to the platforming of homophobic hate preacher Franklin Graham on the 12th of June 2020.’

‘We fear that with such a high profile event gaining traction, Graham’s appearance may incite hateful mobilisation and risk the security of our LGBTQ+ community.

‘We ask the council to stand with our community in counter mobilisation, including refusing to host Graham’s roadshow at venues where the local authority has a stake.’

A protest against the preacher’s visit was also held on Saturday in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where he was also due to speak in June.

Sheffield Mayor Dan Jarvis has criticised the preacher, and said in a statement: ‘Sheffield is a city of sanctuary.

‘We welcome people from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, religion, belief or their sexuality.

‘As a city and as a region, we are proud to stand for equality, diversity, respect and compassion.

‘I believe in free speech and of the right to freedom of expression, within the parameters of the law.

‘But I also believe in people’s rights to disagree with extreme beliefs such as those preached by Franklin Graham. Intolerance cannot be welcomed here in South Yorkshire.’

The Sheffield LGBT community has also taken aim at Graham in a letter to the Sheffield venue, which is run by the Sheffield City Trust.

Representative Heather Paterson, said: ‘Franklin Graham has repeatedly publicly promoted his homophobic beliefs, including but not limited to branding homosexuality a sin.

‘We believe that these statements far exceed freedom of speech and are direct hate speech and incitement to violence against LGBTQ+ communities and individuals, which should not be welcomed in our city or anywhere else.’

There was further uproar in Glasgow when residents heard he is due to speak there this summer.

Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of Glasgow Cathedral, said on Twitter: ‘Have just heard that Franklin Graham is coming to the SSE Hydro in Glasgow next year. Very surprised to hear that @SSE would want to be associated with him. #homophobia’

Trans Activist Anna Nicholson, said: ‘Apparently anti-LGBT hate-preacher and Trump supporter Franklin Graham is following in his vile father’s footsteps and doing a UK tour this year.’

Peter Nimmo, Church of Scotland Minister in Inverness, fumed: ‘Franklin Graham tour includes Glasgow. I trust Scottish churches give him the cold shoulder, too.’

The evangelical preacher took aim at US presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg for being a self-described gay Christian in April last year.

In tweets, Graham criticised Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and said that the Bible defines homosexuality as ‘something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized.’

One tweet said: ‘Mayor Buttigieg says he’s a gay Christian.

‘As a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman – not two men, not two women.’

Representatives of Mr Graham have been contacted for comment.

SOURCE: Daily Mail, Lara Keay

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