A small Texas town is rejecting demands from an atheist organization to remove crosses from the county courthouse, and it’s getting the support of the state attorney general’s office, too. 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter in late April to officials in Coldspring, Texas, asserting that four white crosses on the sides of the building violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on government establishment of religion.

But last week the San Jacinto County Commissioners voted unanimously, 5-0, to keep the crosses on the courthouse, KPCR-TV reported. More than 600 residents attended the commissioners’ meeting. The population of Coldspring, Texas, is about 900.

The Texas Attorney General’s office applauded the commissioners’ decision and pledged its legal support if FFRF files suit. 

“If that occurs, we look forward to supporting your lawful decision to retain the crosses,” Jeff Mateer, the state’s first assistant attorney general, wrote.

The crosses have lights that are turned on at Christmas. Dwayne Wright, chairman of the San Jacinto County Republican Party, posted a picture on Facebook showing the crosses lit up after the commissioners’ vote. 

“THIS is how we roll in San Jacinto County!” Wright wrote.  

Residents had said FFRF’s demands might face resistance. 

“I don’t think it’s…

An Argentine doctor is on trial for “obstetrical violence” and breach of duties after he refused to perform a legal abortion on a 19-year-old rape victim.

Dr. Leandro Rodriguez Lastra, an OB-GYN in the town of Cipolletti, Rio Negro, declined to perform the abortion for the woman in April 2017. The provincial Kirchnerist deputy Marta Milesi then sued Lastra.

According to LifeSiteNews.com, abortion is legal in Rio Negro in “borderline cases,” meaning when the pregnancy is the result of rape, when the mother’s life is in danger or when the mother is mentally handicapped and has been sexually abused.

During the trial, Lastra argued that he did not perform the abortion for medical reasons, although he has previously said he is pro-life.

“The justice system that gave rise to this is allowing doctor’s (decisions) to be questioned, it calls into question our attitude and our ability to work and ensure safety,” he said. “I know I didn’t commit any crime. I would act the same again because no child’s death is going to weigh on my conscience.”

The 19-year-old never filed a complaint about the doctor. She came to the hospital by ambulance, saying she was in pain after having taken an abortion drug. She had a fever and was also having contractions. Lastra confirmed that she was just over 22 weeks pregnant.

Lastra reportedly gave…

An Oregon couple is suing their school district after discovering that their son’s teacher was repeatedly asking him if he was transgender. 

The parents, who have wished to remain anonymous at this time, are suing the district for $1 million after it became apparent that a teacher was keeping their son back at recess “in an effort to promote (him) becoming transgender,” according to the lawsuit.

Not only was the teacher overly pushy, but they also provided the eight-year-old with a variety of reading materials, videos, and other resources that explained exactly what it means to be a trans person — something the parents deem wildly inappropriate.

According to the suit, the teacher would not allow the child to attend recess until he had looked through all the material, with the resources being provided by an “unknown non-school employee transgender individual.”

The parents were not informed about these disturbing interactions and only uncovered the concerning situation when they found the books in their son’s backpack.

According to the parents, the whole situation stemmed from the fact that their son suffered from stomach problem and was apprehensive to use the restroom. They believe that this caused the teacher to jump to the conclusion that the young man was struggling with his gender identity – an assertion that has…

India’s Supreme Court has granted bail to a man falsely accused of murdering a Hindu leader some ten years ago. Gornath Chalenseth was finally released from prison May 9 after spending over a decade behind bars. 

Chalenseth, along with Bhaskar Sunamajhi, Bijay Kumar Sanseth, Budhadeb Nayak, Durjo Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanathan Badamajhi was jailed after being convicted of murdering Hindu monk Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others in August 2008. 

Saraswati’s death sparked a massive backlash of anti-Christian violence, resulting in the deaths of several believers and the burning down of around 8,400 homes and 360 churches. As is often seen in these types of religiously-charged criminal cases across India, the men were convicted on the basis of fabricated evidence. 

Unfortunately, despite being released on bail, Chalenseth is still not out of danger. He will now face an appeal that will determine whether or not he spends the rest of their life in prison, or worse.

Still, according to a lawyer representing the men, bail is still a welcome reprieve.

“It is a huge victory for these hapless men who don’t have the resources or knowledge to fight for their freedom in India’s complicated judicial system,” said attorney Dibakar Parichha, according to ucanews.com.

A journalist who has been relentlessly campaigning for the release of the…