California became the first state to require public universities to provide female students abortion pills when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a controversial bill into law Friday.

His predecessor, Jerry Brown, had vetoed a similar bill. Both are Democrats. 

The new law, SB 24, requires “each student health care services clinic” on a California State University or University of California campus to “offer abortion by medication techniques” by Jan. 1, 2023. The bill impacts 34 universities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

It further says abortion is a “constitutional right” and an “integral part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care.”

“The state has an interest in ensuring that every pregnant person in California who wants to have an abortion can obtain access to that care as easily and as early in pregnancy as possible,” it says. “When pregnant young people decide that abortion is the best option for them, having early, accessible care can help them stay on track to achieve their educational and other aspirational life plans.”

The abortion pill includes two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to break down and kill the unborn baby. Misoprostol sparks contractions and delivery of the dead child. They can be taken only…

A new study found that American Christians are more likely to consider the lead pastor of their church to be a “friend” rather than a “mentor.”

The Barna Group report, released earlier this month, was called “Do Christians Consider Their Pastors to Be Friends?”

The study revealed that 20 percent of participants said they spoke or regularly met with their pastor outside of weekly worship services and other church events, the Christian Post reports. 

That 20 percent was then asked to describe the relationship to the pastor with 50 percent of respondents calling the pastor a “friend.”

Nineteen percent said they called the pastor a “mentor,” while 13 percent called the pastor a “counselor” and 11 percent called the pastor a “teacher.”

“Though most congregants surveyed admitted to not interacting with the lead pastor or other church staff outside of church, there is a small, yet significant number of constituents who do—and even regard their pastor as a friend,” noted Barna.

“Exactly half of Christian respondents and churched adults (50% each) call their pastor ‘friend,’ as do 46% of practicing Christians. The lack of difference in percentages across these groups suggests that, while church attendance or faith practice increases the likelihood of getting to meet and know one’s pastor in the first place,…

After Turkey launched several attacks against Syria over the weekend, several members of Congress have voiced bipartisan support for launching sanctions against Turkey.

Over the weekend, Trump first mentioned the sanctions threat at the Values Voter Summit.

“I have made clear to Turkey that if they do not meet their commitments, including the protection of religious minorities … we will impose very swift, strong, and severe economic sanctions,” Trump said, according to the Washington Examiner.

After the President announced last week the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria, many leaders across the political spectrum believed the move would endanger Christians and other religious minorities in the country. Turkey has launched several attacks on northern Syria since the removal, prompting Christian villages to evacuate and American leaders to grow concerned.

On Monday, Newsweek reported that after the President’s promise over the weekend, Senator Lindsey Graham, who initially voiced his disapproval over the President’s decision, said on Fox and Friends that the President will respond to Turkey’s attacks in Northern Syria.

“I blame Turkey,” he said. “There is going to be crippling sanctions imposed by the Congress to supplement what President Trump’s administration has done. We are going to send a signal to Turkey…

Gal Gadot, who found fame as Wonder Woman, will produce and star in a new movie featuring a Polish woman who saved over 2,000 Jewish lives during World War II.

Teaming up with her husband, Jaron Varsano, Gadot has started a production company called Pilot Wave. Their first movie will feature Gadot as Irena Sendler, an activist who smuggled thousands of Jewish children away from the Warsaw ghetto.

“As producers, we want to help bring stories that have inspired us to life,” Gadot told Deadline. “Pilot Wave will create content that promotes the perspectives and experiences of unique people and produce impactful stories aimed at igniting the imagination.”

According to CBN, the historical thriller Irena Sendler will document the woman’s harrowing efforts to save the children. Disguised as a nurse, she entered the ghetto to administer aid and medical care to the Jewish prisoners. But when she discovered that the children would be sent off to a concentration camp, she and her team smuggled as many people as possible out of the ghetto in coffins, suitcases, ambulances, sacks and even the sewage system.

Once the children had escaped, Sendler established them in Christian homes and nun convents. In time, however, the Gestapo discovered her efforts and she was captured and tortured.

Though the Gestapo attempted to uncover the identities of…

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is pushing back on Beto O’Rourke’s suggestion that churches should be stripped of their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage.

“I agree that anti-discrimination law ought to be applied to all institutions,” Buttigieg, who is gay, said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “But the idea that you’re going to strip churches of their tax-exempt status if they haven’t found their way towards blessing same-sex marriage, I’m not sure [O’Rourke] understood the implications of what he was saying.”

O’Rourke, another Democratic party presidential candidate, was asked during a town hall last week if he thought religious institutions such as colleges, churches and charities should they lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage.

“Yes,” O’Rourke said. “There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution, any organization in America that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us. So as president, we’re going to make that a priority and we’re going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans.”

Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., said O’Rourke’s proposal would have a negative effect on the nation. 

“That means going to war not only with…

President Trump appealed to Christian leaders this weekend at the Values Voter Summit, reminding the audience of his commitment to preserving religious freedom.

“Our rights come from God Almighty, and they can never be taken away. Together we will protect those God-given rights,” he said, as reported by CBN News.

Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was held captive in Turkey for two years, opened the ceremony with a prayer:

“Father God, I ask now for an impartation of your Holy Spirit, may the fullness of the spirit of Jesus rest upon President Trump that he be anointed with wisdom and understanding with your counsel and might with knowledge and fear of the Lord and accordingly may President Trump not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears or lean on his own understanding but may he recognize your prompting and move according to your guidance,” Brunson said.

He continued to pray for discernment and strength in the battles surrounding the President. Trump later told the crowd that it was not easy to bring home the pastor, but his recovery was worth the effort.

The President’s speech to the summit came in the midst of growing concern from conservative evangelical leaders for the President’s removal of troops in Northern Syria, which leaves religious minorities—including Christians—open for a…

A typhoon hit Japan just south of Tokyo on Saturday evening killing anywhere between 14 and 33 people. 

According to the Associated Press, Typhoon Hagibis wreaked havoc on northern and central Japan Saturday dumping several inches of rain and producing high gusts of wind in the area. 

Fourteen different rivers across the island country were also reported to have flooded as a result of the storm. 

The government’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Sunday that, so far, 14 people have been killed, 11 have been reported missing, 187 were injured, and some 1,283 homes were flooded with 517 either partially or totally damaged. The AP reports that the Fire and Disaster Management Agency tends to be conservative in their estimates.

Japanese media reports significantly higher numbers with Kyodo News saying that 33 people were killed in the storm and 19 are missing.

The Tokyo Fire Department confirmed one woman’s death noting that a woman in her 70s. was “accidentally dropped 40 meters to the ground while being transported into a rescue helicopter in Iwaki city in Fukushima,” the AP reports.

As of Sunday morning, approximately 376,000 homes were without electricity and 14,000 homes were without running water. By Sunday evening, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. issued an update noting that more than 66,000 of their customers were still without power. Tohoku…